The Sower & The Member
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2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Intinsity
Effective service
Our flesh hates these qualities
Energy
Attention
Demands
Resources
It will cost you something to live in a dynamic fashion
Sin
Selfishness
Slothfulness
Casual Christianity is not a part of Biblical living
The Warrior - The Warfare
The Athlete -Disciplined life
Sins can beset us
Weights can beset us
The Farmer - The Sowing and reaping life
The Member - Connection
The Bond slave - Obedience
The Investor
Sowing and Reaping
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
A Farmer - A worker of land
There is no easy life
There is no life that is worthy
God the Father, The Husbandman, Is Perfect
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2. The Seed Is the Word of God
10 For as the rain cometh down, And the snow from heaven, And returneth not thither, But watereth the earth, And maketh it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The Gospel Tract will Prosper
The sharing of the Gospel will Prosper
The Farmers Responsibilities
The Sower Cares
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Ask God to show you
We need to see the hurt that exits without Jesus
Pray the Lord would raise up labourers into his harvest
There is a job to be done in the harvest
A role to be fulfilled
ground to till
weeds to pluck
fruit to pluck
land to work
2. The Seed must be sown.
Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Mar 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Sow the seed
We sow the seed in hearts
We have to take the seed with us
We have to know the seed
People dying without Christ
Think about Hell
Think about how long eternity is, think about the pain and anguish
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
3. The Seed Must be Watered with Tears
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
4. The Member Attribute - A Life of Connection
In I Corinthians 12:14-27
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
The church is the Body
The Bible explains how Jesus Christ established the church.
The New Testament speaks of the church in four parts:
The Gospels - Foundation for the church
Acts - Growth of the church and the Holy Spirits actions through the Church
The Epistles - Guidance for the church
Revelation - The future of the church
We ought to know why the church matters to God and how the church can help us live for Him.
What is a church?
A local church is a body of believers called by God to serve in a specific area. The church is the body of Christ.
1. The church is a group of believers who gather together on a regular basis and Worship Christ as their Saviour and Head.
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
(Acts 2:46-47)
The church is not a building or a denomination. It is simply a group of people, assembled together, who have been saved by Jesus Christ and scripturally baptized.
2. The institution of the Church was created and ordained by God to provide support and structure for our faith.
"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
3. The church is the flock of God.
God lovingly refers to us as sheep. Sheep are most healthy and productive in a flock with a shepherd. Christians are most healthy and productive when they are in a local church with a caring pastor.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
4. The church is the body of Jesus Christ.
In I Corinthians 12:14-27, the church is compared to the human body.
Each member's function is different. (14-20)
Each member's function is dependent upon the other's. (21)
Each member's function is vital. (22-24)
Each member's function contributes to the success of the entire body. (25-27)
What is the purpose of the local church?
The local church is a place where believers gather to:
Hear God's Word. (Acts 2:42
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Pray. (Acts 2:42)
Fellowship with other believers. (Acts 2:42)
Observe the two ordinances (baptism and Lord's supper).
(Acts 2:41-42
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Fulfill the Great Commission by sending the Gospel locally and globally. (Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Bring tithes and offerings to the Lord. (Malachi 3:8-10
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Serve with their God-given gifts. (I Corinthians 12:18
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Observe, learn, minister, and lead. (Ephesians 4:11-14
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Encourage, restore, and strengthen other believers.
(Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
What is a believer's responsibility to the local church?
He should love its Head (Jesus Christ), faithfully attend its services, support its mission, follow its God-ordained leadership, and encourage its members.
God ordained that His work be accomplished through the local church. Just as the human body has several components and each serves a different purpose, God has gifted each Christian with at least one spiritual gift that is to serve a purpose in the church. Discovering and exercising these spiritual gifts enables us to be a valuable part of the body of Christ, His local church.
What is a spiritual gift?
1. A divine empowerment from God's Spirit which enables us to serve God through the local church in a special and specific way.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." (I Corinthians 12:7)
I Peter 4:10
2. A spiritual gift, just as salvation, is freely given and cannot be earned.
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
(I Corinthians 2:12)
SPIRITUAL
What are the purposes for the spiritual gifts?
1. To bring glory to God by helping individual people.
a. By fulfilling my God-given purpose in the church.
"But now hath God set the members every one of them
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in the body, as it hath pleased him (I Corinthians 12:18)
b. By assisting other members of the church.
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.. but that the members should have the same care one for another." (I Corinthians 12:25)
We cannot understand spiritual gifts without understanding that their purpose is always designed to help the church members.
c. By cooperating with other church members who have other spiritual gifts.
9 "And whether one member suffer, all the members suf-
fer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it." (I Corinthians 12:26)
Because of different spiritual gifts, at times people can have differing perspectives about the nature of a problem and how to deal with it. The Holy Spirit enables us, if we allow Him, to be able to work together with mutual appreciation.
2. To bring glory to God by helping guide the church itself.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the min-istry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.»
(Ephesians 4:11-12)
With the church in mind, God gave these gifts to the church for:
a. The perfecting (maturing) of the saints.
b. The work of the ministry (service).
c. The edifying (building) of the church.
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Who decides what gifts I get?
1. The Father is the source of all gifts.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whor is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
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(James 1:17)
2. The Spirit of God chooses what spiritual gifts are best for each believer.
- 'But all these worketh that one and the selísame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
(I Corinthians 12:11)