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DESIRE

 

 

A STORY IS A CHARACTER WHO OVERCOMES CONFLICT TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

 

Desire- A strong feeling of wanting.  Ambition, hunger.

 

Epithumia-  Desire, craving, longing, lust

Compound Greek word:  epi-above or beyond and thumia- passion

 

Thumia where we get the word thermal.  It speaks of heat.  Our passions and desires are that which get us heated up, on fire.

 

Mary Lou Retton: Motivational Desire Quotes
I'm very determined and stubborn. There's a desire in me that makes me want to do more and more, and to do it right. Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it.

 

 

 

Example of Solomon

Eccl. 2:10 (NKJV)       Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.                      ~  Solomon

 

J.C. Penney- 
”Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.”

 

Our desires shape our direction and our destiny

 

We all have desires.  The question is:  “What are they for”

What is your driving desire?

 

Psa. 38:9 (NKJV)        Lord, all my desire is before You

 

 

TS:  We can have…

 

 

Peter

1Pet. 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

 

Paul

1Cor. 12:31 (NKJV) But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

 

David

Psa. 27:4 (NKJV)        One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

 

Jesus

Luke 22:15 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

 

John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

 

Psa. 20:4 (NKJV)        May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.

 

 

TS:  We can have…

 

 

Col. 3:5 (NKJV)  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 

Mark 7:21-23    "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  22  "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  23  "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

        

If their was nothing in us that could feel the draw toward sin, there would be no temptation.  James calls this inner responsiveness, “evil desire”.  All of us seek the fulfillment of our desires.  These desires are not in themselves wrong.  What is wrong is that we often try to satisfy our cravings in ways that are inappropriate, unhealthy, and contrary to God’s nature and will for our lives.”

 

James 1:14 (NIV)  Each one (of you) is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

James 1:15 (NIV) Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 

 

 

Gal. 5:16 (NKJV)   I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Gal. 5:17 (NKJV) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.

 

Rom. 8:5 (NKJV)  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

 

Rom. 8:13 (NKJV) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 

Jesus’ attitude and actions

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 5:30 I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

 

The truth is, most people want to make a good story of their lives, but lack the necessary focus and discipline it takes to make it a reality.

 

They dream, get excited, hope, and wish, but when it comes to doing the work, they don’t want to do it.  People love to live a great story, but few people are willing to do the work to make it happen.  Dreams take work.

 

One reason people don’t have a clear desire, ambition, or dream, is that the second you point toward a horizon, you realize how much there is to lose. 

·      You give up all other directions and pick one

·      You define success and therefore failure

·      You face your fears

 

Great stories go to those who don’t give in to fear.

 

The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is “Do not fear”.  It is mentioned over 200 times.  That tells us two things

1.    We are going to struggle with fear

2.    We shouldn’t let fear boss us around

 

QUOTE  “Don't go into something to test the waters, go into things to make waves.”

 

That is why your desire for a great story has to be greater than your desire to sit on the couch, watch tv, sleep in, surf the net, eat junk food, etc.

 

BROAD vs. NARROW WAY  (Matthew 7:13-14)

Matt. 7:13 (NKJV) ¶ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Matt. 7:14 (NKJV) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 

How can you change your desires if they are wrong?  By investing yourself in what is right, for where your treasure is your heart will be also.

 

Mario Andretti:  “Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”

 

 

 

 

There's a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge." Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, "What do you want?" "Knowledge, O wise Socrates," said the young man with a smile. 

Socrates put his strong hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. "What do you want?" he asked again. "Wisdom," the young man sputtered, "O great and wise Socrates." 

Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. "What do you want, young man?" Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful..." 

Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. "What do you want?" "Air!" he screeched. "I need air!" 

"When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge."