Content or Complacent

If there is one thing I have learned as I get older is that life is going to happen. Time functions with or without my involvement and with or without my approval. As Christ followers we must be in change mode our entire lives, if we are not we'll experience complacency and never connect to Godly contentment.

 

1.     If we don't deal with the past, the past will follow us to our present.

1.     This is why it's imperative that we not only hear, read, and study scripture but that we respond to it.

1.     Our pasts can be liberating or captivating but one things for sure I make the decision which.

Luke 3:4-14 NLT [4] Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the LORD's coming! Clear the road for Him! [5] The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. [6] And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'" [7] When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God's coming wrath? [8] Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. [9] Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." [10] The crowds asked, "What should we do?" [11] John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." [12] Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires." [14] "What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay."

2.     vs. 4 Before a King would take a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit to prepare the roads for him.

1.     John was telling his listeners to make their lives ready so Jesus could make His way to them.

2.     Can't you see how important this is?

1.     It would cost time, money, energy, resources, and effort to get the King to us.

2.     We will either be content or complacent.

3.     Content to say no I don't think I want the King coming our way.

1.     I refuse to do the work to receive Him.

2.     I refuse to make changes.

3.     I refuse to level myself up that I might enjoy His presence, His company, or His gifts.

4.     If we refuse to make our selves ready for His coming we hold the gospel of Christ, we hold the salvation of God within and others do not get to see, others never get to experience it, most importantly others don't get to receive it.

1.     This is a crime of epic proportion.

2.     The good news of the gospel is that you get Jesus regardless of circumstances.

3.     God made the way ready for us all, we just have to accept it, and believe it.

Proverbs 3:5-9 "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. (He will make your paths straight) 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce."

2.     Content or complacent?

1.     Many people are satisfied with their current conditions whatever they may be.

2.     They never, for whatever horrible reason or excuse, see themselves out of their current predicament.

3.     Thus leaving them in the bondage of contentment.

1.     Contentment can either be bondage or Godly.

1.     Complacency is being pleased with one's self or one's current scenario.

2.     This is good information to those seeking change in God, seeking sincere change in character, and seeking a sincere relationship with Christ.

1.     But to so, so, so many contentment is a walled prison with the key of escape in their pocket.

2.     Choosing to stay rather than to change.

1.     Content in their marriage.

2.     Content in their career.

3.     Content in their financial earning power.

4.     Content in their God relationship.

5.     Content to be alone.

6.     Content to be selfish.

7.     Content to be careless.

8.     Content to be compassionless.

9.     Content to be unchanged, unscathed, and unrelenting of their ways.

4.     Christianity invites you to not be complacent.

1.     I love that!

2.     I love that change is forever in my future.

3.     Are you content or complacent?

1.     Look back at Luke 3:7 John had such harsh words for people only wanting to be baptized so they could escape eternal punishment but refusing to change their internal hearts.

2.     He knew that God values reformation above ritual.

1.     Is your faith motivated by a desire for a new, changed life, or is it only a vaccination or insurance policy against possible disaster?

5.     We are God's representatives in this earth.

1.     Where righteousness is not legislated by Christians unbelief stands, untruths reside, and Hell rules.

John 17:22-26 NLT [22] "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. [23] I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. [24] Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! [25] "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. [26] I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them."

6.     God has given us His stuff to operate in this world.

1.     His resources, His power, from heaven.

3.     God's changing, loving power is relentless, it's reassuring, and it's resilient.

1.     He is continually revealing that to us, if you can not see that, feel that, understand that, or connect to that then you don't know Him.

2.     And I desperately want you to know Him.

1.     Many Christians and even those from the bible could not see themselves doing, operating and executing the vision, plan, and purposes of God.

2.     Though God has called and equipped them.

3.     We need to see ourselves in and through the eyes of God.

3.     Luke 3:8,9 Jesus' harshest words were to the respectable religious leaders, who lacked the desire for real change.

