Review:
1- Vision
2- Excellence
3- Initiative
Step 4: RESPONSIBILITY
Galatians 6:5-7
For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
re-turn/given over
spons- sponsor/assume the cost
ibility- ability
responsibility– the ability to assume the cost
To take responsibility for your life means you are assuming the cost for your own life.
It is impossible to go to the next level when you’ve not applied responsibility where you are. You have to be able to assume the cost for where you are right now if you want to excel to the next level.
If we have a need, we are responsible to take it to God in prayer.
Matthew 25:1-13
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The foolish took no oil with them . Oil is expensive, and it adds weight. They did not assume the cost. The wise assumed the cost. They brought the oil. When the time came, and the foolish had no oil, they asked the wise for their oil because they werent prepared.
In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit/the anointing.
There are breakthroughs that will come when we take responsibility to let go of some things/people and make the exchange with God. He will give us resources to assume the cost.
Matthew 25:29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Jesus is saying that if we are responsible for what we have now, we can gain more. If we are not responsible for what we have, it could be taken away.
We cannot push our own responsibilities off on other people. We can’t blame others when we didn’t show responsibility to assume the cost for ourselves.
We will never excel in life if we have the mindset “I am where I am because of someone else didn’t bear the cost for me.” God has equipped us with His Spirit and His Word. That is all we need to reach our destiny.
The enemy uses the blame game to try and get you to justify your current status. As long as you have an excuse for where you are right now, you’ll never get to the next level. Excuses are just justification to stay right where you are.
You can’t let anything or anyone be the reason why you didn’t excel…not when “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Luke 12:48
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
God can’t expand the things of your life if you aren’t responsible for what you have now.
Where to start to take responsibility:
-your words/behavior
-your appearance
-your walk of faith
-your own family
-your future
Philippians 2:12-14
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worth in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
A sign of immaturity is that you blame another for your actions.
We all have to answer and give account to God for ourselves. We should start being responsible for ourselves now.
Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?