Gary Stairs
"Long-Haul Men" - Destination
There is nothing special about us that ensures we will arrive at our destination the way God wants us to. The long haul is still in front of us and God wants us to FINISH WELL. God never fails! He can help us to finish well.
Philippians 4:7-
The Peace of God that passes all understanding comes when we think on these things. Meditate on those things. Those are the things that bring the peace of God.
What you have learned, received, heard, seen in me...DO! The doing is where we often get tripped up. Put into practice what you already know.
"For I have learned..." There is a process to becoming what God wants us to be. Paul knew how because he had been through the midnight hours. You have to learn the long-haul. Take heart--God never intended this to be instantaneous.
4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Has Satan won this day, month, year, circumstance, reaction, pride, relationship with your wife, kids, church?
It takes time to become like God wants you to be!
1. Be Thankful - Philippians 1:3-8 (Past) - Be thankful for every remembrance of everyone. (the jail in Philippi, beatings, midnight hour) God help me get to the place where I am thankful for EVERYTHING.
2. Be Prayerful - Philippians 1:9-11 - (Present) - that love will GROW in knowledge and discernment. Not a puppy-love but a DEEP LOVE.
If we don't learn to make sound, biblical choices, we are IN TROUBLE. We need to make excellent choices. All of us are only 1 bad choice away from a ruined life. (Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world) This is why Paul prays. This is why we pray for our kids. This is why we pray for our wives. Don't just pray it...DO IT...LIVE IT.
3. Be Purposeful - Philippians 1:20 (future) - Be biblically focused in our relationships. I don't want to be ashamed before God. I want CHRIST TO BE MAGNIFIED in me.
Allow God to do it in you. Obey His leading.
Showing posts with label Gary Stairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gary Stairs. Show all posts
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Men for God - Session 3
Gary Stairs - "Long-haul Men"
DETOURS
Remember, the 'long-haul life' is not a sprint, but a marathon. It is a journey, and often journeys have Detours and Delays. They don't happen on our time-schedule.
Acts 16 - 2nd missionary journey
v. 1-5 - Great results. God is blessing. They increased in number daily.
v. 6-7 - Stopped in their tracks. The Holy Spirit said 'no.'
MAKE THE CHOICE TO SUBMIT AND NOT QUIT
Paul had to submit to God's delay, but not quit. The delay made no human sense.
v. 8 - They listened to God
v. 9-10 - A vision appeared. God re-directed them and opened an incredible challenge because they chose to submit and remained committed to the long-haul.
v. 22-24 - Beaten and imprisoned - DELAYED
MAKE THE CHOICE TO REJOICE
v. 25 - They kept on going. In the midst of a Midnight Experience, they persevered. Often in the midnight we find crisis, conspiracy, and confusion. Make the choice to keep going on. You can't understand what God is doing in the midnight, but you can make that choice to rejoice. The prisoners heard them.
MAKE THE CHOICE TO INTERVENE
v. 27-28 - People around us are also in a midnight hour. The jailer is at the point of death. Much like the teens in our culture, this jailer had given up hope and is at the point of suicide. Paul and Silas intervened because a life is on the line. They could have not said anything. The man that caused their DELAY was now vulnerable before them. They chose to intervene.
"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
God has placed you where you are to answer this question for those around you. "Long-haul living" requires making choices. Make the right choices. Make the choice to submit and not quit. Make the choice to rejoice. And make the choice to intervene.
Allow God to lead you. Obey His promptings.
DETOURS
Remember, the 'long-haul life' is not a sprint, but a marathon. It is a journey, and often journeys have Detours and Delays. They don't happen on our time-schedule.
Acts 16 - 2nd missionary journey
v. 1-5 - Great results. God is blessing. They increased in number daily.
v. 6-7 - Stopped in their tracks. The Holy Spirit said 'no.'
MAKE THE CHOICE TO SUBMIT AND NOT QUIT
Paul had to submit to God's delay, but not quit. The delay made no human sense.
v. 8 - They listened to God
v. 9-10 - A vision appeared. God re-directed them and opened an incredible challenge because they chose to submit and remained committed to the long-haul.
v. 22-24 - Beaten and imprisoned - DELAYED
MAKE THE CHOICE TO REJOICE
v. 25 - They kept on going. In the midst of a Midnight Experience, they persevered. Often in the midnight we find crisis, conspiracy, and confusion. Make the choice to keep going on. You can't understand what God is doing in the midnight, but you can make that choice to rejoice. The prisoners heard them.
MAKE THE CHOICE TO INTERVENE
v. 27-28 - People around us are also in a midnight hour. The jailer is at the point of death. Much like the teens in our culture, this jailer had given up hope and is at the point of suicide. Paul and Silas intervened because a life is on the line. They could have not said anything. The man that caused their DELAY was now vulnerable before them. They chose to intervene.
"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"
God has placed you where you are to answer this question for those around you. "Long-haul living" requires making choices. Make the right choices. Make the choice to submit and not quit. Make the choice to rejoice. And make the choice to intervene.
Allow God to lead you. Obey His promptings.
