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New Life COTR Wednesday April 11, 2007
Laying Down My Life
INTRODUCTION: A couple of weeks ago we talked about putting off the old man. Something we must do. Before Christ came into our lives it was impossible to put off the old man. But with Christ we can put off the old and put on the new.
Tonight we put off, put on and LAY DOWN. We’re going to talk about what I believe is a very important key to successful ministry and fulfilling your destiny.
We’ll be going to the book of Philippians, a book in which I love!
This is an affectionate letter from Paul to the Philippians commending them for their faith and support.
Paul has very little occasion to acknowledge any problems in the church although 2 quarreling women, Euodia and Syntche, are admonished to settle their differences.
Philippians is called the “happy” letter.
Written in the pages of Philippians is what I believe to be the key to productive, successful, life-giving ministry. The key to really experiencing all that God has for you and the destiny he has prepared for you.
Philippians 1:12-26(NIV)- Turn and Read
Paul said, “I’m torn.” I’m distressed. I’ve got this battle going on inside me.
I have this desire to depart this earth and be with Christ which is far better! Away from the frustrations, the pain, grief, the jail cell. Away from all this. IT’S FAR BETTER!
PAUL IS STRUGGLING WITH A REAL DESIRE!
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He’ll give you the desires of your heart.” Must be God! Not always!
Philippians 2:5- “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
THREE ATTITUDES OF MINISTRY
Remember we’re talking about desires!
1. Ministry about Christ for Christ
2. Ministry about Christ for me
3. Ministry about Christ for people
Which is the best attitude for ministry? Ministry about Christ for Christ!
This is evident in the life of Paul.
Galatians 2:20- “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul was saying, I’ve laid down my wants and my desires for the sake of Christ. Everything I do I do to honor Christ and I do it for Him.
Philippians 3:1-11- Turn and Read
Paul was saying, I don’t identify with those things anymore, I LAY THEM DOWN!
MY IDENTITIY IS IN CHRIST! (Illustration with three chairs)
My ministry is about Christ and it is for Christ!
True genuine Christian ministry flourishes in the field of laying down your life!
Matthew 16:24,25- “Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
Deny- disown (Ministry about Christ for Christ)
BACK IN PHILIPPIANS 1
Paul said I have a real desire to go and be with Christ. He wrote this from a Roman jail!
Verse 24- “but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body”
Verse 25- “convinced of this, I know that I will remain.”
Paul was saying, I have a desire to leave this earth, but I’m laying down my life for the sake of Christ and I’m staying for your sake!
THE HEART OF TRUE MINISTRY!
Matthew 26:39- “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as I will.”
YOU MEAN AT SOME POINT JESUS HAD A DESIRE THAT WASN’T SOMETHING FATHER GOD DESIRED!
Matthew 26:42- “He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
John 5:30- “….for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.”
John 6:38- “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
My ministry is about God for God!
NOW GOING BACK TO THE APOSTLE PAUL IN PHILIPPIANS. Now we’ve discovered the heart of true genuine ministry.
Let’s look at some of the things Paul wrote in Philippians.
Philippians 2:13,14- “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
This is possible when I lay down my life.
Philippians 3:13,14- “Brothers, I do not consider myself as yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I can do this when I lay down my life.
Philippians 3:4-11- Turn and Read
1. Rejoice
2. Be gentle
3. Don’t worry
4. Be thankful
5. Have peace
6. Think on the right things
7. Be content
THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN WE LAY DOWN OUR LIFE!
Philippians 4:13- “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
CONCLUSION: It’s not about me and it’s not for me! It’s about Christ and for Christ. Let’s lay down our life for His sake. THAT’S WHEN YOU’LL TRULY FIND LIFE AS WE READ ABOVE.
New Life COTR Wednesday April 11, 2007
Laying Down My Life
INTRODUCTION: A couple of weeks ago we talked about putting off the old man. Something we must do. Before Christ came into our lives it was impossible to put off the old man. But with Christ we can put off the old and put on the new.
Tonight we put off, put on and LAY DOWN. We’re going to talk about what I believe is a very important key to successful ministry and fulfilling your destiny.
We’ll be going to the book of Philippians, a book in which I love!
This is an affectionate letter from Paul to the Philippians commending them for their faith and support.
Paul has very little occasion to acknowledge any problems in the church although 2 quarreling women, Euodia and Syntche, are admonished to settle their differences.
Philippians is called the “happy” letter.
Written in the pages of Philippians is what I believe to be the key to productive, successful, life-giving ministry. The key to really experiencing all that God has for you and the destiny he has prepared for you.
Philippians 1:12-26(NIV)- Turn and Read
Paul said, “I’m torn.” I’m distressed. I’ve got this battle going on inside me.
I have this desire to depart this earth and be with Christ which is far better! Away from the frustrations, the pain, grief, the jail cell. Away from all this. IT’S FAR BETTER!
PAUL IS STRUGGLING WITH A REAL DESIRE!
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He’ll give you the desires of your heart.” Must be God! Not always!
Philippians 2:5- “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
THREE ATTITUDES OF MINISTRY
Remember we’re talking about desires!
1. Ministry about Christ for Christ
2. Ministry about Christ for me
3. Ministry about Christ for people
Which is the best attitude for ministry? Ministry about Christ for Christ!
This is evident in the life of Paul.
Galatians 2:20- “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul was saying, I’ve laid down my wants and my desires for the sake of Christ. Everything I do I do to honor Christ and I do it for Him.
Philippians 3:1-11- Turn and Read
Paul was saying, I don’t identify with those things anymore, I LAY THEM DOWN!
MY IDENTITIY IS IN CHRIST! (Illustration with three chairs)
My ministry is about Christ and it is for Christ!
True genuine Christian ministry flourishes in the field of laying down your life!
Matthew 16:24,25- “Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
Deny- disown (Ministry about Christ for Christ)
BACK IN PHILIPPIANS 1
Paul said I have a real desire to go and be with Christ. He wrote this from a Roman jail!
Verse 24- “but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body”
Verse 25- “convinced of this, I know that I will remain.”
Paul was saying, I have a desire to leave this earth, but I’m laying down my life for the sake of Christ and I’m staying for your sake!
THE HEART OF TRUE MINISTRY!
Matthew 26:39- “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as I will.”
YOU MEAN AT SOME POINT JESUS HAD A DESIRE THAT WASN’T SOMETHING FATHER GOD DESIRED!
Matthew 26:42- “He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
John 5:30- “….for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.”
John 6:38- “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
My ministry is about God for God!
NOW GOING BACK TO THE APOSTLE PAUL IN PHILIPPIANS. Now we’ve discovered the heart of true genuine ministry.
Let’s look at some of the things Paul wrote in Philippians.
Philippians 2:13,14- “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing.”
This is possible when I lay down my life.
Philippians 3:13,14- “Brothers, I do not consider myself as yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I can do this when I lay down my life.
Philippians 3:4-11- Turn and Read
1. Rejoice
2. Be gentle
3. Don’t worry
4. Be thankful
5. Have peace
6. Think on the right things
7. Be content
THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN WE LAY DOWN OUR LIFE!
Philippians 4:13- “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
CONCLUSION: It’s not about me and it’s not for me! It’s about Christ and for Christ. Let’s lay down our life for His sake. THAT’S WHEN YOU’LL TRULY FIND LIFE AS WE READ ABOVE.
