What Is The Driving Force In Your Life?

1. Everyone is driven by something

            A multitude of things drive us

                        a. Problems; Pressures or deadlines

b. Painful memories; haunting fears

            Question what do we allow be driving force?

 

Things Most People Allow To Drive Them

            A. Guilt

                        1. Spend much of life running from regret

& trying to hide their shame

                                    a. Manipulated by their memories

– past controls future

                                    b. Unconsciously punish themselves

– sabotage whatever success

                        2. Truth – we are products of our past –

 not have to be prisoners to it

a. Our past doesn’t limit our future

b. God specialty- giving a fresh start

            * Ps.32:1-5 – blessed man forgiven

            * Look what He did for Moses;

Gideon; David

                        3. We don’t have to live in our guilt –

there is freedom in Jesus

                                    a. 2 Cor.5:21 – made sin on our behalf

                                    b. Isa.1:18-20 – though sins like scarlet

– be as snow

 

            B. Resentment & bitterness

                        1. Some people never get over their hurts

                                    a. Constantly rehearsing them

– refusing to ever forgive

                                    b. Mt.18:34,35 – gruesome picture

– tortured, tormented = peal skin

                        2. Truth – living in resentment hurts you

more than the one you resent

                                    a. Probably forgot the event already

                                    b. The past is the past – let it go

- learn from it & go on with life

                                    c. Eph.4:26,27 – only giving Satan a

foothold in your life

            C. Fear

                        1. Many sources to our fears

a. Traumatic experience

Unrealistic expectations

b. Dysfunctional family background

                        2. Problem - fearful people constantly

miss some fantastic opportunities

                                    a. Afraid to step out & try – want to

play it sake – status quo – no risk

                                    b. Fear becomes our self-imposed prison

 – cripples them

                        3. We don’t have to live in fear

                                    a. 1 Jn.4:18 – love drives out fear

                                    b. We have a God who is on our side

– wants us to succeed

            D. Materialism

                        1. Whole goal in life – to acquire more

(never have enough)

                        2. Misconception – more make me happy;

more important; more secure

                        3. Problem – get bored with what have

– always want newer, bigger versions

                                    a. Valuables don’t determine self worth 

                                    b. Security not come with wealth

– so easily lost

                                    c. Mt.6:24 – can’t serve God & money

            E. Need for the approval of others

                        1. Expectations of others control their lives

– peer pressure

                        2. Always worried about what others think

                        3. Sure key to failure – trying please all

                        4. Jn.6:44 – never grow in faith

 

What We Ought To Allow To Drive Us

            A. The Love of Christ

                        1. 2 Cor.5:14,15

                        2. Look at His love

                                    a. Emptied Himself – Phil.2:5-7

                                    b. Gave His life as a ransom for us

– bought us – 1 Cor.6:19,20

                                    c. Continues to be our mediator &

intercessor – Rom.8

                                    d. Tto ignore Him = calloused

            B. A desire to be fruitful for Jesus

                        1. Phil.1:21-24 – for me to live is Christ

                                    a. Desire to be with God secondary

wants fruitfulness

                                    b. Wanted what best for kingdom

 regardless the hardship to himself

 

 

                        2. 1 Cor.9:19-23 – do anything to win some

                                    a. Not matter what he wanted

– what mattered converting others

                                    b. Traditions & rituals are secondary

            C. To participate in righteousness of Christ

                        1. Phil.3:7-10 

a. Knew couldn’t be perfect in himself

                                                * Gal.2:21 – if saved by law

– Jesus died for nothing

                                                * Gal.3:21 – no law could ever

impart life – only Jesus

                                    b. Willingly rid self of anything that

might hinder his quest

                                                * No pride in what he did

– all by grace– 1 Cor.15

                                                * All accomplishments rubbish

                        2. We must desire His righteousness too

                                    a. He died that we might possess it

– 2 Cor.5:21

                                    b. 1 Jn.1:7-10 – to possess it - must

walk in the light

 

Conclusion

A. Always remember – you were made for eternity

            1. Each has a desire within to live forever

            2. God’s intention – we live with Him eternally

B. Remember – what we allow to drive us here -

will determine where spend eternity

            1. Jesus must be # 1 – must renounce all else

            2. What many allow drive them ends in death

                        a. Guilt – must be dealt with = Jesus

                        b. Anger & resentment – never be forgiven

– always a prisoner to Satan

                        c. Fear – always miss opportunities

                        d. Materialism – can’t serve God & wealth

                        e. Need for approval – always vacillating

– no blessings – James 1:5-8

            3. Allow love for Jesus motivate us - serve Him

– eternally honored

            4. Desire be fruitful reach the lost – blessed

            5. Desire to participate in His righteousness

– will be filled