Family Business Series 3, Our Values# 1

Family Business Series 3, Our Values# 1
By: D. Karl Thomas

“Transforming lives to IMPACT their world.” Impact Verbs We Value

Verb #1 “ENJOY”
Psalm 16:11 “…in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Psalm 2:4 (NLT)“But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

Jesus reveals the Father:
Hebrews 1:9“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Luke 10:21 “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit,…”
Agalliao:– to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceedingly glad, to leap, to spring up, to gush.

JOY:– Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness, or the expression or manifestation of such a feeling. Joy 600x’s in the O.T. The hebrew language has 27 words for expressing joy.

Psalm 21:6 (AMP) “For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.”

Acts 2:28 (AMP) “You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your presence.”

Jude 1:24 (AMP)“Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]”

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing.” Michael Pritchard
It may be urban legend but it is said that a four year old laughs 300 x’sa day and the average adult only 14.

Diary of: Robert Louis Stevenson “I have been to Church today, and surprisingly I am not depressed.”
Charles Spurgeon “If you would lead men to heaven wear heaven on your face.”

Martin Luther “You have as much laughter as you have faith.”
“The Gospel is nothing less than laughter and joy.”
Soren Kierkegaard“Humor is the prelude to faith and laughter the beginning of prayer.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice evermore.” Galatians 4:15 “What has happened to all your joy?”

C.H. Spurgeon“Our apostle speaks of rejoicing as a personal, present, permanent duty to be always carried out by the people of God. The Lord has not left it to our own option whether we will sorrow or rejoice; but he has pinned us down to it by positive injunction —‘Rejoice evermore.’”

Psychology Today, June 21,2011
“Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and dopamine; increases health-enhancing hormones (such as endorphins), neurotransmitters, and infection-fighting antibodies; …… and improves blood flow to the heart—all resulting in greater relaxation and resistance to disease, as well as improved mood and positive outlook.”

Joy is a Personal, Present and Permanent Responsibility!

The Object Of Joy
Psalm 43:4 “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy:”
Philippians 4:4“Rejoice in the Lordalways: and again I say, Rejoice.”

The Quality Of Joy

DivineJohn 17:13“…the full measure of my joy within them.”
Everlasting Is 35:10 “…and everlasting joy upon their heads:”
Unlimited Acts 13:52 “…continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.”

The Source Of Joy

Holy Ghost
Romans 15:13“…fill you with all joy… through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 14:17 “Kingdom of God is, righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost.”
Gal 5:22 “Friut of the Spirit is…Joy”

Word
1 Jn 1:4“And these things write we unto you, that your joy maybe full.”
Jeremiah 15:16 “…thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:”
1 Thessalonians 1:6 “…welcomed our message …,with joy [inspired] by the Holy Spirit;”

Salvation
Is. 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Prayer
Ps 16:11 “…in thy presence is fulness of joy;”
John 16:24 “…ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Drinking
Psalm 36:8“…you give them drink from your river of delights.” John 7:37 “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Psalm 46:4 “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.”

The Reasons For Joy

Blessings
Deut. 28:47 “…curses will come upon you… Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity.”

Healing
Pr 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:” Strength
Neh 8:10 “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Rivers
John 7:38,37 “come … drink …out of his belly shall flow rivers…”

Recovery
Jeremiah 33:11 “The voice of joy …For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the First, saith the LORD.”

Results
1 Peter 1:8-9 “…yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving…end of…faith…”

Joel 1:12“The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree,even all the trees of thefield, are withered: because joy is witheredaway from the sons of men.”

Lose your joy – Lose your stuff.

Habakkuk 3:17-19
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; …Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Verb #2 “CONNECT”

On March 10, 1974,Lt. Hiroo Onadalast World War II Japanese soldier to surrender.
“Nothing pleasant happened in the 29 years in the jungle.”

Christopher Knight “I became very introspective … without others I found no need to define my self … I became irrelevant.” He didnʼt find himself he actually lost himself!!!

