4 Steps to Greatness

4 Steps to Greatness

Mark 10:35-45 accounts the request of James and John to seat at Jesus left hand in glory. Jesus used this request to teach them a lesson about true greatness. Verses 42-45 contain 4 steps to greatness:

  1. To be great, don’t live like a superstar. v.42
  2. To be great, live like a servant. v.43
  3. To be the greatest, live like a servant for everyone. v.44
  4. To be great, live like Jesus. Spend your life focused on others. v.45

 

Identity – Powerful

Identity – Powerful

Ephesians 3:14-21

#1 POSTURE OF THE HEART Ephesians 3:14-15

#2 PRAYER FOR POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT Ephesians 3:16-17a

#3 POSSESSING MEASURELESS LOVE Ephesians 3:17b-19

#4 GOD’S POWER TO DO THE IMMEASURABLE Ephesians 3:20

#5 PRAISE FOR OUR GOD FOREVER Ephesians 3:21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Identity – Confident

Identity – Confident

Ephesians 3:1-13

#1 CAPTIVE OF CHRIST Ephesians 3:1,13

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.                                                   Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

#2 THE MARVELOUS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL Ephesians 3:2-6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)

#3 GOD’S SELFLESS SERVANT Ephesians 3:7-11

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.                                                       2 Timothy 4:6 (NIV)

#4 CONFIDENT CONNECTION TO GOD Ephesians 3:12-13

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

IDentity Citizen

IDentity Citizen

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 REMEMBER YOUR LIFE BEFORE CHRIST  Ephesians 2:11-12

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 (NIV)

#2 ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST Ephesians 2:13-18

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19 (NIV)

#3 YOUR NEW IDENTITY Ephesians 2:19-22

  • Citizens of the Kingdom of God
  • Members of God’s Family
  • Stones in God’s Temple

#4 YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

  • Personally
  • Corporately
Identity Alive

Identity Alive

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 DEAD DESERVING THE WRATH OF GOD Ephesians 2:1-3

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 (NIV)

#2 ALIVE WITH CHRIST Ephesians 2:4-5

#3 EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S GRACE Ephesians 2:6-7

#4 NO BOASTING CORPSES ALLOWED Ephesians 2:8-9

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.                                 John 6:44 (NIV)

ID CHECK #2    [] DEAD    or    [] ALIVE

#5 MAGNUM OPUS FOR HIS SERVICE Ephesians 2:10

Identity – Valuable

Identity – Valuable

Ephesians 1:15-23

#1 FAITH AND LOVE MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Ephesians 1:15-16

#2 PRAYER 1: Growing Knowledge of God Ephesians 1:17

#3 PRAYER 2: Illuminated hearts for God Ephesians 1:18

  • Hope
  • Value
  • Power

#4 MIGHTY STRENGTH FOR LIFE IN CHRIST Ephesians 1:19-21

#5 THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: JESUS! Ephesians 1:22-23

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

IDentity Blessed

IDentity Blessed

IDentity – Blessed

Ephesians 1:3-14

#1 THE BLESSINGS OF BEING “IN CHRIST.” Ephesians 1:3

#2 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE FATHER Ephesians 1:4-6

  • Chosen  by God

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. Baptist Faith and Message 2000

  • Adopted by God

#3 BLESSSINGS FROM GOD THE SON Ephesians 1:7-12

  • Redeemed by Christ
  • Informed by Christ

#4 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE SPIRIT Ephesians 1:13-14

  • Marked by the Spirit

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  • Guaranteed by the Spirit

#5 BLESSED TO PRAISE Ephesians 1: 3,6,12 and 14

—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:14b (NIV)

God’s Will

God’s Will

There is much conversation about God’s will for individuals and organizations. Some wrongly describe God’s will as being a secret or hard to find. Even worse is the pursuit of God’s will apart from a pursuit of God Himself. The truth is that God wants you to live in His will daily and have confidence for your life. In the devotional Experiencing God Day by Day, Henry Blackaby writes,

“If you are walking daily with the Lord, you will not have to find God’s will—you will already be in it. If you are walking with Him in obedience day by day, you will always be in the will of God. The Holy Spirit’s role is to guide you step by step to do God’s will. Walking closely with God each day guarantees that you will be exactly where He wants you to be. You would have to reject all of the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life in order to get out of the will of God.”

Devotion

Devotion to God and a close growing relationship with Him is essential for living in the will of God. The disciplines of the Christian faith become paramount in order to live in God’s will. The disciplines of prayer (John 10:27) and fasting, reading the Word of God (Psalm 119:105), and worship (Romans 12:1-2) lead you to a closer relationship with Him. As you abide in Him, He will direct your steps.  John 15:5

Desire

As you devote yourself to God you will notice something amazing happening in your life. The Holy Spirit will work in your life to transform your heart and mind and lead you to God’s perfect will (Romans 12:2). Following God’s desires is the natural response of a believer what is devoted to Christ. Through your transformed desires God’s is leading you from the inside out. Psalm 37:4 says,

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Determination

Your devotion to God will also lead you to a determination to do God’s will. In Ephesians 1:2, Paul describes himself as an “apostle of Christ by the will of God.” Paul had a determination to follow Christ even though his path was hard. It’s the power of God working through devoted followers that allow them to do God’s will in sometimes hostile environments.

Living daily in God’s will is more a matter of “being” His child than “doing” His will. He is the goal. Philippians 3:14.

Identity #1 SAINT

Identity #1 SAINT

IDentity –  Saint Ephesians 1:1-2

In the New Testament book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes about a believer’s position “in Christ.”

#1 YOUR IDENTITY MATTERS.

Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17

#2 GOD’S WILL IS A JOYFUL JOURNEY OVER SMOOTH ANBD ROUGH TERRAIN.

Psalm 40:8, Ephesians 3:1

#3 ID Check:  SAINT or SINNER

Colossians 3:3

#4 A GREAT GREETING

Ephesians 1:2

#5 AN AMAZING MESSAGE

Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 4:1

Thirsty?

Thirsty?

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.
So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.
My lips will glorify You because
Your faithful love is better than life.
So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.
You satisfy me as with rich food;
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.
Psalm 63:1-5 (HCSB)

Those of us who live in the high plains of north Texas can relate to King David, who wrote this psalm while he was in the desert wilderness of Judah. We know the satisfaction that comes from a tall glass of ice water on a hot day. As great as cool water is for physical thirst, David thirsts for God to satisfy his spiritual thirst, to satisfy his soul. Where do you turn to find satisfaction for your soul? When you find yourself in the dry wilderness situations of life, what do you do? This Psalm shows the path to find satisfaction, even satisfaction for your soul.

David begins his journey by seeking God in His sanctuary. David had experienced God in His power and glory in the tabernacle; now David is in a dry place spiritually. He longs to see his wilderness transformed into a sanctuary where God is honored and worshiped. We should follow David’s example and seek God through our dry times and say, “I want to seek God’s glory through this wilderness experience just as though I were worshiping God in a church service.” God wants to be found. He will satisfy your soul. No one else can.

David continues his journey by blessing God. He focuses his attention on the greatness and faithfulness of God rather than the wilderness. When we choose to trust God through the dry times of life He refreshes our souls. When we are in the wilderness, the choice is ours, focus on the dryness of the desert or on the faithfulness of God. Choosing God will lead to deep satisfaction. He writes, “Your faithful love is better than life.” Wow. How would your life be different if God’s faithful love was even more precious to you than life itself?

David arrives at satisfaction when he writes, “You satisfy me as with rich food.” Satisfaction doesn’t come from external circumstances. It comes directly from God as He blesses us on the inside. Wilderness experiences can benefit you. They teach you the important truth about the source of real satisfaction. Circumstances on the outside can never lead to true satisfaction. Only God’s work on the inside truly satisfies. When you find yourself in the wilderness, follow David’s example. God will meet your need and you will find satisfaction for your soul.

This article originally appeared in the Dalhart Texan and was written by Sean Vickers.