Dependance Upon The Lord - GFA

Intro

Pray

Defining Characteristics of a Christian: Love, Good works

The next defining characteristic of a Christian is: Dependance Upon The Lord.

We need to be dependent upon the Lord in order for our work here to have an eternal impact.

There is no other way we can make an eternal difference in our ministry, other than being dependent upon the Lord

A few passages to help us.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

English Standard Version Chapter 12

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Two possible characteristics that can impact our dependance on the Lord.

Pride vs humility, weakness

Exalting myself -NASB, conceited - ESV, becoming proud - NLT,

This passage illustrates an extreme situation.

God is brining Paul down a few notches in order for him to be totally dependent upon the Lord to face the negative situations he faces as a missionary.

We don’t know what the thorn in the flesh was. It was a physical affliction from Satan allowed by the Lord.

A thorn can be quite irritating and painful.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 12:7–9

But he learned from this experience the lesson that pervades this letter: divine power from the Lord (My power, v. 8; Christ’s power, v. 9) is best displayed against the backdrop of human weaknesses (cf. 4:7) so that God alone is praised (10:17).

I don’t want to become prideful to the point that God has to give me thorn. I’d rather learn from Paul’s experience then learn the hard way.

Here is another passage that encourages me to be dependent upon the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15

English Standard Version Chapter 3

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Our foundation, dependance, is on Jesus alone. Anything else will have zero eternal value.

That is a great motivator for me to be totally depend upon the Lord for all I do.

Thats why I’m here. I want my life to have the greatest eternal impact as possible.

1 John 5:13–15

English Standard Version Chapter 5

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him,

Heres the concepts of dependance I glean from this passage.

First, we must be Christians, bond servants of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, If that is true, then we know that we can ask the Lord for anything within His will.

This is dependance on the Lord.

So how do we apply this here and now?

Examples of dependance I observed last week

Example of Mark M working on getting my VPN setup last week.

Dependance upon the Lord to do His work when we are totally out of our experience, training, education, talents and abilities, …

Example of Shelley taking on the responsibility of Development Director. Meeting last Thursday. It’s a blessing to see how dependent upon the Lord she it.

Dependance on the Lord has to be built into our character, into who we are, into our DNA, into our GFA DNA.

Tonight is a great opportunity to depend upon the Lord to provide and power our ministry around the world.

Many of the prayer sessions during our prayer meetings are for things are way outside of our human capabilities to do.

As John wrote if we ask according to His will, He will answer. Iv’e seen the Lord provide for many impossible things over the years. He Will Answer!

Closing prayer.

Tripura General Convention

The theme for the convention was "Seek the Lord". The last convention took place 3 years back, so it was something the believers were sincerely looking forward to.

They were encouraged to worship the Lord in such large groups. They left spiritually renewed and praising God for blessing our church.

Many were happy to see HH Metropolitan in person for the first time and hear his messages. Besides Metropolitan several other leaders exhorted and encouraged them.

The entire convention needed lots of money and the believers gave generously. Bishop Barnabas (Bishop Praison John) said one believer dropped truck load of groceries worth 71,000/- and again gave 51,000/- cash for the convention. Many believers brought rice, cooking oil, lentils etc. while others gave money, including the Sunday School kids.

The local churches came one by one in their turn and cleaned the venue three months prior to the convention. They brought groceries and assign 2-3 to prepare food while the rest worked and prepared the land.

This land is in a remote place and has bushes and shrubs. The believers cleared all these and prepared the ground for the convention.

Show video, 15th General Convention Tripura.mp4

Please pray.