Amen. Okay, so Deuteronomy chapter 10. I want to focus on verses 12 and 13 for now.
So Deuteronomy 10 and from verse 12. And now Israel, what does the Lord thy God
require of thee? But to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love
him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, to keep
the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day
for thy good. And the title of my sermon today is we are required to serve. We are
required to serve. Let's go to the Lord in a word of prayer. Father I thank you
for your word. I thank you that you give us the opportunity to
serve you, that you make it clear with what you want from us as well, that
your word just sets it all out for us and just help me to preach
that clearly now, boldly. Please fill me with your spirit and fill those
here listening with your spirit as well to just be able to take in what your
word has to say to them today. In Jesus' name we pray all of this. Amen. Okay so if
you just flick back to chapter 9 of verse 6 there, Moses is telling them
straight here in Deuteronomy 9 6 where he says, understand therefore that the
Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness,
for thou art a stiff-necked people. And he then basically gives them a quick
recent history lesson reminding them of all their wickedness, stubbornness,
rebelliousness. We could probably sometimes do with being reminded of
ourselves a bit, couldn't we? Some of us here probably could could do with being
reminded about who we are, where we've come from, where sadly we continuously
are as well and sometimes we can get a little bit self-righteous. I think
probably most Christians have that ability sometimes saying well look at
the world and look at us but don't forget where you came from, don't forget
who you really are, don't forget that flesh you still have. But you know it's
not it's not our own righteousness that we're now spiritual Israel is it? It's
not because of our own righteousness and that's again there are those false
Christians out there that think that they have somehow earned it, they've
somehow repented of all their sins or some other nonsense like that but we
know that it's not that is it? It's not our righteousness it's it's Jesus
Christ's righteousness which is the reason that we are now spiritual Israel
and we are spiritual Israel aren't we? That's very clear in the Bible
there's absolutely no doubt about that but it's not because of our own
righteousness. But also it can be useful also to remember that you're not
alone in your flesh either because you then have the the flip side of that
where people then feel like they're just surrounded by by what appear to be all
these righteous Christians and they start to feel down on themselves and
think oh I just you know I'm so sinful I'm so look we're all sinful okay every
single person in this room struggles and battles with the flesh every single day
okay and look some might be winning certain battles and losing others and we
all have different battles we'll have different sins which which we find
harder to resist but every single person here has that and yes we rightfully so
we don't come here just bearing all our problems all our issues all our battles
but don't forget that everyone here when they go home and they're week to week
their day to day is battling sin and they'll regularly be losing that so
don't also feel too down yourself but we are all sinful okay we are all
sinful we haven't earned this position this place as a peculiar nation
and Moses is reminding them the same here he continues to do that in chapter
9 and he continues reminding them where they've come from all the way through to
the beginning of chapter 10 and to verse 12 to 13 where he basically then tells
them what God expects of them and no it's not in return for the promise
land because that is a promise okay that was promised to them the promised
land but in the same way you know that we also have a promised land don't we
that we haven't earned we have a promised land that's been promised to us
it's been gifted to us a heavenly city and that eternal life has been gifted
to us it was promised before the world began wasn't it and we have that we have
that to look forward to but whilst we're here whilst we're here in this life
whilst we're here on this physical earth here God requires some things of us and
no it's not in exchange it's not so that we still get eternal life but we have
eternal life okay if you put your faith in Jesus Christ you have eternal life
but God requires some things of you while you're here God wants some things
of us now what does require mean it means to demand to ask as of by right
and by authority so it's not just that God would like you to do these things
but you pick and choose no God demands it of us and you can choose to not do
these things you can choose to just ignore him you can choose to do what you
want you're still going to heaven but you won't have a good life and you also
won't have anywhere near the rewards in heaven that someone that does choose to
do what God wants him to do will get but have a look at Deuteronomy 10 and verse
12 it says and now Israel what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear
the Lord thy God to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul to keep the commandments of
the Lord and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good so
fear the Lord thy God walk in all his ways keep his commandments his statutes
I think they're all things that we probably here preached on a lot that we
that we would like I think we'd all be striving hopefully everyone here is
striving to do those things and look at this requirement like the end of verse
12 to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and I
think that requirement is something that many Christians can often lose sight of
I think that's something that that we can look and think yeah I'm gonna make
sure I try and keep the commandments keep the statutes yeah I fear the Lord
yeah I want to walk in his ways I love him yeah I know I'm gonna do all those
things what about serving him with all your heart and with all your soul now
what does to serve mean to work for to bestow the labor of body and mind in the
employment of another and you're here to work labor for God okay if you're saved
your job is to work and labor for God and we can often I think forget or at
least diminish this requirement of us okay we can all often think well yeah I
need to I need to be a good person any part of that is serving God yeah trying
to keep his commandments is part of that serving God but there's more than that
isn't there we're not just here to serve now it's not just okay well serve as and
when I decide to but he said to serve with all our hearts and all our souls
that basically to be number one employee to be the best you can be to be to serve
in the best you possibly can and put your effort your effort all your effort
maximum effort thought and effort into serving God that's what he requires
that's what he demands that's hard work isn't it that's labor that doesn't look
easy and and you know if you're wondering here sorry to break it to you
but the Christian life is hard graft the Christian life is hard getting the
heaven is easy the Christian life is hard okay it is hard we love to point
out don't we we would love to point out the brainwash in the world and and too
right there's a lot of brainwash out there isn't there there's a lot of
propaganda out there there's a lot of conditioning we like to point out the
bits that we think that we've resisted that we've managed to see obvious ones
you know the Big Bang and billions of years well how much is that pushing
people and we like to we have a chuckle at that really don't because it is
ridiculous it's absolutely ridiculous and we laugh at that and we we talk
about the brainwash and maybe we'll refer to people that we have to deal
with about this how they've been brainwashed maybe to them maybe not
maybe you're more polite than that but we like to talk about that maybe
feminism a lot of us here that think that we've got a lid on that we like to
talk about the feminist brainwash and it's big isn't it and it's a big problem
the family gets attacked in various ways and that whole feminist sort of
brainwashes is a big part of that isn't it and a lot of us like to talk about
that and say oh you can see the brainwashing this and the brainwashing
that pharmaceutical industry type stuff the Western Medical brainwash we like to
talk about that don't we and again it is brainwash and so many people I mean
we're literally just surrounded by kind of brainwashed zombies right now aren't
we just just anything they're told they just just snap it up don't they and and
