The Apprentice - part 3
May 2, 2004 AM
We are in a series entitled "The Apprentice."
And our study is "secrets of success from God’s persepctive."
The first secret was : "The buck stops here --"
No one controls your life but you --
If others are controlling your life, it is because you are allowing them to.
Where you are right now in your life is not someone else’s fault -- it’s your own.
We cannot play the blame game and change our future.
The buck stops here .... we are responsible for our own life
The second secret we learned was; Seek Wisdom
And we looked at 3 basic steps in acquiring wisdom;
1) Recognizing that God is God.
God is God -- and He’s not to be argued with, bargained with, or ignored.
He is the ultimate, final authority for all matters of the entire universe.
2) The second basic step we learned was we have to walk in relationship with God
(Psa 111:10 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments .....
When you’re in relationship with God you’re playing by His rules
You’re walking according to His laws.
You cannot violate God’s principles and expect God’s wisdom in your choices.
3) The third step in finding wisdom is ask God for it
(James 1:5 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
This morning we look at secret #3:
3) We must be people of action
Here’s what I have discovered --
We, as believers, have grown quite fat.
The church today looks a lot like a huge blob that resembles a human form but has become grossly over weight.
And all you hear from it are gurgles and belches and a gruff voice that says "feed me, feed me"
If the right speaker isn’t speaking, or if we get the impression that we might not be ministered to -- we don’t bother to even go to church.
Heaven forbid we be there to minister to someone else.
This is kind of a pet peave of mine --
There are people who drive all over the country to hear special speakers,
But can’t volunteer for one service every 2 months in the nursery.
The number one reason people leave churches is "they’re not being fed"
Yet you ask them how many ministries they are involved in and they stutter and stammer through a dozen excuses as to why they can’t help out.
I say all of that to kick off our apprentice secret for today --
We must be people of action -
But what happens all to often is people hear a good message,
They shake your hand tell you how great you preached, or how wonderful the service was,
But they walk out the door and never put to use the truths of God’s Word they said they loved so much.
Let me share two scriptures with you;
I’m reading from the Message Bible because he puts it so plain;
Romans 2:13 (Msg) Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.
Then in James chapter 1;
James 1:22 (Msg) Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!
Remember -- you are responsible for you own life,
You determine your own future -
And the way to create a better future is by making some changes today.
We create a new "us" today -- so that we will have a better "us" tomorrow.
We refuse to dwell, spend time, live in the pit of the past,
We are going to build a better tomorrow with todays actions.
We can either espouse flattery about the goodness of God’s word,
Or we can put God’s word to use -- and make a difference.
Success secret # 3 -- We must be people of action.
Most people have a very low tolerance of laziness in the natural realm.
We get bent out of shape real easy over people who just won’t work.
In fact we can actually preach some pretty good sermons on the sin of laziness.
I have known a few people that as my dad used to say "you had to drive a stick beside them to see if they moved".
There is nothing that gets people noticed and hired quicker than for them to appear energetic and full of life.
If you fall asleep during the interview -- don’t count on getting the job.
In the job market people who get things accomplished succeed -- they get promotions, they get raises, they get to keep their jobs.
Yet the same thing applies to the spiritual realm.
People who see God move in their life are the ones who are moving themselves.
They are not lazy in the spiritual realm.
Many of the life long problems we face are a result of simple laziness --
It is too much work to change.
It’s easier just to keep on doing what we’re doing.
There are some awesome scriptures in the book of proverbs on laziness -- let’s read a few;
Proverbs 6:6 (Msg) You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Proverbs 10:26 (Msg) A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble; it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
Proverbs 12:24 (Msg) The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.
Proverbs 12:27 (Msg) A lazy life is an empty life, but "early to rise" gets the job done.
I used to hate that verse -- that "early to rise" thing really rubbed me the wrong way.
Then I got old and I wake up early whether I want to or not.
Proverbs 15:19 (Msg) The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.
Proverbs 15:20 (Msg) Intelligent children make their parents proud; lazy students embarrass their parents.
and lose their scholarships ....
I added that ..... it just seemes to fit
Proverbs 19:24 (Msg) Some people dig a fork into the pie but are too lazy to raise it to their mouth.
Now that is lazy ....
Proverbs 20:4 (Msg) A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.
Proverbs 21:25 (Msg) Lazy people finally die of hunger because they won’t get up and go to work.
Both spiritually and physically we must be people of action.
Can I say that people of action become leaders?
One of my former pastors used to make this statement;
"When in doubt -- take charge"
In 2002 on Memorial week-end, a barge hit the supports of an I-40 bridge in eastern Oklahoma.
The accident knocked out 4 spans, or about 600 feet of the 1,988 foot bridge.
In all some 14 people were killed as a result of that accident.
But an interesting side note was the story of the fake military officer who offered assistance.
His name was Billy Clark -- and he impersonated an army officer at the accident scene.
He began organizing people for the rescue operation.
And people did what he said.
The truth he was a con-artist and criminal but --
He took action and people followed.
How many times in our own peer setting -- has someone become the leader of the group -- simply because he or she took action.
