2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NIV) “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Legacy isn’t something you CREATE at the end of your life — it’s something you BUILD in the middle of it.

Legacy is when your OBEDIENCE becomes someone else’s OPPORTUNITY.

1. Legacy is built by DAILY DECISIONS.

Proverbs 24:16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. However, in a disaster wicked people fall.

Legacy isn’t built by PERFECTION; it’s built by PERSEVERANCE.

2. Legacy is FINISHED through FAITHFULNESS.

Legacy isn’t built in the FIRST lap — it’s PROVEN in the LAST.

Hebrews 12:1–2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. Legacy is ROOTED in FAITH.

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

Your CONSISTENCY today becomes your children’s CONVICTION tomorrow.

4. Legacy is REWARDED in ETERNITY.

Your real reward isn’t what you ACCUMULATE — it’s who you

IMPACTED.

Ephesians 3:20–4:1 (NIV) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

1. God does the IMPOSSIBLE when we DREAM with Him.

Ephesians 3:20a “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”

2. God’s POWER is working THROUGH us, not just FOR us.

Ephesians 3:20b “…according to His power that is at work within us…”

3. God gets the glory THROUGH the CHURCH.

Ephesians 3:21a “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus…”

4. God’s work is GENERATIONAL: He’s not DONE YET.

Ephesians 3:21b “…throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”

5. God call us to live WORTHY of the CALLING.

Ephesians 4:1 “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

Legacy is when your INFLUENCE outlives your INVOLVEMENT.

Legacy isn’t measured in DURATION; it’s measured in IMPACT.

Psalm 112:1–6 (NIV) Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.

1. LEGACY begins with LORDSHIP.

Psalm 112:1 “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.”

2. Legacy BLESSES the next GENERATION.

Psalm 112:2-3 “Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the

upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.”

3. Legacy SHINES brightest in the DARK.

Psalm 112:4 “Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.”

4. Legacy is MULTIPLIED through GENEROSITY.

Psalm 112:5 “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”

5. Legacy OUTLASTS YOU.

Psalm 112:6 “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations.”

DYING for PURPOSEDEATH Precedes PURPOSEProverbs 14:12 NLT “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” John 12:24 NIV “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”Matthew 16:25 NLT “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”Let life's AUTHOR write your SCRIPT.PURPOSE Produces LIFEEphesians 2:10 NLT “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” John 12:24 NLT “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives.”Acts 20:24 NLT “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”Live a life that OUTLIVES this life.

Control feels like safety, but it’s actually exhaustion in disguise.

Gal 1:10 “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

How do we break free of living for the approval of others?

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear.

1. Fall in Love with Jesus

2. Live from Acceptance not for Acceptance.

Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. Live with the right filter

Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

What am I going to do to be godly?

(Genesis 2:8-9 NIV) Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

(Genesis 2:16-17 NIV) And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

(Genesis 3:1-7 NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say,

‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

(Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven… Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.’ ”

1. Fall in love with Jesus.

(John 14:15 NIV) If you love me, you will obey what I command.

2. Serve God through relationship not rules.

(Matthew 5:17 NIV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

3. Respond to sin with life.

(John 8:9-11 NIV) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:3–6a NIV The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

John 8:6b–9 But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept questioning Him, He straightened up and said, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

John 8:10–11 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’

1. Forgiveness — BELIEVE It

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 51:1–4 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.   Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.   For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.   Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and

leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death.

Psalm 103:11–12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

2. Forgiveness — EXTEND It

Forgiveness means releasing your RIGHT to RETALIATE.

Matthew 6:14–15 If you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly

Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Romans 12:18–19 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with

everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.

3. Forgiveness — ACCEPT It

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

There’s NOTHING you could do that would cause God not to FORGIVE your sin.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

“Control the things you can control—and the things you can’t, surrender them to God.”—Dr. Henry Cloud

“We look most like animals when we kill.

We look most like humans when we judge.

But we look most like God when we forgive.”—Unknown

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

1. Waiting isn’t WASTED.

WAITING on God is a NORMAL part of the Christian life.

Waiting can be NORMAL and PAINFUL at the same time.

Psalm 13:1 “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love. 

2. While you’re WAITING, God is WORKING.

God is developing your COMPETENCY — so you can HANDLE what’s

next.

Don’t mistake God’s PROTECTION for His REJECTION.

God is developing your CHARACTER — so you can SUSTAIN what’s next.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.

God is developing your DEPENDENCE — so you TRUST HIM MORE than you trust you.

Matthew 5:3 MSG “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there’s more of God.”

3. God’s DELAYS are not God’s DENIALS.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise… He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Ask for HELP.

MALE ANSWER SYNDROME

When a man doesn’t know the answer instead of just saying, “I don’t know,” he starts faking it as if he does.

Our desire to be viewed as SUPERMAN has become our KRYPTONITE.

Proverbs 13:10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Asking for help isnt WEAK, it may be the STRONGEST thing you will ever do.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of advice; but many advisors bring success.

Exodus 18:7 So moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent.

Exodus 18:8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharoah and the Egyptians…

Exodus 18:13 The very next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.

Exodus 18:14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people,

he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Exodus 18:15-16 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

Exodus 18:17-18 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good.

You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is

too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

When you won't ask for help, you don't just wear yourself out. You wear out everyone else around you.

Exodus 18:19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be

with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

Exodus 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

Exodus 18:27 “Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way,”

1. You may be one piece of advice away from a better future.

2. Asking for help isn't ADMITTING failure, it's pursuing SUCCESS.

3. The QUALITY OF PEOPLE you surround yourself with will determine the QUALITY OF ADVICE you get.

5 Requirements for Getting Wise Advice

1. Follower of JESUS.

2. Choose EXPERIENCE over influence.

3. Ask people that KNOW you the best and LOVE you the most.

4. Ask MORE than one person.

5. Ask someone you know will LIKELY DISAGREE with you.

4. Asking for help INVITES the POWER of God.

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

MERIMNAO: root word is the idea of your MIND BEING DIVIDED in 100 different directions.

Matthew 6:25a “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…

“The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.”—Max Lucado

Matthew 6:25b what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

The root issue of anxiety is our desire for CONTROL.

At the core of anxiety is the DESIRE to CONTROL that which WE CAN’T CONTROL.

Where are you trying to be in control?

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

What you are trying to CONTROL the MOST reveals where you TRUST GOD the LEAST.

Where you TRUST God the LEAST is what you will WORRY about MOST.

HENCE: What you WORRY about the most often reveals where you TRUST God the least.

Matthew 6:27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Worry never helps SOLVE tomorrow’s problems, it only ROBS today of its joy.

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than a man can bear.”—George Macdonald.

Matthew 6:31-32 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Our WEAK SPOT with worry is often a STRONGHOLD where we haven’t put God first.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

1. What are you trying to CONTROL the most?

2. How can you start PUTTING GOD FIRST in that area of your life today?

Our weak spot with worry is often a stronghold where we have not put God first.