Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

10 Love each other with brotherly affection and

take delight in honoring each other.

11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

12 Be glad for all God is planning for you.

Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.

13 When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, I

f they need lodging, for the night.

14 If someone mistreats you because you are a Christian,

don't curse him; pray that God will bless him.

15 When others are happy, be happy with them.

If they are sad, share their sorrow.

16 Work happily together. Don't try to act big.

Don't try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don't think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that

everyone can see you are honest clear through.

18 Don't quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone,

just as much as possible.

19 Dear friends, never avenge yourselves.

Leave that to God, for he has said that he

will repay those who deserve it.

[Don't take the law into your own hands.]

20 Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry.

If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be

"heaping coals of fire on his head." In other words,

he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you.

21 Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good.

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?

2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone

but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

NOW ALL TOO OFTEN WE SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER IN OUR DAILY AFFAIRS OF LIFE WHICH DISCREDIT US AND THE GOSPEL AND MAKE US UNSUCCESSFUL AND INEFFECTIVE. IF WE COULD JUST CHANGE SOME OF OUR BAD HABITS WE COULD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND ACHIEVE OPTIMUM EFFECTIVENESS IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. NOW ALL OF US HAVE SOME BAD HABITS, SOME ARE KNOWN AND OTHERS ARE UNKNOWN. EVERY WIFE IN HERE THIS MORNING COULD PROBABLY MAKE A LONG LIST OF THE BAD HABITS OF THEIR HUSBANDS FROM BITING THEIR FINGER NAILS TO DRINKING DIRECTLY OUT OF THE MILK CARTON AND LETTING THE BACKWASH POLLUTE IT FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF BAD THINGS WE DO AND THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE NICE THINGS AND THE REST I’M NOT EVEN GOING TO DEAL WITH. NO, EVERYBODY HAS SOME BAD HABITS AND FLAWS AND SOME OF THEM AREN’T PUBLIC AND THEY AREN’T GONNA HURT YOUR LIFE. BUT, BOY, IF THEY ARE THEY CAN MAKE YOU VERY INEFFECTIVE IN KEEPING YOU FROM SUCCEEDING. I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALLOT OF AVERAGE CHRISTIANS THAT AIM FOR MEDIOCRITY AND HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED THERE. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE MORE THAN AVERAGE, HE WANTS US TO BE EXCELLENT IN EVERYTHING WE DO AND TO BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO HIS NAME! WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THIS KIND OF SUCCESS IS THE RESULT OF REPEATED GOOD HABITS.

ARISTOTLE SAID: "WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO." IF OUR HABITS ARE GOOD HABITS WE WILL REPEATEDLY DO THE RIGHT THINGS TO BRING A CONTINUAL LIFESTYLE OF EFFECTIVENESS, OF PROSPERITY, OF BLESSING. NOT JUST IN TERMS OF INCOME BUT A GOOD LIFESTYLE AND A HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

7 Don't be misled; remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it:

a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!

8 If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit,

he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.

9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap

a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up.

10 That's why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone,

and especially to our Christian brothers.

HERE’S AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE THAT WE MUST NEVER OVERLOOK AND THAT’S THE PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING. IF WE SOW REPEATED BAD HABITS WE WILL REAP THE CONSEQUENCES. SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SEVEN BAD HABITS TO AVOID SO THAT YOU CAN REAP GOD’S HARVEST OF SUCCESS , PROSPERITY AND BLESSING.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding

what the will of the Lord is.

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,

and from them that persecute me.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;

and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN SOME CASES IS FIVE WORDS; "I DIDN’T HAVE TIME." DO YOU HAVE TIME TO SPEND WITH THE KIDS, TIME TO SPEND WITH THE WIFE, TIME TO DEVELOP YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE, TIME FOR PROPER EXERCISE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR CAUSE EVERYBODY’S GOT 24 HRS. IN A DAY AND I MEAN EVERYBODY: THE GOOD GUY AND THE BAD GUY ALL GOT 24 HRS. IN A DAY.