and that's brainwashing and we were talking myself my wife the other day and
you've got to remember you've got to remember to try and feel sorry for some
of these people as well because look okay they still make the choice but they
are victims okay and they are victims and look they employ psychologists and
they employ people who are experts on how to brainwash people to brainwash
these people and we're basically surrounded by victims victims of brainwash
okay but they still have responsibility but yeah they are victims but there's
another lie there's another line another brainwash out there that that having
nothing to do makes you happy okay and that that's that's a conditioning that I
think we've seen for a long time that somehow everyone should just aspire to
early retirement everyone just aspires to be rich so they don't have to do
anything ever again everyone aspires to the long holiday all students just
aspire to basically a year of doing nothing and racking up debt while they
just hang around and have a party abroad because we you know doing nothing is
just great isn't it doing nothing absolutely having nothing to do is just
what what fun how how rewarding it is how great it is to just put your feet I
don't know some of you that are probably busy right now and and a lot of us are
busy right now probably quite like the idea of doing nothing for a little while
but you know what for a short time yeah we do need to recharge it God God
throughout the Old Testament gives those feast times those feast days it gives
Sabbaths on top of that that's that Saturday Sabbath and of course we don't
observe the Sabbath now and he does that and and look we do need to recharge
sometimes but every now and again isn't it it's not just a constant recharge to
do nothing okay you're recharging for something aren't you you're recharging
for work for labor to serve hmm and there is I think look that there's lots
of free time and that's what and nowadays you see people kind of
demanding and craving more more free time and convinced that they need even
more free time they need less and less to do to be happy but they really happy
I don't know anyone that has lots of time on a hand that's really happy I
just live in the life doing nothing feet up nothing to do they're not and I
know some people have reasons why they can't do stuff and as you know I'm not
getting on people there that have justified reasons why they're unable
sometimes to get as much done and but we should be striving trying our best don't
we to serve God that's what he said it and that brain washes out there and the
result of that and add to that egocentric viewpoint the egocentric you
know is it egocentricity which again I think is brainwashed on people where
we're just kind of convinced we're so important it's all about me it's all
about us all about my time and combine that with that brainwash to think that
free time is is some sort of holy grail to seek towards and and what do we have
the result is obviously you have a world of people that just seem to be bone idol
but you also have Christians around the world going through their day-to-day
lives doing the bare minimum during the bare minimum in life whilst focusing on
what they're getting out of it at the same time because everything's about me
everything's about self you know it's my life my you know how important I am and
everything else but God requires us to serve the Lord thy God with all thy
heart and with all thy soul and and there were some good reasons to do that
okay there could some good reasons to serve God because it's not like we're
just serving that useless boss at work is it it's not like we've just got that
really annoying boss that guy that's useless doesn't know anything and he
just wants us to basically do everything for him he doesn't know what he's doing
that's not who we've been asked to serve is it we've been asked to serve the Lord
thy God the God of the world the only true God and look it could be a lot
worse couldn't it it could be a lot worse could be serving one of the many
false gods and with their wickedness and their weird ways and everything else
no we're serving God the true God and look at Deuteronomy 10 and verse 14 where
it says behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God the
earth also with all that there in is only the Lord had a delight in thy
fathers to love them and he chose their seed after them even you above all
people as it is this day circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and
be no more stiff-necked for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of
Lords a great God a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor
taketh reward God commands us to serve him and he's God of gods it says here
Lord of Lords a great God a mighty and a terrible and when it's someone who holds
that sort of respect and in a way that sort of fear that that that we can have
for for someone like that when it's someone as important as that we should
want to serve him shouldn't we I remember when I was when I went to
school and I had a group of friends and we thought we were pretty cool we thought
we were pretty tough and we were kind of that and not you know silly group in the
school and and you know some of this sadly I was thinking back to some of the
teachers there got got a pretty you know got a bad time from some of us and some
of them really that you know you think wow what a job because they really
won't cut out for it but there was that odd teacher who just commanded your
respect and you could be abusing one teacher and then suddenly this this this
one teacher and I remember the one of these teachers his name was mr. Madigan
is in the territorial army this guy and he commanded respect and when he went
past you you could you thought you're cool you're swagging around sorry yes I
could and you he just made he made you what us he made you want to do that is
if he you could be you know trying to be the coolest kid in in the school and then
he won't pass and told you to go and fetch him something you gotta do it
because it's this guy come on to respect and he did have some interesting forms
of punishment he had people you know holding squat positions on the wall like
this press ups and everything he could get away with without gaining you and
but it did make you behave and it made you do things right and and you wanted
to serve him he commanded respect he commanded respect and for a good reason
and then I was a great teacher and you know why everyone that was in his
classes just did well in that the kids that were doing nothing in all the other
classes in his classes they they worked and they learned but in a way it's like
that with God isn't it he he commands respect doesn't he he commands respect
and he should make you want to serve him he should make you want to do things for
him it should be yes sir and no sir shouldn't it shouldn't it this is God
this isn't just some teacher at school that had a bit of a tough mentality this
is God God of God Lord of Lords Hebrews 10 so Hebrews 12 you don't have to turn
there 28 29 says wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us
have grace whereby we may serve God acceptively acceptably with reverence
and godly fear for our God is a consuming fire and by the way that's the
New Testament in case you figure out he's just gone to the Old Testament say
we've got to serve God we're not the nation of it yeah well no we are the
nation of Israel we're a spiritual Israel and we're still commanded to
serve God because our God is a consuming fire okay let's not forget that our God
is a consuming fire that's a good reason to serve him isn't it is it
shouldn't that be a good reason serving because it because it was a good reason
to serve old mr. Madigan with just the fact that he he was scary he was a scary
guy and it made you want to serve him but God is a lot scarier than him okay
he's a consuming fire but he also deserves our service doesn't he doesn't
he deserve our service Deuteronomy chapter 10 and look at verse 18 he doth
execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow and loveth the stranger in
giving him food and raiment love ye therefore the stranger for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt thou shalt fear the Lord thy God him shout
thou servant to him shout thou cleave and swear by his name he is thy praise
and he is like God that have done for thee these great and terrible things
which thine eyes have seen my father's went down into Egypt with three score
and ten person now the Lord thy God has made thee as the stars of heaven for
multitude doesn't God deserve our service our service doesn't he God is a
loving God and he wants people to come to him doesn't he okay wants people to
