Don't Lose Your Marbles Series

DON’T LOSE YOUR MARBLES!

PROVERBS 13:12

HOPE FOR TODAY SERIES

PASTOR JIM BOHRER

September 30, 2007

INTRO: HOOK

One of the most exciting, fun, and imaginative movies I have ever watched has been HOOK. Where Robin Williams plays Peter Panning (a man who has bought into the conventional vision for manhood). He believes he has to work hard and close the next deal. If he does that, then at the end of life, even though his wife and children suffered for his success, he will achieve his purpose. But, it turns out that he is really Peter Pan and he has lost his vision of childhood. And in this clip we find him battling his old Nemesis Captain Hook and he makes a comment about his past.

VIDEO

Somewhere along the line Peter Pan allowed the Pirate Hook to steal his dreams and joy. Now he was battling back for what really mattered. It seems that at some point in life, the Pirate seemed larger than his dreams and he ran from his dreams to the safety of mediocrity.

All of us at some point dreamed of taking on the world. But then life and cynicism gets a hold of you and you give up your dreams and settle for an upset stomach. God does not want you to sell out to your fears. Don’t run from the Pirate…

DON’T SELL OUT TO YOUR FEARS.

Proverbs has a powerful verse that speaks to our desire for those dreams.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. Proverbs 13:12 NLT

When we have swallowed our hope, it becomes a simple process of settling for second best. I have seen studies. A person settles in to the rat race. A teacher no longer feels she is accomplishing much. A father doesn’t see much purpose in caring for the family. That is when we begin to live a shell of a life. But, God says,

DON’T SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST.

Most people feel crushed because they sold out to the Distractions of life!

Materialism, pleasure, seeking the next job increase, etc…

Learn God’s Dream for your life.

See God had you in mind when He made you. You may not be living for His purpose, but you will only be satisfied when you rest in Him. He did not make you to live someone else’s life. He made you to live in Him. The reasons you have hopes and dreams is that God made you a certain way that is unique to you. Certainly you can corrupt His purpose by running from the Pirate. You can settle for second best purpose and be satisfied for a time, but only in His purpose will you really feel satisfied.

How can you do that, well:

DISCOVER GOD’S SHAPE FOR YOUR LIFE. (Jer. 1:5)

Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 7:7)

Hearts desire (Psalm 37:4)

Abilities (Exodus 31:3)

Personality

Experiences

Don’t ever believe that you are finished because you made a mistake or things did not go the way you thought they should have.

GOD CAN USE DISAPPOINTMENT TO DEVELOP CHARACTER.

In the Movie Invincible we have the story of the 30 year Vince Papalli who was given the opportunity to try or for the Philadelphia Eagles. But along the way, criticism, fear and doubt crept into his mind. He was ready to give up his dream and sell out to the second best.

ILLUSTRATION: INVINCIBLE

You don’t have to be a PRISONER of your past.

His ex-wife had written that letter to him. You’ll never succeed etc… And he could have let that letter define his life. And up until that point he did. But through the process he realized:

Your past does not DETERMINE you, your DECISIONS do.

Go back to that compelling PURPOSE God made you for and gave to you.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. KJV Proverbs 29:18

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy. NLT Proverbs 29:18

Eric Liddel learned that when he followed God’s purpose he ran. He would say that he felt God laugh when he ran. But, he refused to run when it would dishonor God. But Liddel ended running heats he did not train for and ended winning gold…

HOLD ONTO THE DREAM GOD GIVES YOU. (Jer. 29:11)

Tootles was not crazy, he had just lost his vision. His marbles were his dreams. In this busy world, don’t lose your marbles.