Dharius Daniels - Just Do It

The Prophet had told you to do something great; would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you why you should be cleansed? So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times as a man of God told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. I want to talk about this subject during our time together, family. Just do it. Just do it. The phrase «Just do it» is the signature slogan and a core component of one of the most successful brands of the 20th century: the Nike brand. The phrase, which was coined in an advertising agency meeting in 1988, has been recognized as one of the top two taglines of the 20th century. When many people hear the phrase «Just do it,» they think of Nike. Although the message is not religious in its origin, it does have relevance for those of us who are religious because I think the statement summarizes what God, in essence, says to many of us who are wired like me: overly intuitive, analytical, and sometimes argumentative. Those of us who can suffer from analysis paralysis, overthinking our activity, and over-investigating the next step before we take it. Sometimes God wants to say to us what Nike is saying to the world: just do it. Can I hear an amen right there? In other words, after all the preparation, the pontificating, the praying, the pondering, and the planning, at some point, we must move from intention to execution, from planning to performing, from talking to walking, from thinking to stepping. Just do it. This phrase emphasizes the art of execution, which is defined as the carrying out of or putting into effect a plan or course of action. It is acting on our intentions. And I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but you are not the only one with plans for your life. If you have assumed that is the case, I want to expand your understanding with this reality found in Jeremiah 29:11, where the Prophet Jeremiah says to God’s people, «I know the plans I have for you.» You aren’t the only one with plans for your life; God has plans for your life. Are you hearing me? He says, «I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.» God’s plans are his preferred future for you and me. He has a future he’s preferred, and when he gives you a sneak preview of that coming attraction, that’s what we call vision. Vision is a picture of God’s preferred future for your life. It is when God gives you a glimpse of what’s next. However, the purpose of that revelation isn’t for celebration. You shouldn’t shout over what you see; you shouldn’t just celebrate revelation. A revelation is intended to push us to execution because God’s preferences don’t become our reality without our participation. God shows us what he wants to do so that we can do what we need to do to experience what he wants to do. Do you believe he wants to do something? Do you believe he has plans he hasn’t let you in on yet? Do you believe his plans are exceedingly abundantly above all you ask, think, or imagine? Do you believe he can put you in places you didn’t think of praying for, that he can open doors and get you into the rooms you didn’t even know existed before the doors swung open? That he could use you in ways you thought were impossible for someone as imperfect as you? That he can give you a revelation that he can do the Almighty through the least likely? That he’ll take a stuttering Moses, an impulsive Peter, a scared Gideon, a young Jeremiah, an incapacitated Paul, a Daniel, and will use you for his glory? God has plans for you, but his plans require our participation, and that is, ladies and gentlemen, execution. Execution. And if a person is going to experience evolution, they must master execution. If a person is going to experience advancement, they must master execution. You know what prayer is? Execution. You know what praise is? Execution. Do you know what service is? Execution. Because God is the God of execution. I’m so glad God has more than good intentions; you should be too. I’m here today because God has more than good intentions. I’m here today because God is the God of execution. The fulfillment of prophecy is the execution of God. The birth of Jesus is God executing his plan. The death of Jesus is God executing his plan. The resurrection of Jesus is God executing his plan. Somebody say execution! It is essential; it is important, and our faith doesn’t work without it. Execution is commanded by our Savior. Expect it from our Savior! Jesus says, «If you love me, keep my commandments.» It is commanded by the Scriptures. James says, «Don’t just be hearers of the word and deceive yourselves.» Is that what he says? That you can hear something that makes you feel better and assume because you feel better, you’re getting better? He says, «Don’t just be hearers of the word, but be doers.» That’s execution. And it is empowered by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the helper who is ready and willing to assist us in becoming people of execution. The enemy understands the importance of this, and this is why he works so hard to keep us in the land of intention and not in the land of execution. Because the enemy knows that being a person of execution isn’t about mastering it; it’s always about mastering me. A prayer problem is a me problem. Did you hear what I said?