2 TIM.1:6 "MOTIVATION"
A) A young, smart-alec cowboy was riding his horse one day and saw an old man on a mule.
* The young cowboy decided to have a little fun, so he drew his 6-shooter and told the old man
to get off the mule and dance! * He said to the old man, "Have you ever danced?"
B) Then he began to empty his revolver near the feet of the old man, laughing while he danced!
* After a few minutes, the cowboy ran out of bullets!
* The old man wiped his brow, then slowly reached into his belongings and pulled out a huge
loaded shot gun.
C) He points the shot gun at the young cowboy and says,
* "Young man, have you ever kissed a mule?"
D) The young cowboy said, "No, but I’ve always wanted to!" * That’s motivation!
* The Lord does not put a gun to our heads, but He does give us examples, direction, & principles
which relate to the subject of motivation.
(1) WHAT IS MOTIVATION? * Motivation is "that which causes action."
* In regard to human behavior, it may be fear of punishment or hope of reward - or both!
* It may be the desire to please someone, a sense of responsibility, a product of character
or attitude! * Motivation is that which causes action!
* In the story I related, looking down the business end of a shot gun was the motive behind the
action of kissing the mule!
A) Now when Jesus dealt with this subject, He was exceedingly clear!
* Sometimes the action is right but the motive is wrong! * Listen to Jesus in Matt.6:1-7
* The action of charity is right, but the motive here was wrong - "to be seen of men."
* The action of prayer is right, but in this case, the motive was "to be seen and heard by men."
B) One lesson we ought to learn from this is:
* We need to be certain that our actions are properly motivated!
* Motivation is that which causes action!
C) In regard to my work as a child of God and my life before God and man,
* I need to be sure my actions are right and that those actions are properly motivated!
* Motivation is that which causes action!
(2) WHERE DO I FIND MOTIVATION? * Motivation can be found in everybody!
A) Some folks look for motivation from their leaders in the local church!
* And it can’t be denied, when good men take the lead and do the work God has assigned to
them, their efforts will motivate us to do right!
B) Consider all that the N.T. says about the work of the leaders of the church!
* Just focus on the words used by the Holy Ghost! * Exhort, Convict, Oversee, Teach,
Lead, Taking care of the church (1Tim.3:5) and there is the term "watch" in Heb.13:17!
* Now when these men do these things, based on their faith and conviction in God’s Word,
* One effect will naturally be, we will be motivated to cooperate with them and do the work
God would have us to do!
C) But I’m afraid what some people think is "the leaders must get me to do what I’m ..."
* So, I’m not really motivated to talk to people about the gospel, yet I expect the leaders to
get me to do that! * I’m not motivated to pray, but the leaders should make me want to pray.
* I’m too busy to attend all the services, but I think the leaders should make me do that!
D) In other words, I want the leaders to take full responsibility of putting motivation in me!
* How in the world do you make people do what they don’t want to do?
* Is that the work of the leaders in the church? * Yet there seems to be this attitude, where we
present ourselves to the leaders and say to them in essence,
* "Here I am, you take over and make me what I ought to be!"
E) Ladies and gentlemen, the only way good leaders can motivate me and help me is:
* If I have already decided that I want to serve God with all my heart!
* You see, our view of motivation sometimes places all the responsibility on someone else!
* But look what it says in my text I read - "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee ..."
F) Others seek motivation from their favorite kind of preacher! * Let me explain!
* There are different kinds of preachers, in fact, I know no two alike!
* Different personalities, different methods, different styles and mannerisms.
* But the problem is, we can get so hung up on the personalities, the methods, the speaking
style of a single man or type of man, and that colors our concept of motivation!
G) So I begin to look for my motivation in my kind of preacher!
* Perhaps you’ve heard someone say, "If brother so and so was here, this work would take off
and double in a year!" * Or I have visited people who have abandoned the local church,
* The don’t assemble at all anymore, they’ve really quit the Lord!
* When asked why, their reply is, "Well, when they let brother so and so go ... when he left,
I just didn’t have any motivation!" * 2Cor.5:14 "For the love of Christ ......."
H) When I come to hear preaching, my focus should be on preaching, not a man or his style!
* If your motivation depends upon a man, it’s time to re-evaluate what it’s all about!
* There’s people today who’ll come to church because of carnal rewards!
* If we advertise in the paper next Saturday, "$100.00 for every person who attends Faith
FWB Church next Sunday," you know what would happen!
* But you also know why they would be there! * Not for the right reason!
I) Then there is this thing I call "musical churches!"
* In the game "musical chairs" you walk around all the chairs, and when the music stops, you
grab that chair! * In "musical churches" you move all around Spartanburg.
* And when you get tired of one church, you change to another, then another, then another ...
J) Some folks have been members at every FWB Church in Spartanburg!
* Folks attend a church, and at first they are involved, zealous, active, they participate.
* Then when their zeal begins to diminish, they move on to another church!
* And often you’ll hear these folks saying, "I just wasn’t motivated over there any more!"
K) Some people don’t look for their motivation from within, they look everywhere else!
* They want others to make them do what they should want to do on their own!
* Now please don’t misunderstand me! * I believe preachers should do their work and live
their lives in such a fashion that they do motivate God’s people to do what’s right!
* But somewhere, sometime, we need to ask the question, "Can’t I do what God wants me to do
even if I’m not surrounded by zealous people?" * Our text says, "Stir up the gift of …!"
L) Noah was surrounded by unbelievers, mockers and all manner of sinners.
* His environment gave him no encouragement or motivation, but he did what God said do!
* Jeremiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, they didn’t have motivational seminars!
* But they obeyed God and did what they were supposed to do!
M) You can do what’s right even if there is little or no motivation!
* Now it would be nice to have perfect leaders, a preacher for all men, a congregation with
a 100 % participation! * But this is the earth, not heaven!
* And we can do what God says to do here on earth in less than perfect circumstances!
(3) OUR MOTIVATION MUST COME FROM GOD’S WORD!
* Do you remember the parable of the sower and the seed in Luke 8:4-15?
* v.15 can find any application in your life, whoever you are & whatever your present circumstance!
A) The Word of God can be planted in your heart!
* And if you want to, you can love & serve Him, you can keep the Word of God in a good heart!
* The Word is powerful & you can enjoy the power of God’s Word in your life!
* There is nothing more motivational than the Word of God in a good heart!
B) Is there anything more powerful than the Word of God?
* Is there anything more motivational than the Gospel of Christ?
* Sometimes I think the problem is being ashamed of the Gospel!
* We brainstorm and do research and wear ourselves out trying to find something that will change
people, when in our hands, we have the answer - The Word of God!
* If somebody claims to have a new idea, a better way, a project that will bring in the numbers,
* We want to hear from them! * But there is nothing more powerful than the Gospel!
C) If I believe in God and I really love the Lord and I’m committed to the Gospel,
* I’ll be motivated to do what’s right!
CLOSE
A) If you lack motivation to do what’s right before God,
* Look inside yourself & think about being made in the image of God!
B) Consider the great privilege of being a child of God, made possible by Christ!
* If you’ll let the Word of God find a home in your heart, you’ll be motivated to do what’s right!
* In the name of all that’s good and holy, respond to the Lord’s invitation right now!
