If the work of Gods kingdom depends entirely on our faithfulness what assurance is there that it will succeed? Christs mission must be the churchs main priority. When Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians some time later, he said,I count all things but lossfor the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(Philippians 3:8). These are emotional, intellectual, and volitional barriers. Will we be able to do these things well? Perhaps you want to serve the Lord but you face certain challenges that come with age. "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. We must continue to work together tobuild a united church family that is committed to making disciples through Salvation, Sanctification and Service to the glory of God. Jesus isnt appealing to the irrational, but to a higher truth. One great way to combat this is by spending more time at church with your fellow Christians. God Will Allow You to Go Through Impossible Situations to Produce a Supernatural Dependence in You. Look at what he said in v.33,34, When this question has been settled, we should then go on to another area that requires faithfulness , Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of, Three years was actually the longest time that Paul served in one city throughout all his missionary journeys This was because of its strategic location in reaching out to the whole province of Asia. When I started cultivating a relationship with God, there were obstacles I had to overcome; barriers that suppressed my motivation to seek God as He calls us to. God continued to bless them by bringing more people into the community. God allowed this to happen to mobilize the church from becoming inwardly focused. Many of us, however, get to a point of exhaustion and fatigue as we strive to do His will. They even say,Surely God wants His servants to have the very best!, The apostle Paul would have disagreed with them very strongly. How do we keep doing all these things until we reach the end? But there is still so much more that needs to be done as we move forward as a church into our 67thyear. Thats why Christ also sent the Holy Spirit to work within each believer. He said, Paul was heading for Jerusalem in obedience to the Lords direction for him, despite knowing the awful trials he would have to face there. 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. Much of the ministry of Jesus was devoted to correcting bad teaching; see, for example, Matthew 5:21 on murder, 5:27 on adultery, and 5:33 on oaths. Handling the problem: (v.2) The same thing happens if one member is not fulfilling his or her role faithfully The whole church suffers! In the midst of difficulty and temptation, were told to come closer. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing. It isfaithfulness to the whole counsel of God. Extrinsic Challenges The church, since the time of Paul, has had to confront philosophies that challenge God's existence, and deny the Christology of Jesus. sign me up! To move in. If you do, you won't ever feel alone. In our choices, we dont so much turn to evil as we turn from God. . In v.28 they are told tofeedthe church of God.In vv.29-31 they are told to keepwatchagainst false teachings that may come into the church both from without and from within. However with God, your biggest setbacks can become your biggest comebacks. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Others have been blessed with spiritual gifts of faith, administration, discernment, hospitality, giving, mercy, or encouragement. 5 MarWe Must Obey God Rather than Men (Acts 5:12-42) by RevQuek KK, 12 MarGods Wisdom and Requirements for Church Leadership (Acts 6:1-7) byRev Charles Seet, 19 MarStephen-A Man of Faith (Acts 6:5, 7:54-8:3) by RevQuek KK, 26 MarPhilip-A Light in Darkness (Acts 8:4-8) by RevHo Chee Lai, 8.00 am English Worship I9.40 am Catechism Class Sunday School 11.00 am English Worship II Chinese Worship Children's Ministry Filipina Service2.30 pm Thai Service4.00 pm Indonesian Service. Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. It means submitting to Him even when it doesn't make sense and serving others faithfully even when they don't appreciate our efforts. One of them is found at the end of our passage, Acts 20:36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, andprayedwith them all., Now, besides faithfulness to the Lord and faithfulness to fulfill our God-given roles, there is another area where faithfulness is required of us. Jesus is the only way to restore our relationship with God, and so He is the only way we can truly serve God as well. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Rejection and betrayal are part of life and help us grow closer to God when we realize our weaknesses are actually strengths. Draw near to him. 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. God rewards faithfulness. 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. (Job 10:1-4) The moral of Job's story is: It's okay to question God or the reasons for why something is happening, but there's no need for us to stay there. Reach out and call Gods name. They really piss me off. God sometimes challenges us with a warning. Paul did not say, , If anyone here is still unsaved, please listen to this carefully, because it is part of Gods whole counsel . Click to Tweet Three obstacles keep us from coming to Christ, and these are the same barriers that keep us from yielding to, trusting in, and submitting to Him on an ongoing basis. With God, you can move from being a victim to being a victor. He wrote this 3 chapters later,Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.