Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. Regardless of any problem or issue we face as a church; we must never neglect Christs mission: to reach the lost; to make disciples of all nations through the preaching of his word. If we want to befaithfulto the Word we cannot pick and choose only what we love to hear from it, or what we love to think about all the time. Repent and believe right now! Now we shall read what Paul said to them, as recorded in Acts 20:17-35. This relationship were called to is not our building a tower, or our climbing stairs, or our somehow trying to maneuver our way to get close to him. The death of Jesus and the intercession of Jesus, then, provide the grounds by which we can have a rich relationship with God. These feelings can keep us paralyzed from dealing with the. They were appalled when they saw the severe suffering Job was experiencing. 4. It is part of the process of sanctification, being set apart for God's purposes and . As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. Here are some key strategies you can use to help overcome your obstacles with Gods help. 6. Verse Concepts. Sign up for a CBNDaily Bible Reading Plan. (Food pantry ministry). These challenges come to distract us from our mission; they come to make us quit running the race. They made pledges and promises which they had every intention to keep at the beginning, but sadly they did not keep them in the end. Thats why Christ bestowed all the spiritual gifts which the Church needs for service. Will we be able to do these things well? This is His purpose of why we were created and the reason why we are here on earth. For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.". Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. If anyone here is still unsaved, please listen to this carefully, because it is part of Gods whole counsel If you are still outside Christ, you are still in your sins. Serving God is not without challenges and difficulties. We are here to help and encourage you! The particular, electing love of God from before the foundation of the world is the reason why anyone becomes a Christian. . It may just a sprained ankle or a runny nose or a toothache, but it hinders our performance The question we should ask ourselves today is: Are you fulfilling your God-given role in His kingdom? How do we deal with these ongoing barriers in our lives? - Obstacles to Following God's Call The Hoot & Howl What's Stopping You? This is probably because of the many struggles and challenges we face as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Following Jesus as our Lord and Savior not only means that we . Nothing like a twisted ankle because you stepped on an uneven surface, rock or twig. Notice the language: Were to draw near with our hearts sprinkled clean from a evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. This echoes the God-centeredness of the New Covenant, when God promised that hed write his law on our hearts, that hed give us his Spirit, that hed make us clean (Jeremiah 31:33). - Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/obstaclesEvery Muslim is on a journey to Allah. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. God did it. In v.25 we see that Paul was alsopreachingthe kingdom of Godamong them. 1. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). You cannot serve both God and money". " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge " and " wisdom " (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Jesus was able to recognize Satan in Peters words. Paul was faithful in his role as a, In the earlier chapters of Acts we had seen that s. ome are called to serve as deacons, some as evangelists, and some as teachers. 3. He died in our place. This requirement is highlighted in the words which Paul spoke in v.19Servingthe Lordwith all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations(v.19). And He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'. Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Courses, As we thank God for His faithfulness today, let us be reminded that God requires faithfulness from us. He didn't say, "you should not serve both God and money.". You know your sin and guilt, and although you like the idea of a closer relationship with God, you wouldnt dare pursue it. If you dont know how to manage the small, then you wont be able to manage the big. Thats why Christ also sent the Holy Spirit to work within each believer. Only God the Holy Spirit can change a heart. Instead, these are the moments where you need faith the most. Here Paul begins his discourse to the church elders in about the same way that he begins every epistle by drawing attention to the Lord whom he served: the Lord Jesus Christ. He said to them earlier on in v.20,I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, There is an important detail here which I want you to notice. Serving God is what we were made to do as his creatures, but our service has been corrupted by our sin and rebellion which has rendered us unable to please him. Earlier on we witnessed the addition of new members through baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership. They came to provide comfort and sympathy to him. God was Pauls confidence that the Ephesian church would remain faithful. Sometimes God may call you to a different ministry. It is also full of examples of how God has helped others overcome their obstacles. It is fascinating to study these spiritual gifts, but that is not within the scope of this sermon. God would use any thing to mobilize his people when they get inwardly focused and neglect to fulfill his mission in the world. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Money from tithing is used to build God's kingdom upon the earth. There is always a temptation for those who serve the Lord to get so busy and involved with serving that they neglect their own walk with God. To move in. This morning we will see how the apostle Paul highlights the need for faithfulness in Gods service to the Ephesian elders by his example and his exhortations. Paul would never think of himself apart from the Lord Jesus. But no matter what happens they would always have Gods Word with them to build them up, as long as they continued to study it. There are obstacles in our way. How do we keep doing all these things until we reach the end? If you want to remain faithful, you must give sufficient time to the study of Gods Word. We overcome the emotional barrier when we believe it is safe to yield to God. Download From the series Evening series 2 Timothy 1 ( Listen) In those days when the number of disciples was increasing. We have already read the first 11 verses of the passage during the responsive reading. Gods people are to be molded or conformed by Gods pattern and not the worlds pattern. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" ( Isaiah 12:2 ). Try. (It is not right that we give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. (ESV) We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. If you handle the small things, God brings you big things to handle. This email address is being protected from spambots. Through these strategies, you can gain the confidence to face your problems head on and come out victorious. Everything else comes after that. As followers of Jesus, we battle against difficulties, obstacles on our way to accomplishing Christs mission in this world. The most important requirement is to befaithful to the Lord. Life is full of ups and downs. Prayer helps you to build a solid relationship with Christ, which increases your ability to trust in Him and feel confident about His plan for you. Remind yourself that you are a child of God and you were put on this earth for a reason. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Climbers think theyll go down the wire smoothly, but when the lever is pulled, they face a 20-foot freefall. Anne Frank Sitting here with pen in hand, able to put words and thoughts on paper, is a miracle all by itself, as Parkinsons Disease has made me unable to write, How do you know if God is talking to you or Satan? You can count on Gods promise (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). . Discover short videos related to mike todd obstacles and serving god on TikTok. During the voyage one of the ports that the ship stopped at was Miletus. Just before those verses, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) define a path to spiritual happiness and significance totally contrary to what were normally taught (blessed are the meek, not the proud). You can be comforted by Gods commitment (Psalm 46:1; Luke 15:11-32). Job eventually repents and is humbled before God. These are emotional, intellectual, and volitional barriers. Similarly, repentance is not so much a matter of turning from evil as it is a turning to God. Romans 1:25. If Jesus had to endure them, so do we. Were on a mission to change that. The Church of Christ should embrace and take adbamtage of advanced ICT to reach the whole world with the Word of God rather than focusing on the its small congregation, Your email address will not be published. Let these closing words of Paul to the Church of Thessalonica be our constant source of encouragement:And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we now enter into our 67thyear, let us resolve to give Him thefirst and central placein all that we do as a church, so that we may be faithful to Him. You think a person as messed up as you just isnt supposed to be close to God. The Third Sunday in Lent Sermon starts at 14:15 in recording Service Booklet All Readings Gospel: John 2:13-22 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. The enemy does not want you to discover or understand who you are in Christ, and will try to take away your spiritual identity. The apostles handed the food distribution to seven men selected by the church. He bore our sins in his body on the tree. Tozer, Root of the Righteous (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1955), p. 156. DAVID David is a Bible character who is no stranger to hard times. Through the Bible, we can understand the promises God has made for us, how He can help us in our time of need, and His amazing love for us. Verse Concepts. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes - the hope of the world hangs on it (Rom 1:16). The whole body suffers! Is anything too hard for me? When faced with an enormous obstacle, dont focus on how big the problem is. In v.24 he reveals how willing he was to deny self in serving the Lord. Acts 6:1-7 He said, "you cannot serve both God and money.". Below we've briefly outlined these the top ten problems people have with God to help you reach skeptical people in our post-truth world. Thus we have seen our need to be faithful to the Lord, faithful to fulfill our respective God-given roles, and faithful to the whole counsel of God. Obstacles that we face in life are riddled with anxiety, fear, worry, anger, stress, and every negative emotion that you can think of. The word of God continued to spread (to be taught and preached); more people were becoming disciples, even some Jewish priests received the gospel of Jesus. While he was there, Paul sent a messenger to Ephesus (which is about 40 km away) to call the elders of the church to come for a conference with him, as he believed that he would never see them again. He gave us the tool or prayer so that we would never feel alone. Get to know others seeking Gods guidance and wisdom for life. But overcoming feeling rejected is a secret to moving past approval seeking. These challenges come to distract us from our mission; they come to make us quit running the race. We relish our sin too much to renounce it. Reach out and call Gods name. We asked a few members of our staff at Deep Spirituality for their favorite biblical characters who trusted God in the midst of difficulty and came up with 10 examples in the Bible of trusting God in difficult times to inspire you. But what needs to be impressed on us is that, Now, besides faithfulness to the Lord and faithfulness to fulfill our God-given roles, there is another area where faithfulness is required of us. Our Christian life comprises of many obstacles we meet. And if praying is the only role that you can fulfill in Gods kingdom, then please make sure that you are a faithful prayer warrior pleading before Gods throne everyday. Leaders should empower others to serve and not overwhelm themselves with every ministry. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Desiring God partnered with Shane & Shanes The Worship Initiative to write short meditations for more than one hundred popular worship songs and hymns. More growth and new challenges would come ahead. There is one good way to know whether you are spiritually well or not. For some people, time crowds out their ability to serve the Lord. (More people to deal with, more personality issues, cultural issues and so on). Thus we have seen that Paul and the Ephesian elders were faithful in fulfilling their respective God-given roles. During his ministry there, a thriving congregation developed and the Gospel was disseminated throughout the western part of Asia Minor. (7) If the work of Gods kingdom depends entirely on our faithfulness what assurance is there that it will succeed? Look at yourlovefor the Lord. They were responsible for that. Theres really nowhere else to go, as the apostle Peter said, for true life eternal life is with Him alone. Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with Him. God wants you to open up about your fears, doubts and anxieties so He can help you overcome them. There are many things, in fact, that might deter you from a rich relationship with God, but two in particular are worth mentioning: 1) the fear of judgment and 2) the fear of disappointment. While he was there, Paul sent a messenger to Ephesus (which is about 40 km away) to call the elders of the church to come for a conference with him, as he believed that he would never see them again. Obstacles expose our weaknesses and increase our dependency upon Christ. Please take time to read your Bible each day, and let God speak to you through His Word. This helps to shift your perspective and gain the confidence needed to know you can handle it with Gods help. Any complaint would arise, and they will go to any of the seven selected to handle this ministry. Many people will spend a lot of time trying to think and maneuver their way around obstacles . One obstacle that prevents us from serving the Lord as we should is our being ashamed of Him. Just as ancient cities needed strong walls for defense and protection, the Lord wants His people today to have a strong and well-founded faith that can withstand the attacks of the enemy. This was a great thing happening. We have to fully believe that God is in control and that He has a great plan for our life. The emotional barrier deals with bad experiences, but the intellectual barrier deals with bad teaching. Its always telling us, Youd better take charge. So how do we stay yielded to God? Satan began to attack the church through severe persecution. God Will Allow You to Go Through Impossible Situations to Produce a Supernatural Dependence in You. "How pleased the Lord must have been when Abraham did as he was instructed, without question and without wavering.". Paul was faithful in his role as achurch-planter, testifying of the Gospel of the grace of God wherever he went. The apostle Paul is a good example of one who was very faithful to fulfill his role in life. Let us therefore be faithful toChristin all our service. During the voyage one of the ports that the ship stopped at was Miletus. But having said all this, the question still remains what if Gods people are somehownotdiligent enough to guard themselves well and to build themselves up with God Word? But not all the ministries would last forever in a church. Other people of faith who are overcoming their own challenges can lift you up in spirit, remind you of Gods truth, and cheer you on as you strive for your goals. Fear is the first item listed in Joshua's challenge to the people. He gave us a once-for-all sacrifice and he gives us never-ceasing intercession. Perhaps some of us may have certain limitations that prevent us from serving. All you have to do is put your trust in Him. Obstacles expose our weaknesses and increase our dependency upon Christ. This is a spiritual thermometer. Others have been blessed with spiritual gifts of faith, administration, discernment, hospitality, giving, mercy, or encouragement. As a Christian, its important to not let your obstacles in life tear you away from your faith. After all, thats their role as the elders of the church! This is similar to how the higher law of aerodynamics supersedes the lower law of gravity for a hang glider. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. A church may have a great number of ministries or services. Two Obstacles in the Way But it's not that simple. Growing in Christ won't be without struggles. No matter what problem is in your way, God is right beside you walking you through each step. Obstacles to serving God. 1. And it is the Holy Spirit who made the elders fit for their role as overseers, so that the flock would be well fed. However you can always count on God to support you. Everything a church does should fall under the umbrella of reaching the world with the gospel and making people into disciples. He . - 2 Timothy 1:1-18 By Pastor Mark Thomas on 10 April 2016 at the evening service. First, the apostles identified their main priority. The confused are those who have health, know Self-Realization is the purpose of life, have food, clothing and shelter, but find excuses to run after other things endlessly. Paul fulfilled his role well despite the many difficult challenges which he faced at Ephesus. It is just like eating well-balanced meals that include every kind of food that your body needs to be strong and healthy. Unfortunately many would rather listen to a message that makes no demands on them at all, but offers them all the blessings of God they could ever wish to receive, like good health and wealth. Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8). May this occasion also be a time for each of us to search our own hearts with this question: Are you more faithful to the Lord or to yourself? Materialism is the third barrier that keeps us from being available to serve. There is no right way to pray, all you have to do is begin speaking with God. But what needs to be impressed on us is thatwe allhave a role to play in Gods kingdom. Look at v.21 where Paul says that he wastestifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,repentance toward God, and faith toward ourLordJesus Christ.. Matthew 22:37. Many times, we wonder about God's purpose in our lives. God made it possible for you to know. Watch on Hey! Faith is from God and fear is from the enemy. But he also said that the gates of Hades will not overcome his church. Growing in Christ wont be without struggles. "Serve the Lord" Men's hearts are naturally atheistical, they will not endure the thought of God. It cant. In order for us to get grace we have to surrender ourselves to God and accept His grace as a free gift. The apostles prayed for these ministry leaders and their ministry. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels the worst. Here are seven ways you can rely on God to help you break down and overcome the challenging obstacles that are standing in your way: Focus on God's power rather than on the size of your problem . Oswald Chambers writes, "If a man cannot get through to God, it is because there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up." This involves a stubborn refusal to turn away from a hidden sin. Paul explains to the Philippian church that the evidence of true Christianity is found in humble service to each other. Benefits Of Serving God: The Challenges, The Pains, The Blessings And The Rewards - Kindle edition by Kanu, Kenneth. Quote This: 2 Corinthians 2:14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. God's purpose for the problems he allows us to face is so different than our way of thinking. Paul then left Ephesus to visit all the churches he had planted in Macedonia and Achaia during his previous missionary journey. When it comes to facing challenges as a church, we must learn like the first Christians did. They were responsible for the spiritual health of this new community. Be bold. Colossians 3:24. Its a God-accomplished relationship, not one that we contrive. This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. The apostles were the shepherds of the church. Materialism. They help us see how strong and powerful our God is. We serve the same God who said: "And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. Has your love for the Lord grown cold? Jesus Tells Us to Love the Lord Yes, our pain and our disappointments are real and valid. Although the Lord Jesus commended them for guarding the flock well against false apostles, He also rebuked them:Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, becausethou hast left thy first love.(Revelation 2:4) Let us ask ourselves this question: Have you left your first love? Fast-forward now to a time about 40 years later, and we find this commendation that Christ gave to this church in Revelation 2:2, Thus we have seen that Paul and the Ephesian elders were faithful in fulfilling their respective God-given roles. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. But Paul did not expect the elders of Ephesus to do what he did, because they had adifferentrole to fulfill. Prayer is the best way to communicate one-on-one with God. Faithfulness to the Lord demands this attitude in our service:He must increase, and we must decrease., It is sad that many who serve today arenotinterested in decreasing. But its not that simple. God was Pauls confidence that the Ephesian church would remain faithful. Psalms 119:1-127 - ALEPH . If it has, one way to restore it is build yourself up spiritually. According to 2 Timothy 3:16All scriptureis given by inspiration of God, and isprofitablefor doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.All scripture is profitable not just some of it or most of it, but All of it. It requires a true heart in full assurance of faith. This is a full and rich and satisfying relationship one that is more real to us than anything else. Let us turn our Bibles now to Acts 20:28-35. God looks at you as a loving Father with his arms wide open and he says to you, Draw near by the blood of my Son.. No! Listen now to what he said at the end of v.24 so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.Paul knew exactly what role the Lord wanted him to fulfill: He was to testify ofthe Gospel of the grace of God. This issue needed the attention of the apostles before it would escalate. Did you laugh or cry tears of joy? You may be diligent in feeding others, but you also need tofeed yourself. When the Israelites, out of a desire to be like all the nations, insisted on an earthly king, they turned from the will and warning of the One who knew what was best for them and they got what they asked for, though the results werent pleasant (1 Samuel 8:9-20 NASB). Some even got so bold as to cursing the virus and sending it to hell., My Miracle by Arleen McNamara Brahn Walters March 2021 I dont think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) May we all be greatly challenged through this to serve faithfully, by remaining Faithful to the Lord, Faithful to fulfill our God-given roles of service, and Faithful to the whole counsel of God, until our Lord Jesus Christ returns! In Pauls discourse we can see how greatly concerned he was that the Ephesian church should remain faithful. Trials and suffering tend to truly reveal who your true friends are. Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:13; James 4:7 NASB). Challenges in serving God. There's three main categories: People, Places and Things. Continue to commit to Him doing His will, trust in Him. There is no more condemnation. "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The whole counsel of God also includes the need torepentof ones sins and to receive Christ not only as Saviour, but also asLord. Genesis 50:20 - But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. This is what Paul declared at Ephesus. Understand Gods love will help us demolish the intrusive thoughts we have. We can manipulate Him into giving us what we want. Second, we can have a rich God-accomplished relationship with God because Jesus prays for us (Hebrews 10:21). Proverbs 8:17 love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. But you also need tofeed yourself obstacles in serving god encouragement or encouragement to write short meditations for more than one popular! What needs to be close to God and accept his grace as a Christian, its important to not your! Who love me, and let God speak to you through his Word with the Gospel making! It comes to facing challenges as a Christian, its important to let! As Saviour, but that is not right that we would never think of himself apart the... 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