come to him and he's done more for us than we could ever do in return isn't he
he's done more for every single person in this room than than combined we could
do in return okay none look there's that we couldn't do enough to thank him
and he does deserve it doesn't he okay he deserves our service Romans 12 one
you have to turn this says I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which
is your reasonable service presenting our bodies a living sacrifice holy
acceptable unto God is just our reasonable service so oh well you know
you've really gone above and beyond that's just our reasonable service he's
your Savior how do we take that gift how do we take that gift of eternal life
that free gift and then not want to serve him it's hard it's hard to fathom
sometimes isn't it you go out you get people say they get saved and they just
yeah whatever just don't know yeah I'll take that and that's it how do you not
want to serve him but sadly the majority don't want to serve him do they and and
sadly most a lot of people here like to think we want to serve him but what do
we really want to serve him or is it maybe for ourselves is it maybe for the
benefit we think we might get or is it is there some other main reason to be
the best Christian or whatever it is rather than really our main goal should
be to serve God isn't it to serve him now if that's not enough jump forward to
Deuteronomy chapter 11 and have a look at verse 13 here and it shall come to
pass if ye shall harken diligently under my commandments when you're doing things
diligently it's with a lot of work and effort which I command you this day to
love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart with all your soul
that I will give you the reign of your land in his due season the first rain
and the latter rain that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine
oil and I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle that thou mayest eat and
be full so God blesses us when we serve him and he blesses us both in this life
we do get blessings in this life don't forget that and yeah it's not it's not
you know parcels of cash it's not things that we think are gonna bless us but God
knows how to bless us doesn't he okay and there are many blessings he gives us
and in heaven as well okay and God clearly rewards us in heaven based on
how we serve him in this life okay and look at heaven's eternity heaven is
eternity and if look that if the other reasons aren't enough even if it's just
for the rewards go for the rewards there's nothing wrong he keeps telling
us about the rewards for a reason doesn't he Matthew again you'd understand
in Matthew 16 27 says for the Son of man shall come in the glory of his father
with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works because
we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ one day okay we're all
going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ no you're not going to get
punished you're not going to get get punished for any sins you've done they've
been washed away if you put your faith in Jesus Christ but but you are going to
get rewarded for the good work you've done for work that has eternal rewards
that has sorry that has eternal value you'll get eternal rewards and I'm
looking forward to eternal rewards I want eternal eternal rewards and and I
believe the Word of God do you believe the Word of God yeah I hope you all
believe the Word of God if you're saved you must have believed at least part of
the Word of God so you might as well believe the rest of it because it's not
a pick and mix and look the Word of God says that you can and will earn eternal
rewards if you serve him okay so we want to serve him we're required to serve we
don't want to disobey God we want to please God and we want to earn rewards
too don't we so how do we how do we serve him how do we serve God what work
does he want us doing and no this isn't where I start giving you the list of
jobs in the church okay it's all building up to it right I need some help
guys okay but that is one angle but but there are many angles actually because
there are the four obvious areas of the Christian life okay four obvious areas
of the Christian life to focus on and my point look when I was writing this this
sermon and when I think about this sermon what what I really am trying to
get across to everyone here is is it's a mentality change okay it's not look you
might be ticking all these boxes but to keep you going to keep you happy to keep
you wanting to to be able to when you get those times and you're starting to
feel like I just don't want to do this part I'm funny I'll do this part is to
remember that it's not for you okay yeah there it's great that that doing these
things for God actually benefits you as well yeah that's great but that shouldn't
be your motivation if we can get our motivation right then we're more likely
to persevere and to keep going throughout throughout the whole of our
lives because that's the idea isn't it it's not just oh well as long as I do a
bit for a little while then I kind of slipped again no we want to just keep
going keep going keep going because we're serving God okay so that's what I
want you to think about here is what your mentality is and we are required to
serve required that's demanded to serve it's not a choice okay you are demanded
to serve and number one through soul winning okay number one is through soul
winning the first works of Great Commission that's the obvious work
isn't it okay turn a second Corinthians 5 is our main job here our main purpose
is to preach the gospel that's why you're here that's what the main job for
you to do that's how people get saved it's not automatic okay that Calvinist
brainwash it because even churches claim not to be Calvinist claim to not believe
in the five five points of Calvinism still come back to that whole world God
does the saving God does the saving oh yeah well we're not Calvinist but God
does the saving got that and it's just a mantra because they don't really want to
go out and preach the gospel okay and and sadly it's it's infected so many
non Calvinist churches around the world that have just got this point where they
just say well people God will just choose and pick and choose and it's nuts
because the Bible doesn't say that does it the Bible does not say that it's not
automatic well you're turning to second Corinthians 5 second Corinthians 4 3
says but if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost okay that they're
lost if our gospel is hid they are lost okay it comes down to every Christian in
here you have a responsibility second Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 18 says
and all things are of God who have reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ
and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation and I do believe that
Paul's not just talking about himself and knows in his you know in his close
circles I believe he's talking to the to the whole church there and look it's
given to us and the ministry is work isn't it okay a ministry is work it's
not oh well that's something that you can do now and again it's work it could
be hard work at times can't it verse 19 to wit that God was in Christ
reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and
have committed unto us the word of reconciliation that's responsibility
isn't it he's committed it to us it's not just so well you you guys have a guy
as well and I'll just appear to people in dreams and stuff like that and we're
just kind of together I'll make up I'll pick up the slack guys don't worry you
do what you what you want to do because I don't want to I want to put you out I
don't want you to feel a bit uncomfortable bit nervous I don't want
you to have to actually go out and do something for me no no don't worry you
just kind of pick and choose maybe go every night it may be you know talk
about God to someone once once a year mention to someone at your Christian
wear a cross around your neck or something that'll do it yeah that'll do
it and I'll pick up the slack he didn't say that did he I don't want the
professionals will do it he didn't say that did he he said he is committed unto
us the word of reconciliation and again he didn't say just go and talk about God
the word the word of reconciliation he means preaching verses of the Bible to
get people saved okay that's what we're commanded to do now now look at verse 20
now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we
pray you in Christ said be ye reconciled to God and a real ambassador's job is
hard a real ambassador's job is hard it's not just dinner parties with
Ferrero Rocher okay is if anyone remembers that okay some of you might
