2012 DECLARATIONS

2. 2012 DECLARATIONS • I understand that my life’s results will be a by-product of my choices; therefore I will expect what I consistently reflect. • I understand that I make the best decisions when the subject matter is fully illuminated. In short, I need to stop dressing in the dark.

3. Deuteronomy 28:13 (ESV) • And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,

4. The Best At What You Do!

5. The Frustration of “Not” Being The Best! • My Iphone is the not the best at taking pictures even though it is the top selling smart phone. • So far Michael Jordan has not been the best basketball executive though his name is synonymous with basketball greatness. • Because you and I were created by God, there is a desperate desire to be First, the Best, In Front, On Top…. Perfect….(St Mt. 5:48)

6. When Is My Time…. God? Yet since the time of the seductive deception given to Eve by Satan, we have been desperately grasping to find our niche, the spot, the place, the person, the career, etc.. that would make us feel that we are “Rollin”…. Often looking for the “love” in all the wrong places, looking for “love” in too many faces. Never finding a place or a time that is significant enough to say “I’ve made it”… I’ve reached my Zenith…. Our highs are too short and our lulls are too long…

7. To Know • To “Know” is to have apprehended clearly and with certainty “truth”… • Three things must be in place to confirm “Knowledge” • Belief-A person must believe what they are claiming.. • Truth-There must be authoritative proof to your claim outside of opinions, by a reliable source. • Justification-There must be evidence or an accounting of the claim….

8. The Key To Finding Your “Greatness” • To find the best or greatness in any thing, you must find it’s primary reason for “being”. • Why is the Iphone the best? Not because of it’s camera, but because the designers made it the sleekest, most capable and easiest to use smart phone on the market. • Why is Michael Jordan considered the best? Not because of what he did as a Wizards executive or what he is doing in Charlotte, but because of what he did as a player in Chicago.

9. Major In Minors • Is it possible that we are ignoring what we were designed to be the best and settling for secondary things? • Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenthof your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:23-24 NIV)

10. What were we designed to be the Best At? • As creations, our designer fashioned us to execute a heavenly mandate here on earth. • Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign (have dominion) over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” (Gen 1:26) • Dominion- A sphere of influence.

11. You And I Are The “Best” • #1. At bringing a Heavenly agenda to an Earthly realm. • Nothing is be able to bring peace, order, love, and the Awesome reflection of God through worship like .. US. • You Should Be The Best At Taking God HOME!, JOB, SCHOOL, ETC… You will never be equipped to do anything better than this!

12. Salt (Preserve) • "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (Mt 5:13.. NIV) • Salt in the day of Jesus was currency or money. People wanted some of their salary to be paid in salt. Why? Because it was the only preservative of food in that day. Things would spoil if it was not packed in salt. • Jesus says that You and I are in this world for the exclusive purpose of helping to preserve its heavenly perspective for a long as we can.

13. Bacteria Hates Salt • “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (St. John 15:18-19.. NIV) • You and I as “Jesus Followers” are on a collision course with the “world” (cosmos, this system), but we are the only hope that it has to maintain its existence.. #2…We are the best the world has to offer to preserve itself. You are the best thing we have to keep us afloat.

14. Light of The World • “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mt 5:14-15) • Light gives illumination and revelation to what would be unknown or left dark..

15. You Are The Best • YOU ARE THE BEST • Bringing God To Earth • Preserving The Earth From Corruption • Showing The Way Out of Dark Places