The Journey From Mediocre to Magnificent!

I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

Mediocre No More!

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

The difference between getting by and getting ahead is mainly one of perspective. Getting ahead results from looking ahead, and from focusing your efforts on creating long-term value.

Getting ahead comes from doing more than just what is expected or required. With an eye toward the future, make the extra effort, provide the extra value, become more effective, commit to continual learning and growth. These are the things which will push you ahead.

So called luck and circumstance certainly cannot be depended upon to get you ahead. Being in the right place at the right time won’t even reliably do it. If you want to get ahead, you must undertake to get yourself ahead.

You can use up all your energy and resources to just get by. Or you can change your focus and use that same energy, those same resources to achieve something spectacular. The difference is not in what’s available to you, but rather in what you do with those things which are available.

The difference is in your perspective.Will you just get by, or will you soar to impressive heights? Fix your focus solidly ahead. Look ahead, think ahead, act ahead and you will most certainly get ahead.

Father in heaven, I know that my “calling” in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of myself, to break my own records, to outstrip my yesterdays by my today, to DO my work, and to seek Your face with more force than ever before. Help me to let go of pettiness and grudges, I have learned that we never get ahead if we are focused on getting even. Success is never accidental. Today I will refuse to be an ordinary, unexceptional anything anymore! In Jesus name. AMEN.

We are NOT just talking about “Success”

Magnificent! Marvelous! These adjectives are only discovered when our lives are truly“MEANINGFULL”

Do you know the difference between success and significance? I know a lot of people who believe they are successful because they have everything they want.

Success = I have added Value to Myself..
Significance = I have added Value toOthers…

Success is usually the steppingstoneto significance…

Five Differences Between Success and Significance

1. Motives… With success, my motives may be selfish; with significance, my motives cannot be selfish. Significance and selfishness are incompatible.Motives matter because: Selfish people seldom find significance.

2. Influence….. With success, my influence is limited; with significance, my influence is unlimited.

3. Time…. Success can last a lifetime; significance can last several lifetimes.

4. Focus…. Success asks, “How can I add value to myself?” Significance asks, “How can I add value to others?”

The evolution from selfishness to significance looks something like this:

What can others do for me? ….
What can I do formyself? ……
What can I do forothers? …..
What can I do withothers, for others?

5. Reward…If I pursue success, my joy is the result of my success; if I pursue significance, my joy is the result of others’ success.

How do we live a significant life?
The kind of significant life that God wants us to live?

Three Ways To Improve Your Significance Your Impact…I Peter 5:1-7

Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed: ²shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm; ³not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation]. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory. ⁵Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble. ⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, ⁷casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. I Peter 5:1-7

1. Start Serving…. The greatest among you must be a servant. Matthew 23:11Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant… (Message)

Jesus Christ says, "Be a servant".That's where significance is really found in life.If you want to be a great Christian, be a great servant.If you want to make a significant impact on this world, the secret is service.

The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Purpose is that moment, that place, where your inner joy, the core of your gladness MEETS the need’s of the people around you….

Choose DesireOver Duty…. ²shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm;

Duty doesn't work to impact other people, but desire does, willingness does.

Four words that never will change the world:"IfIHaveTo"

Desire is what makes the difference in life.The ability to say, "I have a willingness to do this."If I have to" can be a very dangerous way of thinking.

Instead of a change of circumstances let me give you the option, the possibility of a change of heart.Changing all those duties and responsibilities in life into opportunities.Changing your heart.This is key.Desire births Energy…

Try this pray, "God, I'm willing to be made willing."The starting point of all great and lasting achievement is desire

Choose Givingover Getting….
not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm;²

To paraphrase John Kennedy… Ask not What can I get? but ask What can I give?

They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. Psalm 112:9

Choose Being An ExampleOver Being In Control… ³not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation; lead them by your own good example by your pattern and model of Christian living].

The measure of our influence is not how many people are under us.
The measure of our influence is how many people are behind us..

To move Upward we must learn to step back and give back!

Our ExampleIs What Has Power.

Do you want to leave a mark on this world?Your example is what leaves a mark.Do you want to be a great dad or a great mom.Be a great example.Do you want to be a great boss?Be a great example.Do you want to be a great Christian?Be a great example.

2. Stay Humble…⁵Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. ⁶Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, [AMPC]

Humility says "God, I'm depending on you.I need You in my life. I Need others…

Be confident on the inside. Humble on the outside…

Don't Give Up Your Ambition; Let HumilityManageYour Ambition.

It was pride that transformed an Angel of light, the choir leader of heaven, the universal instrument of worship into a Devil… Perhaps humility can have some transforming power over the hearts of mere mortals, and make us act like angels?

3. Stop Worrying….. ⁷casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

Worriers don't make much impact on this world.There's a couple of reasons.They are so busy fighting imaginary dragons they don't have any time to fight the real ones.The other thing is, worry tends to make you focus on yourself.

Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained... Arthur Roche

Epiriptō to throw upon, place upon

Whatever worries you will master you. Worrying is using the God given gift of imagination to create something neither you or God wants for your life.

Three Ways To Improve Your Significance Your Impact…
Start Serving….Stay Humble…Stop Worrying…..

The Journey From Mediocre to Magnificent!

Opportunity is missed by most people because it shows up in overalls and looks like work. — Thomas Edison

Everyone Starts at Average.

No One Is Good the FirstTime.

If you attempt something and it doesn’t work, learn from that experience and adjust your efforts based on what you’ve learned. No one is born knowing how to do everything perfectly, yet anyone can learn how to effectively do what needs to be done.

MEDIOCRE TO MARVELOUS | Week 5 Pastor Mark Evans

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