Summary: This Sermon Challenges both the Believer and Seeker to evaluate their life. To look and see if there are things that are keeping them from truly living for God. It strives to get them to cast of some of their comforts and place their faith in the purpose and will of God.

Text: Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Introduction:

WE ALL HAVE A COMFORT ZONE

AN AREA THAT IS OUR OWN PRIVATE SPACE

A SPACE WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS WELCOME

ANY INFRINGEMENT CAN CAUSE MAJOR DISASTER

GOD IS CALLING US TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE

I. THE HEBREW CHILDREN

 THEY WERE COMFORTABLE IN EGYPT

 THEY HAD HOUSES, LAND, SAFETY, SECURITY

 THEY HAD ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME

 BUT THEY WERE IN A LAND THAT WASN’T THEIRS

 GOD WAS CALLING THEM BACK HOME

 HE WAS CALLING THEM TO A PLACE THEY HAD LEFT 400 YEARS BEFORE

 A PLACE THAT NO ONE REMEMBERED.

II. THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR COMFORT ZONE

 OUT OF EGYPT THEY WANDERED INTO A WILDERNESS OF UNCERTAINTY

 PHAROAH SOON REALIZED HE WANTED ISRAEL BACK SO HE SETS OUT AFTER THEM

 ISRAEL IS CAUGHT

 MOUNTAINS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT

 THE RED SEA IN FRONT

 PHAROAH IN BACK

 THERE’S NO PLACE TO TURN

 WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, THE WAY IS THERE,

WHETHER WE SEE IT OR NOT.

 THE UNCLAIMED PROMISE

 AFTER CROSSING THE RED SEA, THEY MAKE A 13 DAY JOURNEY TO THE

JORDAN RIVER

 HERE THEY DECIDE THEY CAN’T CLAIM THE PROMISE

 THEY END UP WANDERING FOR 40 YEARS

 THEY ACCUSE GOD OF LEAVIN’ ‘EM HANGIN’

III. GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

 REQUIRES FAITH

 REQUIRES LOOKING BEYOND THE OBSTICLES AND THE OBVIOUS

 IT TAKES LOOKING BEYOND THE DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT

 WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THE DARKNESS THAT SURROUNDS OUR LIFE WE SEE THAT GOD WAS THERE ALL THE TIME

 JOHN 14:18 - I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU.

 GOD DID NOT CALL US TO BE COMFORTABLE, HE CALLED US TO BE CONTENT.

 I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

 PAUL WAS AN EXPERT AT BEING OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE

 THERE IS NOTHING COMFORTABLE ABOUT BEING:

 SHIPWRECKED

 STONED

 BEATEN

 IMPRISONED

 SNAKE BITTEN

 LEFT FOR DEAD

 BEING IN CHAINS

 HE REALIZED HE DIDN’T HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE, HE JUST HAD TO BE CONTENT

 HE REALIZED GOD HAD A PURPOSE

 IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

 WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT GOD’S CALLING DOESN’T ALWAYS PUT US IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION

 IT DOESN’T MAKE EVERYTHING ROSEY

 IT DOESN’T MAKE EVERYTHING PERFECT

 AND IT DOESN’T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE, BUT IT ALWAYS MAKES US BETTER

 IT ALWAYS BRINGS CONTENTMENT

 I’D RATHER BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND SAVED THAN COMFORTABLE AND LOST