MY HIGHEST GOAL Jerry D. Porter Intermountain District Ministry Team Retreat Trinity Pines Conference Center September 24, 2013

Getting to know you What do you prefer to be called? What is your passion? What is your greatest strength? What is your retreat expectation? What is your greatest need today?

My highest goal … to be like Jesus

My highest goal … to be like Jesus The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23 NASB)

To make Christlike disciples in the nations THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE…

My highest goal … How to transform pain into spiritual gain Irritations, pain, and sorrow are the common denominators of the human race

My highest goal … The Lord is more interested in how I REACT to what happens to me than in what happens to me!

We all, who … contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:18) To be like Jesus

Three wrong reactions: 1. Eye for and eye 2. Cast blame 3. Bitterness

To be like Jesus Three growth reactions: 1.Thank you, Lord Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes. 5:16-18)

To be like Jesus Three growth reactions: 1.Thank you, Lord 2.Teach me, Lord We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

To be like Jesus Three growth reactions: 1.Thank you, Lord 2.Teach me, Lord 3.Suffer with the Lord Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

To be like Jesus Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mat 5:10-12)

IRRITATION *Bitter circumstance *Hard to love *Confusion *Irritations *Pressing needs *Strong temptations CHARACTERISTIC *Joy in spite of circumstances *Genuine love *Flexibility *Internal peace *Wise generosity *Strength of convictions GRIEFGROWTH

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp- tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless— that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing…

If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off... Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy…

It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all — was put to death and then made alive— to bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:8-9, 13-15, MSG)

My highest goal … to be like Jesus

To be like Jesus 1.Spiritual healing 2.Physical healing 3.Emotional healing 4.Social healing 5.Financial healing 6.Church healing