Romans 3:23

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Missing the mark…

Sin ~ the distance between the target and where the arrow hits the mark

How do we miss the mark?

Because hitting the mark isn’t always easy…

Shooting a basketball is easy… making the shot isn’t always easy… the best in the world miss half the time…

Ted Williams was maybe the best hitter in baseball and he missed 60% of the time

Wayne Gretzky scored more points than any hockey player by a long shot … he still missed most of his shots.

Messi ~ or Ronaldo… they don’t even shoot that much, but when they do they usually miss…

Misses don’t make them a failure… we know that this is just how it is… it isn’t easy to hit the mark or hit the goal … but we keep trying.

One of the lies that we tend to believe is that if we miss we should stop trying… if we mess up we should give up… just keep trying…

4 Things work together to help us to hit the mark

Purpose

Preparation

Precision

Patience

Purpose

Lack of purpose…

What is the goal ?  Where is the mark?

Ephesians 3:10-12

10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Our goal is to live out his eternal purpose ~ in Him and through Faith in Him we approach God with Freedom and Confidence… knowing that Christ has made a way for us to have a relationship with the one that Created us. …Forever…

Hebrews 4:15-16

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Preparation

Lack of preparation…

Practice ~ we have to know the tools that we are using so that they become an extension of our body?

Luck is what happens when preparation and opportunity meet. Seneca

2 Cor 10:4

 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Precision

Lack of precision…

Life is not won by aimlessness… without aim…

I Cor 9:24-28

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

Patience

Lack of patience…

Sometimes we just have to wait… Impatience leads to quick decisions that lead to mistakes

Matthew 24:10:13

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

No one enters in an attempt to fail, but not many finish

I Cor 9:24-28

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

Hunting …

How many people go and don’t know what they are going for?

How many go unprepared?

How many fail to listen?

Who are the most successful?

The ones that know their equipment – use the same gun and ammo in practice and in the field

The ones that know their limits ~ it is ok to pass on something

The ones that are willing to listen

The ones that are patient

Romans 8:22-25

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.