(1 Timothy 4:16). 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. If you dont know how to manage the small, then you wont be able to manage the big. Are we a biblical people, or do we just get our truths from our emotions or non-emotions? If you are stuck in a pit of despair, dont let yourself give up. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. It would also distract them from the main mission. The punishment has been paid. They wept, Gods pattern for his people! 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. 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. The ministry of food distribution lasted until the severe persecution broke out and people had to be mobilized. Serving God is one of the greatest things we have been given by the Lord to do. If Jesus had to endure them, so do we. As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. Verse Concepts. one hundred popular worship songs and hymns. No! The first and biggest obstacle to you and me enjoying all the benefits of God's Grace is you (and me). (Rom.12:2). The problem: a complaint from the Grecian Jews (Hellenistic Jews). We have already read the first 11 verses of the passage during the responsive reading. 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. The trouble is, many congregations face substantial obstacles that make the daily practice of experiencing God more challenging. The answer is simple, but not necessarily easy. You can be secure in Gods love, which is a demonstrated, sacrificial, and caring love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 19). After our conversion, our inner person matures and grows, but our flesh is neither removed nor improved. 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. Remind yourself that you are a child of God and you were put on this earth for a reason. The river was flooded and nearly impossible to cross. The same thing is true of Life Church. You can place your steadfast trust in Him. Confusion: Perhaps worse than the ignorant are the confused. Staten Island, NY 10314, http://sichristianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept.19.mp3. Its a rich relationship, not a mechanical one. Psalm 32:11, "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!". Audio Version. This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. Dont be afraid to stand up to obstacles and say God is here with me, I can overcome this through Him. However you can always count on God to support you. Fear. The first exhortation is found in v.28:Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flockThe Ephesian elders would already have known that they were to guard the flock, which is the church. Psalms 119:1-127 - ALEPH . But its not that simple. And so, as a point of application, please ask yourself: Are you faithful in learning and obeying the whole counsel of God? Download. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 3980 Victory Blvd. We just cant do it. 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. 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? He is patient toward us, always showing his mercy toward us, always deals with us in his steadfast love. Without prayer all that we do willlackGods power and enablement. After all, thats their role as the elders of the church! 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. Therefore, Jesus said to Peter Get behind me Satan. When we study Scripture and see what God asks us to do to fulfill His purpose, eventually we find there are obstacles to God's will. DAVID David is a Bible character who is no stranger to hard times. Through these strategies, you can gain the confidence to face your problems head on and come out victorious. Download the free myCBN app. When it comes to facing challenges as a church, we must learn like the first Christians did. Thats why Christ also sent the Holy Spirit to work within each believer. 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 belonged to Him alone, and so he lived to do the will of the Lord Jesus. Doesnt this remind us of what our Lord Himself did? Jeremiah 32:27 states I am the Lord, the God of all mainkind. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. 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. One of the glories of God is that He left the majesty of heaven to have intimate relationship with us. Everything else comes after that. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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! knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. The preaching and teaching of Gods word. We imagine that if God is putting us through something, he expects us to accomplish his will. Here are 4 ways to find contentment in Christ: #1 Accept rejection. 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 . The most important requirement is to befaithful to the Lord. "Serve the Lord" Men's hearts are naturally atheistical, they will not endure the thought of God. Do you seek to fulfill God's purpose? We dont have to be afraid of Gods judgment anymore. Notice how verse 19 begins, Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus. He means that we have access to God now because Jesus died in our place. And we must be very thankful to Him. For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.". 