* In Isaiah 5:8-30 we see Israel were engaging in six sins:

* Greed & Covetousness, Drunkenness & Partying, Carelessness, Deception, Pride, Injustice.

* vs 10 - When your main goal for work is to “get” for yourself rather than “give” to God you negatively affect your ability to produce.

* This verse is a picture of a lack of profit.

* They were able to get a “little something,” but not enough to create a profitable business.

* All because they had the wrong motive for work.

* Our work is meant to be our primary way to worship God.

* Worshipping God is about finding peace.

* So if you’re not worshipping God in your work then you’re not finding His peace.

* It doesn’t matter how much money you make if you don’t have peace.

* You’ll discover your work is not very profitable.

* In this culture some of the Judaizers (preachers of the Jewish way) carried around letters of recommendation from the “important people” in the Jerusalem church, and this is what qualified and verified them to speak to others.

* Paul challenged this.

* He didn’t need others to qualify him.

* He was qualified by the people he served - “they” were proof that he was legit.

* In our social media culture what qualifies the person nowadays is the number of followers, views, and likes you get.

* All of these things give a person a platform, and those with the biggest platforms are the ones with the most influence.

* Problem - social media grows through strategy, not the Spirit.

* True success should be measured by the number of people who are being set free.

* Like Paul when he was in prison - everyone’s chains fell off.

* EX: Tori and I are writing a book, and the other day we stopped and went for a walk.

* We joked about how we’d rather have a great marriage than write about one.

* This is what Paul is getting at - your ministry is not validated by your following but your faithfulness.

* Satan’s primary target is relationships - he did it with Eve and with Jesus.

* He knows if two or more are gathered in Christ’s name they make up the church.

* He can’t defeat the church.

* In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church he told them to kick a man out for sexual perversion.

* vs 10 - Now, he’s telling them to let him back in (probably because of his repentance).

* vs 11 - Paul tells them that by doing this they avoid Satan’s scheme, which is to tear relationships apart.

* EX: Allie and Tori.

* Her desire was to distance from her mom, but that would be playing into Satan’s hand.

* Sometimes distance is good, and certainly healthy boundaries must be in place.

* But avoidance is not healthy, so we have to fight against it.

* Staying close to others will result in CHURCH - and Satan can’t defeat it.

* vs 7-11 - We are like clay pots that cannot break no matter how hard the pressure is on the outside.

* How? Because we’re filled with the Spirit on the inside.

* But why would God allow hardships in someone’s life?

* vs 15 - So they can be a testimony for others.

* EX: Trae with Liberty.

* Having an “others” perspective will get you through the toughest times.

* In 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul knew what he was called to do - evangelize, not baptize.

* This became a boundary for him.

* Without boundaries, opportunities become threats.

* vs 12 - Now, we see him finding an open door (opportunity) to do what he was called to do.

* How did he know he should go through that door?

* Because he knew his calling - he had a vision for his life and he prioritized accordingly.

* vs 13 - Here’s the key - even though the door was open for his vocational calling, he didn’t go through it because Titus wasn’t there!

* Paul elevated relationship over work, prioritizing his personal ministry over his vocational ministry.

* He put people over his platform.

* He chose what was profitable over what was productive.

* Productive things are about tasks and move you toward your short-term goals.

* Profitable things are about people and move you toward your long-term goals.

* Priorities line up what’s productive with what’s profitable.

* How do you know you should leave what you’re doing for relationship?

* When you cannot relax or find peace in that place without them.

* If that’s what you’re feeling, leave!

* EX: Moses wouldn’t go into the Promised Land without the presence of God.

* vs 1-3 - Right after the famous verse about working before kings when you’re good at your work, we get this caution.

* When you’re good at what you do your level of client increases, which puts you around those who have stuff.

* The temptation will be comparison which leads to covetousness.

* Comparison blurs clarity, the very clarity that brought success in the first place.

* So many young professionals try to “look” the part but find themselves craving the stuff.

* Principle - when your faithfulness brings success, buy your nice stuff out of wealth, not riches.

* vs 4 - faith is living without scheming.

* Scheming wearies you, it saps your energy.

* Rather than simply be faithful and bring value you start to think about the money and gravitate toward what will make more of it.

* In time you’re burned out.

* vs 5 - when you GAZE at riches, it’s GONE.

* So what do we do?

* Glance at it (let it get you moving) but Gaze at God (be faithful to Him).

* If you glance at God and gaze at riches you’ll end up in poverty.

* vs 24:19-20 - the way to stay out of comparison is to have an eternal perspective.

* To recognize the end result of your behavior and decisions.

* It’s like a 20 minute Crossfit workout - I’m typically behind in the first 5 mins, but if I try to keep up I’ll burn out.

* If I stay in my zone and go at my pace, I’ll most likely end up winning.

* This is why God doesn’t want us to envy sinners - just focus on being faithful right where you are and God will elevate you as He sees fit.

* If you desire sin in your heart then an opportunity to give into it will appear.

* If you desire to honor God in your heart then when temptation comes you’ll discover a way of escape.

* 1 Corinthians 10:13 - God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

* There will always be an escape route.

* Proverbs 22:14 - He in whom the Lord is angry will fall into her trap.

* If you operate by lust you anger the Lord and He will allow you to fulfill the lust in your heart.

* He does this to draw you back to Him.

* Andy Stanley said, “If you practice numbering your days then you will be more wise with your numbered days.

* Numbering your days gives you four things:

* 1) Clarity - you’ll know what to do with your limited time.

* You will have a vision for what you are to accomplish.

* 2) Closure - you will limit your time.

* You will say NO to things that take you away from the clear vision you have.

* 3) Contentment - you won’t reach for more than you know you should grasp.

* You’ll focus on the value of what you have, not what you don’t have.

* 4) Consistency - you will be able to work backwards toward your plan.

* You’ll begin with the end in mind, then map out the steps you need to take in order to accomplish it.

* This verse doesn’t just apply to parents training kids through discipline.

* It also applies to baby Christians.

* They are “children” in their faith, and discipline is what will help them grow and mature in Christ.

* Discipline is doing what you don’t want to do to accomplish what you want to accomplish.

* It starts with conviction, then COMMITMENT (this involves discipline), then courage.

* Many people fail today because they experience conviction but never wrap commitments around it to lead to courage (standing strong in their faith).

* Discipline is the act of your soul (mind, will, emotions) submitting to your spirit.

* When you do this it will drive folly far from you!

* Four things our words can do:

* 1) Turn away wrath (vs 1).

* Soft words soften hearts - it takes down walls of defenses.

* 2) Help people understand (vs 2).

* The best way to make a point is to tell a story - it helps people understand.

* Vulnerability is the key to connection.

* 3) Bring life and healing (vs 4).

* “Soothing” means “healing.”

* Your words bring life or death, healing or hurt.

* 4) Help people discern (vs 6).

* They not only speak truth but spread it, like separating wheat from chaff.

* Wise words help people understand the difference between right and wrong.

* Your words are controlled by your heart.

* The power to do the above four things only comes from a clean and pure heart.