5. The Slight Edge I am endebted to Jeff Olson who wrote a book by the same title But this is not some cute trendy self-help program. It is biblical wisdom in action

6.  People are looking for the breakthrough, the “quantum leap”, the winning of the lottery.  We live in an instant society, with instant coffee, instant oatmeal, microwave popcorn.  We expect immediate results, immediate gratification.

11. Because every action that is easy to do is also easy NOT to do.

12. It’s easier to follow the path of least resistance and not do it. It’s more convenient and comfortable not to do it. (whether walking, jogging, time with the Lord, spouse, music lessons, diet)

13. While anyone could do them, most won’t! Because we prefer convenience and comfort And Because We tend to follow the crowd What does the Bible say about that?

14. “ Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good...and moves you toward the goal of true maturity.” (don’t follow the crowd, the 95%)

15. Because we prefer convenience and comfort We tend to follow the crowd And because if we don’t do them, they won’t kill us, at least not today. We won’t suffer or fail today in our health, career, relationships. What does the Bible say about that?

16. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

17. “Sow a Thought, Reap an Action, Sow an Action, Reap a Habit, Sow a Habit, Reap a Character, Sow a Character, Reap a Destiny ”

20. Kill our Health, our bodies (our food full of calories but little nutrition, pollution) Steal our Finances (make us debt slaves) lack of meekness Destroy our Relationships ( with the Lord, family, friends through us getting hurt, offended, unforgiving)

21. When you make the right choice, you rarely see the results today. And the crowds aren’t there to notice or applaud. But the Lord is watching. Do it for an audience of one. Put a smile on God’s face! Remember: What You do Matters. What you do privately, day by day really matters!

23. “ Train yourself to be godly...don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture... do not neglect your gift... be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them...”

24.  “Well done good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful with a few things.  I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness”

25. King David in the Old Testament - as a teen anointed by Samuel to be future King of Israel Acts 9, Saul on Road to Damascus

29.  (Baby steps, the Slight Edge) _________ _________ Fruitful _______ Obedient ________ Timid _________ Interested Unbelieving believer

30. You can count on it. It is quietly in operation. And unless you make it work FOR you, deliberately, intentionally, the slight edge will work AGAINST you.

31.  As Charismatic Christians, we believe in and pray for the breakthroughs, the “suddenlies of God”. But while we wait for those seasons, the Lord is desiring us to take small steps of obedience, of discipline, and being faithful in the small things.  This will make us more Christ-like and bigger on the inside, so that He can trust us with greater anointing, authority, and power, without it destroying us.  And we will be more prepared for the coming days of end-time revival and turmoil on the earth.

32.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross...  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart...

33.  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons...  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”.

34. Even God’s rescue plan for the world involved small beginnings and the use of the slight edge of faithful obedience by Jesus

35. When you make the right choice, you rarely see the results today. And the crowds aren’t there to notice or applaud. But the Lord is watching. Do it for an audience of one. Put a smile on God’s face! Remember: What You do Matters. What you do privately, day by day really matters!

36. “Sow a Thought, Reap an Action, Sow an Action, Reap a Habit, Sow a Habit, Reap a Character, Sow a Character, Reap a Destiny”

37. - Sexual sin, pornography? - Too much TV? - Grumbling and complaining? - Gossip and slander? - Comparing yourself with others? (resulting in a pity party or pride) - Eating too much junk food?

38. - have a quiet time with Him and in the Word - journal and learn to hear His voice better - “soak in His presence”(& have others lay hands on you and pray for fresh infilling of His Spirit.) - Join a home group for support & accountability - Trim spending habits, make plan to get out of debt. Eating healthier and exercising. - take your spouse out on a regular date. - find creative ways to love your spouse, children - step out and look for divine appointments: to listen to someone, encourage, share Jesus, pray for healing.

42. Jesus didn’t show up By making a spectacular entrance to impress. The Lord of the universe went to extraordinary lengths to lower himself and become one of us

43.  - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”

44.  Consider with me the scandalous approach Jesus took:  The Creator of the universe actually became a helpless, vulnerable baby!

45. Jesus was born in a barn!

46. Look at the way the Birth announcement was handled!

47. His legitimacy was questioned

48. Jesus had skeletons in his closet! (the family tree)

49.  Jesus didn’t even have a unique and special name of distinction  (Jesus in Hebrew is Joshua, very fitting name meaning “God to the rescue”! But Joshua was a very common name, like Jim or John)

50.  Born to an extremely poor family

51. His Neighbourhood: “can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

52. Not handsome or Distinguished looking Isaiah 53: 21

53. Hung around sinners In their homes, meals, parties, even lined up to be baptized with them Religious leaders in their disgust called him a “friend of sinners”

54. End of his life, voluntarily died, not in a beautiful cathedral between two candles, but in the city garbage dump between two thieves

55. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end”