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. God did it. Matthew 22:37. Then he decided to return by a merchant ship to Jerusalem, sailing southwards along the coastline of Asia Minor. Please do not think that there isno rolefor you at all in Gods kingdom. This can be seen in the call which He gave to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:10Be thoufaithfulunto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.It is also seen in the commendation which the servants received from the Lord in Matthew 25:21Well done, thou good andfaithfulservant: thou hast beenfaithfulover a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.. Others have been blessed with spiritual gifts of faith, administration, discernment, hospitality, giving, mercy, or encouragement. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.He worked as a tent-make, to provide not only for his own needs, but for the needs of others as well. Whatever Peter said to Jesus did not support Gods plan. If you handle the small things, God brings you big things to handle. A spiritual war is taking place. Then look to these promises. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. Materialism. 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? Money from tithing is used to build God's kingdom upon the earth. Three obstacles keep us from coming to Christ, and these are the same barriers that keep us from yielding to, trusting in, and submitting to Him on an ongoing basis. 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.". 1. But what do we see here? One of the ways we can serve God is by helping his children, our brothers and sisters, through paying a tithing and a generous fast offering. Yes they certainly did. The church has faced external and internal challenges since the day it began through the preaching of the apostles. 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. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! These verses will strengthen your faith in God. This exhortation is found in v.32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God,and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up,and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.(v.32) Paul said this because he had to leave the Ephesians, and would no longer be present to teach them as he had done before. Obstacles that we face in life are riddled with anxiety, fear, worry, anger, stress, and every negative emotion that you can think of. God wants you to open up about your fears, doubts and anxieties so He can help you overcome them. They help us see how strong and powerful our God is. All you have to do is put your trust in Him. This issue needed the attention of the apostles before it would escalate. Instead, these are the moments where you need faith the most. The devil is always looking out for opportunities to gain a foothold in your heart and make you fall. Share your prayer requests, receive prayer and pray for others! Choosing our own way over Gods is always a losing option. He didn't say, "you should not serve both God and money.". This then is what it means toserve the Lord with allhumilityof mind.The Lords interests must always come first. 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. 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. 10) 1 Corinthians 15:57 " But thanks be to God! Matthew 17:20 ESV / 89 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with Him. To recognize and prepare for these common obstacles can be half of the battle to overcome them. 3 Obstacles to Living God's Will for Your Life | Forward Progress MichaelKelley.co About Blog Contact Resources Bible Study Church Family Work MichaelKelley.co About Blog Contact Resources Mitragyna Speciosa Kratom guides: learn more Kratom resource: kratom.org Kratom vendors: read kratom reviews Best kratom: top strains for pain relief An important part of the gospel is that in Jesus Christ we can begin to serve God again with the promise of being able to serve him perfectly and forever in the age to come. Jesus said in Luke 16:13 (NLT) "No one can serve two masters. Paul then left Ephesus to visit all the churches he had planted in Macedonia and Achaia during his previous missionary journey. Fear is the first item listed in Joshua's challenge to the people. He died in our place. Fear and faith cannot co-exist, and they battle for space within us. Copyright 2020 Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. Right when the church experienced such growth (a problem arose). Cf. There is no more condemnation. But this one thing we know:God is faithful! He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. The Bible has scripture for every one of your needs. In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. Materialism is the third barrier that keeps us from being available to serve. These are so easy to obtain on-line. Some use their service to God to upgrade themselves they urge people to give and give sacrificially to support their ministry, but they fly business class or in their own private jet, they stay in the most expensive hotels, and they eat at the most expensive restaurants. All Rights Reserved. Have you ever wondered why we get caught in the same sins over and over? 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. This means that we should not leave out any unpleasant teaching like the wrath of God and the existence of hell. Satan could not stop the growth of the church through outside influence. 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 Joy in their lives have access to God and enablement, & quot ; 16:13 NLT. 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