Overcoming Obstacles to my Calling

Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 139:16 NLT
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in
your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had
passed.
Purpose / Calling: the reason you were given life; what you are
supposed to do with your life
Obstacles to My Calling:

1. Majoring on Little Picture instead of Big Picture
   Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
   Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
   all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest
   commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as
   yourself.’”
   Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
   “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
   name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
   teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”
   John 13:34-35 NIV
   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,
   so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you
   are my disciples, if you love one another.”
   Westminster Catechism
   Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
2. Settling on Big Picture and sacrificing Little Picture

Five Levels of Life:

1. Doing what you hate
2. Doing what you do
3. Doing what you love
4. Doing what God loves
5. Doing what you love to do that God loves too
   Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
   Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
   understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your
   paths straight.

3. Focusing on NEXT instead of faithful with NOW
   Luke 16:12 NKJ
   “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will
   give you what is your own?”
   Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
   Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
   Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an
   inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
   serving.
4. Following FEAR instead of FAITH
   Joshua 1:9 NIV
   “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be
   afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
   wherever you go.”
   Hebrews 12:1 NIV
   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.