KINGDOM SHIFT

IntentionsIn an Upside-Down Kingdom

The “Same Old” Approaches Produce the “Same Old”

Results

Principle: All human behavior is purposeful. People do what makes sense to them.

Why is a Kingdom Shift needed?

• Because we are “Living in a Kingdom Upside Down”

• Because God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts and as high as the heavens are above the earth so are His thoughts and ways above ours!!!

• …and because “That which does not change remains the same!”

George S Odiorne

How do we make these Shifts? Walk in the Spirit and learn to discern!!!

dis·cern:1. to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend: They discerned a sail on the horizon. 2. to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is incapable of discerning right from wrong. 3. to distinguish or discriminate.

• Perspective – how the world works; what it’s made up of; how the components are related; and how life really works, that is, the flow of cause and effect in life, how things really work

• Value System - priorities; a person’s preferences; his/her ranking of relative importance of specific things in life, including personal goals, gratifications, status, money, possessions, other people’s interests, God’s will, etc.; His treasures

REVIEW OF KINGDOM SHIFTS

THE NEXT KINGDOM SHIFT

• Intentions – chosen goals based on desires, perspective and value structure

We shift to Kingdom goals and aim differently.

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

The Path Principle

• “Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination.”

• Last week after Mark spoke I remembered something Pastor Harold said regarding two categories…

Our Aspirational Values-vs-

Our Operational Values

The Path Principle

• This is true with our intentions/goals as well…• There is our aspirational intentions/goals and

then there is our operational goals.• So the path principle holds true and could be

said this way“ It is the goals we actual operate life by that determine our destination, not what we aspire to do. And… as we already know… “Many aspire, Few attain”!

The Kingdom Shift: Intentions• Regarding Life…– Usual Goals• Be happy.• Do what it takes to…

»Keep on being happy»Make sure I have “enough.”

• Qualify for a good job.• Get into a good college.• Be a decent person.• Have fun!• Hopefully not get into sex or drugs.

• Regarding Life…– Biblical Goals• Walk with God in line with the Bible• Be committed to God’s mission.• Be responsible/faithful.• Relate to people righteously and well.• Have good judgment about life.• Discern wrong ideas/people to avoid.• Work through problems trusting God.• Learn how to learn and master subject matter.• Acquire skills and information for life’s work.

• Regarding My Learning…– Usual Goals• Learn what I need to do well in school.• Use the ideas I get from TV, movies & friends to…

»Guide my thoughts, life, dating, school, job.»Solve problems that arise.

• Do as little focused learning as possible…»Because I am so busy with other things.

• Regarding My Learning…– Biblical Goals• Learn how to walk with God• Learn the…

»Key teachings of the Bible.»Key errors people get into.

• Learn how to solve problems in line with Scripture in…

»Attitudes, thoughts & emotions.»Family and relationships»Decision making.

»Managing my mouth.»Work/job.»Money and possessions.»Trouble that arises.

• Learn how to play my role in seeing the church built up.

• Regarding my Work/Job...– Usual Goals• Get the best job I can with the least investment in

the work.• Either…

» Climb the ladder when possible…o Even sacrificing

Kingdom work Family

»Or, work less or keep a lower stress job so I can play more…o Even sacrificing…

Kingdom work Family

• Regarding my Work/Job…– Biblical Goals• Find honorable work.• Work…

» Diligently within contract.»With a good will.» Pleasing Christ by the quality and attitude of my

work.» Enough to pay my/our way and give to the Kingdom

and others in need.» Advancing as Christ leads.

• Manage work and the rest of…» Life so that all priorities are…» Taken care of.

• Regarding Trouble…– Usual Goals• Get past it ASAP

– Biblical Goals• Honor God by my attitude and actions.• Endure through the trouble.• Learn and grow through the trouble.

• Regarding Friends…– Usual Goals• Hang out with “fun” people when I have time.

– Biblical Goals• Pick wise people as buddies.• Be faithful to them.

• Regarding getting married one day…– Usual Goals• Find some one: pretty/handsome, funny and fun!• Be happy.• Get them to cooperate with my goals.

– Biblical Goals• Honor God.• Plan my role considerately and respectfully.• Bless my mate.• Set a right patterns early in marriage that would, in

turn, set an godly example for future children.

• Regarding Church…– Usual Goals• Attend worship when it’s…

»Convenient, or»Absolutely necessary- Mother’s Day,etc.

• Minimize other involvement– Biblical Goals• Find a Bible-based church that I fit with.• Worship regularly out of respect for God.• Pull my weight financially and in the ministry.• Find ways to learn.• Train my kids to participate and serve.

2 Tim 2:22

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Tim 4:3-4

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

KINGDOM SHIFT

IntentionsIn an Upside-Down Kingdom