So What Are You Going To Do NEXT?

(Follow-up to the 40 Days of Purpose)

Part TWO: The Adventure of Going Where We Can

Some of the things we looked at:

• Philippians 2:13 – For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. 2 Peter 1:3 – As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.

• With great power comes great responsibility... but it's not just a responsibility, it's an opportunity!

• Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Romans 6 - we must go the right way. Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

• Going where we can speaks of:

  • Possibility: Luke 18:27 - Everything is possible with God.

  • Imagination: Ephesians 3:20 - God is able to do more than we dare to imagine.

  • Enabling: Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ.

  • Choice: Romans 6:16 - You can choose sin or to obey God.

• THE ADVENTURE:

  • An adventure involves risk

  • An adventure involves unfamiliarity

  • An adventure involves unpredictability

  • An adventure involves uncertainty

  • An adventure involves faith

• This is the opposite of the delusion. Do you prefer the delusion to the adventure?

• Galatians 5 - What are you counting on to make you right with God?

• Consider people who had a "40 Days" experienced and what happened after: Noah, Moses, the 12 spies, David, Jonah, Jesus, and Jesus' followers

• What happens after a significant event is just as important as what happens in the event!

PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR APPLICATION:

How do we live what we’ve learned?

Worship God with all your heart. Get together and connect meaningfully with other believers. Be willing to go through difficult times without thinking that it’s abnormal, but realizing that God is just making you more like Jesus. If you’re not involved in a specific area of ministry, get involved in one. Act as though your job is to be a person who is constantly attempting to show people what God is like.

How do we share what we’ve learned?

Do all of the above, but while you are, talk about it thoughtfully with people you connect with.

How do we forget the former things?

It’s all about focus— whatever you’re focussed on is what you’ll think about. Specifically focus on where you are now in your journey with God and whatever is ahead, because it really doesn’t matter what has happened before. And realize that your memories of the former things are likely better than the things actually were. Some people always think it was better before.

How do we see and receive the new things God has for us?

Decide to be open-minded in your expectations of what they might be and how you might react to them. Ask God to show you. Ask yourself whether new things look more like the delusion or the adventure. When they come along, don’t make a quick decision or judgment about them until you have really considered the possibility and prayed about it.

How do we launch out into the adventure?

Whenever an opportunity comes along to minister to someone, serve someone, talk to someone, give to someone, encourage someone, reach out to someone… take it. And keep doing it. Going with God means going to people.

How do we know we’re going the right way, and doing what we should?

Talk to God every day, asking Him to lead you by His Holy Spirit. Read the bible, asking God to speak to you and help you understand His ways. Talk to people that you know are spiritually mature and full of God’s wisdom. Model your thoughts, words and actions after Jesus Christ as you see in the gospels.

You can’t know everything for sure, but that’s what makes it a journey of faith— an adventure!