Christopher Thomas Knight (born 7 December 1965), also known as the North Pond Hermit, is a former hermit who lived almost without human contact for 27 years in the woods in Maine.[1] He survived by committing approximately 1,000 burglaries against houses in the area,[2] or approximately 40 per year. Apart from the fear and notoriety his many burglaries created in the local area, Knight’s unusual life also attracted widespread international media reports upon his capture.
Knight entered the woods in1986, aged 20, without saying goodbye to anyone, and was captured during a burglary in 2013. His only human contact in that time was one exchange of a trivial greeting with a hiker. “Hi!”

59 One Another Commands In New Testament. 21 Involve “Love.”
John 13:34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

The Old Covenant had Old Commandments. The New Covenant has a New Commandment.
Love:– Sacrificially ascribing infinite worth to another. CONNECT … Itʼs not optional!

Hebrews 10:18-25 NLT “And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heavenʼs Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place …
“…And since we have a great High Priest who rules over Godʼs house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christʼs blood to make us clean, and our
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Connecting Is Mandatory!
1. Together We Approach “…let us go right in to the presence of God…”vs.22
Revelation 5:9“…your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Acts 20:20 “…how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,”

2. Together We Standvs. 23“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,”
Holding on is a group activity!!! Hold on to each other as we hold on to the promises. He is FAITHFUL!!!

3. Together We Act vs 24“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
Join me in… Help me with… This has worked for me...

4. Together We Remain vs.25“…let us not neglect our meeting together…”
Social media is NOT real human interaction. Itʼs edited!!! How many of you have secretly unfollowed me?
Real relationship are good and messy.
Proverbs 27:17“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:6“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

For over 75 years, Harvard’s Grant and Glueck study has tracked the physical and emotional well-being of two populations: 456 poor men growing up in Boston from 1939 to 2014 (the Grant Study), and 268 male graduates from Harvard’s classes of 1939-1944 (the Glueck study).

The conclusion? According to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one thing surpasses all the rest in terms of importance:

“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”

1 Peter 3:8“Love one another deeply, from the heart.”
1 Corinthians 13:2“…if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didnʼt love others, I would be nothing.”

John 13:35 “Your love for one another will proveto the world that you are my disciples.”
CONNECT!!

Verb #3 “FOLLOW”

When people experience a culture of Joy(Presence) they will be willing to connect(Belong) that will the result in followers.

If you read the Gospels (History Books) about Jesus life. You can only come to one conclusion. Jesus is highly relational.
John 1:12“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Matthew 4:19“Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me,and I will make you fishers of men.ʼ”
Mark 3:14“Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Himand that He might send them out to preach,…”

Luke 5:8-9 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesusʼknees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;…”

I canʼt hang out with you. I can’t respond in kind. You are out of my league!
Luke 5:10-11“‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ … they forsook all and followed Him.”

Matthew 9:9-13 “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”
That would have caused confusion with His followers. He just called the most vile offender to follow Him.

Matthew if you can do this: (CHECK THESE BOXES) Then you can follow me.
VERSE 10 “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.”
Jesus would like you.
Jesus was so comfortable with Himself that He made you feel great. He was comfortable with people who were not at all like Him. If you are not comfortable … thatʼs my fault.

VERSE 11
“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?ʼ”(Tax Collectors — Own category)Jesus was constantly shadowed by the religious people of the day.

VERSE 12
“When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.ʼ” Are you calling me sick? Come on … your a tax collector.

VERSE 13
“‘But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.ʼFor I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.ʼ” Sacrifice—Church too often requires effort and behaviour modification.

Pharisee Message: Change and you can join us.
Jesus Message: Join me and you can change. JESUS LOVE IS THE FORCE IN OUR DEVOTION!!!

John 11:2-3
“… brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.ʼ”
BAD ATTEMPT … Lord Please I’ve been good … Lazarus helped poor people and supported your trip!
You have one short note to move Jesus to come for your brother … what do you say?

How much of my life serving Jesus have I made it all about me.
How much focus have I put on my behaviour and my performance.
Could it be that the whole focus of Godʼs Word, the whole purpose of Christianity, is to reveal Godʼs love for His creation.

Those closest to Jesus appear to be far more preoccupied with His love for them rather than their love for Him.
We need to get delivered from a behaviour modification gospel. God Loves You!!!