In 1863 a colonel in the Union Army named Joshua Chamberlain was fighting near Gettysburg.
The battle had been long, and repeated.
The confederate army would advance. retreat, regroup, and try again.
Chamberlain and his men were making their stand at a place called "big round top".
For hours the union army had simply defended it’s position, but their number were dwindling, and the ammunition was running low.
It was then that Colonel Chamberlain made a decision -- it was time to attack.
Though out numbered, and with little firepower left -- the order was given.
It was a simple one word commmand -- "bayonettes".
The command raced from mouth to mouth down the line until every man had heard it.
And at Colonel Chamberlains command his remaining troops leaped over the rock wall and made their attack.
In minutes Confederate soldiers were throwing their still loaded and unfired weapons on the ground, and raising their arms in surrender.
Including their commander.
To have sat still would have been sure defeat and death for all his men --
But colonel Chamberlain was a man of action.
There is a story very similar in the Bible --
A young shepherd named David came to the battlefield to see his brothers.
Yet when he got there -- there wa sno fighting --
Just troops hiding in the ditches -- afraid of a 9 foot tall soldier from the enemies camp.
But David was a take charge guy -- a man of action,
And he marched against the enemy.
All he had was a slingshot and 5 rocks.
But he took action, and the giant was defeated --
Because God went with David.
And when we take action under God’s direction -- things happen
Enemies are defeated,
Victories are won.
Leading is doing.
Leading is taking action.
Leaders are people of action.
No one follows someone who never leads.
People of action are also decision makers.
If you can’t make a decision you can’t change your future.
If there is anything that has paralyzed people and businesses it’s indecision.
there is nothing more frustrating than being in line at Krispy Kremes and the lady in front of you can’t decide which donut she wants.
When you know what you want ....
Secret #3 to success is to be people of action.
4) Secret # 4 ... We must have a decided heart
One plague against our society today is undecided hearts.
That accounts for the adultery rate, the divorce rate, even the unemployment rate,
Some alcohol and drug use can be attributed to simply an undecided heart.
People who do not make up their mind and stick to it.
I always tell young couples that in marriage the word "divorce" is never to be spoken.
It’s not a part of their vocabulary.
And they always look at one another and grin that stupid lovey dovey grin and say "Oh we know, divorce is never an option for us"
And after they have been married three weeks, I get a phone call,
And one of them is saying, "pastor we had a fight, and I don’t see any way out except divorce"
Their heart is not decided.
We see people who are on fire for God,
And seemingly are on the road to becoming a spiritual giant.
And suddenly they disappear from church,
And when you call them, they say something like "well, I’m just struggling right now, and I’m not sure of what God wants"
And then they stop coming altogether, and lose out with God.
What happened?
They did not have a decided heart.
There is a difference between just making up your mind, and setting your heart.
There is an old I love Lucy show where Ricky and Lucy and Fred and Ethel are out having dinner.
And they all look at the menu for several minutes, then Lucy makes up her mind,
She wants roast beef.
So she orders first.
Then Ethel orders -- she wants ham, the next shot is of Lucy with a doe eyed stare on her face ...
And she changes ger order to ham.
She reassures the waiter -- this is it -- she wants ham.
Then Fred orders .... and he wants chicken....
And again we see Lucy get that far-away look ... ad she changes her order to chicken ....
The waiter is getting perturbed ... but he writes down her new order anyway.
Then Ricky orders ..... he wants lamb.
Lucy looks somewhat sheepish this time and embarrassed -- changes her order to lamb.
The waiter -- now noticeably peaved -- changes her order ....
But before he can get the order to kitchen, Lucy changes it again and goes back to the roast beef ...
See if all you do is make up your mind -- you can change it.
But when you set your heart --
The very center of your being --
When you set your heart, adultery is out of the question, divorce is unthinkable, walking away from God is undoable.
To be successful -- we must set our hearts -- not just our minds.
I knew someone once who was going to plant a new church --
But their comment was -- "I’ll give it 6-months, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll do something else".
Well guess what, It didn’t work.
Anything you approach with the attitude if it works great, and if it doesn’t so what --
Won’t work.
You get a job with the attitude "I’ll try for a while" -- and in awhile you’ll be unemployed again.
Whether it’s a marriage, a job, a career, or a business --
In order for it to succeed you have to set your heart.
If your heart is not set -- you will not have a passion for what ever it is you’re doing.
No ever gets a dream for their future without being ready to set their heart.
Our secrets for success so far:
1) the buck stops here
2) we must seek wisdom
3) we must be people of action
4) We must decide our hearts
These steps also explain salvation --
1) The bucks stops with you --
No one can save you, no one can make the decision for you,
Mama’s prayers won’t do it, Hang out with believers won’t do it,
Being good won’t do it --
The buck stops with you -- you are the only one who can invite Jesus into your heart.
2) Seeking wisdom
There is nothing smarter than making sure your right with God today.
3) being people of action --
Too many poeple put off getting right with God.
(2 Cor 6:2 NKJV) ... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
4) decided hearts
Making the decision that you will commit your life to God.
