Serving God is not without challenges and difficulties. First and foremost, you must know that you are a part of Christ. Growing in Christ wont be without struggles. The church has faced external and internal challenges since the day it began through the preaching of the apostles. And everyones role is important for the church to grow and to be used of God. We must look to Him for all the help we need to remain faithful. Answer Jesus talked to those who would follow Him about taking up a cross, counting the cost, and giving up everything ( Luke 14:2533 ). We have already read the first 11 verses of the passage during the responsive reading. They help us see how strong and powerful our God is. Discover God's peace now. When we come within inches of making an enormous mistake that could lead to injury or some other kind of catastrophic failure, we have to praise God for allowing us to dodge a bullet. God has to earn our favor. We can certainly learn how to handle any challenge or difficulty when we examine how the first century church handled her own challenges. He is our perfect, spotless righteousness and our lives are hid with him on high. Remember, rather than call the equipped, God seems to like to equip the called. 8) Luke 1:37 "For every promise from God shall surely come true.". You are a Christian and no one can take that away from you unless you let them. Copyright 2023 Staten Island Christian Church. You can count on Gods promise (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). The apostles handed the food distribution to seven men selected by the church. He will surely see to it that His Church will endure to the very end. Fear is connected with obedience, as the wise man said, " Fear God and keep His commandments " (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:13; James 4:7 NASB). As church leaders, they needed to move into action to resolve this conflict. However, when it comes to serving while single or serving while married, the . In Romans 12 Paul reminded the church not to be conformed or fashioned by the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of the mind. It is, There is an important detail here which I want you to notice. Now we shall read what Paul said to them, as recorded in Acts 20:17-35. Paul explains to the Philippian church that the evidence of true Christianity is found in humble service to each other. Thats why Christ also sent the Holy Spirit to work within each believer. It means submitting to Him even when it doesn't make sense and serving others faithfully even when they don't appreciate our efforts. Download the free myCBN app. However with God, your biggest setbacks can become your biggest comebacks. (Food pantry ministry). Staten Island, NY 10314, http://sichristianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept.19.mp3. He knows about every detail of you, and has your best interest at heart. 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). 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. 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. Living for Godwhy is it so difficult? Although the Lord Jesus commended them for guarding the flock well against false apostles, He also rebuked them:Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, becausethou hast left thy first love.(Revelation 2:4) Let us ask ourselves this question: Have you left your first love? If you want to remain faithful, you must give sufficient time to the study of Gods Word. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8). Biblical Truth #2) Trust in God for strength and wisdom to deal with the obstacles. More growth was taking place. Its a rich relationship, not a mechanical one. Whatever Peter said to Jesus did not support Gods plan. The writer to the Hebrews commands us to draw near to God. When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. 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. You can cling to its truth when life throws you a curveball. Be bold. (v.4) We will attend constantly or persist in prayer and the preaching of the gospel. 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. 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. As in all things, God's ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29 ). This is His purpose of why we were created and the reason why we are here on earth. 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 sinless Savior died and he ever lives and pleads for me. There is no way that you can escape from the fires of hell, unless yourepentof your sins andtrust onlyin Jesus Christ to save you, submitting fully to His Lordship in your life. Hard times expose our pride, because they highlight our need for God and for others. 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. We have already read the first 11 verses of the passage during the responsive reading. But overcoming feeling rejected is a secret to moving past approval seeking. During his ministry there, a thriving congregation developed and the Gospel was disseminated throughout the western part of Asia Minor. One obstacle that prevents us from serving the Lord as we should is our being ashamed of Him. 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. They were appalled when they saw the severe suffering Job was experiencing. It was a big issue for it could have become racial and had the potential to split the church. knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. 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. 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. It can be frustrating to give up control of your life, however to be a follower of Christ it must be done. What happens when one organ in a persons body is not functioning well? We dont know for sure. Picture this scenario: people complaining that others were being shown special favor in the distribution. How do we trust and submit to God? Sometimes God may call you to a different ministry. God rewards faithfulness. He is there right beside you. The apostles called the church (the disciples) together. The same thing is true of Life Church. Our sinful souls are counted free and our names are written on his heart. Stephen was murdered, Philip and the rest had to leave. These are so easy to obtain on-line. If you are still outside Christ, you are still in your sins. Please see the Disclosures for how it will all go down. One of the greatest obstacles many Christians have is simply serving the Lord. He is patient toward us, always showing his mercy toward us, always deals with us in his steadfast love. The Lord has blessed Life Church with 66 years of service to Him. . The river was flooded and nearly impossible to cross. 