SOMEONE IN BUSINESS MADE THIS STATEMENT: ARE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN LIFE BECAUSE YOU PLANNED IT THAT WAY OR DID YOU JUST WASH UP ON THE BEACH. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DON’T HAVE A PLAN FOR MANAGING YOUR LIFE AND YOUR TIME THEN YOU’RE A VICTIM OF EVERY THING AND EVERYBODY AROUND YOU. WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH OR CAST OFF RESTRAINT. IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO YOU WILL DO A BETTER JOB BETTER MANAGING YOUR TIME. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW YOU CAN USE TIME INSTEAD OR LOOSING IT:

1. PRIORITIZE. ITS NOT THE CLOCK THAT IS YOUR ENEMY ITS PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT WORKING IN YOUR LIFE. YOU NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS NOT. NOW EVERY TIME THE PHONE RINGS OR YOUR BOSS SPEAKS SOME THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEN SOME THINGS ARE NECESSARY AND WE NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE TWO OR WE WILL FAIL TO PRIORITIZE OUR LIFE IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.

SOMEONE ONCE SAID: "YOU CANNOT OVER ESTIMATE THE UNIMPORTANCE OF PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING. WE’RE BEING HIT ON EVERY SIDE FROM THE PHONE TO THE TV TO OUR KIDS AND WE NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS IMPORTANT, CAUSE THEY ALL SEEM TO BE AND WHAT IS NECESSARY. WHAT HAS A HIGH RETURN AND WHAT DOESN’T. SOME OF YOU TRAVEL ALLOT AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE #1 RULE FOR TRAVELLING AND THAT IS WE ALWAYS TAKE TOO MUCH STUFF WITH US THAT WE’LL NEVER USE IN THE SHORT TIME WE’RE GONE. SO IN LIFE YOU TAKE TOO MUCH STUFF ON YOURSELF AND YOU END UP WASTING ALLOT OF TIME. SO WE NEED TO EVALUATE EVERY DAY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE DEMANDS COMING AND PRIORITIZE YOU DAY. JESUS SAID, "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD" SO HE WAS A PRIORITIZER, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU. SO IF YOU WANT TO STOP KILLING TIME LEARN TO PRIORITIZE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,

and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

2. PLAN YOUR TIME. EVERY MINUTE SPENT PLANNING SAVES TWO MINUTES IN EXECUTION. SO I HAVE TO PLAN TIME FOR SLEEP. I HAVE TO PLAN TIME TO EAT. I HAVE TO PLAN TIME TO MOW THE GRASS OR TO GO PLAY GOLF. I HAVE TO PLAN WHEN I’M GOING TO WORK AND PLAN EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND THAT. REMEMBER IN A PERFECT DAY YOU CAN PLAN THINGS BY THE MINUTE BUT HOW MANY PERFECT DAYS DO YOU HAVE WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE TRAIN ON STATE STREET OR AND UNEXPECTED PHONE CALL. REMEMBER THIS, NOTHING IN LIFE WORKS SMOOTHLY WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS SO GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME BETWEEN EVENTS OR YOU’LL BE FRUSTRATED AND HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND A CANDIDATE FOR A HEART ATTACK. IN FACT YOU SHOULD PLAN YOU DAY EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

3. FILE FOR THE FUTURE: HOW MUCH TIME DO WE SPEND LOOKING FOR THE STUFF WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE’VE PLANNED TO DO. YOU WANT TO PROGRAM YOU VCR BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE THE OWNER’S MANUAL IS. YOU WANT TO READ AN ARTICLE YOU READ LAST WEEK IN TIME MAGAZINE BUT YOU DON’T REMEMBER WHERE IT IS. I THINK THE GREATEST INVESTMENT A FAMILY COULD MAKE IS TO BUY A FILE CABINET AND USE IT. MAKE A FILE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS YOU READ. MAKE A FILE FOR YOUR OWNER’S MANUALS. MAKE A FILE OF THE IMPORTANT STUFF IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU CAN SAVE ALLOT OF TIME LOOKING FOR IT WHEN YOU NEED IT.

4. LEARN TO DELEGATE THE THINGS YOU DON’T NEED TO DO YOURSELF: IF YOU DON’T HAVE A PLAN AND EVERYBODY HAS TO COME TO YOU AS THE BUSINESS LEADER OR A PASTOR, YOU WON’T GET MUCH DONE. YOU CAN’T DO EVERYTHING BY YOURSELF YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES. IF YOU’RE GONNA COOK SUPPER ON TIME THEN GET THE KIDS TO TAKE THE GARBAGE OUT AND TO VACUUM THE LIVING ROOM AND TO PUT THE TOYS AWAY. LISTEN THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT WORK AT HOME, IN CHURCH AND AT WORK. MOSES HAD TO LEARN TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY CAUSE 3,000,000 PEOPLE WERE COMING TO HIM WITH THEIR COMPLAINTS AND HE WAS TRYING TO MEET EVERYBODY'S NEEDS. WE READ ABOUT IT IN:

14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law,

Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:

16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him,

The thing that thou doest is not good.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward,

that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.

21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds,

rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they

shall bear the burden with thee.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law,

and did all that he had said.

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds,

rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

27 And Moses let his father in law depart;

and he went his way into his own land.

NOW HERE’S THE WISDOM OF A FATHER-IN-LAW, "MOSES, LEARN TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO CAPTAINS OF A THOUSAND, CAPTAINS OF 100’S, AND CAPTAINS OF 50 AND LET THEM HELP YOU IN THE WORK." YOU CAN ONLY GROW SO MUCH IN A BUSINESS OR IN A CHURCH IF THE HEAD MAN HAS TO DO EVERYTHING. SO IF WE WANT TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN REACHING THE LOST WE HAVE TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE ONE MAN WANT HAVE THE TIME TO MEET EVERYBODY’S NEEDS.

7. ELIMINATE: DECIDE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO, JUST SAY NO OR EVERYBODY WILL DOMINATE YOUR SCHEDULE AND YOU WON’T BE EFFECTIVE. SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO ELIMINATE AND JUST SAY NO TO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN A TELE-MARKETER CALLS YOU AT HOME, JUST SAY NO AND HANG UP. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE RUDE OR PEOPLE WILL TRY TO MANIPULATE YOU AND STEAL YOUR TIME AND MONEY.

8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless

thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments

of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

YOU WEREN’T BORN TO LOOSE BUT TO WIN. GOD WANTS TO MAKE YOU THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THE GOOD PLANS HE HAS FOR US TO GIVE US HOPE AND AN EXPECTED END ACCORDING TO JER.29:11. WE SHOULD LIVE LIFE WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS. ALLOT OF THE TIME OUR NEGATIVE ATTITUDES DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THE SITUATION. WHENEVER YOU KIDS GET A BAD ATTITUDE, DRIVE IT OUT OF THEM, OVERRIDE IT AND STAY WITH IT UNTIL IT IS GONE. NOW I CAN’T HELP WHAT HAPPENS TO ME BUT I CAN CHOOSE HOW I’M GOING TO RESPOND AND AN ATTITUDE IS A CHOICE. SO WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE DO YOU EXEMPLIFY IN LIFE.

CHARLES JONES IN HIS BOOK "WHAT MAKES WINNERS WIN" SAYS, WINNERS ALWAYS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WIN AND LOSERS ALWAYS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LOOSE. A LOOSER IS A PERSON WHO HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN WHO HAS SUCCESSFUL ROLE MODELS BUT CHOOSES NOT TO TRY. ONLY ABOUT 10% OF AMERICANS BUY A BOOK AND READ IT TO GET INFORMATION TO BUILD A FUTURE WITH. THERE WAS A SIGN IN A BOOKSTORE THAT SAID, THE MAN WHO WILL NOT READ IS NO BETTER OFF THAN A MAN WHO CAN’T READ. WE GOT 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY WHO HAVEN’T READ A BOOK AND WHO HAVEN’T HAD A NEW IDEA IN 20 YEARS. NO WONDER AMERICA IS MEDIOCRE.

