Living a Fulfilled Life

Title: Living a Fulfilled Life

Text: Hab. 2:1-3

[Hab 2:1] I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.

[Hab 2:2] Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

[Hab 2:3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Introduction

There is a vision for your life

There is a vision you are to bring to reality

What is it that has been in your heart that you are yet to start working on?

What is it that gets you excited when you think about it concerning your life?

The Lord said, “write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it”

95% of adults do not have a vision for their life

They just go with the flow and whatever happens, happens.

Only 5% of adults have a vision for their life

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Imagine going to a train or bus station and asking for a ticket. The attendant will ask, what is your destination? What will be the response? Anywhere?

Unfortunately, that is how most adults live their lives.

What is your destination for 2019? Where do you want to be at the end of 2019? Do you want to remain where you are today? Do you want life to somewhere else?

Living a fulfilled life requires that you have a vision for your life and then put goals in place to achieve that vision.

Vision is the visual of your destination

Goals are what gets you to your destination

Goals represent expectations, hopes and dreams, and to the extent our goals are achieved, we are successful, and fulfilled.

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.

Goals must be written, otherwise, they are only a dream

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”.

You should have set goals, at the minimum, for your faith, 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 – [Php 3:14] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call 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 the good fight, I have finished the race, 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.

Main Topic

What is your destination for 2019?

Where do you see yourself in December 2019 and beyond?

There are at least 4 types of goals that must be set.

1. Faith

[1Co 3:11] For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Solid Foundation for your life. Without this solid foundation, anything you build is built on sand.

[Psa 127:1]  Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

[Mat 7:24]  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: [Mat 7:25]  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. [Mat7:26]  “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: [Mat 7:27]  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Be the wise man who built his house on the rock, so when the storms and flood came, the house will stand.

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 2019?

Do you plan to grow in faith?

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.

2. Family

After your faith, the most important thing in your life is your family.

[Gen 2:18] And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

[Pro 18:22]  He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.

What kind of spouse do you want? Or just anybody will do?

Do you want a spouse that is God fearing? Write it down.

What is your vision for your family? For your spouse, for your children?

What kind of children do you plan to raise? What do you need to do raise them accordingly?

How much time are you spending with your spouse?

How much time are you spending with your children?

Do you plan to take yearly vacations?

3. Finances

[Deu 8:18] “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it isHe who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your 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 2018?

How much did you invest in your retirement in 2018?

How much did you save in 2018?

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 2019?

Debt free?

A certain amount of savings?

Write them down.

If you are not a tithe paying child of God, your financial goals are just yours.

[Mal 3:10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing Thatthere will not be room enough to receive it.

[Mal 3:11] “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts;

Pay your tithe religiously

If you want to get to the next level, honor God with your first fruits

[Pro 3:9] Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

[Pro 3:10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Whatever comes into your hand first in the year is your firstfruit. Honor the Lord with it.

The Lord blesses with a new job or business, your first income is also your first fruit. Honor the Lord with it.

4. Health and Lifestyle

[3Jn 1:2] Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Body

[1Co 6:19] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [1Co 6:20] For you were bought at 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?

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

How to Achieve your goals?

1. 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 today. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. IT WILL NEVER GET DONE.

2. Focus on the present, not the past

[Php 3:13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Forget the past – either they were failures or successes, you can’t change them. Focus on the future.

3. Imagine the result – visualize yourself achieving the goal

4. 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 2019 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

Give you the right connection

Make you realize the goal, and that you will give Him all the glory

So, your goals become your prayer request before the Lord

5. Take a step of faith

If you pray and believe, but don’t move, nothing will happen.

[Jas 2:17] Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

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.

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

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

8. 3P’s – Plan, Plan, & Plan – if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

Bonus Steps:

9. 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

Story of my friend who became a doctor.

I have a friend who wanted to be a physician

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he got married, had a baby, and then relaxed because he was making good money

One day, I reminded him about his goal. Then, he started making preparation to take the MCAT exam

Today, by God’s grace, he is a qualified physician.

Some of us need people that will push us into our destiny, so find that person

10. 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 goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

You must press toward that goal to achieve it.

11. 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

Sermon

Living a Fulfilled Life