All you have to do is put your trust in Him. Fear is connected with obedience, as the wise man said, " Fear God and keep His commandments " (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Our Christian life comprises of many obstacles we meet. 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? The whole counsel of God also includes the need torepentof ones sins and to receive Christ not only as Saviour, but also asLord. After all, thats their role as the elders of the church! 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? 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. Opt in to receive news and updates. Thats why Christ bestowed all the spiritual gifts which the Church needs for service. "Listen to advice and accept discipline . - 2 Timothy 1:1-18 By Pastor Mark Thomas on 10 April 2016 at the evening service. We dont know for sure. He is not a Father running to meet you, but one waiting to punish you. Materialism is the third barrier that keeps us from being available to serve. Growing in Christ wont be without struggles. We all want to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ better and He certainly wants us to know Him better. Others have been blessed with spiritual gifts of faith, administration, discernment, hospitality, giving, mercy, or encouragement. Acts 6:1-7 Trials and suffering tend to truly reveal who your true friends are. The following five assurances help overcome the emotional barrier to yielding to Him even in your freefall moments: Whereas the emotional barrier says its not safe to trust God, the intellectual barrier says it doesnt make sense to trust God. God does not willingly make His service hard; it would not be hard if we were not sinful. God's people cannot be shamed into serving God; they need to be challenged. He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. The second part of verse 21 gives us another reason to draw near to God: Jesus prays for us. Paul would never think of himself apart from the Lord Jesus. This helps to shift your perspective and gain the confidence needed to know you can handle it with Gods help. These men were to handle or to manage this task (We will turn this responsibility over to them (v.3)). I hope that everyone who is serving in any ministry of Life Church will take this exhortation seriously Guard yourself! The enemy of God, the devil will not stop until he turns away the people who are drawing closer to God. We just cant do it. You think a person as messed up as you just isnt supposed to be close to God. CBN is a global ministry committed to preparing the nations of the world for the coming of Jesus Christ through mass media. If God Is Loving, Why Is there So Much Pain in this Life? "How pleased the Lord must have been when Abraham did as he was instructed, without question and without wavering.". Thats why his discourse ends by saying, 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? More growth was taking place. Romans 1:25. 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. We must look to Him for all the help we need to remain faithful. Committed to Loving God and Loving People. What happens when one organ in a persons body is not functioning well? . Prayer is the best way to communicate one-on-one with God. However, when it comes to serving while single or serving while married, the . And that's hard to do. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.". 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. These dark moments can leave you feeling frustrated, scared, and broken. 3. By: Ysrael De la Cruz. Persecution mobilized the church, and the food ministry came to an end. They dream of living in the lap of luxury, and this makes them covet more silver and gold for themselves. By: Ysrael De la Cruz At the beginning of the pandemic, I was able to witness many so called prophets come out to predict what the Lord was telling American through the worldwide epidemic of Covid 19. Doesnt this remind us of what our Lord Himself did? Do you know that prayer was the secret of success in Pauls ministry? . CBN's ministry is made possible by the support of our CBN Partners. He is much more powerful than any obstacle you will ever face! We have to fully believe that God is in control and that He has a great plan for our life. Copyright 2020 Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. Overcoming Obstacles to Serving. 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. He said, "you cannot serve both God and money.". Its a rich relationship, not a mechanical one. 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). Fourth, Psalm 1 says that successful people do not get tangled up with negative, wicked, or limiting people. And because man is so strategic to the advancement of the kingdom of God, Satan uses all kinds of. But this one thing we know:God is faithful! 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). For more on this, read How to Have a Happier Life by Practicing Gratitude. There's no doubt, that the Bible is full of Bible verses about struggle and perseverance. Fast-forward now to a time about 40 years later, and we find this commendation that Christ gave to this church in Revelation 2:2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: andthou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.The elders had faithfully kept watch over their flock and had exposed the false teachers who tried to subvert the flock. There are obstacles in our way. 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. Those who stayed in Jerusalem were arrested (Acts 8). Matthew 17:20 ESV / 89 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Hard times expose our pride, because they highlight our need for God and for others. There is one good way to know whether you are spiritually well or not. 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. We are here to help and encourage you! God created us in his own image and likeness Gen. 1:27-28. First, the apostles identified their main priority. We ought to do our best to remain faithful, but what if our best is not good enough? Matthew 22:37. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. The death of Jesus and the intercession of Jesus, then, provide the grounds by which we can have a rich relationship with God. If you are stuck in a pit of despair, dont let yourself give up. Many times, we wonder about God's purpose in our lives. If He leads us to it, He'll lead us through it. The food distribution ministry was just caring for the needs of those in the church. Discover steps to bring you closer to Christ. In verses 9-21 we, Dont be deceived! With God, you can navigated the deepest and darkest valleys of life and walk high on the mountain. Be willing to say yes to whatever God wants you to do. The same thing happens if one member is not fulfilling his or her role faithfully The whole church suffers! Everything a church does should fall under the umbrella of reaching the world with the gospel and making people into disciples. 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.. During the voyage one of the ports that the ship stopped at was Miletus. The devil is always looking out for opportunities to gain a foothold in your heart and make you fall. These seven men will oversee the ministry of distribution of food. He is there right beside you. Solutions to obstacles: One gets to learn from the obstacles faced by other seekers and what they did to overcome the obstacles. The Bible says that the church is like a human body. You may be diligent in feeding others, but you also need to, If you want to remain faithful, you must give sufficient time to the study of Gods Word. God was Pauls confidence that the Ephesian church would remain faithful. The spiritual obstacle. Besides all that, Paul was alsowarningevery one night and day with tears.in v.31. We Must Obey God Rather than Men (Acts 5:12-42) by, Gods Wisdom and Requirements for Church Leadership (Acts 6:1-7) by, Stephen-A Man of Faith (Acts 6:5, 7:54-8:3) by, Acts 20:17-35 - The Challenge to Serve Faithfully, Mailing Add: 10 Gilstead Road Singapore 309064. Here are 4 barriers to getting through to God: 1) Harboring secret sin. Tit was through all these works of God that the Ephesians had now grown into a thriving churchwithin three years. Thats why Christ also sent the Holy Spirit to work within each believer. Over the last three months we have seen God clearing away all the obstacles for the launching of a new Bible College. To recognize and prepare for these common obstacles can be half of the battle to overcome them. Ask God for strategies to replace a negative habit with a positive, faith-filled habit. As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. Instead, these are the moments where you need faith the most. But not all the ministries would last forever in a church. Abraham Taking Isaac to be Sacrificed. Living for Godwhy is it so difficult? But God equips us to overcome obstacles . 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. To move in. 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. Submit yourselves therefore to God. For example, if you are struggling to cope with a bad breakup, you can replace your sadness by focusing on the love God has for you. But Jesus was the sacrifice for us. 10) 1 Corinthians 15:57 " But thanks be to God! 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. They see the ministry of the Word merely as a means to get what they, 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. There is one thing that everyone can do that is to pray. In my two previous blogs, we takes about finding God's purpose in our lives. As you dig into the Word of God, start with a great study Bible, ( this list has some of the most popular Study Bibles for women.) Be bold. This then is what it means toserve the Lord with allhumilityof mind.The Lords interests must always come first. During his third missionary journey, Paul spent most of his time in Ephesus, a city on the western coast of present-day Turkey. 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. But the enemy doesnt like this, so he would use anything to stop you. However with God, your biggest setbacks can become your biggest comebacks. 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.. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. This command to draw near might be summarized as a summons to live in a rich God-accomplished relationship with God. 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.*. Jesus is praying. But what if they aren't enemies? 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. Warning. 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). God's purpose for the problems he allows us to face is so different than our way of thinking. Money Money. Our sinful souls are counted free and our names are written on his heart. They had a great system going on, a great fellowship and God reminded them that though that ministry is important, it was not the mission of the church to run a food program, but to preach the gospel to those who are lost. Do you remember when you first yielded your life to Christ? With God, you can move from being a victim to being a victor. Without the proclamation and teaching of Gods words disciples are not developed. With this obstacle, we ask, Is it possible to trust God? Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Psalms 119:1-127 - ALEPH . If your love for Him has grown cold, you are unwell and you need to rekindle that love before things get worse. When we spend too much time in a secularized society, the enemy can infiltrate and weaken our spiritual walls. In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. But God has something to say. Jesus said we will have trouble (tribulations) in this world. I'm sure you all could have guessed this one would be on this list. 