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. 3. Did you laugh or cry tears of joy? We dont know for sure. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. One great way to combat this is by spending more time at church with your fellow Christians. Similarly, repentance is not so much a matter of turning from evil as it is a turning to God. 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. 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. . He has the ability, power, and strength to help you overcome any obstacle in life. As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. This was their main priority: In a Christ-centered church the preaching and teaching of Gods word must be the main priority. 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. This would take faith that remembered who it was that was telling them to cross the river in the first place. 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. How do we deal with these ongoing barriers in our lives? More growth and new challenges would come ahead. Discover short videos related to mike todd obstacles and serving god on TikTok. As the people contemplated God's instructions, they faced the challenge . He will listen to the pain you have filling your heart. Before the Throne of God Above Shane Barnard and Shane Everett. Overcoming Obstacles to Serving. Obstacles that we face in life are riddled with anxiety, fear, worry, anger, stress, and every negative emotion that you can think of. 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. Fear and faith cannot co-exist, and they battle for space within us. This is similar to how the higher law of aerodynamics supersedes the lower law of gravity for a hang glider. They must be placed well above our own personal pursuits and interests. It is also full of examples of how God has helped others overcome their obstacles. What happens when the trapdoor opens in your life? About, There is one good way to know whether you are spiritually well or not. Benefits Of Serving God: The Challenges, The Pains, The Blessings And The Rewards - Kindle edition by Kanu, Kenneth. We just cant do it. 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. Be willing to say yes to whatever God wants you to do. 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.) During the voyage one of the ports that the ship stopped at was Miletus. To draw near. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. And it is the Holy Spirit who made the elders fit for their role as overseers, so that the flock would be well fed. You can be confident in Gods ability to handle your problems (Job 42:2). In order for us to get grace we have to surrender ourselves to God and accept His grace as a free gift. Is anything too hard for me? When faced with an enormous obstacle, dont focus on how big the problem is. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.The counsel of God here refers to the complete Word of God which we now have in the 66 books of the Bible. If you dont know how to manage the small, then you wont be able to manage the big. . Right beside the foundation of Jesuss death in our place is this glorious picture of Jesus praying for us. Money from tithing is used to build God's kingdom upon the earth. Everything a church does should fall under the umbrella of reaching the world with the gospel and making people into disciples. Joshua was firmly in control of his actions and had his eyes fixed on the commandments of the Lord. Paul would never think of himself apart from the Lord Jesus. Let's stay in touch! - Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/obstaclesEvery Muslim is on a journey to Allah. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. 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. With God, you can navigated the deepest and darkest valleys of life and walk high on the mountain. Weve tried it. In v.25 we see that Paul was alsopreachingthe kingdom of Godamong them. Without prayer all that we do willlackGods power and enablement. Materialism. they did not let this issue distract them from their mission. Below we've briefly outlined these the top ten problems people have with God to help you reach skeptical people in our post-truth world. The devil is always looking out for opportunities to gain a foothold in your heart and make you fall. But no matter what happens they would always have Gods Word with them to build them up, as long as they continued to study it. 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). Remind yourself that this is, But having said all this, the question still remains what if Gods people are somehow. This requirement is highlighted in the words which Paul spoke in v.19Servingthe Lordwith all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations(v.19). A spiritual war is taking place. 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.*. Paul did not withhold any teaching of Gods Word from the Ephesians. And because man is so strategic to the advancement of the kingdom of God, Satan uses all kinds of. Serve the Lord with gladness. In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. In the earlier chapters of Acts we had seen that some are called to serve as deacons, some as evangelists, and some as teachers. Here Paul begins his discourse to the church elders in about the same way that he begins every epistle by drawing attention to the Lord whom he served: the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was faithful in his role as a, In the earlier chapters of Acts we had seen that s. ome are called to serve as deacons, some as evangelists, and some as teachers. And what keeps us from doing so? The point is that God is behind this. 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