Don't be insecure. You are a you on purpose. Quit trying to be an imitation. You are an original. God made you a designer original, a destiny original.
Don't you die a copy of something else. If you try to be someone other than yourself, you'll fail to be either. Hello and welcome to Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard.
Well, part of becoming mature is recognizing who we are as individual members of the body of Christ. Our strengths, our weaknesses, and as we get older, it's healthy to admit that we can't do all the things we used to do. Coming up next, you'll be challenged to embrace who you are in Christ, to operate in who God designed you to be, and to learn to accept the changes life brings your way. Remember to come see us at PastorPaul.net to listen to Destined for Victory on Demand. That's PastorPaul.net.
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Now, here's Pastor Paul's Destined for Victory message, moving toward maturity. If you don't do what you need to do to grow up, you are a big old baby. Look down your row if you're here in the sanctuary. See if you can spot a big baby. Point at them if you see one.
No, no. big old babies still fussing about any little small thing still fretting and whining still not ready to just let some stuff go still hassling with people still making major things minor things minor things major it is pathetic when you see folk who ought to be full grown and they're still in the baby department. God can't get his work done in the nursery. He got to work through an army. And some are still in the nursery.
Whang. And it's time for us to grow up. And so Paul said that.
Now remember in the first part of chapter four, as he began this whole practical application section of the letter, the first thing he did was and we talked about, he said, y'all got to get your love life together. I heard that the women in WOD covered love yesterday. I said, praise God, because that's what we got to do. We got to talk about, you got to get your love life together. I'm not talking about your boo life.
I'm talking about your love life. See, because even some of y'all are busy trying to find a boo.
Well, first of all, make sure you're grown.
Some of you men still trying to find your baby, your girl. Make sure you're grown.
Some of y'all have dropped off one or two or three and still looking for another one. You need to grow up. Then we can talk about what your future might hold. But if you take the same old baby into a new relationship, you're just going to have a new problem. I'm preaching.
Y'all just don't know it, but I'm preaching. And so you're going to have to get your act together. And you have to love, I said in the last message, you have to love when it's not easy. And that's what he talked about. Ephesians four verses, the first three verses, he talks about you got to learn to put up with stuff that you're not crazy about.
You got to learn to have the right attitude. You got to be humble. You got to be patient with people. You got to stop popping off every time somebody doesn't make you feel wonderful about yourself. and you're going to have to learn how to just flat out grow up.
And in this context, he gives us two indicators that we are moving toward maturity. The first is I see in verse seven, and I want you to look at verse seven.
Now, we read 13 through 16, but I want you to look at verse seven of Ephesians four. He says, but to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. To each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. The first indicator in this context that you're moving toward maturity is, I call it this, you're comfortable with your calling and who you are. You're getting comfortable with your own calling.
You're getting comfortable with the fact that this is who God made me to be. One, when you grow up, you're not competing with other people. Become spiritually and emotionally mature. You do you, I'm going to do me. You know why?
Because you realize that according to what Paul said here, you have a particular grace. Your particular grace manifests itself when you are being you. As long as you are a David trying to fight Goliath in Saul's armor, you will not fulfill God's destiny for your life. And some of y'all are so busy trying to be Saul that you can't find who you are. You've got to be comfortable.
God gave you a grace. You are the best you on the planet. nobody can beat you being you they got their own grace and you got yours you got to maximize yours they do that better than me bless them bless them don't get mad at them bless them encourage them support them it's not going to take anything from you grow up and say you know what if I celebrate other people God might see to it that there some people who come into my life to celebrate me So if the law of reciprocity is really at work and it is then you want to put out what you want to have come back You got to live the boomerang life. I'm sending love because I want to get love. I'm sending support because I want to get support.
I'm sending encouragement because I want to get encouragement. And I'm not going to mess up my harvest by sowing negativity because I'm insecure about other people having more than me or different than me. Don't be insecure. You are a you on purpose. Quit trying to be an imitation.
You are an original. God made you a designer original, a destiny original. Don't you dye a copy of something else. She was trying to be, she was always trying to look like so-and-so. Let so-and-so look like herself.
Find the look that works for you. Just because she can wear it doesn't necessarily mean it's for you. Oh, come on now. See, I just went messed up. It look good on her, her build, all that, that works for her.
Take somebody who loves you enough to tell you the truth with you to Nordstrom. Macy's, wherever you go, Target, I don't care where you get your stuff. Take somebody who loves you with you. Wait, wait, while I go in here and try this on. And then when you come out, say, tell me the truth.
Come on, somebody. Tell me the truth. And you need the kind of folk who would say, you know, I love you, right? Go take that off. They're not hating on you.
