Luke 4:43-44 - “But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose." So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” NASB
Some people have set goals for themselves and anything they do has to help them accomplish their goals or they won't waste their time being involved with something that will not help them achieve this. When you look at athletes who set their goals on becoming the best at whatever sport they are involved with it is easy to see why they say, "No, to drugs and alcohol." They understand drugs and alcohol are not going to help them achieve their goals. So they stay away from them. I was very close to spending a lot of years in prison over drug charges back in the 1970's. In the first trial, which ended in a hung jury, 10 people said, "Guilty" and 2 people said, "Not Guilty." Wow! Not having a purpose in my life was almost a very expensive mistake. Two people kept me from going to prison for a very long time.
In fact, His purpose would ultimately lead to people killing Him. He preached about the Kingdom of God and certain people didn't want to hear what He was saying. They hated His message so much they killed Him to try and quiet Him, but we know this didn't quiet Him, except for three days. Then He resurrected and empowered His disciples to preach and preach they did. On the day of Pentecost, they baptized 3,000 people (Acts 2). Hopefully, you have been baptized or immersed into Christ. If not please let me know and I will help you. So, do you want to stay out of trouble? Set a Goal or another way of saying it is "Have a Purpose."
In fact, one of my nightly exercises in bed is to say to myself "Okay, what do you want to accomplish tomorrow?" Then I go to sleep happy because I know there is something that awaits me the next day. Think About These: Some people dream of worthy accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them. A genius shoots at something no one else sees and hits it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Prov. 24:16 - For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. NASU
Prov. 24:16 No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
I have included this verse from The Message translation also. I really love how he translated this verse. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet,… I am sure we all have been knocked down by life, but the difference between us and others is we get back up and continue grinding it out until the victory is ours.
This is you. You are a God-loyal person and sure you are down now but you are not down for long because he goes on to say soon you're up on your feet. Identify what it is that has knocked you down in life. Is it a health issue, or a financial issue or a work issue? Know this, whatever it is that has knocked you down the fight isn't over. You will get back up on your feet and win this battle. How do I know? This scripture tells us this is what God-loyal or the righteous people do.
Whatever the reason there is only one thing for you to do, get back up, dust yourself off and continue in the fight until you secure the victory. You can do this because God's Word says you can. Think About This: “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength.” ― Theodore Roosevelt Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Gen.11:4, 6 - And they said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." …. 6 And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. NASB
The Bible is filled with many stories of how people accomplished success in their lives. What is it you would like to succeed in today? I will share with you one Biblical plan for you to become successful.
If you want to be successful then have a Purpose. In Genesis 11 - the people had a purpose, and it was to build a city and a tower. Can you hear the person with the dream? What we need people is a city, and in this city we need a tower, and not just any tower, our tower must reach into the heavens. The people were united, they worked as one and they had a singleness of purpose. They worked as ONE. If your plan entails more than one person working with you to accomplish your goal then you all have to be on the same page. Listen to what the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them." They spoke the same LANGUAGE or in other words they were all on the same page. If you want to be successful you need to identify your purpose. You need to name what it is you want to accomplish. You will not be successful without naming your purpose. Who is more likely to get in trouble today? It is my belief people without a purpose will get in more trouble then people with a purpose.
Second, we must also have a PLAN (vs. 3) They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. Their plan was to build this city by making bricks. What is your plan? What are you going to do to become successful? Their plan was to work together and work together they did. The result was the city and tower were both built by their hard labor. Third, we have to be PERSISTENT (vs.6) - The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Why will they be able to accomplish the impossible? They will not quit. They will work persistently on any obstacle that is in front of them. When you make up your mind to do something, before you begin, you'll be hit with every negative thought imaginable trying to deter you from this project. Once you begin the project your temptations to quit will come in many a variety of forms. The only way you will succeed is to remain faithful to your purpose and plan. Think On These: Every accomplishment, great or small, starts with the right decision, "I'll Try." Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Luke 9:62 - But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." NASU
Please allow me to paraphrase what Jesus said, If you begin to plow a field keep your eyes straight ahead, don't be looking around. You can't plow straight furrows when you are looking all around. The person who stays focus is the person you want on your team. This person will not be distracted by what is going on all around them.
We watched the love of money change them, or the love of being popular, or the stupidity of thinking drugs was going to help them in anyway. If you want your dreams to come crashing down then lose your focus on what is important.
The one who is able to drive the car without texting. The one who puts their hand to the plow and doesn't look back. This person has the dedication to accomplishing the goal that is before them. Anything that tries to take them off course is immediately squelched and they are wise enough to know there will always be something trying to distract them from accomplishing their goal. So what is your goal today? What are you doing to fulfill your dream? Hopefully, you are making sure nothing distracts you. Take the advice of Jesus once you put your hands to the plow don't look back. Think On These: A man with a burning ambition is seldom fired. Too many of us shoot blanks when aiming at our goals. Enthusiasm is apt to breed more action than accuracy. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago MInister of God's Word Go To www.SeragosPumpUps.com to listen to Pump Ups on Podcast 2 Tim. 2:4 - No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. NASU
As we can see the Apostle Paul uses a military soldier as an example. When he says, "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life." In other words, the soldier will not become distracted. He will not lose his focus. His focus is on being a good soldier and pleasing the person who enlisted him. Therefore, daily distractions will not disqualify this soldier.
Some soldiers have been known to go AWOL (absent without leave) because of love. They left home to join the military and in so doing the one they were in love with was left behind. While serving they believed they had to see this special person and left their post. This never ends good. Illnesses likewise can cause a person to become distracted from the task in front of them. Some job offers will come your way and at first appear to be the answer to all your problems. We probably have all heard of battle fatigue. This happens when a person has been in the fight way too long without getting some rest and relaxation. Everyone needs time to recharge their batteries.
Neh. 6:1-4 - Now when it was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall , and that no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates, 2 then Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" NASU Nehemiah gives the perfect answer in my opinion: "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Basically, he is saying I am not going to be distracted by you guys. I am doing a great work and I am not going to finish my work by entering into a meeting with you. Don't let anything or one distract you from your goal and you will find out success comes to those who refuse to quit. Think On These: We rate ability in men by what they finish, not by what they attempt. Some fellows dream of worthy accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them. You can't make a place for yourself under the sun if you keep sitting in the shade of the family tree. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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