Grace World Outreach Church
There Is Something About Stability
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT STABILITY
Be Still Series
James 1:2-12
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…”
“…for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…”
“…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:2-4, 6-8, 12 ESV
Five Noteworthy Take Aways
* Stability is the intended consequence of the trials and tests we face.
* Stability is the name of the road we travel to perfection
* The lack of stability causes us to fall short of God’s blessings
* Stability invites blessing
* Stability is how secure our eternal reward
THREE CHALLENGES TO EMBRACE IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD
CHALLENGE ONE: FIND THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE FULLY PLANTED SO THAT YOU CAN FULLY FLOURISH
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
Psalm 92:12-15 ESV
3 Blessings of Being Fully Planted
a) You Flourish
"they flourish in the courts of our God”
b) You are Fruitful
“They still bear fruit”
c) You find FULLNESS
“they are ever full”
Experiencing the FULLNESS OF LIFE requires being FULLY PLANTED in the place God has called you
CHALLENGE TWO: FIND THE INTERSECTION OF STABILITY OF PLACE AND YOUR SACRED CALL THAT INVITES IMMEASURABLY MORE
Around 500 AD, a man arose in Italy that we today know as St. Benedict. He was so influential in that era of Christianity that Pope Paul eventually proclaimed him THE PATRON SAINT OF ALL OF EUROPE.
Benedict challenged his monks and the church to reclaim the sacred VOWS.
The VERY FIRST VOW the early church fathers would take, as recorded by St. Benedict, was called the VOW OF STABILITY IN PLACE.
The VOW OF STABILITY IN PLACE: It is the vow of planting yourselves somewhere...and staying there in that location.....indefinitely. This vow extended to all Christians- not just those in the priesthood.
Am I willing to discover the PLACE the Lord has PLANTED me and then be willing to fully root myself in that PLACE.
4 Sacred Places We MUST FIND Stability
a) Stability in Christ
Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
b) Stability in Covenant
Matthew 19:6 (ESV) 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
c) Stability in Call
2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV) As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
d) Stability in Community
What does it look like when a people allow their roots to go deep and become intertwined and interdependent that a land is not only subdued and filled with His glory, but also those people who fill the land are fully prosperous
CHALLENGE THREE: FIND THE COMPOUND EFFECT THAT IS CREATED BY BEING CONSISTENT WHERE OTHERS ARE INCONSISTENT
Consistency + Time = Radical Results
3 Things that fight stability in place
RESTLESSNESS - an inability to rest or relax because of anxiety or boredom
RESENTMENT - the result of unhealed hurts, unmet needs or unfulfilled expectations
RESISTANCE - the friction and frustration found in the trials, tests and tribulations of life
The answer is a discipline called RESILIENCE
- the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness:
James 1:2-12
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing…”
“…for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways…”
“…Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:2-4, 6-8, 12 ESV
Five Noteworthy Take Aways
* Stability is the intended consequence of the trials and tests we face.
* Stability is the name of the road we travel to perfection
* The lack of stability causes us to fall short of God’s blessings
* Stability invites blessing
* Stability is how secure our eternal reward
THREE CHALLENGES TO EMBRACE IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD
CHALLENGE ONE: FIND THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE FULLY PLANTED SO THAT YOU CAN FULLY FLOURISH
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
Psalm 92:12-15 ESV
3 Blessings of Being Fully Planted
a) You Flourish
"they flourish in the courts of our God”
b) You are Fruitful
“They still bear fruit”
c) You find FULLNESS
“they are ever full”
Experiencing the FULLNESS OF LIFE requires being FULLY PLANTED in the place God has called you
CHALLENGE TWO: FIND THE INTERSECTION OF STABILITY OF PLACE AND YOUR SACRED CALL THAT INVITES IMMEASURABLY MORE
Around 500 AD, a man arose in Italy that we today know as St. Benedict. He was so influential in that era of Christianity that Pope Paul eventually proclaimed him THE PATRON SAINT OF ALL OF EUROPE.
Benedict challenged his monks and the church to reclaim the sacred VOWS.
The VERY FIRST VOW the early church fathers would take, as recorded by St. Benedict, was called the VOW OF STABILITY IN PLACE.
The VOW OF STABILITY IN PLACE: It is the vow of planting yourselves somewhere...and staying there in that location.....indefinitely. This vow extended to all Christians- not just those in the priesthood.
Am I willing to discover the PLACE the Lord has PLANTED me and then be willing to fully root myself in that PLACE.
4 Sacred Places We MUST FIND Stability
a) Stability in Christ
Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
b) Stability in Covenant
Matthew 19:6 (ESV) 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
c) Stability in Call
2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV) As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
d) Stability in Community
What does it look like when a people allow their roots to go deep and become intertwined and interdependent that a land is not only subdued and filled with His glory, but also those people who fill the land are fully prosperous
CHALLENGE THREE: FIND THE COMPOUND EFFECT THAT IS CREATED BY BEING CONSISTENT WHERE OTHERS ARE INCONSISTENT
Consistency + Time = Radical Results
3 Things that fight stability in place
RESTLESSNESS - an inability to rest or relax because of anxiety or boredom
RESENTMENT - the result of unhealed hurts, unmet needs or unfulfilled expectations
RESISTANCE - the friction and frustration found in the trials, tests and tribulations of life
The answer is a discipline called RESILIENCE
- the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness: