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Pressing Towards the Goal

Posted on 04 Jan 2015, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Pressing Towards the Goal

01/04/2015

Text:

Hab 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Introduction

What were your goals in January 2014? (New year resolution)
Did you define how you wanted the year to end?
Did you achieve your defined goals for 2014?
This teaching is about how to set and achieve your goals
You cannot hit a target that is not set
If you don’t know your destination, any road will get you there
If you have no goals for 2015, when December arrives, you should not be surprised
- Would you buy an airline ticket without knowing which city you want to land?
- Would you get in a cab and don’t know where you want the cab to take you?
- Would you jump on a train without knowing the destination of that train?
Unfortunately, this is how people live their lives.
Goal – a projected state of affairs that a person plans or intends to achieve.
- Goals represent expectations, hopes and dreams, and to the extent our goals are achieved, we are successful.
- By setting and achieving worthwhile goals, you can give your life greater meaning and purpose. You will also find your life more exciting and fulfilling.
- Desire or intentions are not goals. They can become a goal if one activates an action for achieving it.
- The difference between the people who are achievers in life and the ones that are not is “goal setting”.
- Studies have shown that 95% of adults will never write their goals down in their life. Only 5% of adults write down their goals.
- You should have set goals for your Spiritual walk, family, finances, and health.
- Setting a goal is like having a destination before takeoff – so you know exactly where you are going.
- Without a destination, any tiny challenge can knock you off course.
- With a set destination in mind and sight, it allows one to focus on the goal.
- With a set goal in each area of our lives we give ourselves a target, something to aim for.
- Goals give us something to measure our progress against. If we are moving closer to our target, we continue with the course, if not, changes need to be made.
- Don’t worry about failure – so what if you fail. You would fail if you never tried. A goal never attempted is a goal that will never be achieved. If you don’t attempt it, you are guaranteed to fail at it. If you attempt it, there is a possibility to achieve the goal. Take a bold step.
- Apostle Paul –

Apostle Paul – I press toward the mark [goal] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
His focus was on the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus – that prize was to make heaven.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Apostle Paul achieved his goal and he knew it even before he passed on to be with the Lord.
In RCCG, our first mission is “To make heaven.” Very simple.
To make heaven, the mission stated that “Holiness will be our lifestyle”.

By this teaching, I pray that the Lord will put a stop to purposeless lifestyles.

What is your destination for 2015?

Where do you see yourself in December 2015 and beyond?

There are at least 3 types of goals that must be set.

Spiritual Walk

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Solid Foundation for your life. Without this solid foundation, anything you build is built on a sand.

Mat 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Be the wise man who built his house on the rock, so when the storms and flood came, the house was still standing.

Without the spiritual goal, all the other ones are being built on the sand and it will be easy for them to fall.
What is your spiritual goal for 2015?
- Do you plan to grow in God?
- Do you plan to know the Word more?
- Do you plan to pray more?
- Do you plan to read the entire Bible in one year?
- None of these things will happen on their own. You must purpose in your heart to make them happen.

Financial

Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
What are your financial goals? or do you just work and spend?
How much did you invest in God’s kingdom in 2014?
How much did you invest in your retirement in 2014?
How much did you save in 2014?
How much debt did you carry?
How do you plan to get yourself out of debt?
Where do you see yourself financially at the end of 2015?
- Debt free?
- A certain amount of savings?

Physical

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Body

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, therefore you must take good care of it
You must live healthy, eat right, exercise, etc.
You must not abuse your body by doing things that can damage your body
What are your goals for your body this year?

Career and Education
- What are your career and educational goals for this year?
Lifestyle
- What are the habits you are trying to get rid of?
- What are the habits you are trying to achieve?
- Would you like to take a vacation once a year?
- Are there places you would like to visit?

Feel free to add other types of goals that are relevant to you.

How to Achieve your goals?