John 13:23
“Now there was leaning on Jesusʼ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
ABOUT HIMSELF … 3RD PERSON … INSPIRED HOLY TEXT!!!
John used this phrase to refer to himself5xʼsin the gospel he wrote. Right there in the Inspired Word!

John 3:16
“For Godso lovedthe world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
“world”:—the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.

1 John 4:10 “This is love not that you loved God but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Romans 2:4“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness(kindness) of God leads you to repentance(change)?”
To experience the full measure of His kindness demands relationship.

FOLLOW ME:
1. Being a sinner is a prerequisite. … Starts with being lost broken messed up … Make SAINTS!!!
2. Not getting it all is okay. (Virgin Birth / Trinity / Atonement)
3. Relational and not Rule based.
4. Your focus is on where you are and not where your not. Are you with JESUS?

Verb #4 DISCOVER

Future work week — GEORGE JETSON — Push Button Job 1 Hr 2 Days / Week

Senate Hearing Committee (in the sixties 1965)
“What will we do with our time in the future when we have experienced all these advances in technology. 20 Hour work week.”

NEWSPAPER IN N.C. Nov. 26, 1967
“Those who hunger for time off from work may take heart from the forecast of political scientist Sebastian de Grazia that the average work week, by the year 2000, will average 31 hours, and perhaps as few as 21.”

“There is reason to fear, as some do, that free time, forced free time, will bring on the restless tick of boredom, idleness, immorality, and increased personal violence.” Dr. Sebastian de Grazia

How are you doing? “Good—but so busy! Crazy busy!”
“Karoshi”:— Death By Overwork
“Claims for karoshi-related cases rose to a record high of 2310in the year ending in March, (2016) government figures show.” Anna Fifield (Sydney Morning Herald)

MARGIN — “Making room for what really matters.” NO MARGIN LEADS TO CRASHES

Margin makes you pleasant. Margin allows you to listen. Margin promotes generosity. Margin makes room for others. Margin feeds your dreams. Margin increases productivity. Margin enables real REST!

I believe people are driven in our culture because they have never found rest in the answer to these two questions:
Where did I come from? Why am I here?

Matthew 11:28-30“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

(MESSAGE) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youʼll recover your life. Iʼll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wonʼt lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and youʼll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Discover Who You Are And Why

1. Come “Get away with me and youʼll recover your life.”
Child of God. Created for purpose.
Following Jesus leads to a Profound Discovery Child of God. Created for purpose.
Not a list of expectations / COME

2. Take “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
“…wonʼt lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you … live freely and lightly.”
Happiest place in your life is knowing you are being who you were created to be.
You end up collecting extra baggage when you are a performer or out of your lane.

3. Learn
“…learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.”
Life of intention and efficiency.
John 5:19“He does only what he sees the Father doing.”

4. Rest
“…you will find rest for your souls.”“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace:”
A Genuine revelation of His goodness leads to deep PEACE!

When you know where you come from and why you are here you can live intentionally and freely!
1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

Martin Luther “A cobbler, a smith, a farmer, each has the work in the office of his trade, consecrated Priests and Bishops.”

John Garfield (Author “Releasing Kings”)“The reformation of Calvin and Luther gave us access to the presence of God. This reformation is an invitation to co-labor with the Father and play our role in building the Kingdom.”

The revelation of salvation is that Jesus is King and Lord.
The revelation of Kingdom is that He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
This reformation is the equipping and releasing of saints into their mountain — changing nations.

In 1975, Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, and Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With a Mission, had lunch together in Colorado. God simultaneously gave each of these change agents a message to give to the other. During that same time frame Francis Schaeffer was given a similar message.

That message was that if we are to impact any nation for Jesus Christ, then we would have to affect the seven spheres, or mountains of society that are the pillars of any society. These seven mountains are business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, the family and religion.

In essence, God was telling these three change agents where the battlefield was. It was here where culture would be won or lost. Their assignment was to raise up change agents to scale the mountains and to help a new generation of change agents understand the larger story.

A vibrant culture where people ENJOYGod’s presence will cause people to CONNECTwith community which will result in a desire to FOLLOWJesus and DISCOVERHis unique design and purpose for their life.

Family Business, Our Values# 1, notes to print, PDF