Getting Your Ship Together: Aligning Life with God
Summary
In this sermon, the pastor addresses the fear that often hinders individuals from fulfilling God's purpose and mission for their lives. The pastor emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing areas in one's life that are not aligned with scripture and Jesus. Using the metaphor of a ship, the pastor suggests that everyone has areas of sin and messiness in their lives, but Jesus came to eliminate these sins and messes, not just cover them up. The pastor encourages the congregation to start and end their days with God, asking Him to reveal any areas in their lives that may be against His will or disobedient to His word.
The pastor then focuses on the story of Solomon from the book of 1 Kings. Solomon had been doing the right thing, following God and using the wisdom and discernment that God had given him. However, as time went on, Solomon's ship (his life) started to stink because he allowed himself to be influenced by those around him and engaged in sinful behavior. The pastor uses an analogy of a commercial for air freshener to illustrate that Jesus, our Savior, doesn't just mix with our sin, but wants to eliminate it completely.
The pastor also discusses the story of David and his son Solomon. David desired for his son to follow the ways of God and obey the commandments. As Solomon grows older and becomes prosperous, he continues to follow his father's teachings. However, the pastor hints that there will be challenges ahead for Solomon, as mentioned in 1 Kings chapter 11.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of measuring oneself against scripture and Jesus. The pastor compares the guidelines in scripture to a guardrail that protects and saves lives, rather than just a set of dos and don'ts. The pastor encourages the congregation to use scripture as a mirror to reflect on their flaws and mistakes. Additionally, the pastor highlights the significance of measuring oneself against Jesus, as he is the ultimate example to follow.
The pastor begins by emphasizing the need for individuals to "get their ship together." He uses the metaphor of a ship to represent different aspects of one's life, such as relationships, fellowship, worship, and stewardship. The pastor asks the congregation to reflect on which area of their life needs the most work in this season. He encourages them to share their thoughts and comments, with many expressing the need to improve their relationships and stewardship. The pastor also shares his personal struggles with worship, admitting that sometimes he gets too caught up in his head instead of worshiping from the heart.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognizing and addressing areas in one's life that are not aligned with scripture and Jesus is crucial. Everyone has areas of sin and messiness in their lives, but Jesus came to eliminate these sins and messes, not just cover them up. Starting and ending the day with God can help reveal areas that may be against His will or disobedient to His word. ([12:45])
- The story of Solomon serves as a reminder that even those who start off following God can be led astray. Solomon's life started to stink because he allowed himself to be influenced by those around him and engaged in sinful behavior. This illustrates that Jesus doesn't just mix with our sin, but wants to eliminate it completely. ([22:30])
- The importance of measuring oneself against scripture and Jesus is emphasized. Scripture is compared to a guardrail that protects and saves lives, rather than just a set of dos and don'ts. Using scripture as a mirror to reflect on flaws and mistakes can lead to personal growth and alignment with God's will. ([34:15])
- The metaphor of a ship is used to represent different aspects of one's life, such as relationships, fellowship, worship, and stewardship. Reflecting on which area of life needs the most work in a particular season can lead to improvement and growth. Sharing personal struggles and experiences can also encourage others to do the same. ([45:50])
- The concept of being "noseblind" to sin or negative situations in our lives is discussed. Becoming accustomed to sin can make it difficult to recognize and address. Seeking God's help in recognizing and addressing areas of sin or negativity can lead to personal growth and a closer relationship with God. ([58:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Kings 2:2-3: "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."
2. 1 Kings 3:5: "At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, 'Ask for whatever you want me to give you.'"
3. 1 Kings 3:9: "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
4. 1 Kings 11:4: "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been."
Observation Questions:
1. What were the instructions given to Solomon by his father David in 1 Kings 2:2-3?
2. In 1 Kings 3:5, what did God offer to Solomon in a dream?
3. What changes occurred in Solomon's devotion to God as he grew older, as described in 1 Kings 11:4?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Solomon's request for a discerning heart in 1 Kings 3:9 reflect his initial obedience to God's commands?
2. What might have led to the shift in Solomon's devotion to God as he grew older, as mentioned in 1 Kings 11:4?
3. How does the instruction given by David to Solomon in 1 Kings 2:2-3 relate to the concept of walking in obedience to God's decrees and commands?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Solomon's life, can you identify a time when you started strong in obedience to God but were later led astray? What influenced this change?
