HOW TO SUSTAIN SPIRITUAL MOMENTUM
Sermon Outline Notes
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
How Do I Sustain Spiritual Momentum?
1. I will find strength from those who have GONE BEFORE
“Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us.” Romans 15:4a (Msg)
What person of faith and godliness can strengthen my walk? __________________________
Illustration:
These forty soldiers, all Christians, were members of the famed Twelfth Legion of Rome’s imperial army. One day their captain told them Emperor Licinius had sent out an edict that all soldiers were to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. These Christians replied, “You can have our armor and even our bodies, but our hearts’ allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ.”
It was midwinter of A.D. 320, and the captain had them marched onto a nearby frozen lake. He stripped them of their clothes and said they would either die or renounce Christ. Throughout the night these men huddled together singing their song, “Forty martyrs for Christ.” One by one the temperature took its toll and they fell to the ice.
At last there was only one man left. He lost courage and stumbled to the shore, where he renounced Christ. The officer of the guards had been watching all this. Unknown to the others, he had secretly come to believe in Christ. When he saw this last man break rank, he walked out onto the ice, threw off his clothes, and confessed that he also was a Christian. When the sun rose the next morning, there were forty bodies of soldiers who had fought to the death for Christ.
Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., p. 16.
2. I will put off that which TRIPS ME UP
• Let go of the UNGODLY
• Let go of the UNNECESSARY
“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [4] No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.” 2 Tim. 2:3-4 (NIV)
In order to finish well, I need to let go of _________________________________________
Illustration:
When I Say I Am A Christian!
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I’m not shouting “I am saved.”
I’m whispering “I get lost”
That is why I chose this way.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I am weak
and pray for strength to carry on.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I’m not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible
but God believes I’m worth it.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek HIS name.
When I say . . . I am a Christian
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
3. I will CHOOSE TO PERSEVERE until I cross the finish line.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58 (NIV)
Coming out of 40 Days of Purpose, I know God wants me to keep on _____________________.
Illustration:
No doubt you have heard this one but it is worth repeating for obvious reasons.
The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of this man (his age appears on the right):
Failed in business 22
Ran for Legislature—defeated 23
Again failed in business 24
Elected to Legislature 25
sweetheart died 26
Had a nervous breakdown 27
Defeated for Speaker 29
Defeated for Elector 31
Defeated for Congress 34
Elected to Congress 37
Defeated for Congress 39
Defeated for Senate 46
Defeated for Vice President 47
Defeated for Senate 49
Elected President of the United States 51
That’s the record of Abraham Lincoln.
Bits and Pieces, July 1989.
4. I will keep a SINGLE-MINDED focus.
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Philippians 3:8 (NIV)
In order to stay single-minded through the Christmas season, I will _______________________________________
FOCUS
Illustration:
Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.
On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trop, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don’t forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven’t in the 30 years since.
Carol Mann, The 19th Hole, (Longmeadow), quoted in Reader’s Digest.
5. I will endure the suffering to see the SMILE
“I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
I am able to endure the present because I know someday
_______________________________________
“So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.” Hebrews 12:3 (CEV)
Illustration:
David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases. Dr. Truman’s prognosis was devastating: “He has a 50-50 chance.” The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs, the fear and pain—the mother’s ordeal can be almost as bad as the child’s because she must stand by, unable to bear the pain herself. David never cried in the waiting room, and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of his mother with a smile, sure of the welcome he always got. When he was three, David had to have a spinal tap—a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that, because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better. “If it hurts, remember it’s because he loves you,” Deborah said. The procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, “Thank you, Dr. Tooman, for my hurting.”
Monica Dickens, Miracles of Courage, 1985.
