Series – traction – part 3 sunday 01-24-16

LIFEPOINTE CHURCH VERSE “Forget the past — it is nothing compared to what I am going to

do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have

already begun!”(Isaiah 43:18-19 – New Living Translation)

REMEMBERING WHAT WE’VE

ALREADY LEARNED ABOUT TRACTION!

DAVID: He got stuck because he focused in the past

THE ISRAELITES: They got stuck

because they feared the future

PAUL’S STORY: I’M STUCK & I NEED

SOME TRACTION RIGHT NOW!

I need something more . . . the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I

obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can

will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it;

I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such

as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. . It happens so

regularly that it’s predictable . . .

I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything

for me? Isn’t that the real question? (Romans 7:17-21, 24 – The Message)

WHAT PAUL DISCOVERED

CHANGED HIS LIFE & CAN CHANGE YOURS

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it

mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made

me his.

Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal,

but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and

straining toward what is ahead,

I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called

me through Christ to the life above. All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way . . .

we should continue following the truth we already have.

(Philippians 3:12-16 – New Century Version)

STEP 1:

ADMIT Own up to where you are right now

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be.

I have not yet reached that goal . . .

ASK: What is currently keeping

me stuck where I am?

STEP 2:

COMMIT Make the choice to move ahead in your

life

I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine . . .

I keep trying to reach the goal

ASK: Am I really ready

to make the changes I need to make?

STEP 3:

TRUST Know that Christ has called me to do this

Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his . . .and get the prize for which God

called me through Christ to the life above.

ASK: What is God’s purpose

and what is He calling me to be and to do?

STEP 4:

FOCUS Know what is truly important and do it

There is one thing I always do.

ASK: What are my “big rocks”?

STEP 5:

STOP Don’t be defined or

defeated by your past

Forgetting the past . . .

ASK: What in my past

is holding me back or weighing me down?

STEP 6:

START You’ve got to do

whatever it takes to move ahead

Straining toward what is ahead . . .

ASK: What specific things

do I need to do in order to reach my goals?

STEP 7:

CONTINUE You keep moving

ahead no matter what

I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize . . .

we should continue following the truth we already have.

ASK: Once I get started,

what do I need to do to keep the momentum?

STEP 8:

GROW Spiritual maturity fuels

spiritual momentum

All of us who are spiritually mature should think this way!

ASK: Am I growing in my

relationship with Christ daily? If not, why not?

TO GAIN TRACTION YOUR NEED THE

RIGHT INTERACTION

I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that

Jesus Christ can and does.

He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want

to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by

the influence of sin to do something totally different.

(Romans 7:24-25 – The Message)

I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:13- God’s Word)

“No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself.

Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.

(Luke 18:27- The Message)

Let’s Pray