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

Ephesians 2:10

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

Tools For The Trade• Every disciple needs to possess

each of these attitudes• If the work is going to be

accomplished, it will be by the hands of those who are loving, joyful, faithful, prayerful, and persistent