Post on 13-Dec-2015
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Tools For The Trade
• There are some essential things that we need before we can perform any task
• Whether it be our jobs, work around the house, work on our cars, or repairing our own lives
Tools For The Trade
• What about the essentials needed to do the work of the Lord?
• Eph. 2:10 says that we are created in Christ for good works
• Tit. 2:14 – we are His special people, “zealous for good works”
Tools For The Trade
• The work may not get done because the proper attitudes are not there
• The right attitude can make all the difference
• Dan. 6:3 – Daniel had a great (excellent) attitude
A Powerful Faith
• Where faith is absent, action is absent as well
• 12 Spies – Num. 13:17ff; 14:11-12
• If we don’t think we can do something, then we won’t try
• Matt. 17:14-21
A Powerful Faith
• With faith, all things are possible
• James 2:14ff
• No works = No faith
• No faith = No works
• John 20:30-31
A Joyful Heart
• Phil. 4:4
• Paul was a great worker, look at his attitude
• We should not be despondent or down-hearted
• We have so many things to be thankful for
A Joyful Heart
• We should be thankful:
–We are the children of God – I Jn. 3:1-3
–We have all spiritual blessings – Eph. 1:3
–We will receive the crown of life – II Tim. 4:7-8
Reliance on Prayer
• The prayer of the righteous avails much – Js. 5:16
• People who are not interested enough to pray are not interested enough to work
• We know that God answers prayer – Matt. 7:7-11
Reliance on Prayer
• Paul believed that God answered prayer when it came to evangelism – Col. 4:2-3
• Prayer changes things
• We should pray to the one who can change those things
• We should never lose heart
A Personal Love
• We must have a love for the Lord – Jn. 14:23-24; I Jn. 5:3
• We must have a love for the brethren – I Jn. 4:20-21
–To work together there must be love & unity – I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:1-4
–Some would rather “bite and devour” others – Gal. 5:15
A Personal Love
• We must have a love for the lost – Lk. 19:10
• Heaven’s attitude – Lk. 15:1-7
• If you don’t have love then it really doesn’t matter what you do – I Cor. 13:1-3
A Persistent Effort
• Persistency can be the secret to success – Lk. 18:1-8
• Persistency of Noah – 120 years to build the ark
• Persistency of Paul – Phil. 3:12-15
• We are to live a life of service, not a moment – Rom. 12:1-2; I Cor. 15:58
A Persistent Effort
• We should never be discouraged by a lack of results – Gal. 6:9
• The Lord doesn’t judge us on our results, rather on our effort
• May we give our best effort always – Ecc. 9:10