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DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE – INVEST IT!
Part 1 of 3, Exodus 4
End of the Summer Personal Inventory, Spiritual Inventory
Stewardship of Life
Vision
Influence
Commitment
Time
Opportunity
Resources
You
ANSWER GOD’S QUESTION
“What is that in your hand?”
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied. (Exodus 4:1-2 )
Staff – what Moses already had.
Ordinary staff becomes the “rod of God”
God uses the weak thing to confound the mighty.
Jesus Disciples changed the world
Ordinary people
SEE THE UNSEEN WITH SPIRITUAL VISION
“…spiritual vision is a gift of God. It is a divinely empowered ability to see something that doesn’t yet exist in the physical realm.” Kirk Nowery, The Stewardship of Life
Cataracts
A cataract is a painless, cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the passage of light to the retina, the never layer at the back of the eye, usually causing vision problems.
SEE THE UNSEEN WITH SPIRITUAL VISION
Bible Examples: Noah, Abraham, Moses
Church Examples: give examples from congregation of people with spiritual vision serving in various ministries.
SEE THE UNSEEN WITH SPIRITUAL VISION
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
16"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
17And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17 )
Pray for Spiritual Vision
After the revelation comes responsibility
Responsibility to live and act in light of what God has revealed.
Vision from God should lead to action for God.
Romans 11:29
for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
1 Cor. 4:1-2
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
God’s assets are loaned to us to invest in such a way that we gain the greatest return and He gets the greatest glory.
Zech. 4:6
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
INFLUENCE WITH INTEGRITY
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 11:1 )
Influence People for Christ
Influence People to Know the one true God.
Think –
Feel
Speak
Act
Baldwin grocery Store – depressed
Poorest counties in the state
Tried to engage in conversation
Make eye contact
“Thank you, come again”
Pharmacy – pleasant, cheerful, helpful, appreciative, made you want to come back.
God’s people should be the kind of people that make you want to come back and see them again.
INFLUENCE WITH INTEGRITY
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)
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