Pursuing Holy Ambition1
Pursuing Holy Ambition
Chip Ingram
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9a)
Six Conditions for Becoming a Strategic Change Agent:
- A dislocated heart
- A broken spirit
- A radical step of faith
- A strategic plan
- A personal commitment
- A courageous soul
A Broken Spirit
God is searching… for a select group of people.
Two Timeless Axioms Concerning God’s Character:
- God hates 100% of the time.
Proverbs 8:13, James 4:6
- God responds to a 100% of the time.
Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 57:15
How Do We Develop A Broken Spirit?
Our Model = Nehemiah
A broken spirit begins with a ______.
4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6alet your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.
Nehemiah 1:4-6a (NIV)
A broken spirit leads us to an ______.
6bI confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. 7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
Nehemiah 1:6b-7 (NIV)
A broken spirit results in a renewed commitment to fulfill ______.
8Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'
10They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 1:8-11 (NIV)
Summary Principles for Impact
- We must let God work deeply us before He will work significantly
us!
- Until we make prayer a , progress and power will never be a
.
- DifferenceMakers are not necessarily those with “a lot to give,” but those who make available all they have.
Application / Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God always responds so positively to those who come with a broken spirit?
- What is one area of your life in which God spoke to you through this message that may need some time in prayer and confession?
- What one thing will you do beginning this week to be a Nehemiah in your world?
A Radical Faith
And I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land that I might not destroy it…
Ezekiel 22:30
God is searching…for just one man or woman to “step out” and make a difference!
Our Model = Nehemiah
11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king.
1In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; 2so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, 3but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" 4The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." 6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
Nehemiah 1:11-2:6 (NIV)
Definition
A radicalfaith is choosing to “step out” to fulfill God’sclearlydefinedwill at great personal risk and sacrifice.
How Do We Develop a Radical Faith?
- By remembering whatfaithis and isnot. Hebrews 11:1
- By remembering howdeeplyGodvalues our faith. Hebrews 11:6
- By remembering what Jesustaught His followers about a radical faith.
- Jesus called them to a radical faith. Luke 9:23-27
- Jesus clarified the object of their faith. Luke 9:28-45
- Jesus warnedof the dangers of having a radical faith. Luke 9:46-56
- Jesus outlined the cost of having a radical faith. Luke 9:57-62
- By remembering you can’t “walk on water if you don’tgetoutoftheboat.” Luke 10:1-27
Summary
30"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. 31So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."
Ezekiel 22:30-31 (NIV)
Application / Discussion Questions
- What would “stepping out” in faith look like in your personal arena and network of influence? (Family? Work? Finances? Time? Church ministry?)
- What barriers or fears make stepping out in radical faith difficult for you right now? Are you “hanging onto” anything that keeps you from following Christ? Is it stuff? People? The past?
- What specific step will you take to begin strengthening your faith? Who would help you follow through on this commitment?