1.     Wanting to be known as religious authorities, but they didn't want to change their hearts and minds.

1.     Thus, their lives were unproductive.

2.     If you as a leader, as a Christian refuse to change your heart and mind you too will be unproductive.

3.     Turning from sin must be tied to action, or it isn't real.

4.     Following Jesus means more than saying the right words, it means acting on what He says.

1.     Jesus never defined Himself by the way others defined Him.

2.     This is bondage.

Philippians 4:11-14 NLT "[11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [14] Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty."

4.     Are you in pursuit of more?

5.     Can you find satisfaction in God alone?

6.     How do you achieve godly contentment?

1.     Contentment is an interesting concept in our world, since all are looking for more business, more customers, more fame, more fortune, more resources, more, more, more. 

2.     How do I remain content in a world that rewards the pursuit of more and views being content with less as defeat and failure? 

1.     Finding ourselves in a marketplace environment that not only rewards the pursuit of more but does not care about the methods of that pursuit. 

2.     The reality is that in order for me to understand godly contentment I must first change my paradigm of life. 

1.     It is impossible for me to be content and maintain the world’s approach toward life, because the worldly approach uses discontentment as a tool for motivating people to be innovative and productive.

2.     Advertisements are full of images that are designed to make us discontent with our current circumstances and want more.

3.     Contentment is not something we are born with, nor does it come automatically with salvation. 

1.     It is a learned behavior. 

2.     Many of us claim to be content, but we do so while seeking more.

4.     What does it really mean to be content? 

1.     Contentment is the spirit led ability to accept God’s will for my life no matter what my circumstances.

1.     It is a learned behavior that allows me to achieve great gain in Christ. 

1.     I love Ray C. Stedman’s definition for contentment: “only wanting what you have.”

1.     The beauty of this definition is that it forces us to reverse our perspective and focus on what we have rather than what we want. 

2.     Luke 3:11-14 Christ's message demanded at least three specific responses:

1.     Share what you have with those who need it.

2.     Whatever your job is, do it well and with fairness.

3.     Be content with your earnings.

2.     If you’re not content with what you have, you will not appreciate it; if you do not appreciate what you have, you will not take care of it; and if you do not take care of it, then you may eventually lose it.

1.     On the other hand, if you want what you have, you will appreciate it, and, as a result, will also take care of it and may eventually have more.

2.     So, how do you achieve godly contentment?

1.     How do we get to the point where we only want what we have and no longer focus on trying to keep up with the Jones's, the Gates, or the Kardashians?

1.     Recognize that you have brought nothing into this world, and you will carry nothing out. (1Tim. 6:7, Job 1:21)

2.     Recognize that both riches and poverty are from God. (1 Sam. 2:7, Prov. 22:2)

3.     Learn the lessons God is teaching you when you are lacking. (James 1:2-4)

4.     Master the art of stewardship. (1Cor. 4:2, Luke 16:1-13)

5.     Learn to appreciate every blessing, no matter how great or small. (I Thess. 5:18)

6.     Put your trust in Christ and not in your resources. (Matt. 6:33, I Tim. 6:17 -19, Col. 3:1-11)

7.     Guard against the love of money. (1 Tim. 6:10, Luke 12:15-21)

2.     Realize that implementing these things can not be done by might, but must be done by the Spirit. 

1.     You can not will yourself to be content; Christ must empower you and give you the grace to achieve contentment.

3.     Therefore pursue contentment and godliness, and you are sure to avoid great failure and attain great gain in Christ.

1.     Let us never be content with life change.

2.     Let us never be content with salvations.

1.     "It's never been about the name of a church it's always been about the name of Jesus."

3.     Let us never be content with people being filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

4.     Let us never be content about baptisms.

5.     Let us never be content with populating heaven and destroying hells initiatives.

6.     Let us never, ever be content with our relationship to Jesus Christ. 

1.     Little is much when God is in it. 

Rock Solid Faith / Encounter

Fighting the battles of life:

1. A rock solid faith is a moment in time where one decision makes all the difference.

Psalms 144:1-2 “1 Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. 2 He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him. He makes the nations submit to me.”

a. Do you help people in your life fight battles?

