our lord wants our hearts and our minds. n n we need help to stay in the work of god

Our Lord wants our hearts and our minds.Our Lord wants our hearts and our minds.

We need help to stay in the work of God.


We need help to stay in the work of God. Our conversion to God was an enormous

act of self-denial. (Lk 9:23-24)


Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV) - Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.


When you “take up the cross” you lose control.


Your ear is attuned to a new master. (Isa 50:4-5)


Isaiah 50:4-5 (NKJV) - “The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.


Where will the Lord lead you in His work?


Where will the Lord lead you in His work? The Lord will always lead you to work with

people!


Where will the Lord lead you in His work? The Lord will always lead you to work with

people! When Peter returned to Jesus, what was

repeated 3 times? (Jn 21:15-17)


John 21:15-17 (NKJV) - So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of £Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”


16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”


17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.


What would be the badge of true discipleship? (Jn 13:34-35)


John 13:34-35 (NKJV) - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”


I want to warn about the dangers of any of us that may pull back from involvement with the greatest work on earth.

Everyone is tempted at times to pull back from good


We can grow weary and tired. (Gal 6:9; 2 Thess 3:13)



Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) - And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.



2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV) - But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.



That is understandable! Jesus encouraged his disciples to take a moment of rest.



That is understandable! Jesus encouraged his disciples to take a moment of rest.

Hostility of others can make us weary! (Heb 12:3)



Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) - For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.



In this case the example of Jesus will lift our spirits.




A man once had an event that did much good. After a few complaints he said: “I will never do that again.”





We can be drawn into a spirit of selfishness.





We can be drawn into a spirit of selfishness. It is not selfish to make your family a

priority. (Eph 6:4)



Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) - And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.



You can in that priority fall into selfishness. Do you ever think about the needs of those outside your family? (Mt 5:46-48)



Matthew 5:46-48 (NKJV) - For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.



A parent can be selfish in working with their family! Ex. The mother is upset because her image is damaged but not because her child did wrong.




Our society is pushing us to withdraw.




Our society is pushing us to withdraw. A recent book documents how isolated and

lonely this generation is.



We can have online “worship”, “relationships”, and have a “virtual” life on discussion boards and on the facebook network.



We can have online “worship”, “relationships”, and have a “virtual” life on discussion boards and on the facebook network.

In a fast food society we want our relationships fast and simple.



Without the pressure of this generation, we have always been tempted to associate with those like us. (Married, single, wealthy, poor, race, etc.)



Churches can let people be lonely in a crowd!

Our battle is to maintain a Biblical FaithOur battle is to maintain a Biblical Faith

We are converted to work with people. (1 Pt 1:22)


1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV) - Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,


If I can “see the unseen” then I will work with the people of God.


Why are you here today? (Heb 10:23-24)


Hebrews 10:23-24 (NKJV) - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,


Did you even think of this reason as you came to services today?


Did you even think of this reason as you came to services today?

The grace of God will move us out of ourselves and into the lives of others. (Titus 2:11-14)


Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV) - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,


14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.


We can be good at acknowledging what God has said but reluctant to get involved with unpredictable people.


We can be good at acknowledging what God has said but reluctant to get involved with unpredictable people.

We should be people that associate and help all that we meet. (Gal 6:10)


Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) - Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.


It is much easier when we have examples to follow. (1 Cor 11:1; Acts 20:18-19)


1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) - Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.


Acts 20:18-19 (NKJV) - And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;


How many of you take advantage of an invitation into the home of other Christians? How many of you have ever opened your home to Christians?



Would you have an ear to try?



Would you have an ear to try? We must regularly take inventory about

these things. (Titus 3:8, 14)


Titus 3:8 (NKJV) - This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.


Titus 3:14 (NKJV) - And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.


Each of us need to ask ourselves some hard questions.


Each of us need to ask ourselves some hard questions.

What should we do if “gravity” is pulling us to isolation?

Dangers that push a Christian to withdraw from good


Defining spirituality by outward standards and outward “rules.” (Lk 7:39; 18:9, 19:7)



Luke 7:39 (NKJV) - Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”



Luke 18:9 (NKJV) - Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:



Luke 19:7 (NKJV) - But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”



In this heart men are “thrown away” because they are sinners.



God has warnings about improper associations (1 Cor 15:33) but the Pharisee had a self-centered and false concept of the work of God.



1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV) - Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”



By failing to know yourself and your tendencies such as shyness and depression.



For some it is much easier to withdraw. An overwhelmed spirit will do this. (1 Kgs 19:9-10; Psa 142:4)



1 Kings 19:9-10 (NKJV) - And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”



10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”



Psalm 142:4 (NKJV) - Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.



You can quickly or slowly withdraw. Look at the pattern of decisions you have made over the last year or 2.



You can quickly or slowly withdraw. Look at the pattern of decisions you have made over the last year or 2.

You can keep developing personal “rules” that push others away.



Isolating doctrinal positions can be taken because of the appealing result.



Isolating doctrinal positions can be taken because of the appealing result.

“Reading minds” and magnifying faults can give you “justification.”

Learn to build your life on God’s graceLearn to build your life on God’s grace

You can overcome the tendency to withdraw when you heart is established by grace. (Heb 13:9)


Hebrews 13:9 (NKJV) - Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.


Do your remember that you have been forgiven! (2 Pt 2:1, 9-10)


2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV) - Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,


2 Peter 1:9-10 (NKJV) - For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;


Listen to yourself talk. What are you passionate about?


Gain joy in helping others. (Heb 13:16)


Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV) - But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.


Do you realize how powerful good deeds are? (Philemon 4-7)


Philemon 1:4-7 (NKJV) - I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.


7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.


It is a blessing to give!


It is a blessing to give! Doing good will open hearts to the gospel.

(1 Pt 2:15)


1 Peter 2:15 (NKJV) - For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—


It will also come back to bless you.


It will also come back to bless you. Please learn to do this without compulsion.

(Philemon 14)


Philemon 1:14 (NKJV) - But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.


Where do you live?


Have we walled ourselves into a comfortable but steadily shrinking world?


Have we walled ourselves into a comfortable but steadily shrinking world?

Maybe you need the enormous change that conversion brings

our lord wants our hearts and our minds. n n we need help to stay in the work of god

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