HOW TO HAVE THE RIGHT AMBITIONS

TEXT- MARK 10:35-45

INTRODUCTION

A STORY IS TOLD ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS ONE DAY GOING TO SEE HIS GIRL FRIEND. ON THE WAY TO HER HOUSE THE BOY HAD TO CROSS A LARGE FIELD WHERE THERE WAS A TWELVE HUNDRED POUND BULL. HE DECIDED TO CROSS AT A PLACE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE BULL HE COULD GET. AS HE QUICKLY BUT QUIETLY WALKED THROUGH THE PASTURE ALL OF A SUDDEN HE COULD HEAR THE BULL BEGIN TO CHARGE TOWARD HIM. THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE SHOULD DO HE REALIZED THAT THE FIELD WAS TOO LARGE TO GET ACROSS AND TOO FAR BACK TO MAKE IT TO THE FENCE. AS HE LOOKED AROUND HE FOUND A TREE, UNFORTUNATELY THOUGH IT ONLY HAD ONE BRANCH ON IT THAT WAS ABOUT TWENTY FEET OFF THE GROUND. HE KNEW THAT THE ODDS WERE AGAINST HIM EVER JUMPING THAT HIGH BUT HE ALSO KNEW THAT IF HE DIDN'T TRY HE WAS GOING TO BE TRAMPLED TO DEATH BY THE BULL. WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH HE RAN FOR THE TREE AND RIGHT AT THE LAST MINUTE HE JUMPED AS HARD AS HE COULD FOR THE LIMB. HE MISSED IT - BUT FORTUNATELY, HE WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT - ON THE WAY DOWN.

AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR I AM SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE GREAT PLANS AND AMBITIONS FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES AS WELL AS FOR OUR CHURCH.

AND LIKE THE BOY WHO NOT ONLY REACHED THE LIMB BUT WENT PAST IT, WE AS GOD'S PEOPLE CAN EXCEED OUR AMBITIONS NO MATTER HOW GREAT THEY ARE.

OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN MARK 10:35-45 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO HAVE THE RIGHT AMBITIONS".

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO EXAMINE THREE INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE FOUND IN OUR TEXT THAT JESUS GAVE HIS DISCIPLES FOR HAVING THE RIGHT AMBITIONS IN LIFE.