Building your Legacy – INTRO
By Pastor George Lehman
“Please think about your legacy because you are writing it every day.” Gary Vaynerchuch
“Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” Peter Strople
(Because of you; I want to serve God better)
“I glorified you on earth having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” Jesus (John 17:4) May this be our Legacy too!!
One of the most challenging scriptures for me is the words of Jesus.
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV) – 46” Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say? 47As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete.”
Rock building is legacy leaving material.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NIV) – 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone build on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been build survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames.
2 Corinthians 5:10(Amp) – For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing].
What is a legacy? It focuses on what will endure. It’s all about passing on *things of lasting value to those who will live on after us.
We make decisions today that will impact our tomorrows and effect and influence those that come after us.
*Godly living; worthy living; holy living, gold living
How are you building? Will how you live leave a lasting legacy?
Legacy: involves living intentionally and aiming to build into the next generation for their success. You leave an imprint on the future good or bad.
Psalm 145:4 (Amp) – One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your might and remarkable acts.
The reality is that we all hand down something… (whether we like it or not we do leave something)
Some people leave treasured gifts, others leave debt.
Some leave great morals and family history, while others leave utter chaos.
Some leave a strong spiritual heritage; others leave generational sin.
We all have things we are proud of and pleased to hand down.
And chances are that we have things we pray will end with us.
If you know the legacy you’re leaving stinks – Do not give up! Rather have the courage to change it. (Every great bible character messed up greatly)
Know this: You are not alone!!!
Paul laid out for you what it means to be a legacy minded person.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (Amp) – 13Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. 14Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].
I always say: “Yesterday does not have to define you, if you use today to refine you.”
Martin Luther when asked what he would do if he knew he were going to die tomorrow, replied with, “I’d go out and plant a tree.”
In other words, he would leave behind him a legacy of life that would grow on and on into the future
Paul’s amazing legacy
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV) – 6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
How willing are you to do what it takes to live a great legacy leaving life?
Psalm 37:18(Amp) – The Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage (legacy) will abide forever
Psalm 78:5-6 (NIV) – 5He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6so the next generation will know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
“What we build in dirt will inevitably return to dirt; what we build in Spirit will live to the END OF ALL THINGS” Marrett Green.
Close: Are you satisfied with the way you are building your legacy?
Psalm 127:1a (Amp) – Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.