(1) What do you want to be doing 5 -
10 years from now?
What are you doing to get there?
The difference between success and failure in many aspects of life is often determined by whether goals were properly considered, set, and accomplished
(2) What stands between you & your goal? What do you need to get there?
* Let’s suppose you want to be a lawyer & you only have a high school education >
1. You need more education
2. You have to get into the right educational program
3. You have to finance this education
4. You have to study to earn the degree
Prov 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Work brings profit, but idle talk brings poverty.
This is not to say that you should strive for possessions...but it is good to be a productive citizen.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
2 Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
(3)You can’t allow things to hinder you:
1.You gather all the information you need to find the right school & the right assistance
2. You turn in all the necessary paperwork
3. You take care of your body, so you’re physically capable of learning.
Prov 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
Every wise man acts out of knowledge, but a foolish man shows his ignorance or recklessness.
Prov 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.
Without instruction or guidance, plans fail, but with many advisers they are brought about.
Prov 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Our Heavenly Goal
(1) Where do you want to spend eternity? What are you doing to ensure you get there?
1. You must believe in him & his doctrine
2. You must obey his doctrine (plan of salvation)
John 3:15...whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 2:38...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
(2) You can’t allow anything to hinder you
1. You’ve got to know that you’re on the right track, according to the scriptures.
2.You must take inventory of yourself to see if you are qualifying >
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (immoral)
You’ve got to gather all the infrmation you need to make sure you are born again...search the scriptures to see if your preparation or blueprint for salvation qualifies
3. You must pinpoint your weaknesses, shortcomings, & hindrances & rectify them.
1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: (obedience) lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (one rejected, useless)
Is there any behavior in your life that will keep you from this goal? Anything in your heart? Habits? Vices?
Heb 12:1...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I use steady, significant effort to reach the goal of my salvation
► Just as the wise man seeks knowledge to reach his natural goals – we need the knowledge of God’s word to reach our spiritual goal. >
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, (persistent effort) add to your faith virtue; (righteousness) and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; (self-control) and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: You will reach your goal
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