They're just trying to help you. Maximize who you are. Tired of folk just trying to be something you're not equipped to be. One of the worst, I'm a musician. I was a musician before I was a preacher.
so I did music most of my life in church we always had somebody coming wanting to join the choir couldn't sing and I'd take them to the keyboard I'd have them sing a little something and they're in the key of cue there is no key of cue and I had to tell some folks you know I'm really glad that you love music and all that but you know your voice isn't suited for You know, we're not looking for perfection, but you got to be able to carry the tune. And so the fact that you all hear the minister of music over there.
So that's why you're going to have to just be comfortable being you. We had a sister years ago. She wanted to record CDs. No, baby. No, we don't want to hear that.
But I have such a, I just, oh, music is just all in me. Then you're supposed to support the musicians. Buy their projects. Tell others about it.
So you got to be comfortable being you. Brothers, be comfortable being you. And you're in a different season of life. Just because you used to be able to do it, you can't necessarily do it now. when I first got out here to be the pastor came across the country chasing this vision God had given me I was it was 1989 I was 32 and well I know I turned 32 later that year when I got here I was 31 and I was playing ball in fact my first Sunday at East Palo Alto Church of God I remember before I went into the message I said brothers I want to I want to find out where do you hoop on the weekends here.
They said, we'll tell you after. I said, all right. And I preached my, my opening message and later, and they told me, okay, we'll get, here's where you can go and get a, get a, get a good game. And I go out there and I was hoping to beat the band because I played hoops in Philly in West Philadelphia. Boy, no, no, no, no.
Playground where I spend most of my day. Don't go away. The rest of today's destined for victory message featuring pastor Paul shepherd is coming right up. In John chapter 8, Jesus said that if you abide in him, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. That's why Destined for Victory is here, to teach timeless truth for a victorious life by pointing people to Jesus Christ.
You can help. Stop by PastorPaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. That's PastorPaul.net or call 855-339-5500. Part of growing up is admitting there are some things you can no longer do.
Now here's the rest of today's message, Moving Toward Maturity. And so I kept growing up and kept getting older and kept going through changes. I went from my 30s, went all the way through them 30s, 10 to my 40s. I remember I celebrated. Wow, I'm 40 years old.
Wow, that's amazing.
Next thing I know, I was celebrating 50.
Next thing I know, I was celebrating 60. the next time I have a birthday it'll be 65 it didn't stop guess what I had to hang them sneakers up long time ago I hung them up there was a time when I was pastoring a lot of the athletes at Stanford I was pastoring over there in Stanford the women's team and the men's basketball team some of them were coming joining my my pastorate and what have you. And they would pastor come on out And one time the guys got me to come out to a gym with them and I was out there just supporting them And then they said come on pastor we going to run I said no I not running anything I'm out here looking at y'all celebrating y'all. No, no, this is not about running. What would I look like out there?
And I wasn't even 50 yet, but I was late enough in my forties. What are these little 22 year olds out here? And I'm going to be out there 47. Are you kidding? their sneakers flying by my face while they going in for a dunk.
Hey, pastor! No, no, I'm going to stay on the sideline and let y'all hoop it up!
Some of y'all brothers got to get the revelation. That was then, this is now. Don't try to recapture your youth. And especially when you see these old men and your shirt buttoned all down and your gut hanging out. What are you doing?
Come on, let's get it together. Be the best old man you can be for God. You got a grace. My point is you got a grace on you to be you. Do the best job of that you possibly can.
you can glorify God being you you can help people being you but you can't do it long as you're distracted wishing you were something or someone else and then the other indicator is not just you're comfortable with your own calling but look at verses 8 11 and 12 verse 8 says this is why it says when he ascended on high he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men that's a that's a quote that Paul gave from the book of Psalm. And, and he was just referencing that. And then it says verse 11, and he, the Lord gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. Second indicator that you're moving to a maturity is not only you're comfortable with your own calling, but you are learning how to serve others with excellence. He said, you're growing up when you realize it's not about you.
If you want to do the will of God, I need you to understand. Start with the assumption because it is biblically true. The will of God is not primarily about you. It's going to include you, but I'm saying it's not primarily you. God's will for your life is not first and foremost that you be healthy, wealthy, sexy, and wise.
We got a generation full of me Christians. That's the problem. The kingdom of God is not about you. It will include you. It'll bless you.
But the blessings God has for you are going to be byproducts of you seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Matthew chapter six, verse 33. I'm in the book. Jesus said, seek first the kingdom, not seek first your stuff. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
and then the stuff you need, God will take care of that. Oh, I'm a witness. If you take care of God's business, he will take care of yours. You've got to learn to focus on that. How can I learn to serve others with excellence?
And look at it. He says God has put five offices in the church specifically to coach the saints so that they will do the work of the ministry. Did you see that? It says to prepare God's people, verse 12, for works of service. My job as a pastor teacher in the body of Christ is to prepare you so that you do works of service.