                                            i.     What do you do when the battle gets too heavy?

                                          ii.     We must help people fight the battles of life!

                                       iii.     We must be a church that fights through when battles occur, when they attack our homes, our belief in Christ, our marriages, and God's ordinances we must fight!

                                        iv.     Feb 3 2014 wreck

                                          v.     Feb 5 surgery

                                        vi.     Feb 6 removed chest tube

                                     vii.     Feb 6 a bad day (peace of God)

                                   viii.     Feb 7 a very productive day (God is able)

                                        ix.     Feb 8th released from the hospital on a SATURDAY! Which I was told never happens.

1. Fracture to the face

2. 8 rib fractures on my right side

3. Pelvis fractured in 4 places-the only bone that holds all of your body’s weight so they operated on it where they installed 2 nuts a long bolt and 2 large screws

4. Laceration to the face, head, foot, hands, liver, and spleen.

5. 2 fractured vertebrae.

6. Punctured lung, where I had to have a chest tube and was in the ICU for 3 days.

7. Was told by PT that I was doing things in two days that is takes most people 2 weeks to accomplish on less than half of the pain medication.

a. I had a family to take care of, places to go and people to get to!

b. What will you do when all else is against you?

c.  How will you respond when the devil takes a destructive strike against you, your health, your family or your children?

d. What if he directly works to annihilate your God calling, your God mission, and God encounter?

e. What the devil intended to destroy us with; God used directly against him to propel us into our purpose for Him.

                                            i.     Reach lost people in Ukiah.

                                          ii.     Do everything possible to bring those who are far from Him close to Him.

                                       iii.     Value God, Value others, and Value the Mission.

                                        iv.     Risk everything to reach everyone.

f.   I could have sat around listening to everyone who was telling me, "Michael, you have to get your health in order.

                                            i.     Michael, you need to take some time to get this together.

                                          ii.     Maybe you need to just wait.

                                       iii.     Pastor Mike I think the wisdom of God for you at this time is to wait on Him."

g. Or maybe now is the time to pull the trigger.

                                            i.     Maybe now is the moment that the Creator of all things is banking that I'll move forward in His calling, I'll step out in faith, I will leave everything and follow Him.

2. Having a rock solid faith in God is a decision, it’s a choice and it’s an important one.

a. As a matter of fact it is the most important decision a human being could ever make because that decision is tied to eternity not just a lifetime.

b. I never thought that our vows would have been so challenged, or tested as they have been in the last year, TK.

                                            i.     I remember telling my beautiful bride to leave the hospital room because I didn’t want her to see and experience me this way. I begged her to leave and she refused saying, “I will always be here for you, that is my lifetime commitment.”

1. Loyalty is one of life’s most costly qualities; it is the most selfless part of love.

2. To be loyal, you cannot live only for yourself.

3. Loyal people not only stand by their commitments; they are willing to suffer for them.

c.  I was completely astounded that 80+ people showed up at the hospital the night of my wreck in a major snowstorm.

d. They were more concerned for my physical well-being and my family than they were for their own selves.

e. Then knowing that TK and my boys never left my side I was overwhelmed.

                                            i.     A couple of days after my surgery when I came off of the morphine, TK began explaining what had happened to me I immediately told her I didn’t want any visitors, no one.

                                          ii.     I began to get depressed trying to navigate through all that the doctors had said to me.

1. I was scared, frustrated, even starting to get bitter.

f.   I have always been a working machine and now what will I do to take care of my family.

                                            i.     The devil began to torment my mind, my spirit, and my attitude so bad, so drastically, that I even contemplated quitting.

                                          ii.     Quitting ministry, quitting service to others, and most importantly quitting in front of my wife and my children.

