Habitudes

1. Habitudes January 21st Presented by: Randy Olsson

2. Pyrrhic Victory

3. History • Tarentum - lent aid to Pyrrhus in his conflict with Corcyra. Naval treaty violation. • Battle of Heraclea-25,000 vs. 50,000 • Battle of Asculum- of a much greater scale, taking two days in the hills of Apulia. He won. • The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward.

4. History • On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war. • Sicily- to aid the Greeks. Port was occupied with war.

5. History • All the while, his losses had been heavy and his reinforcements few. Tarentum was hard pressed by the Romans, and between them and the Carthaginian fleet he might have been trapped in Sicily. So in a desperate attempt he returned once more to Italy, to fight one more campaign. • Battle of Beneventum • Malventum in southern Italy and was defeated. After the battle, the Romans renamed the town to Beneventum.

6. History • The tide having turned against him, Pyrrhus returned home. His parting words were memorable, What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome! Leaving a sufficient force to garrison Tarentum, Pyrrhus now set sail for Epirus. He had scarcely embarked before Tarentum surrendered to the Roman • The victory over Pyrrhus was a significant one as it was the defeat of a Greek army which fought in the tradition of Alexander the Great and was commanded by the most able commander of the time

7. History • After her defeat of Pyrrhus, Rome was recognized as a major power in the Mediterranean, as evidenced by the opening of a permanent embassy of amity by the Macedonian king of Egypt in Rome in 273 BC. • New Roman colonies were founded in the south to further secure the territory to Roman domination. In the north the last free Etruscan city, Volsinii, revolted and was destroyed in 264 BC. There, too, new colonies were founded to cement Roman rule.

8. Choosing Your Battles • Won an argument, but damaged a relationship? • Proved your point, but realized it was pride in end? • Put a ton of energy into something, but in the end had to ask… What it really worth it?

9. Choosing Your Battles • We can win the battle, but loose the war. • 1 Corinthians 6:7-8 • “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.”

10. Choosing Your Battles

11. Priorities • There is a difference between efficiency and effectiveness. • Hard work? • The right work? • Working smart • This calls for wisdom…

12. Hedgehog Principle • Fox or Hedgehog • Understand the 3 circles • Best at in the world • Most effective means toward profit • What are you most passionate about. • Translated into a concept guiding all activities

13. Priorities • Gillette- premier in daily necessities that require sophisticated manufacturing technology • Walgreen's- Convenient drug stores • Wells Fargo- Bank like a business with focus on Western USA. • Tully Orion- 14 days done. • FedEx- Packages by 10 a.m. • Nike- To crush Adidas • Starbucks- bigger than Coca Cola

14. Wisdom • “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” - Ecclesiastes 10:10 • Wrong tool. • 2 Corinthians 8: 13-15 • Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

15. Wisdom • Proverbs 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. • Proverbs 14:15 A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. • Proverbs 21:29 A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways.

16. Wisdom • Proverbs 15:22Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. • Proverbs 20:18Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. • Proverbs 21:5The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

17. Wisdom • Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 • “13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.  17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

18. Choosing Your Battles • Knowing your mandate • “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” - Luke 10:2

19. Choosing Your Battles • Knowing your mandate • “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them” - Acts 6:1-3

20. Choosing Your Battles •  Psalm 127: 1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.”

21. Choosing Your Battles • Know what time it is. • “There is a time for everything,        and a season for every activity under heaven” • Born, die, plant, uproot, kill, heal, tear down, build, weep, laugh, mourn, dance, to scatter, gather, to embrace, to refrain, search, give up, to keep, throw away, tear, mend, silent, speak, love, hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

22. Choosing Your Battles • In relationships. • How will you handle disagreements in those relationships? • What is it essential you agree on? What is not? • "In devotion--diversity; in faith--unity; in all other things--love." - Thomas Aquinas

23. Choosing Your Battles • Fighting to fight- Just enjoy conflict. • “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” - 1 Timothy 6:3-5

24. Choosing Your Battles • 2 Timothy 2:23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. • Titus 3:9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

25. Choosing Your Battles • Fighting to dominate- to avoid looking weak • Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. • 1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

26. Choosing Your Battles • Fighting to save face- to maintain a good image • 1 Peter 5:5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

27. Choosing Your Battles • Fighting to retaliate- you want to make someone else look bad. • 2 Timothy 2:24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. • Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

28. Choosing Your Battles • Fighting to boost self esteem- winning helps you feel better about yourself. • John 5:44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ? • 1 Thessalonians 2:6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

29. Choosing Your Battles • Jeremiah 2:13"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

30. Choosing Your Battles • Is this issue really worth debating? • What do I hope to accomplish by winning? • What kind of effect with this have on the relationship? • Why do I want to win?

31. Choosing Your Battles • Some right reasons to fight. • If someone’s salvation is on the line • Acts 9:29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. • Acts 18:28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

32. Choosing Your Battles • In the event of social injustice- • Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

33. Choosing Your Battles • If you are combating heresy- • Acts 15:2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

34. Choosing Your Battles • If it is done in love- • Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

35. Choosing Your Battles • If the method is right • 2 Timothy 2:25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, • 1 Peter 3:15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

36. Choosing Your Battles • At the Holy Spirit’s instruction • Luke 13:32 – “He replied, ‘Go tell that fox…’” • Matthew 3:7 – “You brood of vipers!...” • Isaiah 58:1 – “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.” • 1 Corinthians 5:2 – “… put out of your fellowship the man who did this?”

37. Choosing Your Battles • Establishing Priorities • What are they? • The three R’S

38. Priorities • Required- • Return- • Reward-

39. Priorities • Self Development- • Which books should you read? • Areas should you focus on growing in? • Mentors should you have? • What areas have I been neglecting? • Two lists…

40. Priorities • Friendships • Which friendships should you focus on? • How much time for fellowship versus other things? • Who is your inner circle? • Who are you called to be a friend to? • How much time should you invest in each?

41. Priorities • In Ministry • Where am I most gifted? • What is God speaking to me? • Where can I have the most impact? • How much in local church? • Outreach

42. Priorities • Recreation • Should I have any? • How much is okay? • What prerequisites?

43. Choosing Your Battles • Often good can be the enemy of great. • The principle of calculated neglect. • The difference between efficiency and effectiveness. • He who squanders his time squanders his destiny.

44. Choosing Your Battles • The secret of a man’s destiny if hidden in his daily routine. • Where are you spending your time? Talent? Affection? And Money? • What do you want to be true of yourself in 10 years from now? • What do you want to be true of you at the judgment seat of Christ?

45. Choosing Your Battles • What are you procrastinating that you should be doing now? • Where have you settled when you should be challenging yourself? • Where have you given up when you should press through?

46. Choosing Your Battles • Some recommendations • Embrace this year • Start collecting a to do list, book list, & resource list. • Go through the three R’S • Don’t let life happen to you • Get organized- • 1 Corinthians 14:33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints.

47. Choosing Your Battles • Some recommendations • Develop a homework schedule • Decide on a conducive environment • Start using outlook. Get your whole schedule down • Don’t spread out your weekend • Give yourself incentives for productivity • Learn to say no

48. Choosing Your Battles • Some recommendations • Understand your season • Understand your self • Get accountability • Write down your priorities • Tell someone who regularly observes your life

49. Choosing Your Battles

50. Choosing Your Battles