EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
Rick Warren
Spiritual gifts – Heart – Abilities – Personality – Experiences
"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Rom. 8:28 (NIV)
DON'T WASTE YOUR EXPERIENCES
1. Embrace your experiences
Stop running away from your past.
God can use every experience in my life for good.
" You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope not!"
Gal. 3:4 (ICB)
Relational - Educational – Spiritual – Vocational – Painful
"Remember what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with Him."
Deut. 11:2 (TEV)
Keep a spiritual journal.
"Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'"
John 13:7 (NIV)
"You intended to harm me but God intended it for good."
Gen. 50:20 (NIV)
2. Extract the lesson
"Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith.... Do you not realize by an ever increasing experience that Jesus Christ is in you...?"
2 Cor. 13:5 (Amp)
"The longer you live, the wiser you become."
Job 32:7 (Mes)
3. Employ them to help others.
" I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel."
Phil 1:12 (TEV)
4 WAYS TO USE THEM
1. USE THEM TO MINISTER THE OTHERS.
"In our trouble God has comforted us – and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure."
2 Cor. 1:6-7 (LB)
Don't waste them (the pain, the hurt, the mistake, the sins).
2. USE THEM TO MOTIVATE OTHERS.
"Encourage one another and help one another."
1 Th. 5:11 (TEV)
"For your sake, my friends, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself, using the two of us as an example, so that you may learn..."
1 Cor. 4:6 (TEV)
Perfection can't help anybody.
3. USE THEM TO MODEL FOR OTHERS.
"Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example."
Phil. 3:17 (NLT)
"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
John 13:15 (NAB)
"Always set a good example for others."
Titus 2:7 (CEV)
"Our people should also learn how to set an example by doing good things when urgent needs arise so that they can live productive lives."
Titus 3:14 (GW)
4. USE THEM TO MENTOR OTHERS.
"We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us..."
1 John 1:3 (Mes)
role, goal and sow
"A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than gold rings or jewelry."
Pr. 25:12 (TEV)
"Age should speak, and experience should teach wisdom."
Job 32:7 (GW)
"Ask the former generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors."
Job 8:8 (NLT)
"Do not let anyone treat you as unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life."
1 Tim. 4:12 (NCV)
POINT TO PONDER:
God deserves my best.
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (NIV)
QUESTION TO CONSIDER:
How can I make the best use of what God has given me?
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