October 31 | Overcoming Ageism

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Joshua 14:10-12, “10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Lesson 31 | Ageism, “I’m Too Young/Old”

Two things encourage me greatly as a pastor- first, watching the older generation go hard after God and second, seeing the younger generation giving Jesus all their passion!  I love both so much.  I can relate to being “young and on fire” because I accepted Jesus at 18 years old, began preaching by 19, and started my first church at 22.  Nothing was better than me giving the most youthful and vibrant years of my life to God.  I remember being at the beach and seeing how people my age were wasting their lives on spring break while I was able to see souls saved and eternal destinies impacted.

Also, I watched after my parents retired, re-fire and give their free time to winning souls and making disciples.  My Dad is in his late 60’s and my Mom is in her early 70’s however, their age doesn’t matter, they still go out to the local parks in their city and preach the gospel!  They also love bringing people into their home and making new disciples- all glory to God!

Therefore, there are two excuses that need to be thrown back into the pit of hell where they came when it comes to serving Jesus- “I’m too young” and “I’m too old!”  Concerning being “too young” Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”  Plus, the Bible is full of examples of young people doing awesome things for God like David defeating Goliath and John leaving his family to follow Jesus- both were most likely only in their teens!

Regarding being “too old” I love what Caleb basically said in the above passage, “God has kept me alive to take this mountain!”  Boom- take that arthritis!  He didn’t let the promise of God go unclaimed just because 45yrs of his life had pasted and he was 85, he wanted to do all that God called him to do!  Therefore, if you’re not dead- you still have a life to give Jesus (remember Abraham and Moses?!)  Give Jesus all you have until you meet him in heaven because you only have one life to live.  Go out fighting the good fight of faith- winning souls and making disciples, 2 Timothy 4:7!

Do you struggle with serving God because of your age?  If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for listening to the devil and my flesh and disqualifying myself.  Send me your Holy Spirit to empower me to do all that you commanded! Amen.”

Reflection | Do you think your age disqualifies you from being a disciple that makes disciples?

Action | (1) Repent if you have allowed the spirit of condemnation to prevent you from fulfilling your calling. (2) Be obedient to all that God commanded in His Word until He brings you home- no excuses.  (3) Lastly, take your mountain in Jesus name and fulfill your calling!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Lamentations 4:1-5:22, Hebrews 2:1-18, Psalm 103:1-22, & Proverbs 26:23. Click here to read online.

October 30 | Overcoming Being Loveless

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Revelation 2:4, “Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first.”

Lesson 30 | Loveless, “I Don’t Love God Like I Should”

The most tragic thing to lose in your walk with God is your “first love.”  The first love we have for Jesus is priceless and incomparable to any kind of love in this world.  A simple definition for love is defined as strong emotion, intimate care, self-sacrifice, and passion for someone.  If you have never truly loved God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength- then you have never been saved or born again.  In other words, it is impossible to come into a relationship with Jesus without loving Him with everything you have because “loving God” is the first and most important command, Mark 12:30.

The Bible clearly defines loving God in two specific ways.  First, we love God by worshipping and adoring Him (John 4:24) and second, by obeying all of His commands, John 14:15.  1 John 2:4 boldly declares, “Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”  Therefore, our first and continuous love for God should always be in worshiping Him and following all His precepts.

At the same time, things in life- even God’s blessings, like our family roles and jobs can easily slip in and try to divert our worship and obedience.  This is not to say that we cannot love both our families and God- but you can begin to lose your love and affection towards God and use your family or job as an excuse.

For example, imagine beginning to think being present at a family function or job is more important than your love and service to God- this would be making your family or job an idol.  Therefore, no matter how much we love our family and want to be successful on our job we must never forget what Jesus said in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”  God must always be the center of our families and jobs or we and our family/job will perish forever.  It will always and forever be, about Jesus.  Long after your life on this earth it still will be about Jesus.

How do we keep our first love and dedication to God all throughout our lives?  Jesus told us in Revelation 2:5, “do the things you did at first.”  As a result, if you have lost your first love- repent and do the things you used to do.  And if you never want to lose your first love keep worshipping and obeying God’s commands- never stop.

Have you lost your first love? If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for allowing the things of this world to take away my passion for you and total obedience to your commands. Empower me to do the things I did at first and to never stop. Amen.”

Reflection | Do you still have your first love for Jesus?

Action | (1) Repent if you have lost your first love for Jesus. (2) If you have lost your first love start worshipping God and obeying all that He commanded- no short cuts and no compromise.  (3) Lastly, live your life loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength!   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Lamentations 3:1-66, Hebrews 1:1-14, Psalm 102:1-28, & Proverbs 26:21-22. Click here to read online.

