Living on the Edge # 3

“The Greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To Fear and NOT be afraid… that is the paradox of faith.”

- A.W. Tozer

In our FIRST message in this series…

• Romans 12 showed us that we have to be willing to let go of control and we must surrender it to the ONE who knows us BEST and who loves us MOST

• We talked about what a Surrendered Life actually looks like

• We asked the question… “are you in or only in half way?”

In our SECOND message in this series…

• We asked you the question… “Why Wait?!”
• Do you really WANT to be well? - John 5

• To Live On The Edge, you must POSITION yourself to be where the BLESSINGS are!

• They're cannot be any excuses… the proof is in the pursuit!
• Jesus said to let the dead bury the dead

This morning in our THIRD message in this series… Question: “Are you getting God’s Best?”

• A practical, but most difficult step to Living On The Edge - Separate yourself from the World’s Values and Actions
• Jesus said…”If you hand causes you to sin… or if your eye causes you to sin, cut it off or pluck it out!”

Then He said to them all; “If anyone would come after me, he must DENY himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it!” - Jesus of Nazareth

How do you get the very best from God?

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is… His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• Look at the last 19 words of this verse…. 

“THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is… 

            His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• Can you imaging that were is something we ca actually do that God promises will allow us to “Test and Approve” (the idea is to fully and completely experience) how good, pleasing and perfect His will is for our lives?!

• Think about that! GOD wants you to experience his good and pleasing will in your marriage, your job, and your future He even wants you to experience His perfect Will is a difficult situation as you learn to wait, learn and see God’s wisdom and grace sustain you and I.

• All of this to say… God wants to give us the VERY BEST. I didn't say the easiest… and don't confuse THE BEST with how YOU define it. BUT, the Creator of the Universe knows your name, sees your heart, knows your pain, and longs to pour out His good, acceptable, and perfect will into every area of your life and relationships!

• Sadly, most christians… yep, you and me…. don't experience God’s best. Most christians get seduced and conned into believing lies that keep them conformed to this world and they miss out on all the wonderful things God wants to give them.

• Here’s REALITY… WE ARE IN A BATTLE! We all struggle. We all all have missteps and failures on our journey; but it is GODS DESIRE for you to experience His good, pleasing and perfect will! HOW?

Here’s how one man described it….

“I still struggle at times with my thought life and I am very susceptible to visual messages, so I have to be very intentional about what I watch or where I let my eyes go. I have battled workaholism, pleasing people, and self righteousness in my journey. However, I rejoice at God’s work in my life, but I still have daily temptations and that deep, lasting, significant change has occurred in my motives, speech, behavior, and relationships…. which have become deeper and better than I ever imagined. God’s good and perfect will is sweet!”

• The battle will CHANGE SHAPE as you continue to mature, but real transformation IS possible! This life is available and waiting for you! Those last 19 words in Romans 12:2 can describe your life when you learn by faith to put into practices the first 22 words of Romans 12:2! Results require Action. You will not experience one without the other!

God really wants to speak to you about this! PERSONALLY!  Using the acronym TRUST ME…

Think about the pathways to LIVING ON THE EDGE in your life. As you hear these and

 think on these things… listen to the Holy Spirit and follow HIS leading out onto the EDGE!

THINK - Read Romans 12:2 over slowly with a special focus on the last 19 words

REFLECT - What comes to your mind when you think about doing God’s will? Does your mind gravitate to words like difficult, painful, distasteful; or do you see His will as GOOD, Well Pleasing, and custom made for your benefit and joy?

UNDERSTAND - How and where have you struggled the most in your walk with Jesus? What habits, sins or setbacks seem to thwart your relationship with Christ?

SURRENDER - Ask God to begin opening your eyes and your heart to what His Good and Pleasing will is for your life.

TAKE ACTION - Discipline yourself and include an accountability partner if needed to walk away from things that are getting in the way of your walk with The Lord

MOTIVATION - Write out this prayer on a 3x5 index card or onto something else and tape it up somewhere you will see it…

“Father, help me not to let this world squeeze me into its mold, but transform me from the inside out as I meditate on and apply your word to my life”

ENCOURAGE SOMEONE - Jot a brief note to someone who knows Christ, but who is struggling in the day to day walk with Him. Just let them know you care and that you are praying for them today!