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A. Get out of the Garage-IGNORE the world’s attempt
to DISQUALIFY you 5 qualities the world uses to disqualify you 1. A second rate Heritage- 1 Cor. 1:26-28 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families [27] Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? (MSG) 2. A sordid History-1 Tim. 1:15-16 Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One— [16] of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. 3. A Handsomeness deficiency- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions." (NLT) 4. Limited Holdings- Proverbs 22:1-2 Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord made them both. 5. A myriad of Handicaps- 2 Cor. 12:9 "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." (MSG) B. START your ENGINE- You have been QUALIFIED 5 qualities God uses to qualify you 1. A firm FOUNDATION- Matthew 7:24-25 "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. [25] Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. (MSG) 2. His all encompassing FORGIVENESS- Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (NIV) 3. Your ability to be FORMED- Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And we are all the work of Your hand. (NKJV) 4. Desire to FOLLOW- Mark 1:16-18 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [18] At once they left their nets and followed him. 5. A passionate FIRE- Romans 12:11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master (MSG) C. RACE from the POLE POSITION PURSUE Him-1 Cor. 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV) Proverbs 15:9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness (NIV) OBEY His word- 1 John 2:3-4 Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. (MSG) 1 Samuel 15:22 "Tell me," Samuel said. "Does the Lord really want sacrifices and offerings? No! He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants you to obey him. (CEV) LOVE others- Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (NIV) John 13:34 "I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. EXAMINE yourself-1 Tim. 4:16 Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you. (CEV) |