gonna be head but don't worry about that but it's not just dinner parties with
Ferrero Rocher it's actually it's actually hard work okay being a real
ambassador because you're an ambassador sadly to people that are very anti
you're like the ambassador in in the nations which want to go to war with you
and you're trying to persuade them not to that's the sort of ambassador you are
you're beseeching them you're basically just pleading with them please have
peace with God through Jesus Christ and that's not an easy job because they're
so hostile you're in a hostile territory and soul winning can be a hard job can't
it be a hard job years down the line and it can look I'm not saying that not many
people necessarily feel there's novelty some will though and there can be a
feeling of novelty and it can be interesting and amusing at first but
look we're in this for life so years down the line when when you you're in
the winter in the dark in the rough areas knocking on those doors the door
and it's gonna I think it's gonna get ruder it's gonna get worse I hope it
doesn't hope it gets more receptive but I don't know people seem to be getting
up coming up with new excuses the government are giving them for being
annoyed that we're knocking on their doors we had someone again the other day
with that one it was it I think brother Andreas wasn't it not wearing a mask you
know coming to my door without a mask the guys are off your doorstep two
meters back and and just just people you know whatever they've been fed it's
their latest line to be annoyed but look and it can be hard can't it and it can
be tough but it's that's our job okay we're required to serve required to
serve but you've got to have that in your mind don't you because if it's for
other reasons if your main reason for soul winning is something else it might
be just to impress other people it might be to to become the best soul winner or
the more I do the better I'm gonna get it here or it might be and look nothing
wrong with wanting to be a good soul winner but your motivation your
motivation should be and has to be number one is to serve God okay to serve
God now Philippians 4 3 if you turn to 1st Corinthians 3 Philippians 4 3 says
and I entreat thee also true yoke fellow help those women which labored with me
in the gospel with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers whose names are
in the book of life so it's labor isn't it he says here help those women which
labored with me in the gospel and with other my fellow laborers it can be a
slog but also it's not just a man's job is it okay it's not just a man's job
he's talking about the women here which labored with him in the gospel okay
look I understand there are times with with newborn babies and and heavily
pregnant women where it's not so easy but look look it's every everyone's job
everyone's job is to go out and preach the gospel 1st Corinthians 3 you've
turned to verse 6 says I have planted a polis watered but God gave the increase
so then neither is he that planteth anything neither he that waltereth but
God that giveth the increase so this I believe is referring to soul winning
then discipling I see that as because I see that Paul got them saved and the
policies is basically building them up but it can also be when one preached
another preaches later we apply that as well don't we we have those times where
maybe you speak to someone who's heard something years ago and they're kind of
ready now they're low-hanging fruit at some point in the future verse 8 now he
that planted than he that waltereth the one and every man shall receive his own
reward according to his own labor so it's labor either way whether you're
discipling someone whether you're preaching to someone that's already been
preached to whether you're just going out and preaching the gospel to someone
that's never even heard of Jesus it's all labor isn't it it's all labor
according to God and we all get rewarded it says here and shall receive his own
reward according to his own labor that's a great incentive isn't it you're not
just serving God you're gonna get rewarded as well for we're laborers
together with God you know God's husbandry ye are God's building only God
does the saving is that what it says it doesn't says we're laborers together
with God we labor with him okay we labor with him verse 10 according to the grace
of God which is given unto me as a wise master builder I have laid the
foundation another builder Theron but let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon for other foundation can no man lay than that sorry than that is
laid which is Jesus Christ now if any man build upon this foundation gold
silver precious stones would hey stubble every man's work should be made manifest
for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is if any man's work abide which he
had built thereupon he shall receive a reward it's pretty clear it's work it's
pretty clear that we get rewarded for that work but we're still demanded to do
it okay when you do things for God they have eternal value and that means
eternal rewards doesn't it that means eternal rewards and there's no more
obvious way of doing that and saving people's souls is there okay but there
are other ways we are required to serve and number one is through soul-winning
okay you're required you're demanded you're expected God wants you to do it
God God requires it of you but number two is through the Bible through Bible
reading memory you name it through the Bible turn to 2nd Timothy 2 and yes the
Bible is a pleasure and what a blessing that one of our jobs on the ways we
serve God isn't something that's enjoyable I think about you know there
are certain people that get into jobs in life where they really enjoy their day
day-to-day work and what a blessing I think sometimes about you know some
sportsmen and things like that people think about myself you know it might
have been their hobby maybe it would still be their hobby there are some
sportsmen that it wouldn't be and there are many other jobs like that where you
actually enjoy parts of your day probably not all your day but you enjoy
parts of it but it's still work it's still working 2nd Timothy 2 you're
turning to I'm gonna read Psalm 190 103 which says how sweet are thy words unto
my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth I remember being young thinking
that food tasters must have a really good job I was thinking that would be a
good job food testers or video game testers or something like that you think
yeah good job well look reading the Bible is a good job but it's still a way
that we serve God consistent reading memorization study is also work though
isn't it okay is work and it's enjoyable but it's still work and you
have to be disciplined with it in 2nd Timothy 2 15 here where you are Paul is
addressing Timothy a young preacher isn't he but don't we all want to be
approved by God yeah he might be addressing young preacher but we could
all learn from this as well we all want to be approved by God he says to Timothy
study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth so he's describing him as a
workman studying the Word of God is a workman there and look Bible study can
be hard work okay it can be hard work and sometimes when you're trying to get
to the bottom of you know certain verses certain passages when you're studying
not just to preach when you're studying for other reasons you're studying to get
something in life that you want to study out that could be that could be hard
work it could be hard slog sometimes I'm sitting there and I'm studying something
out and the time can go and you and you you know you're really meditating on a
verse trying to really understand and pray and understand what it is and
looking at other passages and it can it could be hard work it's enjoyable work
but it's still hard work it's it's work the Bible calls it work study show
thyself approved unto God a workman and look so can there's consistent reading
as well turn to Deuteronomy chapter 6 it's not just a study there even just
consistent Bible reading is work but remember you're serving God because
again people can can go I'm just finding really hard to read my Bible
right now I'm just feeling a bit disconnected I'm just not really getting
much out of my Bible reading so what serve him you're serving him yeah look
you're a workman study to show thyself approved serve him because reading the
Bible day in day out is a way that we serve God why why is it a way that we
serve God because we learn from it so why are we serving God because we're
training ourselves to be a better servant okay you're you're basically
training yourself you know you know when you're you're in some and a lot of jobs
