We are down to the final 40 days of 2017! 40 days is roughly 10% of the year. As we enter into the final 10% of the year I want to challenge you with something. I’ve had to check myself at times for rationalizing giving 90% in situations and not pressing through to the very end.
In my marriage I can give 90% of my heart to Tracy and still offer more than a lot of other guys offer their wives. In friendships 90% of my best will satisfy most with my level of commitment. Jesus teaches us that we should go the “extra mile” in life.
Don’t give up before you see things through! God revealed 2017 as a foundation that must be fully developed before 2018 is built.
As we move into January we’re going to focus, as a church family, on the First 40 Days of the year which will include fasting, praying, Destiny Boot Camp Sat 1/27 with Steve Uppal from England. Worship night at the end of that 40 days 2/11.
Our 2018 New Year’s Revelation is CREATED TO FLOURISH. To become a member of the Destiny family we will ask you to walk through these first 40 days in a community group where we will look at how WE BRING GOD’S PRESENCE TO REAL LIFE as we look at five very important truths that God has given us to embrace.
Before we get too focused on 2018 we really need to be sure we are seeing 2017 all the way through giving 100% of our attention to what God has revealed: Love Is Our Source
A distressed Israel had turned back to God and was being restored. God raised up a king and a wonderful time of flourishing was ahead.
2 Chron 15:7 Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. NIV
Be strong! Don’t give up! Reward is just ahead! Don’t give in and don’t give up before you see things through! God is at work on a foundation in our lives!
A secret to being tenacious is realizing life does not necessarily get easier, but rather we get stronger and wiser.
What is God desiring to accomplish in your life in these final 40 days of 2017? Are you willing to press in a little extra to get there? Let’s not stop just short of our breakthrough.
The year Tracy and I were getting married I was interning at our church in Stillwater. We were working with the Summer Olympics to serve the various venues with the purpose of sharing the Gospel. I was helping mobilize teams of people in every direction and it was exhausting. Not only was it exhausting but I was about to marry this really cute girl (pic) and had hardly seen her the entire time we were preparing and working at this event. After everything concluded there was a huge celebration service downtown OKC with all of the churches and teams. I knew I should have been there but I was exhausted and Tracy was so cute. I skipped out and spent that evening with Tracy. I later would learn that they honored me at this event in front of all these people desiring to present me with a check to express appreciation. I just didn’t see it all the way through and regretted it.
A few months ago our Catering company invited me to play in a golf scramble. We actually won the event and the team all left except for me. I was there as they began drawing tickets for things like golf balls, hats, etc. Realizing my team had left and not really caring to win these little items I walked away to find the pro-shop where our victory provided $100 credit. I went shopping. Shortly after I was looking through the shop somebody came up to me saying, “Oh man! They drew your name for the grand prize and you weren’t in there so they gave it to someone else!” Grand prize drawing was dinner for two at a place like Mahogany and floor seats to a Thunder game. $Few Thousand$
Heb 11 is the famous hall of fame of faith describing so many people who suffered and gave so much to see God’s Kingdom expand in the earth. The writer is rehearsing these inspiring stories in part to encourage believers to stay the course recognizing we have this great cloud of witnesses who have handed off the baton for us to continue the race to our generation.
Heb 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. NIV
Pathway to purpose is always filled w pain Focusing on purpose will push you through the pain.
Hebrews 12:12-13 So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong. (NLV)
We are running a race! Let’s run with Jesus. Let’s run together. We need everyone of you in this race.
We Bring GP2RL: Make specific time pray and listen this week. God wants our attention, our affection and our focus in these final 40 days.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide
It is hard to believe but we are now less than 8 weeks away from the end of the year. Devoting yourself to giving 90% of your energy to areas of your life is pretty easy. It is the final 10% that really requires us to focus tenaciously that tends to move us beyond mediocrity. Today’s discussion is about finishing this year strong as we begin preparing for the year to come.
OPENING DISCUSSION:
1. Everybody start by sharing one word that describes their 2017 this far.
2. Everybody share one word that describes their hope for 2018 next year.
Every year as a new year begins the common mindset for many is resolution. A new year brings a perspective of a new beginning in many ways. New Years Resolutions are great pursuits of self-improvement.
As Christians it is important to take some time to really pray about what God wants to do in our lives in the year ahead. Clearly God desires to speak to us and give us guidance and direction for our lives.
DISCUSSION:
3. As we read the following verses think about specific things that stand out to you to share with the group after reading them.
Prov 3:6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. MSG
Isa 42:9 “See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” NIV
The #1 key to hearing the voice of God is to be willing to hear what He wants to say more than what you’re wanting Him to tell you.
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. NIV
Isa 30:21 – Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” NIV
When we sense God’s direction about the New Year it becomes a New Years Revelation and this is the pursuit of what God wants to do in our lives.
DISCUSSION:
4. Does anybody have anything along these lines that they could share about direction God has given personally in years past?
5. This is a great time to begin praying about next year’s New Year’s Revelation for you and your family. Does anybody have any direction for this already?
Let’s all commit to pray and seek God specifically asking for what He has in mind for us personally over the next year.