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OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHRISTIAN
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHRISTIAN
1 Corinthians 16:8–10 “8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.”
1 Corinthians 16:8–10 “8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.”
Anyone notice the “activity” around here at St. Paul’s? I have. many people are volunteering for service, to be doing or at least getting involved in service here at St. Paul’s.
Anyone notice the “activity” around here at St. Paul’s? I have. many people are volunteering for service, to be doing or at least getting involved in service here at St. Paul’s.
THE OPENING OPPORTUNITY FOR US-or-where do we start?
THE OPENING OPPORTUNITY FOR US-or-where do we start?
A. First comes The door of surrender—Rom. 12:1, 2. When we give our lives to the Lord, He can take us and work through us. He cannot work with or through an unsurrendered person.
A. First comes The door of surrender—Rom. 12:1, 2. When we give our lives to the Lord, He can take us and work through us. He cannot work with or through an unsurrendered person.
Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
B. Next comes The door of service, God opens the door to get with it. God will work through us if we allow Him to shape us. There is much work to do. God is looking for people to do His work. Will you be of service to Him?
B. Next comes The door of service, God opens the door to get with it. God will work through us if we allow Him to shape us. There is much work to do. God is looking for people to do His work. Will you be of service to Him?
Matthew 4:19 “ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Can you imagine the men in the boat. WHAT? Fishers of men........Isn’t that what we think sometimes when God has called us, “He wants me to do what?”
Matthew 4:19 “ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Can you imagine the men in the boat. WHAT? Fishers of men........Isn’t that what we think sometimes when God has called us, “He wants me to do what?”
C. Next, Are we ready to commit to “The door of sacrifice?”—Luke 9:23. Living for God requires giving. We must be willing to forget ourselves. God can only work through those who are willing to sacrifice.Luke 9:23 “23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Note the words of Paul, who was crucified with Christ in the book of Galatians: Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
C. Next, Are we ready to commit to “The door of sacrifice?”—Luke 9:23. Living for God requires giving. We must be willing to forget ourselves. God can only work through those who are willing to sacrifice.Luke 9:23 “23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Note the words of Paul, who was crucified with Christ in the book of Galatians: Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
THE OPPORTUNITIES AS A CHRISTIAN ARE ALWAYS THERE. ARE WE LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLING US TO DO THIS OR THAT?
THE OPPORTUNITIES AS A CHRISTIAN ARE ALWAYS THERE. ARE WE LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLING US TO DO THIS OR THAT?
A. Do we have the gift To Evangelize, to preach, to.........SMILE—Mark 16:15. Each person has his own “world” which he can evangelize. With each person doing his part, we can soon win the world to Christ. We can witness by a twofold method: by our conduct and by our conversation. We read in Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
A. Do we have the gift To Evangelize, to preach, to.........SMILE—Mark 16:15. Each person has his own “world” which he can evangelize. With each person doing his part, we can soon win the world to Christ. We can witness by a twofold method: by our conduct and by our conversation. We read in Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
B.Do we have the gift of teaching, instructing, listening? To be a great teacher, we must be great listeners. Some of us don’t want to listen do we? Are we called To Educate?—Matt. 28:19. Each Christian’s duty is not only to win others but also to train others. We, who know the Bible, must be willing to teach others. A new Christian is a spiritual baby who will always need help and instruction. AMEN DID YOU HEAR THAT CHURCH?
B.Do we have the gift of teaching, instructing, listening? To be a great teacher, we must be great listeners. Some of us don’t want to listen do we? Are we called To Educate?—Matt. 28:19. Each Christian’s duty is not only to win others but also to train others. We, who know the Bible, must be willing to teach others. A new Christian is a spiritual baby who will always need help and instruction. AMEN DID YOU HEAR THAT CHURCH?
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
C. Is God calling you today to To Enlarge His house? To invite all you know to fill St. Paul’s. —Luke 14:23. God wants His house filled! It takes work to fill His house! With each Christian faithfully attending church and bringing others, it will be easy to fill the church.
C. Is God calling you today to To Enlarge His house? To invite all you know to fill St. Paul’s. —Luke 14:23. God wants His house filled! It takes work to fill His house! With each Christian faithfully attending church and bringing others, it will be easy to fill the church.
Self evaluation: When was the last time you invited someone, anyone to church?
Self evaluation: When was the last time you invited someone, anyone to church?
D. Has God called you today to Encourage one another?— As we see the end of the world coming, we need the church more than ever.
D. Has God called you today to Encourage one another?— As we see the end of the world coming, we need the church more than ever.
Hebrews 10:34–36 “34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” We need each other. We need to have fellowship with each other.
Hebrews 10:34–36 “34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” We need each other. We need to have fellowship with each other.
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
DO WE EVER RUN INTO THE OPPOSITION OF DOING GOD’S WORK? OF COURSE WE DO, DAILY AS I CAN RECALL
DO WE EVER RUN INTO THE OPPOSITION OF DOING GOD’S WORK? OF COURSE WE DO, DAILY AS I CAN RECALL
A. Is God calling any of you to begin EXTRA SUPPORT Financially? With your time? With your being able to pray with someone? or to read to someone? —
A. Is God calling any of you to begin EXTRA SUPPORT Financially? With your time? With your being able to pray with someone? or to read to someone? —
Romans 10:14–16 “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
Romans 10:14–16 “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
God’s work can only go forward if His people support it. When we really believe in the gospel and when we love the Lord, His work will be easy to support. A few ways to support is: time, volunteering, committing to something to do in worship, making phone calls to the shut ins or sick........
God’s work can only go forward if His people support it. When we really believe in the gospel and when we love the Lord, His work will be easy to support. A few ways to support is: time, volunteering, committing to something to do in worship, making phone calls to the shut ins or sick........
B. What do we do if we seem to fail? We are to dip our toe in the water, to trust God. If something doesn't work out, we are not failures if we do and try what God has called us to do. It might me timing, it might be that God has another “step” involved before we will be successful. Often those who try and fail, give up hope. They never try again. However, forget and learn from the past. Forget the failures.
B. What do we do if we seem to fail? We are to dip our toe in the water, to trust God. If something doesn't work out, we are not failures if we do and try what God has called us to do. It might me timing, it might be that God has another “step” involved before we will be successful. Often those who try and fail, give up hope. They never try again. However, forget and learn from the past. Forget the failures.
Philippians 3:14–15 “14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
Philippians 3:14–15 “14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
D. Is there ever Fear involved? Of course there is. We as humans want to be perfect, we are not! This us usually when we are trusting in the world or ourselves to do only what God can do. Isaiah 41:10 tells us: “10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
D. Is there ever Fear involved? Of course there is. We as humans want to be perfect, we are not! This us usually when we are trusting in the world or ourselves to do only what God can do. Isaiah 41:10 tells us: “10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
God will be with us and help us. David said he would fear no evil.
God will be with us and help us. David said he would fear no evil.
Psalm 23:3–5 “3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Psalm 23:3–5 “3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
AMEN
AMEN