do this a lot of you in your careers where your job will pay for you to
train in something won't they and they'll send you off for training they'll
do regular training regular improvement because you're basically going to be a
better employee when they send you off for your training courses and in the
same way that's in a way you can look at that with reading the Word of God
because you're gonna be a better soul winner you're gonna be a better member
of a church you're gonna be better at many aspects of life you're gonna be
better at serving God in the various areas of well of life family life your
work life and everything else if you're if you're constantly improving and
constantly studying and looking at the manual okay and you can look at this
manual your whole life you still won't know it all will you okay and we're
required it's you're gonna be more able to serve him to overcome to counsel
others to win souls to disciple all of that you're gonna improve and get better
at the more you read the Word of God okay the more you study and look in our
work for God we're expected to do this every day okay you're expected to do it
every day and not just what well I've ticked off I've done my verse for the
day I've done my chapter no we're told to study the Word of God to read the
Word of God to talk about the Word of God look at Deuteronomy 6 and verse 6
and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart okay
that's memorizing the Word of God and thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children and shout talk of them when thou sit us in thine house and when thou
walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up and thou
shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand and they shall be as frontlets
between thine eyes and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on
thy gates that sounds like hard work yeah it's good work but it's hard work
isn't it okay you've got to be disciplined for that to be reading the
Bible regularly thinking about the Bible regularly talking about the Bible
regularly again that's part of serving God that's part of being being a
workman being that workman that needeth not be ashamed okay is is studying and
look to even study the Word of God you need to read it don't you okay if you've
never read the Bible how are you gonna study the Bible okay you got to read it
you got to study it you got to memorize it obviously you want to you need to
apply it as well and that could feel like work but it's good work isn't it
it's good work it's and look it could be a lot worse we could be reading some
nonsense but like the Quran imagine you had to study that day in day out that
would be a slog oh it'd be terrible wouldn't it oh it would be pretty bad
imagine if we had to say if we didn't have the Word of God and we had to
study one of these wicked false Bible perversions day in day out that would be
hard work wouldn't it it just doesn't it just disjointed like when you read the
Word of God it just flows isn't it it's beauty in the beauty and look what a
great job but it's still a job and it's still part of serving God so if you're
sitting there thinking well I didn't really read my Bible this morning and
I've been finding it hard I haven't really been you know serve him doesn't
matter serve him you're required to serve to serve him okay someone one
verse two says but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his Lord that he
meditate day and night Bible memorization is hard work you've got to
be disciplined for that that's hard to do and look if you want to if you're
serving God that's what you should be doing memorizing the Word of God it's
working on that it's all part of being a good good workman being a good servant
and we all we're required to serve it's not just if you like do as much as you
like well I understand you're going through a bit right now I understand
you're a bit disconnected understand that look no God said serve him okay
serve him Bible Bible memory is part of that now we are required to serve number
one through soul winning number two through the Bible number three through
prayer through prayer yep praying his work to praying his work turn to
Colossians 4 so where Paul is signing off at the end of the letter here he's
sending greetings from the brethren Colossians chapter 4 and from verse 12
Colossians 4 12 says this is Paul speaking he says Epaphras who is one of
you a servant of Christ salute with you always laboring fervently for you in
prayers that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of Christ
so Epaphras is described as a servant of Christ yeah we're still servants he's
always oh he's also here it says here he says he's always laboring fervently
which is basically eagerly with zeal passionately for the Colossians in
prayers and it's pretty impressive isn't it always laboring fervently for them
look I know people that labor in prayer I'm sure everyone here is probably
labored in prayer at times but notice who he's praying for is it himself no
always laboring fervently for you in prayer so that's someone with Paul he's
writing to the Colossians saying that this guy is laboring fervently for the
Colossians in prayers because we will often probably labor in prayers for
ourselves maybe for our close family but do we for our church let alone this is
for another church do we do we do that do we labor fervently in prayer for
other churches for people in our church let's just start at that do we labor
fervently for in prayer for each other and I'm not asking for a show of hands
right okay but look because I reckon probably everyone here could say yeah
actually I've got a problem with that okay because I think most Christians
would say that the prayer life part they find hard a lot of people do it
turn to 2nd Timothy 1 1st Thessalonians 5 17 says pray without ceasing and while
you turn to 2nd Timothy 1 Romans 1 9 Paul says for God is my witness whom I
serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son that without ceasing I make
mention of you always in my prayers again that's Paul just praying for and
and they're not the only people he's praying for he must have a long old
prayer list there and look without ceasing that's regular consistent
prayer and and that could be hard to maintain can't it regular consistent
prayer can be hard to maintain and it's because it's work because it's labor he
said earlier in Colossians 4 12 laboring fervently that's what Epaphras is doing
there but but it's for other people it's for other people and and when you're in
the spirit look there's nothing wrong with praying for yourself we should pray
for ourselves shouldn't we but look we should be laboring in prayer for each
other as well okay and that's part of part of serving God 2nd Timothy 1 3 says
I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience that
without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day so
that's Paul praying for Timothy night and day that's amazing isn't it how many
how many people do you pray for night and day other than your family members
if you do look and I think we could all hold our hands up here and say we all
fall short here don't we yeah we all fall short but that's part of it that's
an example we're constantly being given here to be praying for each other night
and day and that's part of laboring working grafting for God and the reason
we can't say that because it's labor it's hard work it's hard work it taking
that time remembering those people being consistent being disciplined with that
but we should aim to work harder shouldn't we we should aim to be the
best servant we can turn a first Samuel
because if we're not praying for each other it's not just so well you're not a
very good servant you could do a bit better we're actually sinning I believe
and okay you could just say well it's Samuel here maybe with his position as
a prophet but I think it could apply to all of us first Samuel chapter 12 first
Samuel chapter 12 and from verse 23 he says moreover as for me God forbid that
I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the
good and the right way only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all
your heart for consider how great things he had done for you so going back
to the point earlier on about one of the many reasons to serve God but look at
verse 23 there God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray
for you and look that could be a good thing to remember if it's not for the
serving God if it's not for the actual benefit of the people that we should be
wanting to improve and wanting to pray for it how about just because you're
sinning when you're not okay you're sinning when you're not praying for each
