Paths Series Part IV – 6 7 09 HT AM Story – Story Telling… What story will you tell?
Paths Series Part IV – Story – Story Telling… What story will you tell?
6 7 09 HT AM
The past few weeks we have together been on a journey. Beginning our journey in Proverbs 7, we observed the story of Solomon peering through a window as a simple young man headed down the wrong path. We have discovered how we are:
· Seduced by our own desires,
· Swindled by the desires of others
· Submitted life can bring us to the right path
When now know that in life, there are different paths that we can all choose. This is a path to life, happiness, wholeness, forgiveness, relationship and much more.
We have built our series on the principle that: Direction NOT Intention Determines Destination. Rules can be broken and bent, principles when not understood will break you.
Our series not about agreement, rather alignment.
Today I conclude this series with one of the most compelling thoughts one could ever have. Today everyone of us exists, no doubt there will come a day when our physical bodies will pass yet at that moment we will not cease to exists often after we pass physically our life speaks louder than ever through our story. Our Keyword for today is the word STORY, what story is your life telling?
Proverbs 7:24 NKJV
So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.
Proverbs 7:25
Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don’t wander down her wayward path.
Proverbs 7:26
For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.
Proverbs 7:27
Her house is the road to the grave.
Her bedroom is the den of death.
jump over to 1 Kings 11 –
1 Kings 11:1 NKJV
But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—
1 Kings 11:2
from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.
1 Kings 11:3
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
1 Kings 11:4
For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
Move to vs 11
1 Kings 11:11
Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
1 Kings 11:12
Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
1 Kings 11:13
However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”
We observe here that the very one who gave sound direction to another failed to adhere to his own wisdom to preserve his own story. You will tell a story! Your life will echo for generations to come! Today we still talk about people of the past, from kings, rulers, spiritual leaders to Christ Himself.
Consider today some thoughts about your story:
1. Stories have generational impact
Stories are told for generations… Bible refers to God being the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… you are telling right now a story that will be heard for generations… 1 Kings 11:12 –
1 Kings 11:12 NKJV Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
The moral, spiritual, practical, relational decisions you make right now are creating the story for the generation that comes behind you.
2. Stories can be selected
Ultimately you choose the outcome of your life, like a science fiction book you today no matter what chapter you are in you can choose the story of your life. If you are still hearing/breathing/living – you’re still writing! I think of the thief on the cross next to Jesus, this man lived a life of sin and destruction, yet the story we know of him is that he asked the Savior of the world to remember him!
3 Questions to ask to select your story –
1. Does this violate Gods law? Gods law will always take you to the right story. LAWS have CLEAR SIGNS
Gods Laws are the clear-cut statements in Scripture about His statements about your life. The Ten Commandments would be an identifiable example of this.
Psalm 23:3 NKJV He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
We have given ourselves to much liberty with our will versus Gods law. I am more convinced than ever that we categorically as people suffer from trying to fit Gods will into our life rather than aligning our life to His will.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
We really need to move our lives back toward doing what God has said and stop arguing with Him. You cannot violate Gods laws and tell the right story!
2. Does this violate a principle? Everything experiences the reality of cause and effect. WHILE LAWS HAVE CLEAR SIGNS, PRINCIPLES HAVE DEFINITE OUTCOMES.
Galatians 6:7 BBE Be not tricked; God is not made sport of: for whatever seed a man puts in, that will he get back as grain.
Gods Principles are a bit more difficult, principles are not as blatant, they pertain more to the cause and effect side of life. You have to ask: What is my desired outcome does this decision naturally lead to the outcome story we desire? Also, we have taken the delay of consequence to be an approval of our actions, all it means is the seed is still in the ground, but the fruit is right behind it!
Proverbs 6:27 NKJV Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
Proverbs 6:28 Can one walk on hot coals,And his feet not be seared?
3. Does this align with your desired story
Do not separate your direction from your intention.
Back to your story –
3. Stories need help –
There is no award at the end of life for those who asked the fewest questions or for the least help. If you have an area that you know is not want you want you story to be, you find continual frustration, you feel like you live with undesired and unresolved outcomes… STOP ask for some help! Then apply the help! 3 Ways to arrive somewhere, KNOW it, FIND it, Directed to it – desire alone is NOT enough!
Proverbs 1:5 NKJV
A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
Proverbs 12:15 NKJV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 15:22 NASB
Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.
4. Stories are best from the Path of Life
John 10:7 NKJV
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:8
All who ever came ◙ before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Align your path with Christ…. We cannot have our life AND the path of life!
· The Path of Life REQUIRES your life!
Luke 9:23 NKJV
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:24
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Luke 9:25
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
Proverbs 3:5 NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall ◙ direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Key Word – ALL! Not self-but God! Our Pastor often quotes Jim Elliot, “A man is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose”– this is a powerful statement!
A story that has impacted my journey is that of DL Moody – who heard a preacher say – its yet to be seen what can be done by a man totally dedicated to God – DL Moody stepped out into the night time Chicago air and said I will be that man!
Why do you struggle with giving God all of your heart? What area of your life gives you the biggest control challenge?
Today are you ready to raise your hands in declaration that God can have ALL your ways – Secure your story today by telling it from the right path? Today are you prepared to give up what you cannot keep for that which you cannot lose, are you ready to be that man/ woman that is totally dedicated to God? Secure your story through Christ!