Men for God - Session 2
Day two of the Men's Rally here at NBBI. I'm convinced that there is nothing quite like 300 men singing praises to our God. It is incredibly moving to listen to. What a great day that will be when we can all sing with one voice in heaven.
Gary Stairs
"Long-haul Men" - Tracking
Don't over complicate God's will. God's will is that we BE SAVED, then live life to the fullest UNDER HIS DIRECTION.
God's tracking system will never fail. It will never lead you down the wrong road.
You cannot know the will of God apart from the Word of God (the infallible tracking system).
Psalm 139 - We are not being asked to follow a fallible, man-made plan.
V. 1-6 - God is perfect in His knowledge. Totally complete. Socrates: "know thyself". God: "know the One who knows everything about you."
V. 7-12 - God is perfect in His Presence. He is always there to provide course corrections for "long-haul living".
V. 13-16 - God is perfect in His control. Let the one who knows what He is doing be in control.
V. 17-18 - God is perfect in His love. He takes care of us. We are never off His mind.
V. 23-24 - "lead me"- Perfect Submission to God's tracking system.
Allow God to lead. Obey His promptings.
Gary Stairs
"Long-haul Men" - Tracking
Don't over complicate God's will. God's will is that we BE SAVED, then live life to the fullest UNDER HIS DIRECTION.
God's tracking system will never fail. It will never lead you down the wrong road.
You cannot know the will of God apart from the Word of God (the infallible tracking system).
Psalm 139 - We are not being asked to follow a fallible, man-made plan.
V. 1-6 - God is perfect in His knowledge. Totally complete. Socrates: "know thyself". God: "know the One who knows everything about you."
V. 7-12 - God is perfect in His Presence. He is always there to provide course corrections for "long-haul living".
V. 13-16 - God is perfect in His control. Let the one who knows what He is doing be in control.
V. 17-18 - God is perfect in His love. He takes care of us. We are never off His mind.
V. 23-24 - "lead me"- Perfect Submission to God's tracking system.
Allow God to lead. Obey His promptings.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Men for God - Session 1
I'm at the Men for God rally at NBBI today and tomorrow. So I'll be posting what notes I take down.
Gary Stairs
"Long-haul Living"
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
We want our lives to make a difference.
PAUL - Acts 26
You get to know a man by knowing his testimony.
V. 9 - Paul was religious, sincere, he wanted to make a difference, he was serious, admired, strict, he wanted to do many things...CONTRARY to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This is a life of FRUSTRATION and NO PEACE. (contrary - Matt. The disciples on the sea, the wind and waves were CONTRARY to the boat.)
V. 12 - The road to Damascas. Jesus speaks to Paul. God got Paul's attention. GOD CAN GET OUR ATTENTION. He put Paul in the dirt. It was a personal message. Only Paul heard the message.
V. 16 - "Stand up" God brought Paul from Pride to Humility. "I will make you a minister and a witness" (only through God's Power) God gave Paul PURPOSE.
The Purpose of long-haul living - "minister and witness"
The Plan of long-haul living - what God will reveal
We don't know all the plan, but God reveals it one step at a time. "You're going to have to trust Me."
At the end of a long-haul life, look back and say WOW WHAT A LIFE!
V. 17 - The Promise - "I will deliver you" - With God's promise we can trust in God in even the most difficult steps.
V. 19 - Paul was obedient
V. 22 - Paul endured and continued because of God's faithfulness. With His help we can enjoy living His way--the Long-haul life.
Allow God to work. Let Him get your attention. Obey what He reveals.
I believe that you can listen to the messages to the Men for God rally at www.nbbi.ca
Gary Stairs
"Long-haul Living"
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
We want our lives to make a difference.
PAUL - Acts 26
You get to know a man by knowing his testimony.
V. 9 - Paul was religious, sincere, he wanted to make a difference, he was serious, admired, strict, he wanted to do many things...CONTRARY to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This is a life of FRUSTRATION and NO PEACE. (contrary - Matt. The disciples on the sea, the wind and waves were CONTRARY to the boat.)
V. 12 - The road to Damascas. Jesus speaks to Paul. God got Paul's attention. GOD CAN GET OUR ATTENTION. He put Paul in the dirt. It was a personal message. Only Paul heard the message.
V. 16 - "Stand up" God brought Paul from Pride to Humility. "I will make you a minister and a witness" (only through God's Power) God gave Paul PURPOSE.
The Purpose of long-haul living - "minister and witness"
The Plan of long-haul living - what God will reveal
We don't know all the plan, but God reveals it one step at a time. "You're going to have to trust Me."
At the end of a long-haul life, look back and say WOW WHAT A LIFE!
V. 17 - The Promise - "I will deliver you" - With God's promise we can trust in God in even the most difficult steps.
V. 19 - Paul was obedient
V. 22 - Paul endured and continued because of God's faithfulness. With His help we can enjoy living His way--the Long-haul life.
Allow God to work. Let Him get your attention. Obey what He reveals.
I believe that you can listen to the messages to the Men for God rally at www.nbbi.ca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)