This is third of four sermons on discerning God’s true direction for our lives, this week we look at MOTIVATION!  God’s will for our lives is healthy, sensible, less anxious,and  God want us to follow Him.

Our First sermon focused on prayer, Everything begins and ends with prayer, The exercise was to pray “ceaselessly” a spirit of prayer and not an act of prayer.  The second dealt with passion for this discernment- You have to want it. This week is motivation: What plugs you into the amazing power of God.  Its as present as a power line but you must connect! wherever prayer driven passion is, there will your motivation be.  Discernment requires us to  know it, grow it, act upon it and use it to grow closer to God.

My grandfather helped found an electrical Coop before WWII.  This would revolutionize his rural area but at first had little impact.  Why?  There were few things to plug in and little understanding what this newfangled power did.  One man hooked it up, plugged in a light bulb and enjoyed the ability to read at night.  Everything was fine until he got his first bill-about a dollar, and he threw a fit.  If the coop would not negotiate a deal he threatened to take out the bulb and let the power spill onto the floor!  Not much understanding.

What do we Know, You have to plug in, it costs, useful, destructive, scary, You need to understand it to be able to use it. Electrons get excited at the source, are generated onto the transmission lines, do their work and return to the source.  Unplugging anything along the way that break the flow, stops the power.  The power is still there but the “Short-Circuit” stops the work of power.  So it is with the quest for God’s plan for our lives.  You have to plug in and pay the price!  When you plug in you will want more and this is this source of growth-moving from faith to faith! FAITH MOTIVATES FAITH in a self feeding circle! Check out the text!

Romans 1:1-17New International Version (NIV)

Paul is Asking Two Questions: What Motivates you and Us, second, What Should Motivate you and us. . The second question is the best question.

The text has three motivators for a follower of Jesus to discern God’s mission for our lives instead of a random decision or mere chance.  First, the end zone, goal, ground, plan and reward with responsibility is FAITH. We move from faith to faith to live by faith.  Second, faith in God is for us personally but lived out in community “Mutually Encouraged by each other’s faith”. We motivate and are motivated by our fellow travelers! Third and finally, The gift of “Sent-ness, or apostleship.” This isn’t geography but a state of the heart.  We are sent where we live to be plugged in,  excited, to give witness to the power given to us to work and return through praise  to God who changes our lives and the lives of others.

When we don’t have faith, work anyway.  John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement had doubts.  He received this advice from pastor Peter Muhller, “Preach faith until you have it and all you will be able to preach is faith. Keep at it through prayer, worship, service and keep your eyes on Christ

My motivators are these three things: I love Jesus Christ, why, this is the source of love I have for others. I Love his church, This is his chosen powerline to transmit the very salvation of the world. NOT THE SIGN OUT FRONT! But the Jesus within the Church. and finally, I Love You, A pastor’s love is a funny thing these motivate me, drive me out of bed and keep me going. Few know the lengths I would go to to introduce you to Jesus, or a better way to deepen your walk with him.

So now we ask the question, SO WHAT? Ask these three and write down three things and pray for them to be your source of spirit led motivation!  Give them to God and find a new energy for spiritual growth.

Paul said, I am not ashamed of the Gospel! Me neither, how about you?

These briefs are a follow up to our Sunday worship.  I pray that you enjoy them but they are not a substitute for being in church.  Attend your church or come see us at CMUMC.  Do you have questions about how to become a Christian?  contact me at revavanhooser@gmail.com or click on the icon below to contact our office.