October 29 | Overcoming Lack of Time Management

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Ephesians 5:16, “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Lesson 29 | Lack of Time Management, “I’m Just Too Busy”

Every person on earth has the same 24-hour day. Most people sleep for eight hours, work for another eight, and then mismanage the other eight hours.  The big question is, “What are you doing with your other eight hours?”  I challenge you before making any excuses by claiming you don’t have time for God and church to first sit down and make a “Time Management Chart.” 

I believe in doing so most people will not only find “extra” time for the things of God but will be convicted of how much time they have given to things that are not of eternal value (TV, sports, entertainment, the Internet, etc.)  And even after making the chart if you find yourself with little time wasted- you will still be able to see how to make the most out of your time for God.  Remember, Jesus made time for you by dying on the cross, you can and should make time to live for Him everyday, Matthew 6:33!  

First, list and add together all your priorities.  Start off by writing how many hours you sleep a night, then how many hours you work (include commute time), then how many hours you spend eating, how many hours you spend getting ready each day, the hours you give just to God (daily devotions/church activities), and how many hours you serve your family (activities, school work, etc).  Do this for each day individually and then add all the hours up.

Second, after you have factored in all the priorities of life, minus the hours you have accounted for by 168 (total hours in a week) and consider what is left over as “free time.”  Now you can begin to plan more positive activities with that free time. Plus, you can see where you have been wasting time and begin to restructure your life according to the priorities of the Bible and give yourself time to do the things that are really important.

Lastly, don’t let life pass you by; you only have one life, live your life to the fullest for God by making the most of every moment!  Make the most of your time by prioritizing your time in a way that pleases God.  No one will be excused on Judgment Day because they were “too busy to serve God!”

Reflection | How much time do you waste or misuse a day?

Action | (1) Repent if you have been “too busy” for the things of God (prayer, Bible reading, church, etc). (2) Arrange your days in such a way that you please God by living a “God-centered” life.  (3) Lastly, be led of the Holy Spirit to guard your time because one day you will give an account for every minute of your life!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Lamentations 1:1-2:22, Philemon 1:1-25, Psalm 101:1-8, & Proverbs 26:20. Click here to read online.

October 28 | Overcoming Discouragement

Series | The Overcoming Life

Scripture | Exodus 6:9, “Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.”

Lesson 28 | Discouragement, “I Feel Like Giving Up”

Have you ever felt like giving up on God?  Maybe you weren’t going to become an atheist but you were tempted to stop praying and having faith for things to change in your life?  If we were to be honest, all of us have felt discouraged at one time or another since becoming a Christian. 

For some discouragement can come after the loss a loved one or when facing finance troubles.  Sometimes ministers feel like giving up when they or the church hits hard times.  Others have allowed themselves to be discouraged because they find themselves on the “merry-go-round” of sin and no matter what they do they can’t seem to control their inner desires.  Therefore, it doesn’t really matter “why” the discouragement comes, what really matters is “how” to overcome feelings of discouragement. 

First, recognize that facing discouragement doesn’t mean you’re bad or abnormal.  Discouragement can come to anyone at anytime.  Even the great prophet Elijah felt like giving up despite having seen God’s miraculous delivering power on Mount Carmel, 1 Kings 19:4!  Discouragement is defined as, “the loss of hope and confidence.”  Specifically, we as disciples can become discouraged when don’t have hope in God’s promises like we used to.

Second, we must not let our “feelings” control our “faith.”  You have to decide that regardless of how you feel- you are going to believe and confess God’s Word over your life.  Many times people of faith have had to overcome their feelings of discouragement (King David, Paul, etc..).  Just because you think or feel discouraged doesn’t mean you have to live discouraged.  If Daniel could overcame discouragement in the lion’s den- you can overcome whatever is discouraging you if keep your faith, Philippians 4:13!    

Lastly, don’t let your present circumstances dictate your God given identity.  Just because you might have lost a loved one doesn’t mean you’re alone- God is with you.  You’re not a loser because you don’t have a job- you are a blessed and highly favored child of God waiting on the Lord to open a new door of employment.  And you’re not a damned sinner because you battle sin, you are a Holy Ghost sanctified saint of God learning to live free from your past, 1 Corinthians 6:11.  Therefore, make a decision to believe who God says you are- not your situation, Ephesians 1:3!

Do you struggle with discouragement?  If so, pray this out loud, “Father, forgive me for losing my hope and confidence in you.  Help me to believe I am who you said I am and I can do what you said I can do!  Amen.”   

Reflection | Are you discouraged?

Action | (1) Repent if you have allowed discouragement to take away your trust in God’s plan for your life. (2) When facing discouragement find verses in the Bible that give you faith and pray them over your life, Romans 10:17.  (3) Lastly, praise God for who He is, all that He has already done, and has promised to do, Psalm 149!

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Jeremiah 51:54-52:34, Titus 3:1-15, Psalm 100:1-5, & Proverbs 26:18-19. Click here to read online.