Marty Sloan – Living the Dream

Quest Series Part 3 – Delays, Detours and Discoveries

3/24/10 HT PM

On every journey there are detours, delays and discoveries.

• Delays (things that slow you down)

• Detours  (things to work around)

• Discoveries (new things you now know)

I. Delays -

Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:2

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Hebrews 12:3

Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Hebrews 12:4

After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

In a race there is typically a finish line that you cannot see – there is significant delay between the start and finish.  Its in that delay-window that you will face all the things that will make you want to stops short of the finish line.

• Delays cause you to adjust your focus

You overcome the delay by keep your focus on what’s ahead of you, not around you or behind you. Delays cause us to adjust our focus from the present to the future.

Hebrews 11:9 NLT

And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.

Hebrews 11:10

Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

• Delays bring up the spiritual law of sowing and reaping.

The law of sowing and reaping is a delayed process.

Galatians 6:7 NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

Galatians 6:8

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

Galatians 6:9

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:10

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Every step in our Quest for Christ is laced with the principle of sowing and reaping.

1. You will always reap what you sow (vs7)

2. You will reap more than you sow (vs9)

3. You will reap at a time that you cannot control (vs9)

Philippians 3:12 NLT

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Philippians 3:13

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Philippians 3:14

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:15

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

Philippians 3:16

But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Philippians 3:17

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:18

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:19

They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

Philippians 3:20

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

II. Detours

2 Timothy 2:1 NKJV

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:2

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:3

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:4

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:5

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Timothy 2:6

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Farmer – Athlete – Soldiers

Emphasis soldier in a battle

Like a soldier in a battle;

• you will face things you must work around.

• your focus must be on who you are trying to please

• you must avoid the cares of this life

III. Discoveries

Four Discoveries that will keep you on track on your Quest

1. Humility (do not do it alone)

Romans 12:3 NLT

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

1 Corinthians 8:1 NKJV

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

1 Corinthians 8:2

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

How can you maintain humility?

• Serve – others

Luke 22:24 NKJV

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

Luke 22:25

And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’

Luke 22:26

But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.

Luke 22:27

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

• Submit – to one another

Ephesians 5:20 NLT

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:22

For wives, this means submit your husbands as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:23

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church.

Ephesians 5:24

As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:25

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

Ephesians 5:26

to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

• Surrender – to God

Matthew 22:34 NLT

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

Matthew 22:35

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:

Matthew 22:36

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Matthew 22:37

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

Everyone of us must ask the question on our quest – what am I holding back from God?

NEXT WEEK ☺ (Go ahead and put on the slide show)

2. Generosity (do not keep everything for yourself)

3. Gratitude (do not assume that you self exist)

4. Courage (never be afraid)