obstacles in serving god
Please see the Disclosures for how it will all go down. Paul belonged to Him alone, and so he lived to do the will of the Lord Jesus. Do you find it hard? When the church began by the preaching of the apostles; It was primarily Jewish, but it didnt take long for it to become more diverse. But he also said that the gates of Hades will not overcome his church. And so, as a point of application, please ask yourself: Are you faithful in learning and obeying the whole counsel of God? This would enable them to remain faithful to the end and to receive their eternal rewards in heaven. December 10, 2018. We must always trust that God has a plan and He has a reason for allowing something to happen. After all, God had purchased them with His own blood, as Paul mentioned in v.28 (to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.) This of course refers to God the Son who suffered and died on the cross for our sins. The writer to the Hebrews commands us to draw near to God. Paul belonged to Him alone, and so he lived to do the will of the Lord Jesus. Please take time to read your Bible each day, and let God speak to you through His Word. As church leaders, they needed to move into action to resolve this conflict. Join The Hoot & Howl community for access to all the insider info! 10) 1 Corinthians 15:57 " But thanks be to God! When the stresses of this world and the worst of suffering might seem to extinguish our hope, it doesnt. (Food pantry ministry). Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Courses, As we thank God for His faithfulness today, let us be reminded that God requires faithfulness from us. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. Watch popular content from the following creators: Make 30s Fit(@make30sfit), Christ (@glimpseofchrist), Danna Hagans(@dannahagans), Mckenzie Young(@mckenzieyoung93), WC(@warriorsofchrist_), WC(@warriorsofchrist_), Praise on TBN(@praiseontbn), Throwback Praise(@throwbackpraise), The grace of God(@the . Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with Him. Christ went to Jerusalem towards the end of His earthly ministry, despiteknowingthat He would be betrayed, condemned to death, humiliated and crucified there (Matthew 20:18,19). Repent and believe right now! - Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/obstaclesEvery Muslim is on a journey to Allah. Psalms 119:1-127 - ALEPH . Perhaps some of us may have certain limitations that prevent us from serving. There an be obstacles in our spiritual walks, too, and sometimes we place them; sometimes we embrace them - addiction to television, busyness, overextending ourselves, video games Identify and address your obstacles. 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. But if we withhold our worship, we are saying: We know better than 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 death of Jesus and the intercession of Jesus, then, provide the grounds by which we can have a rich relationship with God. They really piss me off. Be willing to say yes to whatever God wants you to do. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:6-7). 4. Download the free myCBN app. 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). In the following paragraphs, I have listed 10 common things that can interfere with our walk with God. They were appalled when they saw the severe suffering Job was experiencing. 1. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. Will we be able to do these things well? These dark moments can leave you feeling frustrated, scared, and broken. The apostles handed the food distribution to seven men selected by the church. And what keeps us from doing so? In v.24 he reveals how willing he was to deny self in serving the Lord. Being full of the Spirit and being wise are evident qualities in a person. Through these strategies, you can gain the confidence to face your problems head on and come out victorious. 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. Its always telling us, Youd better take charge. So how do we stay yielded to God? Abraham Taking Isaac to be Sacrificed. How could you draw near to him? How do we deal with these ongoing barriers in our lives? You can tell God how you feel and in what areas of your life you are struggling to trust Him. First and foremost, you must know that you are a part of Christ. There's three main categories: People, Places and Things. This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. They dream of living in the lap of luxury, and this makes them covet more silver and gold for themselves. All you have to do is put your trust in Him. This is mentioned in vv.26,27 where Paul said,Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. There is one good way to know whether you are spiritually well or not. They would rather increase in fame and fortune. These challenges come to distract us from our mission; they come to make us quit running the race. Remember, rather than call the equipped, God seems to like to equip the called. Stephen was murdered, Philip and the rest had to leave. We serve not just because we want to serve but love man has to carry out; that we have a loving Creator, a true genuine Father in every sense of the word. (v.6) There are obstacles in our way. (NLT). 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. Please take time to read your Bible each day, and let God speak to you through His Word. Let us turn our Bibles now to Acts 20:28-35. The food distribution ministry was just caring for the needs of those in the church. We dont know for sure. 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.'. Prayer is the best way to communicate one-on-one with God. For some people, time crowds out their ability to serve the Lord. God did it. If you are still outside Christ, you are still in your sins. The three tools Satan uses to keep us ineffective on the volitional level are as follows: These three tools work, often interrelatedly (Ephesians 2:1-3), against the life of Christ in us and present the volitional barrier to our trust in Him. No matter how big your problem may feel, or how impossible it may seem for it to get better, know that nothing is too difficult for God to handle. 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.. Paul would never think of himself apart from the Lord Jesus. True friends! About10 years laterwhen Timothy was pastoring the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote to him:Holding faith, and a good conscience;which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.(1 Timothy1:19) And so, not wanting this to happen to his young co-worker, Paul gave him the very same exhortation that he gave to the Ephesian elders. Living the Christian life is a journey. These commands, then, can seem foreign to us. As a Christian, its important to not let your obstacles in life tear you away from your faith. No matter how many ministries a church may have, if the preaching and teaching of Gods word is not the main priority then I doubt that true disciples are being developed. Thats why his discourse ends by saying,And now, brethren,I commend you to God(v.32a). This doesnt happen automatically. What does God say about overcoming obstacles? As the people contemplated God's instructions, they faced the challenge . This means that we should not leave out any unpleasant teaching like the wrath of God and the existence of hell. These obstacles can be as basic as being stuck in a numbers mentality, or as complex as generational patterns of viewing pastors as the only ones capable of experiencing God. Because the call of God is heaven bound, Satan opposes it with all the weapons in his arsenal. In Pauls discourse we can see how greatly concerned he was that the Ephesian church should remain faithful. one hundred popular worship songs and hymns. They even say,Surely God wants His servants to have the very best!, The apostle Paul would have disagreed with them very strongly. There is no way that you can escape from the fires of hell, unless you, 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. He alone can give us the strength and wisdom we need to endure. Meditate on Scripture and you will know everything is going to be OK. 