PEOPLE WITH LOOSING ATTITUDES SAY I CAN’T. PEOPLE WITH WINNING ATTITUDES SAY I CAN TRY. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? THE MINDSET. LOSERS SAY I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. WINNERS SAY I WILL MAKE THE TIME. LOSERS SAY IT WON’T WORK, WINNERS SAY ITS WORTH A TRY. LOSERS SAY LIFE OWES ME BUT WINNERS SAY I OWE LIFE. LOSERS SAY, "ITS NOT MY JOB", BUT WINNERS SAY, "I’M GLAD TO HELP." LOSERS SAY I DON’T DO THAT, WINNERS SAY I’LL DO MY BEST.

THE WORLD IS FULL OF LOSERS WHO SAY I DON’T DO THAT. WHAT DO YOU DO CAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GET UP EARLY EVERY DAY AND GO DO THEM WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. A LOOSING ATTITUDE WILL KEEP YOU FROM REACHING THE FULL POTENTIAL THAT GOD HAS CREATED YOU WITH TO BE EFFECTIVE IN LIFE, IN MARRIAGE, IN A CHURCH OR IN A BUSINESS.

which is the head, even Christ:

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,

that ye may grow thereby:

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

CHURCH SWINDOL SAID THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWING OLD IN THE LORD AND GROWING UP IN HIM. ONE IS AUTOMATIC AND REQUIRES NO EFFORT AT ALL, JUST AGING BUT THE OTHER IS NEVER AUTOMATIC NOR EASY IT CALLS FOR PERSONAL DISCIPLINE, CONTINUAL DETERMINATION AND SPIRITUAL DESIRE. CHURCHES ARE FULL OF SLEEPY SAINTS WHO ARE MERELY LOGGING TIME IN GOD’S FAMILY. SO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY GROWING AND DEVELOPING.

NOW CAN PEOPLE SAY THAT ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU GROWING? WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU READ A BOOK ON HOW TO OR LISTENED TO A TAPE? YOU SEE, GROWTH ISN’T EASY OR AUTOMATIC AND IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING BUT IT WILL COST YOU FAR MORE NOT TO GROW.

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;

that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE YOUR GROWTH. TAKE PAINS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GROWING. IF I STOP GROWING AS A LEADER THEN THE CHURCH STOPS GROWING AND WHAT IS TRUE THERE APPLIES IN BUSINESS, IN MARRIAGE IN YOUR FAMILY WITH YOUR KIDS AND IN LIFE. THE ONE THING I'VE NOTICED ABOUT GROWTH IS THAT IT TAKES EFFORT. PAUL SAID TO STIR UP THE GIFT THAT IS IN YOU, DON’T NEGLECT IT. JUST SITTING ON A PEW DOES NOT BUILD SPIRITUAL MUSCLE AND DOESN’T DEVELOP A GIFT. NO YOU HAVE TO GET OFF THE BENCH AND INTO THE GAME. I RAN ACROSS THIS ON THE INTERNET THE OTHER DAY WHEN I WAS DEVELOPING OUR WEBSITE.

Church Football Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.

Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.

Halftime - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave

Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.

Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.

Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.

Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.

Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.

Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime". Trap - You're called on to pray and are asleep.

End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.

Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.

Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.

NOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW I DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BUILDING A WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET A MONTH AGO BUT SINCE THEN I’VE DEVELOPED FOUR WEBSITE. WHY, BECAUSE I WAS WILLING TO GROW AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW. EVER SINCE I BUILT THE WEBSITE FOR THE CHURCH WE’VE HAD OVER 500 PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISITED OUR CHURCH. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE HAS INCREASED AND WE’VE BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE. YEA! AND HOW DID IT HAPPEN? I LEARNED TO DO SOMETHING I’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE BECAUSE I WASN’T TOO PROUD TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND GET SOME HELP FROM JEREMY, A 15 YEAR OLD FRIEND OF MY SON, BEN. I WAS WILLING TO GROW AND I WAS WILLING TO WORK AT LEARNING HOW TO DO IT. IT DIDN’T JUST HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY, IT HAPPENED BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO HAPPEN AND WAS WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE TO REACH MY GOAL AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE. SO NEVER STOP GROWING AND LEARNING BECAUSE THE OLD AXIOM ISN’T TRUE, YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.

GIFT WITHOUT GROWTH EQUALS INEFFECTIVENESS. A MUSCLE NO MATTER HOW GOOD IT IS WON’T GROW UNLESS YOU EXERCISE IT.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Tim 4:16

16 Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others.

