Not For The Faint at Heart

Objective

To Examine our calling from GOD and the various trials and test that come with the call and take a look at biblical characters and see how they navigated through those test and trials. (Mathew 25)

Intro and explanation of demonstration

Demonstration

This was an effort to demonstrate the degree of difficulty you experience carrying out your assignment that comes with the calling on your life.

Some make the mistake of assuming that getting in the seat after that everything gonna be smooth sailing from there, and that couldn’t be more contrary from the truth as you saw in the illustration

make no mistake, you really can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, but you don’t even scratch the surface of that passage without some degree of difficulty or resistance in our life

Lets not forget that the Apostle Paul administers that passage from a place. In context , he shares this in the mist of his degree of difficulty, in the mist of his struggle, his rocky terrain and here’s the blessing he doesn’t complain about it, but he uses positive affirmation and declaration

what you and I must understand is that we’ve been called to the seat and called to the heat

The Call

Call - Summoned - salvation/service ( We understand from Ester 4:10-11 that under a monarch society you did not just come in the kings presence you were summoned) So this puts it all in proper perspective He chose me i didn’t choose him, He called me I didn’t call myself

Jeremiah 1:5 “You and I were called by GOD before we were formed in the womb. There was an assignment on my life before i was even born. Well before my seed was planted in my mothers womb God was acquainted with my soul and he called me to an assignment. This for the Jonahs in the room, he called you and it went into legislation before you were even born

inherited calling - (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) Aaron sons - Some of y'all are 2nd and 3rd Generation Preachers.

called out of the world - Peter Acts 4:13 Luke 5;

Whats my assignment? Whats my area of focus? What gifts do I have that compliment my assignment? What gifts do I need to cultivate (learn) Luke 14:28; this helps to prevent faintheartedness; fatigue; burnout and frustration

Jesus was very clear about his assignment John 4:2; 12:32; Mathew 20:18

The Disciples knew their assignment Mathew 10:5-6;

Mathew 25:14,15 “each one according to his several ability” Ability- the quality of being able to perform; especially a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

whatever comes with the calling and assignment on your life … YOU CAN HANDLE IT

The Charge

If anyone knew the joys and frustrations of the Lord's work, it was the Apostle Paul. He said, "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart [and quit]" (2 Cor. 4:1). These two things give us passion for the Lord's work, and without them, we will soon become casualties:  the Lord saved us (mercy) and He called us (ministry).

Faint not–KJV

Not lose heart–NASB

Not lose heart–NIV

Not lose heart–NKJV

Never give up–NLT

THE WORD MEANS...

Not to lose heart; not to tire of; not to faint; not to become weary; never give up; not become discouraged, spiritless, fainthearted, despondent, or discouraged.

Practical Application

The ministry demands constancy, demands that one never faint. Paul did not quit or give up for any reason, not even because of persecution or weariness and exhaustion.

Encouraging word

Habakkuk 3:17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

able to tread upon the heights.

Here’s the irony Habakkuk pins this. The same Habakkuk from chapter 2

This is writ the vision Habakkuk

and see there’s some authenticity in his message cause again he said though the vision tarry, wait for it

here in chapter 3 what this text amounts to is nothing more than, this doesn’t look like i envisioned it but i’m still waiting , still trusting still believing

and guess what … you can’t have my joy

Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Rejoice - to have happiness or joy in spite of what’s happening

Luke 10:20 reminds us that...

the numbers will be there sometimes and absent at other times

some seasons more favorable that others

some members more tolerable than others

sometimes you on sometimes you off

sometimes they follow with enthusiasm, sometimes they fight you tooth and nail

but our joy has to be fixed on something permanent and unchangeable. in Luke 10:20; the disciples ran to Jesus to tell him of there success in ministry. He doesn’t intentionally set out to deflate their enthusiasm, but he redirects their attention to whats more meaningful. Which is weather you have success or failure -"Rejoice that your names are written in heaven"

The Challenge

There is no guarantee that you will escape various feelings and emotional meltdown.

Elijah - asked to quit (1 Kings 19:4)

Jesus - had a human experience (Luke 22:42)

Moses - was pissed off (Numbers 20:11)

David

2 Samuel 21:15 Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.

The Philistines reappear after a lengthy absence from the narrative vs. 15-22

David grew weary David may have been aged by this point in his career; alternatively, he may have grown weary because he was the primary focus of the Philistine attack once they knew he was on the battlefield.

21:15–22 The Philistines now reappear after a lengthy absence from the narrative (see 2 Sam 8:1 and note). In this section, four of David’s great champions defeat four of the Philistines’ great champions.

Ways to prevent burnout

Understand that true ministry is always a team effort

Effective leaders recognize their limitations

2. Minimize stress by stop trying to change what you can’t change

Acts 9:5 KJV “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” Exodus 7:13;

3. Make a commitment to perservere through tough times

2 Corinthians 4:7–11 (KJV 1900): 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11