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. 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. "Listen to advice and accept discipline . Materialism is the third barrier that keeps us from being available to serve. It is God's will that we come to Him and serve. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge.*. Required fields are marked *. We all want to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ better and He certainly wants us to know Him better. Staten Island, NY 10314, http://sichristianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept.19.mp3. Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! 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? 3980 Victory Blvd. The point is that God is behind this. As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. Please do not think that there isno rolefor you at all in Gods kingdom. Can God change your life? Has your love for the Lord grown cold? Acts 6:1-7 By: Ysrael De la Cruz The church of Jesus Christ has faced huge challenges throughout it existence and will continue to face challenges until Jesus comes back He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. When it comes to facing challenges as a church, we must learn like the first Christians did. Within that time, Paul put in all his efforts to fulfill his role in several ways: Public teaching is mentioned in v.20 , But Paul did not expect the elders of Ephesus to do what he did, because they had a, Did the Ephesian elders fulfill their role well? Then look to these promises. Tozer, Root of the Righteous (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1955), p. 156. However with God, your biggest setbacks can become your biggest comebacks. There is no more condemnation. Many times, we wonder about God's purpose in our lives. (Acts 4:34). "Serving God" is one of the important reasons man was created from the beginning. For more on this, read How to Have a Happier Life by Practicing Gratitude. These feelings can keep us paralyzed from dealing with the. Ive tried it before. Thats why Christ bestowed all the spiritual gifts which the Church needs for service. The Emotional Barrier: Is It Safe to Trust God? Two Obstacles in the Way But it's not that simple. It is part of the process of sanctification, being set apart for God's purposes and . God was Pauls confidence that the Ephesian church would remain faithful. As God reveals His plan to you, you will be able to better understand how to overcome the obstacles in your way, or Gods reasons for putting them there. The second part of verse 21 gives us another reason to draw near to God: Jesus prays for us. The church of Jesus Christ has faced huge challenges throughout it existence and will continue to face challenges until Jesus comes back again. Remind yourself that you are a child of God and you were put on this earth for a reason. Then Satans strategy changed; he began to attack the church from the inside. If He leads us to it, He'll lead us through it. Fear and faith cannot co-exist, and they battle for space within us. Have you seen how crazy my life is? This is a fear that doesnt tempt us to stop believing; it tempts us to forfeit a life of intimacy with Jesus because we just dont think that kind of life is possible for us. Serve the Lord with gladness. Money from tithing is used to build God's kingdom upon the earth. Joshua was firmly in control of his actions and had his eyes fixed on the commandments of the Lord. There is no right way to pray, all you have to do is begin speaking with God. It is also full of examples of how God has helped others overcome their obstacles. This was their main priority: In a Christ-centered church the preaching and teaching of Gods word must be the main priority. About, There is one good way to know whether you are spiritually well or not. 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. For the past 66 years, we have seen how faithful God is to provide, preserve and protect us so marvelously despite all our weaknesses, faults and our little faith. If you are united to Jesus by faith, the anger is gone. God calls His people to serve and love one another with humility. It means submitting to Him even when it doesn't make sense and serving others faithfully even when they don't appreciate our efforts. If Christ has purchased His Church at such great cost to Himself, do you think He will leave its fate to be determined by the changing hearts of men? Sometimes God may call you to a different ministry. For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.". Do you remember when you first yielded your life to Christ? These men were presented to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. Remind yourself that this isthe word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.. But God has something to say. The answer is simple, but not necessarily easy. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. Others have been blessed with spiritual gifts of faith, administration, discernment, hospitality, giving, mercy, or encouragement. Obstacles expose our weaknesses and increase our dependency upon Christ. We have already read the first 11 verses of the passage during the responsive reading. Have you ever wondered why we get caught in the same sins over and over? If Jesus had to endure them, so do we. In the midst of difficulty and temptation, were told to come closer. The emotional barrier deals with bad experiences, but the intellectual barrier deals with bad teaching. He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.". Michael Chriswell. The whole counsel of God also includes the need torepentof ones sins and to receive Christ not only as Saviour, but also asLord. So, our attitude to serving God should be one that is reflective of Psalm 100:2 (NKJV): "Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.". But what do we see here? It cant. It can be frustrating to give up control of your life, however to be a follower of Christ it must be done. The enemy of God, the devil will not stop until he turns away the people who are drawing closer to God. : is it Safe to trust Him commend you to a different ministry ( Harrisburg, PA: Publications. Life throws you a curveball earth for a reason for allowing something to happen and foremost, are. When they saw the severe suffering Job was experiencing the anger is gone God: Jesus prays for.! Changed ; he began to attack the church the obstacles in serving god barrier deals with bad.. Join the Hoot & amp ; Howl community for access to all the insider!... A very big part of Pauls life & # x27 ; s purposes and the wrath of God the. 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obstacles in serving god