1. I was in such a tsunami of emotions.

g. When Alec and Chase walked into the hospital room I was completely awestruck by seeing them.

h. I hadn’t seen Chase since the wreck while in my right mind from the morphine.

                                            i.     We had quite a moment-expound.

i.    Then the boys both as close as they could possibly be to me began to tell me that we were being attacked, being attacked by the devil and maybe even hell itself.

j.   The boys said dad, we have to go, Ukiah needs us, they need our hearts, they need our working attitudes, they need our never quit spirits, they need us, all.

                                            i.     We told them we were coming and dad we have to get back to work.

k.  TK, chimes in with the boys saying we know this is the devil and we know he is a liar, so forget this and lets move on.

                                            i.     We all began to cry, pray, and immediately I got a second wind and experienced an uncharted moment in time that I will never forget.

1. I hate when they use my preaching on me.

l.    I told them how right they all were and that I was sorry for even thinking of quitting on them or in front of them.

                                            i.     I begged for their forgiveness and thanked them for their love for God, their passion to do His work, and I said, “let’s do this, together.”

                                          ii.     There is not one person in this life that could have come into my room and had those drastic of results except TK, Alec, and Chase.

1. When I was at my absolute worst my family was at their absolute best, they literally came to my rescue and for that I am eternally grateful.

2. That next weekend we were all in the House of God, my hands raised in worship and moving my body as much as I possibly could to worship wholeheartedly.

3. A rock solid faith advances without knowledge of outcome.

a. I've come too far to stay stranded here!

1 Samuel 18:1 “After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king's son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn't let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.”

a. David and Jonathan were men of faith who had their eyes upon one another.

b. They had a confidence in one another's faith, in one another's purpose, and especially in one another's God design. 

c.  Jonathan was a young man of courage, strength and determination who looked to and relied on God.

                                            i.     He was a mighty soldier highly respected and trusted by the men he led.

                                          ii.     These character traits were clearly evidenced when Jonathan fought against a garrison of Philistine soldiers with only his armor bearer by his side.

                                       iii.     Trusting in God, he slew 20 Philistines in a half-acre area of land.

d. If you remember the backstory whoever killed Goliath the champion of Gath got the King's daughter, neither him nor his family would ever pay taxes again, then immediately become rich because he now is royalty. 

1 Samuel 17:55 "As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Abner, whose son is this young man?" "I really don't know," Abner declared. 56 "Well, find out who he is!" the king told him. 57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine's head still in his hand."

e. Jonathan saw David kill Goliath who had been mouthing off for 40 days straight.

f.   Then he witnesses the young warrior enter the Kings presence, with Goliath's head still in his hands!

g. Next he just became a brother-in-law.

h. Finally, he is absolutely intrigued by the courage, power, faith, bravery, and confidence of this powerful man of God.

                                        iv.     Moved to love him, respect him, and honor him as much as his own life.

i.    A bond had born so strong that they promised to never let anything come between them.

j.   Saul, upon hearing the people praise David in singing, sought to kill David from that day forward.

                                          v.     But Jonathan’s respect for his friend only grew.

                                        vi.     Begging his father not to chase David down, or to kill him.

k.  He even traveled a great distance to see David in hiding, knowing that his father had spies watching his every move.

l.    Jonathan intervened on David’s behalf so often that he put his own life in danger, one time narrowly escaping death at the hand of his father.

                                     vii.     Both princes of Israel, one by birth, the other by marriage, in line for the throne.

                                   viii.     Each had accomplished great feats, relying on God for victory.

                                        ix.     They were zealous, driven, resourceful, courageous, bold, meek, and humble.

                                          x.     They knew and respected government, wielded authority, and served those under and over them.

                                        xi.     Loyal to one another and to their king.

m.                 They could have been enemies, rivals, yet they set aside jealousy, resentment, competition, and the lust for power, choosing instead to become the closest of friends.

n. Real men, who understood what it meant to lay down their lives one for another.