Set the goal

The goals must be SMART – test each goal against the following:
- Specific – not vague or ambiguous
- Measurable – you must have a tangible measuring stick to measure your goals. Stating that “I will do better than last year” gives you no standard to measure your progress.
- Attainable – realistic, not some fairy tail – You must have the mental and physical capacity to reach the goal
- Relevant – it must be relevant to who or what you want to be in life
- Time-Bound – a realistic deadline to achieve the goal must be set. Otherwise, time will pass by and nothing would have happened.
In addition –
- Your goal must be conceivable – You must be able to imagine, conceptualize, and understand the goal or the desired result.
- Your goal must be believable – you must be able to believe in your goal. If you do not believe in your goal, you will not take steps to achieve them and nobody else will believe them.
- Your goal must be controllable – you must be able to achieve the goal yourself or gain the willingness of others to reach the goal.
- Your goal must be desirable – a goal that you really want will make you strive harder to achieve that goal.
Write the goals down where you can see them regularly
- Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
- Post them on your mirror, post them on your refrigerator
- A written goal represents a real commitment. Without a commitment, a goal is only a dream. A dream is something we would like to have happen, but are unwilling to pay the price to make it happen.

You cannot hit a target that is not set – so this step is very important.
Start writing your goals tonight. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. IT WILL NEVER GET DONE.

Focus on the present –

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Aim at the goal. A=IM => A-Achievement, I-Intelligence (knowledge/wisdom of God) , M-Motivation (zeal to serve God)
Forget the past – either they were failures or successes, you can’t change them. Focus on the future.

Imagine the result – visualize yourself achieving the goal

Perform a Gap and G.A.P. analysis

Gap Analysis
- The gap analysis is the accurate comparison of where you are today and where you want to be, i.e., in December 2015 or the earliest time to achieve the goal.
- Whatever you identified as a gap is what stands between you and your goal.
- You must overcome each identified gap to achieve your goal.
G.A.P. Analysis
- G.A.P. => God Answers Prayers
- Eze 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
- You must stand in the gap with prayers for yourself.
- Present your goals before God in prayers that He will
  - Strengthen you
  - Favor you
  - Give you wisdom and understanding
  - Make you realize the goal, and that you will give Him all the glory
- So, your goals become your prayer request before the Lord

Take a step of faith

If you pray and believe, but don’t move, nothing will happen.
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
You must pray and take a step of faith towards achieving your goals.
When you take the step of faith, God will back you up to achieve that goal.
Take small steps –
- It gives you the opportunity to correct small mistakes.
- Small mistakes are easier to correct than big mistakes.
- Allows you to build on the previous success.

Be patient – achieving a desirable goal will take time. It will not happen overnight.

Get rid of excuses – excuses gives you a way to not achieve your goals, if you allow them, you will not reach your target.

3P’s – Plan, Plan, & Plan – if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

Bonus Steps:

Identify an AP – Accountability Partner

Someone you can trust
Someone with your best interest at heart
Someone who can tell you the truth no matter how bitter
Share your goals with that individual – so they can help you achieve them
Some of us need people that will push us into our destiny, so find that person

Be determined to achieve the goal

I guarantee that there will be challenges and obstacles
Without determination, quitting will be the easiest way out
You must be determined to achieve your goal, no matter what, you must press forward.
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
You must press toward that goal to achieve it.

Perform a checkpoint every 2-3 months.

You must determine how far you are from achieving that goal with the time you have left.
- For example, if by June, you are only 10-20% into achieving the goal
To determine if you are on the right track and on track to achieve the goal
To determine if adjustments must be made
After you set your goals, mark on your calendar the dates of your checkpoint (all of you have iPads and Smartphones – they have reminder functions)
Invite your AP to help you determine where you are in achieving your goals

Conclusion

When you define your goals:

It shows that you know where you are going
It will help you identify the things that can derail your goals (your destiny) and avoid them
It gives you a joyful self-satisfaction when you achieve your goals
Life will have a meaning, because it is more than sleeping and waking up.
The achievement of your goals determines your success and purpose in life