The Power of Strategic Living

The Power of Strategic Living

Foundational Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17 (KJV)

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

PRAY

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.  (MESSAGE)

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. (AMPLIFIED)

2 There are Two Ways to Live

• Default or Design
• Analogy of Computer

 So in life people don’t customize their life but just live it at the default setting

You can either live from crisis to crisis, wondering or wandering or you can choose to live by strategy. The choice is yours.

You can either allow your life to unfold in a random fashion subject to forces mostly beyond your control OR plan your life. Plan your life and live your plan.

A life in default- at the mercy of circumstances

A life by design- Plan & live your plan

3 God Has Great Plans for Your Life but You Need a Strategy

We all know that

For the plans, I have towards you

But you must be involved, by strategically working towards the good plan. James 2:14-17 (MESSAGE) faith without works is dead

You cannot fulfill the scripture by the mere quote, living, or trying. In 2012, you will not achieve your plans by mere living or wishing. You need a formula, plan, and STRATEGY.

What is Strategy?

The definition will form the bedrock of our discussion.

The art or science of planning or directing large scale military operation specifically for maneuvering forces into the most advantageous position prior to to…actual engagement with the enemy.

A particular long term plan for success

The strategy is Not in the Bible But Implied

• Both definitions are very important to this discussion.
• Implied from Genesis to Revelation.
• Gideon fighting the Midianites
• Joseph preparing for famine in Egypt
• Nehemiah building the wall of Jerusalem
• Joshua attacking the wall of Jericho
• An Esther trying to deliver her people from a holocaust
• A Solomon trying to build a temple
• Jesus and Paul

Life is War

• There are 2 options (You will either win or lose)
• There are real enemies designed to render you irrelevant (forces, yourself, Satan, people)

It is Your Prerogative

• Your job is not to them take them away
• People may join you, support you but will not initiate your fight for you.
• In all battles in Life (military/legal), there is always something at stake.
• SO it is in your life, someone is trying to take something from you (Your health, career, marriage, ministry, vision, sanity)

Read Mathew 10:16

Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be

You Need Strategy to Win the Battle of Life

Read Proverb 24:6

Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

My Question to You

Do you have a strategy for your life Or you just living life from day to day taking whatever life brings?

.Winners have a strategy, game plan, and know the rules.

Reread Ephesian 5:15-17

What is the passage saying? Don’t live anyhow, you need a plan.

Jesus described a man without strategy Luke 14:28-32

Before we continue, let us ask ourselves a few hard questions.

1. Am I heading where I really want to go in life or am I just wondering/wandering about?
2. What I am doing right now is it what I really want to do or AM I doing it simply because I did it yesterday?
3. What I have is it really what I want or I just settled for what is SAFE, free, and available? 9 precious things are hard to come by)

FOUR BARRIERS/ROADBLOCKS TO STRATEGIC LIVING

DENIAL

A Psychological process by which painful truths are blocked from consciousness. Everything is right syndrome

We Christians stand at great risk of living in denial because we are faithful people and we like to confess positive confession.

There is a wall of difference btw wanting everything to be alright or pretending everything to be alright

We refuse to acknowledge reality or resist it because it’s not pleasant

ANALOGY: Someone punched you in a restaurant

If you don’t acknowledge the reality of your situation, you will not be able to come up with a plan to deal with it.

INERTIA

Inertia is uncontrolled inactivity and social withdrawal

For a lot of people, it’s not that they don’t know what to do to do better socially; it’s just that it’s hard to get out of their comfortable rut and start making improvements

Disinclination to act or move, a paralysis caused by denial, fear, or pain.

Israeli Army-Goliath

Iraq War

Lion’s Roar

4 Lepers trapped outside the city Gate- God prophecy abundance, All heard, few had a strategy

Prophecy is vertical- Strategy is Horizontal

Prophecy is God’s prerogative, Strategy is your prerogative.

When the two meet, then you get result.

God has spoken, the next move is yours.

PRETENSE

Attempt to mask the situation of things with a brave face.

Society teaches us to hide the real situation of people.

Be real- hypocrite derives from the word MASK- EXPRESSIONLESS

BUSYNESS

We are too wrapped with the immediate things of life that we don’t have time to plan our future.

We get caught up with trying to meet the mundane DEMAND of life and forget to plan for our lives thereby fulfilling our vision.

ANALOGY: Driving so much you forgot to refuel the car.

You need to stop right now and consider the future; the greatest enemy of tomorrow is TODAY.

CONCLUSION

Whether we want it or not, the years will roll by, 2012 will come and go

We have the choice to let the year happen to you or we make the best use of the opportunities and align it to our desired future.

We have the capacity to reach beyond our present realities and circumstances. We have the right and the power to reach to that wall

You don’t have to be stuck where you are; I am challenging you in Jesus’ name to reach out beyond your current realities.

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.  (MESSAGE)

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. (AMPLIFIED)

Let us pray

Lord gives me the wisdom to live strategically

Give me the edge over that enemy that I truly need

Ask for the holy spirit-God on your side