Boy, that's a paradigm shift because a lot of folk say Rev is the minister. We'll call Rev. That's why we pay him, call him. First of all, you don't pay me. Let's just get that straight.
You give tithes and offerings to the Lord and the budget here includes support for me, just like in the early church, first century. Peter said, it's only right that if I'm out here blessing people, they're gonna give me. Paul taught the same thing. And so you gotta understand that it's only right to support those who are full-time engaged in the work of coaching the body. But look at this.
It says your job is to do the works of ministry. I know the church is healthy when I hear after the fact about somebody who the saints have already prayed for. They already ministered to them.
Sometimes I hear my saints have been had surgery after they get home. I'm like, how come somebody didn't tell me. I love to know ahead so I can be praying and checking in.
Sometimes the saints have already, the life groups, whoever it is, have already taken care of and they never thought to call me. My feelings was a little hurt, but I get it. And it means you're being healthy because you realize I'm not the only one can get a prayer through. Come on, somebody. You can't need me for everything.
You're going to have to know how to pray for yourself. You already do it. You ever got sick in the middle of the night? You don't have time to call your prayer partner. Oh God, help me right now.
You got to know how to call on the Lord for yourself Ever had a family emergency Yeah on your way you can call somebody and say hey y be praying I going to handle something But the bottom line is you got to be equipped, ready to serve, and ready to be mature in the things of God.
So you got to find your works of service. You got to find the ways that God has already equipped you.
So there are five offices.
Now, we don't know much about those and some of them in today's evangelical world, apostles, prophets. They don't know much about them. I believe all five offices are still very active in the church. The Bible says there were original foundational apostles who walked with Jesus and did certain things based on that foundation. Paul said we're built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, but Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone.
But the fact of the matter is he was just talking about those foundational apostles. Guess what? There have been apostles in every century of the church's history. Apostles are people who are sent. There are people who are church planters.
They are people who do missions work and establish God's work in other parts, in other unchurched areas of the world.
So there are apostles today. You need to learn. Those offices are here, apostles, prophets, evangelists. But what we're familiar with is pastors and teachers. But notice all five offices are not primarily the ministers.
They are preparing the ministers, you all, to do works of service. I'm a coach. Coaches don't play the team. They have the team on the sideline.
So you all need to run this play. You need to tighten up your defense. You need to do this. You need to do that. And that's what I'm trying to do with you today.
You need to grow up. You need to quit being a baby. Stop fighting them same old stupid battles. Quit with the insanity. Expecting different results.
Keep doing the same thing. It's insanity. Stop it in Jesus' name. Get out there and run the play that God told you to run. And do what he called you to do.
Now I'll coach you all day about when you're doing the work. And I'll coach you about some of the stuff that's trying to distract you. You got a family problem. Your spouse is acting like the devil. And you're trying to stay focused on Jesus.
I'll help you get through that stuff. Our team will help you get through that stuff. By the end of the day, we can't run the play for you. You got to go out there and do it. Tired of people just belly aching about your spouse.
You the one married them. I'll pray for you, but I'm praying that you will grow up enough to quit fighting dumb battles. I'm just through. What if God was just through with you? Every time you got on his nerves.
Sometime you got to learn to do what he said in the early part of Ephesians 4. Put up with some stuff. Yes, there are boundaries that are appropriate. Yes, there are circumstances under which you can't stay in a marriage. I get it.
But those are the exceptions.
Some of y'all don't like the rule. Because you didn't stand before God and witnesses and say, till they get on my nerves. You said till death. I heard you.
Some of y'all, I heard it myself. And if I wasn't there, somebody heard it. and so you got to figure out how to do the will of God and do it God's way so that you can be moving toward maturity thanks so much for being here with us on destined for victory today's message moving toward maturity psalm 34 17 says that when the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles and if you need prayer today our ministry team would be happy to join you Use the contact feature at the top of our homepage, pastorpaul.net, and share your prayer request with us. That's pastorpaul.net. And here's something else for you, a great new resource we'd like to share with you when you make a generous gift to Destin for Victory.
Introducing our brand new booklet, Grown Up Faith. If you long to move towards a greater level of spiritual maturity and a more intimate walk with Jesus, get a copy of this booklet as soon as you can. It's filled with great practical biblical advice And how to grow your faith the way God intended You'll be challenged to embrace who you are in Christ And show some key steps in learning how to operate In who He designed you to be Again, that's grown-up faith yours today by request For your most generous donation to Destin for Victory You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500 That's 855-339-5500 or visit PastorPaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online or mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538. Don't tell people how old you are. That doesn't mean you're not a baby.
We know some full-grown senior babies, Medicare babies, AARP babies. It's not a function of your chronological age. And so we're going to talk about the fact that you've got to make the right choices. That's next time in our message, Choices Grownups Make. Until then, though, remember, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.
In Christ, you are destined for victory. Thank you.