4. A Rock Solid Faith is a rescuing faith.

a. Jonathan and David made a covenant, a solemn agreement to keep up, maintain a cordial respect to each other, to support each other's interests both in life and death.

                                            i.     A covenant not founded in mere words, but in sincere affection, and was lasting and unbreakable.

                                          ii.     Such covenants are ratified by certain ceremonies, and in the presence of witnesses, that the persons will be sworn brothers for life.

1. My family has made a covenant to be there for me as well as I for them.

2. I experienced that first hand.

a. Now I will spend my life making them experience mine.

b. David escaped to the cave of Adullam; these caves were more than a hiding place and a place of refuge.

                                            i.     They were a place of growth, training and waiting on the Lord.

1. These caves were called hiding places and fortresses simultaneously.

a. Why?

b. Because they can be both.

c.  How many times in the history of God’s people, has it been proven that we grow the most, and learn the most, after His Spirit has removed all distractions from us; taken us out of our comfort zone, kicked all of our standards and expectations out from under us, and taken us to a humble, lonely place, where only He and we know what’s going on in our hearts?

5. A rock solid faith connects to their God given destiny.

a. It was in the Cave of Adullum David pinned these words.

Psalm 142:1 “I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD's mercy. 2 I pour out my complaints before Him and tell Him all my troubles. 3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. 4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. 5 Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. 6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank You. The godly will crowd around me, for You are good to me.”

b. The cave represented a cold, dark, dreary, depressing, prison of confinement.

c.  The cave represented every one that was in distress, every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented.

                                            i.     Can you imagine how important is that we don't stay in the cave but come out to assume our rightful God mission positions?

                                          ii.     The devil continually seeking to destroy what God has set in motion a long, long time ago.

1. Your life, your mission for God, and your families’ destiny.

d. I realized in my moment of faith that I am going to be as wide open for God as I ever was for the devil.

e. I was a mess, living in a pigpen of my own creation, the creation of others, the creation of sin and I was miserable.

f.   At the age of 19 I said yes to Jesus and I will never, ever, ever go back.

6. A Rock Solid faith is contagious.

a. I will live passionately and wholeheartedly for God, I could care less what the devil and his cronies think about my existence.

Hebrews 5:8 “Even though Jesus was God's Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.”

b. God didn't just send me here for my family, my children, my healing, and my opportunities but for you, for your children, for your children's children!

                                            i.     God sent us here to minister to families, your friends, your peers, and your coworkers, for your healing, for your God mission, for the community of Ukiah!

1. What will they be for God?

2. What kind of Rock Solid Faith are we to model and then what kind of Rock Solid Faith are we to pass on?

c.  Pass on giving up.

d. Pass on quitting in the hard times, pass on passivity, pass on unfaithfulness, or unfruitfulness?

                                            i.     Pastor Mike. If I choose to wait does the devil win?

1. No God is too powerful for that.

                                          ii.     If I choose to hold off does the devil take control.

1. No, God is greater than that.

                                       iii.     But If I choose to wait, I lose.

                                        iv.     I lose an opportunity to minister to the lost in this area.

                                          v.     I lose an opportunity to walk in faith.

                                        vi.     I lose an opportunity to do the miraculous.

                                     vii.     I lose an opportunity to see hundreds come to Christ, thousands worshipping God and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

                                   viii.     I lose an opportunity to see God's great, mighty, and uncharted miracles be fulfilled.

                                        ix.     I lose an opportunity be what God has called, destined, and defined me to be.

1. And that my friend is the greatest tragedy of all.

e. I'm not telling you something I read in a cute little blog, or what someone pinned up on his or her Pinterest.

                                            i.     I'm not preaching something to you I read in book, heard at a conference, or saw in a youtube video.

                                          ii.     I'm preaching to you what my family and I have experienced, what my family and I were drug through, and literally what we have fleshed out.

f.   God is too good to be cruel and He is too wise to make mistakes, He will use the Devil's best ammunition, meant to destroy me, sent to destroy my family and literally crumble his plans to ash.