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). It is acceptable to have feelings of anger at God when hard things of life happen. There are many other roles of service in Gods kingdom besides these. Did you laugh or cry tears of joy? Sometimes God may call you to a different ministry. We dont know for sure. (7) Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Courses, As we thank God for His faithfulness today, let us be reminded that God requires faithfulness from us. The preaching and teaching of Gods word. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" ( Isaiah 12:2 ). Your browser does not support the audio element. As followers of Jesus, we battle against difficulties, obstacles on our way to accomplishing Christs mission in this world. 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. 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. 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. The natural gravity of the flesh pulls us away from grace toward law-based living. Paul explains to the Philippian church that the evidence of true Christianity is found in humble service to each other. Tough times and obstacles in life build Christian character and faith. Jesus was able to recognize Satan in Peters words. DAVID David is a Bible character who is no stranger to hard times. You see, regardless of the challenges we may face in life in our ministries, Jesus expects us to be faithful to his call of making disciples, his call to reaching those who dont know him. 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. This is what Paul declared at Ephesus. The Bible says eternal life is to "know God and His one and only Son." As I made the transition from knowing about God for 19 years, to actually . 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.. If you handle the small things, God brings you big things to handle. As church leaders, they needed to move into action to resolve this conflict. 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. Everyone in the church knew who was overseeing the food distribution ministry. Have you ever wondered why we get caught in the same sins over and over? Galatians 5:16 (NASB) calls us to walk in the Spirit. The Greek word for walk, peripateo, means to walk around, to conduct oneself. Walking is a step-by-step process, a sequencing process of behaving habitually. Others struggle to serve the Lord because of illness, a serious disease, or a litany or other reasons. Now we shall read what Paul said to them, as recorded in Acts 20:17-35. Trusting God gives us direction (Proverbs 3:5-6). 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). Growth is great, but with much growth comes great challenges as well. God loved you so dearly that He gave His one and only Son to save you from your sins. The first and biggest obstacle to you and me enjoying all the benefits of God's Grace is you (and me). The point is that God is behind this. 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. THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE SERVICE OF GOD ARISE FROM THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR CHARACTER AND HIS. If Jesus had to endure them, so do we. 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. It would also distract them from the main mission. (v.6) Required fields are marked *. We dont have to be afraid of Gods judgment anymore. It can be frustrating to give up control of your life, however to be a follower of Christ it must be done. The answer to this is that our confidence must ultimately be placed in God. He will surely see to it that His Church will endure to the very end. It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Please do not think that there isno rolefor you at all in Gods kingdom. 1. He is our perfect, spotless righteousness and our lives are hid with him on high. Trusting God gives us confidence not a flesh-driven confidence, not confidence in the wrong things (like money/possessions) or with wrong motives, but confidence rooted in God and His Word (exemplified by the Bereans of Acts 17:11). For some people, time crowds out their ability to serve the Lord. We can speak to God about the obstacles we face in a safe, judge-free setting. In the following paragraphs, I have listed 10 common things that can interfere with our walk with God. Its always telling us, Youd better take charge. So how do we stay yielded to God? 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. 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. " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge " and " wisdom " (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). This email address is being protected from spambots. Continue to commit to Him doing His will, trust in Him. Stephen: (a man full of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas from Antioch a convert to Judaism. (v.4) We will attend constantly or persist in prayer and the preaching of the gospel. and its ok. The fear of disappointment, on the other hand, says, Oh yeah, I get that relationship stuff. One of the greatest obstacles many Christians have is simply serving the Lord. The writer tells us . Tit was through all these works of God that the Ephesians had now grown into a thriving church, But there is still so much more that needs to be done as we move forward as a church into our 67, build a united church family that is committed to making disciples through Salvation, Sanctification and Service to the glory of God. They even say,Surely God wants His servants to have the very best!, The apostle Paul would have disagreed with them very strongly. God made it possible for you to know. 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. It cant. The apostles prayed for these ministry leaders and their ministry. John 12:26 says. If you are united to Jesus by faith, the anger is gone. Discover God's peace now. Romans 14:13 - Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. . Serving God is not without challenges and difficulties. He gave us a once-for-all sacrifice and he gives us never-ceasing intercession. Obstacles in life build Christian character and his says, Oh yeah, get. 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