other okay so that's something that if you take nothing else from this sermon
please just go away and think yeah I want to make an effort I'm gonna make a
schedule and I think that can help again you know I like routine I think get a
routine going get a time when you pray for other people I know some people
might have different times where prayers are for different reasons that can work
you can say right this time on this day this you know this time of the day is
when I pray for other people in my church and there's nothing wrong with
with making some notes of things that you think people might be praying for
as well do that you know and that's part of being a good church member that's
part of being a good servant and that's the main thing isn't it so we are
required to serve number one through soul winning number two through the
Bible number three through prayer and number four through the church okay
through church and look just coming to church is serving God okay just coming
is serving God let alone when we also serve at a church in one way or another
okay but coming to church is serving God because we can easily get into a bit
of a well what am I getting out of church type attitude and you know why we
probably have a have more of a risk of that is because a lot of people here
basically learn and grew as Christians through watching YouTube sermons and
probably still do as well and they'll watch YouTube sermons and they feel like
their knowledge is growing they feel like it's helped them get sin out of
their life they feel like it's got them on the right tracks and they could
easily come to church go well I could just watch that at home I could watch
whatever my favorite preacher is at home instead I could go and just you know I
just just sit at home put on YouTube saves the effort don't have to go there
what's the difference because that's what I've been doing for years well
what's the difference is that just turning up at church you're serving God
okay you're required to serve okay and God wants us serving him and he wants
us serving him at the local church and in this country the local church is
well for anyone in this country this is a local church let's be honest and again
there might be a few I don't want to be just you know completely dogmatic about
that but I don't see any really though because part of in the church is
preaching the gospel yeah going out preaching the gospel and look it's not
that we all need backslapping because we're so because we're not great yeah we
could be everyone here could probably be doing more but you know what we're a
church because we preach the gospel and if they're not doing that they don't
preach the gospel not preach the word of God Nate and if they've got some wicked
false gospel they're not a church so that kind of narrows it down a lot in
this country doesn't it okay so turning up to church and of course we want to
benefit from church okay everyone does should benefit from church and we want
to benefit from church it's nothing wrong with desiring to benefit from
church but first and foremost your priority your reason your number one
top-of-the-list reason for coming to church is to serve God and if we get
that in our head we'll be a lot happier at church and we'll find it a lot easier
to turn up at church and we'll find it a lot easier to carry on turning up at
church week in week out when we get years down the line because if we're
coming to church it's just to build myself up it's just to tick the box it's
just to be able to sell go to church whatever else you can eventually drop
out I believe because you look turn to some 100 and some hundred first because
one way that God wants us to serve him is by singing to him in church okay and
I gave this analogy not long ago in a sermon and and you know this is kind of
it was along these lines and I was thinking about it this way as well is
you know if you you any of you that have children or or any of you that around
people and that's pretty much everyone here that has children think how sweet
it is when a child sings to their mum or dad yeah okay how amazing what a lovely
thing when your kids sing to you now if one child sings to you a song telling
you how great you are and how amazing you are we don't deserve that so really you
know we're lucky if we even get that but if they did that's gonna be a pretty
like you know a heart-melting moment and you probably have a big smile on your
face your child just walked in going you know mommy or daddy's the greatest and
everything else now imagine that your whole family all the kids are doing that
in a chorus and they've all been working on it and practicing and they
put effort and time and effort into preparing that music and yeah I know
that we've been lacking our pianist and and with time that that will you know
things will get better with that but even now there you know there's a lot of
time and effort that goes into preparing the music it goes into knowing actually
how to lead that song because I mean I got a bit done with this brother
Glody's wedding on Saturday and so I forgot to mention that in the
announcements as well but I was out there first and suddenly I had to lead
what a friend we have in Jesus in French and I kind of got told that the night
before and my French is not so good yeah and look but you know what that was
tough but even leading one of the English hymns that I know was tough
because just remembering that bit to come in you have to practice it don't
you have to listen to it you can't just go right here we're going four hymns I
know bosh let's give it a go because it's gonna fail okay and and it's hard
there's a lot of work that goes into that so imagine you're four children
five children sick whatever it is you've got have all just just work
together you know someone's gone to a lot of effort to prepare the music and
it's just praising you as a father or a mother that would be a pretty amazing
moment wouldn't it and and it's going to be more of an amazing moment than the
one doing it isn't it okay now imagine that it's all your children now imagine
it's it's every child of yours in in this country at least and I know it's
not there's a lot of safe people but imagine it's all those that come to this
church and you don't want to be that one that's not involved you don't want to be
that one child who's singing to their parent and who didn't get involved the
other ones are doing you're like nah I've got something else on no no because
there's a family do no I'm a bit annoyed I'm not really feeling church right I'm
not really feeling it right now so the others are singing they're getting they
kind of are what a lovely child and that's how God looks at us when we sing
to him however bad your voice is however out of tune you are however much you
don't know that that him at that point and you're just kind of mumbling it
under your breath so you don't really ruin it for everyone he still finds it
sweet he still loves it and he and that's what any demands it he demands it
look at Psalm chapter 100 from verse 1 says it's a psalm of praise make a
joyful noise unto the Lord all ye land serve the Lord with gladness come before
his presence with singing we should be happy as well shouldn't we know ye that
the Lord he is God it is he that have made us and not we ourselves we are his
people and the sheep of his pasture enter into his gates for thanksgiving
and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him and bless his name for
the Lord is good his mercies everlasting in this truth in Jewish
endureth to all generations we're serving the Lord when we come to him and
sing in a church okay just coming here and singing and even if you're singing
and we should be singing our hearts out even if you're singing quietly you're
still serving the Lord okay you're serving the Lord just turning up here
and singing at him and that's why you know I've said this before it's
important you actually get here for the beginning stay to the end you know
sing to the Lord he wants to hear you singing to him but what's your reason
for coming to church what is your reason for coming to church do you ever think
about that why do I come to church because if the main reason is the
fellowship there's nothing wrong with fellowship at church but if that's your
main reason for your kids to play oh at least my kids get to play with other
kids especially for the homeschoolers that could be quite important or to
learn to learn the Bible maybe maybe that's why you come well at least I'm
going to learn a bit more to look the part to look like a good Christian well
you're getting it all wrong aren't you you're getting it wrong turn of 1st
Corinthians 15 and look they're all good things maybe not the look in the part
bit but they are they are good things and we do benefit when we're here we do
benefit when we're here but we are here to serve okay we're here to serve and
when you get your head around that you'll be much happier I believe you'll
be happier you'll you know you maybe find less things to complain about and
don't worry I'm not saying I've got a long list of complaints here but but you
might maybe in your head maybe instead of sitting there going well bloody
whitewashed windows or something like that well look it's you know all the
little things which might irritate you and irk you and things that you'd do
differently and ways you'd have it and and that's gonna I think you'll find it
easier to deal with when you get your head around you get your motivation that
no I'm here to serve God that's why I'm here I'm here to serve God I'm not here
for all those other those other things are good benefits of serving God but I'm
here to serve God and get your head around that get your motivation right
and then look like I said those things I think won't disappoint you at time you
because you could just I could just listen at home if that was your
motivation well I want to hear some preaching I want to hear the Word of God
well you could just shove on YouTube couldn't you okay but that's not why
you're here and then when the sermons don't necessarily for you know it might
not edify you it might not be something that you want it might you might have
heard something recently already that maybe it didn't you know it didn't
really give you anything you but but you're here to serve God so it doesn't
matter does it and yeah look we should be getting edified by church you know
my you know it's something I pray for every time I try and prepare sermons I
want to edify the church but but sometimes sometimes you might not feel
some days it'll be better than others some days so the fellowship will be
better than others some days whatever it is your most your motivation will be
better and if and if you've got that as your main reason you're gonna find it
hard you're gonna find it hard coming sometimes if it's about you if it's
about me feeling more spiritual what am I getting from church it's gonna fail
sometimes isn't it because we come to serve God to work to labor for him first
Corinthians 15 verse 58 says therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast
unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord oh is that just singing it's not is it
always abounding in the work of the Lord and like I said even being here can be
work that could be labor for some even just getting here for some that's labor
okay that that's a long drive that's a long journey a long train journey
whatever it is that could be tough for me sometimes it might not be a long
journey but just getting the family together to get here can be tough
sometimes just just being able to drop whatever it is there's issues there's
problems and look I was saying we were joking about this this morning about you
know my Saturday nights you know for a long time we're just always like the
times when the kids were up were awake all night it was just always a challenge
a test because you wake up in the morning tired and that would be a good
reason to just go well I didn't get to sleep but but no you know that's part of
the labor part of the work and for many others I'm sure I'm sure everyone here
has their own stories of challenges and tests that have tried to prevent them
coming to church and part of the labor part of the work part of the serving God
is getting here in the first place getting here in the first place and like
I said it can be working be labor but once you're here you should be abounding
in the work of the Lord okay once you get he should be a bounty in it and and
like I said you know I was joking about it before there are obvious things that
make sure that make the church run and I'm thankful that we have a group of
people here that I can ask you know that we have you know because it's not
always that a fun job when the buzz is going through the service it could be
hard being an usher doing the Bible reading you still need to practice it
you're standing up in front of people reading and it feel like people are kind
of judging you on how you read yet but collecting the money and everything else
doing accounting afterwards doing the other jobs doing the music doing the
video doing all these all these other jobs doing the cleaning of the church
picking up after people setting things setting things up all of that all of
that is hard work and I'm thankful that we have people that are willing to do
that but but there is this constant stuff to do in a church and as we grow
there's going to be more more as we get this new building there's going to be a
lot to do okay and and look we're commanded to serve and if we get if our
heads right with that and we're just going to be happy to aren't we it's not
but you know you won't even need to be asked for certain things because there
just be things to do there's stuff to do people should be happy to do it should
want to do it should look be looking for the opportunity and if someone's
here regular and I think they're regular that you know then I want to find them
things to do you know I want to find jobs and find things because you're only
going to get blessed for that because everything you do in a church you're
going to get blessed for and I really believe that because it all has eternal
value yeah picking up a bit of paper on your way in from the floor whatever some
bit of wrapper still it because it's something for the House of God and the
House of God is something which is affecting lives throughout this nation
isn't it already okay and that's important because we want this church
to be in good nick we want this church being good order and there are loads and
loads of things we can do especially with a new building because it's going
to be a different different game then okay we want it to be clean and nice and
polished and be a welcoming place and be a happy place for people as well so
there's going to be a lot to do I turn to Hebrews 6 and look there are less
obvious things as well when you come to church you know the exhorting of each
other you're serving God when you're here and you're encouraging others you
encouraging others by being here okay you're encouraging others by by just
having a smile on your face by welcoming them by sometimes by by counseling them
sometimes by by just being here to pray with everyone else to be like even more
prayers that going up in that little you know that little vial up there that God
keeps of all our prayers that everything you're doing here everything you're
doing here is a service the comforting of each other sometimes just comforting
each other being honest with each other yeah I've struggled with that yeah and
trying to help people how to get through things look you're serving God with all
of that Hebrews 6 10 says for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and
labor of love which he have showed toward his name in that you have
ministered to the Saints and do minister so he won't forget our work because part
of that is ministering to the Saints to other believers okay that's part of our
job part of serving God is ministering to the other believers and like I said
any job in this church however big or small is ministering to the Saints
anything you do here is ministering to the Saints I said I pick you up that bit
of paper is ministering to the Saints because someone else who finds those
sorts of things annoying and off-putting you help with it and it stops me having
to do it or someone else having to do it and everything you do in a church is
ministering to the Saints Galatians 6 you have to turn to turn to Romans 16
well I turn to well I read you Galatians 6 verses 9 and 10 you turn to Romans 16
Galatians 6 9 says and let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we
shall reap if we faint not saying don't get tired you're gonna get rewarded if
you keep going because it can be hard sometimes look church work can be hard
coming down from some of you're traveling long distances some of you're
doing a lot some of you find it hard some of you might be thinking I could do
without standing downstairs on that door or counting people or whatever it is
you're doing doing the music doing all the many things that we have to do here
the soul winning captaining and many other things look it could be hard work
and the rest of it when you add it to your life when you add it to everything
else when you add the soul winning the praying the Bible reading for in due
season we shall reap if we faint not keep going keep us finger look look
obviously don't burn yourselves out either if you're to the point where you
don't have a minute or your family suffering because that again you these
these are four reasons for main points I'm talking about there are many areas
that we serve God we serve God when we parent our children aren't we okay when
we raise him up to be godly children that is part of serving God you're
serving God when you're out in the workplace you're serving God you you
know we because we're working as unto the Lord aren't we okay and everything
we're doing really in life we're serving God but these are the main points main
areas I want to focus on here he said in verse 10 there Galatians 6 said as we
have therefore opportunity led us to good unto all men especially unto them
who of the the household of faith God wants you to do good but especially to
other Christians yeah that's the truth he wants to go to other Christians God
is prejudiced God is prejudiced he has favorites and I'm into that I'm glad he
does yeah because yeah he has favorites you could give money to drug addicts on
the street all you like can't you you can throw money to these drug addicts
telling you that it's because of whatever other reason that they're on
the streets and you can and I'm not saying everyone that's on the streets is
but sadly the vast majority are or alcoholics and and you can help your
unsaved family move house ten times a year if you like and do all these things
but the priority is a household of faith that's a priority the ministering to the
Saints and the best way of doing that is through the church that's the easiest
way of doing that because you're not always going to know what people need
and how to minister to them how to help them that can be a kind word that can be
a nice gesture that can be doing work through the church that could be doing
things for the church that could be helping a church to function not just
you know turning up a church tick of the box and legging it okay and and look
there are many things to do there's many ways you can help because you're
required to serve okay it's not again it's not optional and like I said the
best way through the church because every time you help out of the church
you're ministering to the Saints every penny you put in in in the tithing
offering you're you're ministering to the Saints now obviously the tithe is
something we pay by the way and in case anyone wonders that well I'm giving to
the child help it no you're required to pay it God says to pay him the tithe he
doesn't say to give him it's not a gift it's a payment you pay the firstfruits
but anything else you give as well is is you're you're ministering to the Saints
your tithe is ministering about anything extra you give anything any way shape
and form you help this church and you help the church your future you're
ministering to the Saints now Romans 16 I'm going to finish up here in a minute
is a Hall of Fame of church grafters if anyone's ever noticed that it's like the
eternal Hall of Fame as well because not only is it something you just read
once this is set in heaven forever and these are church grafters here in Romans
16 people who have worked hard and they get a mention in the Bible which is
pretty amazing really isn't it and they're probably names that most you
probably won't have on the tip of your tongue and remember and some might not
have even ever really taken in when they read it but let's have a look at them
Romans 16 and verse 1 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister which is a servant of
the church which is at Cancria that she's a servant Phoebe that you receive
her in the Lord has become a Saints and that your sister in whatsoever business
she had need of you for she had been a Sakura that's a helper assistant of many
and of myself also pretty good old Phoebe yeah Phoebe sounds like a good
worker servant of the church she's been a help assistant of many look at verse
3 Greek Priscilla and Aquia my helpers in Christ Jesus okay again these are
people that have worked for the Lord who have for my life laid down their own
necks unto whom not only I give thanks but also all the churches of the
Gentiles so they're pretty big deal aren't they
Priscilla and Aquila here they've been helpers in Christ Jesus but look at the
next ones look at Romans 16 verse 6 greet Mary who bestowed much labor on us
okay now Mary seems to be a hard worker here she's bestowed much labor not just
labor but much labor Romans 16 and verse 9 salute Urbane our helper in Christ and
Saccis my beloved so Urbane there's a helper in Christ and then look at and
again they're just getting a mention in the Bible and Romans 16 12 salute
Tryphina and Tryphosa who labor in the Lord salute the beloved Persis which
labored much in the Lord. Persis labored much in the Lord and look like I said I don't
think probably many think of Persis but he's in the eternal Word of God with
these others here and I would love to be thought of like that wouldn't you I mean
these people I think they've clearly worked hard haven't they they've worked
hard to get a mention there they're there in the Word of God and look the
Word of God is not going to be added unto it'd be nice to get a mention when
we're up in heaven wouldn't it be nice to be told that you know thou good and
faithful servant to just feel to know that you've put your maximum effort in
for God that you've been a good servant and look that's why we're here isn't it
isn't that why we're here why are we here why why haven't you just died you
got saved well you might as well go to heaven now because we're here to work
we're here to be a servant of God and they're obviously we're here to get
people saved aren't we but we're here to pray for people we're here to help each
other we're here to read the Bible to train up to be those better servants of
God and we're here obviously as well to serve in the church because it all comes
from the church doesn't it okay and this church you know this pillar and ground
of the truth that we're that we're in right now and that we're going to
continue to be in whatever building we end up going to that that church that
congregation of believers it is is a great place to be serving God isn't it
and there are many ways to do that so we're required to serve four obvious
ways number one through so when you number two through the Bible number three
through prayer number four through church and like I said at the beginning
it's about our mentality if you get the mentality right I think you're gonna get
this right now turn to Proverbs 16 3 says commit thy works unto the Lord and
thy thoughts shall be established so if you focus on your works you're serving
being for the Lord then I think you're gonna start getting your head straight
on it and then I think you're gonna be able to conquer those times where you
don't really feel it when you're like I don't I'm just not really I don't feel
all that gray I'm not very happy I don't really want to do X Y & Z whatever
area of life it is that you're serving the Lord if you get if you just say no
I'm just committing my work unto the Lord I'm serving God that's my
motivation that's my goal in life that's my number one goal in life I think
you'll find all of this so much easier because then your thoughts shall be
established let's pray on that father I thank you for your word I thank you I
thank you for this for this church for this group of believers here that that
that come and meet faithfully you know every week and I thank you for all the
work that's done around here and I thank you for all the ways that everyone is
trying to serve you in their life and I just pray that you help us to just make
that our number one goal our number one motivation serve the Lord thy God with
all thy heart with all thy soul is what you told us to do and I pray that you
help us to do that to want to do that it's not just well just a box ticker or
it's just something that we could look like we're doing well really we're our
motivation is something else help us for that to be our number one motivation and
and then with that to just go on to achieve great things for you starting
with this afternoon I pray that you help us to want to get out to preach the
gospel whether that's just being a silent partner and just supporting
someone else so we can just double up those numbers get more people out more
people more doors knocked more people approached and just help us to all want
to do that and help us to all you know not to neglect the other areas of our
life as well they're praying the Bible reading studying memorization the work
through the church the attending churches help us all to just get our
heads right with that to get our motivations right and in Jesus name we
pray all of this amen