2. Considering the metaphor of a ship used to represent different aspects of life, which area (relationships, fellowship, worship, stewardship) do you feel needs the most work in your current season? What specific steps can you take to improve in this area?
3. How can you use scripture as a mirror to reflect on your flaws and mistakes, similar to how Solomon was instructed to observe God's laws and regulations?
4. Can you think of a situation where you've become "noseblind" to sin or negative situations in your life? What is one action you can take to seek God's help in recognizing and addressing this area?
5. What is one way you can start and end your day with God to help reveal areas in your life that may be against His will or disobedient to His word?
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing and Addressing Sin
God's desire is for His children to live in alignment with His word and His will. This requires recognizing and addressing areas in one's life that are not aligned with scripture and Jesus. Everyone has areas of sin and messiness in their lives, but Jesus came to eliminate these sins and messes, not just cover them up. Starting and ending the day with God can help reveal areas that may be against His will or disobedient to His word. ([12:45])
Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Reflection: What specific area of your life do you feel is not aligned with God's word? How can you start and end your day with God to help reveal these areas?
Day 2: The Danger of Influence
The story of Solomon serves as a reminder that even those who start off following God can be led astray. Solomon's life started to stink because he allowed himself to be influenced by those around him and engaged in sinful behavior. This illustrates that Jesus doesn't just mix with our sin, but wants to eliminate it completely. ([22:30])
1 Corinthians 15:33 - "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that influence you the most? Are they leading you closer to God or away from Him?
Day 3: Scripture as a Guardrail
Scripture is not just a set of dos and don'ts, but a guardrail that protects and saves lives. Using scripture as a mirror to reflect on flaws and mistakes can lead to personal growth and alignment with God's will. ([34:15])
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Reflection: What scripture has recently challenged you? How can you apply it as a guardrail in your life?
Day 4: Reflecting on Life's Seasons
Different aspects of one's life, such as relationships, fellowship, worship, and stewardship, can be represented as a ship. Reflecting on which area of life needs the most work in a particular season can lead to improvement and growth. ([45:50])
Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
Reflection: What area of your life needs the most work in this season? How can you take steps towards improvement?
Day 5: Becoming Noseblind to Sin
Becoming accustomed to sin can make it difficult to recognize and address. Seeking God's help in recognizing and addressing areas of sin or negativity can lead to personal growth and a closer relationship with God. ([58:30])
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Reflection: What sin or negative situation have you become "noseblind" to? How can you seek God's help in recognizing and addressing it?
Quotes
"We should be looking at it as a guardrail, saying this is ways that could save your life, this is to protect you, this is for you to have Abundant Life...the guidelines in here are for you to stay safe and live joyfully and live abundantly."
"Measure yourself against scripture...we will see our flaws, we'll see our mistakes. Look at it, look at it."
"Measure yourself against Jesus...the number one person that we should be measuring ourselves against is Jesus...what would Jesus do in my situation?...I want to be more like Jesus, I want to be sharing, I want to be kind, I want to be loving, I want to do right."
"The last thing is to remember is we have a savior who doesn't want to mix with our mess and our sin, he wants to eliminate them. Your ship stinks, my ship stinks, everybody's ship stinks, but we're trying to defunk it, and the only one that can eliminate that is Jesus."
"God wants to defunk our ships, our worship, our relationships, our stewardships, our fellowships. He doesn't just want to cover up our sins and our stink, he wants to eliminate them."
"Do you have those authentic relationships that somebody is willing to tell you when your ship stinks right and to Journey with you that will say hey let's look around... let's figure out where the source is and let's get rid of it together."
"Put yourself around people who will tell you about yourself... measure yourself against scripture... this is supposed to be a mirror... it's supposed to guide you and help you fix things in your life so your ship don't stink."
"God wants to eliminate the stink of our sin, just like a freeze will capture and eliminate odor. But often, we become noseblind to our own sin because we're so used to it. We continue in the same sins over and over without realizing how much it stinks."
"On this side of heaven, we will never be completely sinless because we were born into sin. However, as we draw closer to God and recognize the stench of our sin, we can start to sin less. We may never be stinkless, but we can definitely stink less."
"Which ship in this season do you think needs the most work? Is it your relationships, the fellowship, the people that you do life with, your worship, or your stewardship? What ship in this season needs the most work?"
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