THE NEXT THING WE SEE ABOUT GROWTH IN 1 TIM.4:16 IS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS.

1 Tim 4:15

15 Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress.

COACH JOHN WOODEN SAID, IT’S WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED AFTER YOU KNOW IT ALL THAT COUNTS. SOME PEOPLE CLAIM TO HAVE 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WHEN IN FACT THEY’VE HAD ONE EXPERIENCE FOR 15 YEARS AND THEY HAVEN’T LEARNED ANYTHING.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching

forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the

high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

LISTEN TO THIS STATEMENT. PEAK PERFORMERS DO NOT SEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A FIXED STATE NOR AS A SAFE HAVEN IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS MORE COMPLETED AND FINISHED. ONE OF THE MOST ENGAGING CHARACTERISTICS IS AN INFECTIOUS TALENT FOR MOVING INTO THE FUTURE GENERATING NEW CHALLENGES AND LIVING WITH A SENSE OF MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO PLAN FOR THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH. DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO GROW. WELL, HOW MUCH DOES THAT BOOK COST? WELL IT COST $19 AND YOU’RE LOOSING $30,000.00 A YEAR CAUSE YOU WON’T GO BUY IT AND READ IT. YOU ARE A NITWIT CAUSE IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING TO GROW AND ITS NOT ALWAYS MONETARY EITHER. LISTEN, HE THAT HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK UNTIL JESUS COMES SO BE WILLING TO GROW AND CHANGE AND BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE UNTIL JESUS COMES. REMEMBER CORONAL SANDERS WHO STARTED HIS CHICKEN BUSINESS AT AGE 70. HE WAS WILLING TO CHANGE AND GROW AND SO SHOULD WE IF WE WANT TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE IN LIFE.

NOW HERE’S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN DO, WATCH THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, OR A TV DOCUMENTARY OR READ A BOOK OR A PHAMPHLET ABOUT SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU THAT DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANITY. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED HOW THAT WILL ADD TO YOUR LIFE A LITTLE CREATIVITY AND HELP YOU TO BE AN INTELLIGENT AND INTERACTIVE PERSON RELATING TO OTHERS WITH SOMETHING TO SAY. LEARNING ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GREEK AND HEBREW ROOTS MAY PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE AND HELP YOU BEGIN A CONVERSATION THAT COULD RESULT IN PLANTING SOME GOOD SEEDS AND BEING AN EFFECTIVE AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN GET A LOT OF "HOW TO" VIDEOS OR BOOKS ON LEARNING A NEW SKILL? AND DID YOU EVER THINK THAT YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST PRAYING ABOUT IT. LISTEN THERE’S A TIME TO PRAY AND THEN THERE’S A TIME TO DO, SO LET’S NOT USE PRAYER AS AN EXCUSE TO BEING INEFFECTIVE. NOW I’M JUST TRYING TO STRETCH YOU THIS MORNING: I KNOW THE POWER OF PRAYER AND BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DO NOTHING BUT IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. BUT HOW MANY YOU KNOW THAT AFTER YOU PRAY ABOUT SOMETHING GOD MAY TELL YOU TO GO BUY A BOOK AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW SO THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE? YOU CAN READ ABOUT PEOPLE WITH FAMILY SKILLS, PEOPLE WITH WORSHIP SKILLS, PEOPLE WITH AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS, PEOPLE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS THAT CAN MAKE YOU MORE EFFECTIVE IN LIFE AND GET YOU OUT OF THE PRAYER CLOSET AND INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIETY WHERE YOU CAN BEGIN TO RELATE TO PEOPLE AND HELP THEM. RIGHT? SO BEGIN TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW. SO IF YOU WANT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PERSON CONTINUE TO GROW AND CONTINUE TO LEARN.

NOW NEXT WEEK I WILL FINISH THIS 2 PART SERIES ON 7 HABITS OF INEFFECTIVE PEOPLE. THIS MORNING WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE FIRST THREE AND LET ME STATE THEM ONCE MORE BEFORE WE CLOSE: