10-6-08 Next Steps Series: Practicing

We’re in this series called next steps, and the first week we asked the question, “What is our purpose?” And we talked about all the things that we often unintentionally put at the center of our lives. Sometimes our primary purpose is to make money, or sometimes we put success at the top of our priorities, or maybe for some of us,we put pleasure as being highly significant in our lives, and for some of us, and I think this identifies me, often times, is that we don’t just put one thing as being the most important in our lives, instead we don’t really have a focus – we’ve never identified what our purpose is, so we just lump it all in the box together. I put money, and success, and pleasure, and Jesus all at the center of my life and I end up never really finding peace inside of me. I never really go anywhere in my life because I get stuck going in circles from one important purpose to the next, but I never end up getting closer to any of them. It’s like being in the woods without a compass and I just keep going in circles – lost really.

 

We all have cravings and a hungers, and appetites for all these things (point at the easel), but we find that they never satisfy that inner void inside of us, unless we put God at the center of our lives. That’s because that void can only be filled with God and his love, and joy and peace.

 

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things (point at the easel) will be given to you as well.

 

When we put God and his kingdom – his goodness, first, then everything else just falls into place. When we put understanding and loving God in the box – these things become our primary purpose – that is a direction in life, and that leads somewhere – somewhere that brings you and I life.

 

The Greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. To love God with all that you are. To put God at the center. How do we do that? What’s the next step? Because there is always a next step, no matter how far along you are.

The step that we’re going to look at today is a real important Next Step. We’ve talked about it a little bit before, but I’d like to spend the rest of our time together looking at this idea of “Practicing the presence of God”-learning to see God, to be with God, as a real concrete thing in an ordinary day.

 

Last week we looked at the idea of transformation and we said that three key ingredients needed to be in place for transformation and growth to happen in our Christian life. The first one we heavily looked at last week is:

 

Vision – A vision is a dream of a preferred reality and it’s not so important that you have this vision, but rather, it has you – it’s right down in your guts – this vision has to own you. When you get down or you get where you want to give up, the vision takes over. It’s no longer a thinking matter because the vision has you at the deepest level. The next one is:

Intension – Intension we said was a firm conviction that I have to have that dream. People dream all the time, but intension is when I say, “I have to have that dream no matter what the cost.” And then:

 

Method – this is where you and I rearrange our lives, so that we can see our dream come true, our preferred reality come true. This is where you say, I will have the kingdom of God, and I will rearrange my life to see up there come down here. I will follow God anywhere in order to become all that I was created to be. Today we’re going to be looking at the methods that it takes in order for God to be the sole, singular purpose in my life.

 

We said last week that when we seek God and his kingdom first, what that means is that God becomes the hub of a wheel and then things like pleasure money, success all become the spokes of the wheel. These things are not bad, in fact they are very good things, but when they take the place of God, then that becomes very destructive.

 

One of the places in the Bible where it talks about this is when Paul writes to the church at Colosse, a great Chapter, Colossians 3:17. Here’s what Paul writes:

 

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17)

 

Now, something worth noticing here is how comprehensive this command is. Paul says, “Whatever you do.” Now, what does that leave out? Not very much. And in case anybody’s a little fuzzy on that, he says, “Whatever you do in word or deed…” And again, he’s trying to make sure there are no loop holes left. But in case there is, and somebody’s still looking for a loophole, he says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything…”

 

 Paul really thought about this stuff. To do something in Jesus’ name” is to do something in His character, to do something in the way Jesus would if He were in my place. And that means to do it with Him.

 

So here’s the idea:

 

Target tomorrow, Monday. If you’ve got a pen or pencil, just write down “Monday, because what we’re going to try to do is tomorrow, as our next step-to take one ordinary day-don’t do anything special or spiritually heroic that’s not part of your regular routine. Don’t add any other solitude or Bible study, or anything in addition to what you would normally do; do what you would normally do tomorrow–but do it together with Jesus. Invite Him to be a part of your ordinary day. Tomorrow, for one day, just one day-Monday, as an experiment. Approach it as you would an adventure; kind of like a game.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, everything…

 

Let’s walk through it for a little bit, just to make it concrete. What’s the first thing that you will do tomorrow morning? You will wake up. Now, here’s the question: Would someone watching you wake up, say it’s pretty much like watching Jesus wake up? That’s what it looks like when you wake up?

 

Well, the problem is that when I wake up, I forget that this day is a gift from God. Do any of you do that? It’s God’s day. So the first thing that we can do tomorrow is before I get out of bed, Thank God for giving this day to you.

 

Have you ever thought about this, but every time that you go to sleep, it is as if we die. I don’t know about you, but when my head hits that pillow, I’m comatose – it’s like I’m in a comma – I am out to the world. It’s as if I were dead. If I died in my sleep, I wouldn’t know the difference. When people die, they say they went to sleep. There are a lot of similarities. Thank God for rising from the dead, because we can’t make ourselves wake up.

 

When we wake up, remember that waking up is a gift from God and it’s like we have a new lease on life.

 

A woman woke up and her husband was having convulsions, quite massive convulsions. He was a young man in his forties; he’d had a stroke. And his whole world-their whole world–had been turned upside down.

 

 

There’s a family who would give a million dollars for what I take for granted every morning. My eyes open up, my body works, another day. See, you could do this. You’ve got to wake up anyway, so tomorrow, just for once, wake up in Jesus’ name. When you wake up, just pause a moment, and say,

 

God, I get to have another day. Your mercies are new every morning, and I’m having them right now just being awake. Thank You! Thank You that You made my eyes open. Thank You, I get another day.  Something I wasn’t entitled to. Something that’s a gift from you.

 

And if you have any anxious thoughts, and you’re worried about stuff, all you have to do is just invite Him, saying Jesus, I’m not in control, you are, I want to trust you with all this stuff that’s weighing me down right now. Help me to walk in your will today. Give over all the control and anxiety to God. He’s big enough to take it.

 

Do you know why we get anxious and stressed, it’s because we’re trying to be God. It’s because I’m trying to control things that I have no control over and so when you wake up and maybe you start having anxious thoughts, just give God permission to be God. Trust him and thank him for being who he is.

 

Then, the next thing that you’re going to do, you’ve got to clean up your body. It’s a strange thing, did you ever notice this: All you did was sleep, but you wake up and everything’s a mess. Your breath is bad, there’s gunk in your eyes–who knows where that stuff comes from–you have odor issues going on, you’ve got some brushing and flossing and washing and deodorizing to do. You’ve got to do that stuff anyway, so while you’re doing it say,

God, while I’m cleaning up my body, God, would You clean up my heart and my mind and my will?  There’s all kinds of thoughts going on in there–jealous or envious or prideful or fearful and anxious, greedy–so would You scrub those away, and lead me to thoughts that are noble, and hopeful, and pure? God, would You cleanse my mind?

 

An God sometimes my will is really messed up. I want things and I want to do things that are at odds with your will, and so this morning I want to say, God, not my will be done – not my will be done, but yours, God.

 

That would be a good thing. You’ve got to wash up anyway. Tomorrow for once you can do this–do it with Jesus.

 

Then, you’ve got to put clothes on your body. Now there has never been a society that is more preoccupied, even obsessed with, the question, “What will I put on my body?”

 

These are such great words. Again, these are from one of the great spiritual formation Chapters in the Book of Colossians:

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

So, just for tomorrow, you’ve got to get dressed anyway, while you’re putting clothes on your body, say,

God, would you clothe my character with compassion and kindness and humility, gentleness, and patience. 

You have to put clothes on tomorrow, so why not do it with Jesus

 

When you eat breakfast, you’ve got to eat breakfast anyhow, just remember what Jesus said, Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)

 

Food is such a gift. I think I’m entitled to it or I earned it or something, but it’s a gift. And I can just slow down and notice it and enjoy it and thank God for it. God, thank you for this food that you give us.

 

Remember that all of our food had to die. All the animals and all the wheat, and potatoes, and veggies, they all have to die in order for us to eat. They all have to die in order for us to live, so tomorrow, when you eat your food, remember to thank God for his love for you – a love that was so great that he was willing to die in order for you and I to live.

 

And then when you read the newspaper or watch, or listen to the news, if you usually do these things–don’t be real spiritual–go ahead and do what you normally do, but do it with Jesus. And if you read or hear something that makes you concerned, or joyful then talk to Him about it. Say,

God, would You help that country, or help those people? God, help that candidate. God, be with that family who lost a loved one.

 

You’ll probably get in the car to drive somewhere tomorrow. What would it look like to drive in Jesus’ name? Would you drive any slower than you usually do? When somebody cuts you off, would you call them a different name if Jesus were right next to you there in the car? Don’t try to drive differently. Just invite Jesus to be with you. That’s the wonderful thing about this exercise. Then, if there’s something about you that He wants to change, as you are talking with Him about it, then He’ll help you with this.

 

You can answer the phone in Jesus’ name. Look for opportunities to love, encourage, or care for people. Look for ways to serve in Jesus’ name tomorrow-just one opportunity during the day.

 

If you’re going to go to work or school tomorrow or if you have tasks to do, then what does it mean to work in Jesus name? Anyone here ever get frustrated at work?

 

So tomorrow wherever you go, do simple things like going to work on time and if you feel stressed or burdened – tell Him about that. Ask for His help. When a difficult person comes along at work, then say to Jesus, Jesus, would You help me? Remember, Jesus is the guy who said,

You have heard it said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” but I say, “Love your enemy… (Matthew 5: 43-44)

 

That’s hard, I need Gods help in that.. Jesus, help me do that. You’ve got to go to work anyhow. Tomorrow, work in Jesus’ name and then when you get to the end of the day you are going to sleep.

 

When you put your head on the pillow and look back on the day. Just ask God,

Where did I get stuff wrong? Where did I sin? Where did I or others not experience up there coming down here. Where did I or others not experience heaven coming to earth by what I said or did. Just say, “God, would you forgive me and cleanse me, and would you empower me to get better at this thing called life. God would you tell me where I need to go back and talk to somebody and set something right.

God, would you help me become the person that you’ve created me to be. And then thank God for all the goodness that he has given to you.

 

And then after that, look back. Where did you see God on Monday? When I woke up? When I had this conversation? In the eyes of this person? In the idea that came to me here?

God, You are so great!

 

And the last thing, when you go to sleep, if you want to, if you want to, invite Him to be with you again on Tuesday. Because, see, if you can spend one ordinary day with Jesus, you can spend every day with Jesus–one day at a time. And maybe that’s your Next Step.

Life Link:

 

• When you were young what did you want to be when you grew up or if you are young, then what do you want to be when you grow up?

 

• Summary of the message / The Question

 

• Why is it important to “Do everything in the name of Jesus?” Who is the focus when we don’t do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus? Who or what is in the box then?

 

• Have you tried to “Do everything in the name of Jesus” this week? How has it gone? Why do you think it’s so hard? Can we do it by ourselves? How do we get help?

 

• Why is it important to practice the presence of God? Can we do this apart from a vision and intention (Transformation = vision + intension + method) Why is vision and intention so important in trying to “Do everything in the name of Jesus?”

 

• Traditionally Bible study and programmed classes where the method thought to provide transformation. Why don’t these, alone, provide transformation? Are Bible study and Bible classes bad? Are they enough? Why or why not?