An Effective Worker For The Lord

This is true in so many ways, for example:

• Some handle their money better than others

• Some are better at sports than others

• Some do a better job in scholastics than others

• Some are more skillful in music than others. (1 Samuel 16:16 tells us that David was skillful at playing the harp, but he had to practice to become skillful)

• Some are better at making decisions than others

Illus: Did you hear about the Police Chief who was training some recruits? He told them, “You'll be faced with some difficult decisions, and it is important that when these times come, you make the right decisions.”

He said to one recruit, “What would you do if you had to arrest your mother?”

The new recruit said, “Call for backup!”

Some truly are better at making decisions than others. However, to become good at something we have to work at it the same way an athlete or musician must work at becoming their best.

Even though we may work hard to become good at something, we must always remember that it is God who has given us the ability to do these things.

God has given many the ability to achieve greatness, but consider this:

• Some of the best ATHLETES in the world will never be discovered because they are not willing to work to their full potential

• Some of the best MUSICIANS in the world will never be discovered because they are not willing to work to their full potential

• Some of the best MINISTERS in the world will never preach their first sermon because they are not willing to work to their full potential

• Some the most effective WORKERS in the church today will live a wasted life because they are not willing to work to their full potential

John 6:27, tells us, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life…”

Working for the Lord is not like working on a regular job. For example, Christians do not receive a pay check each Friday.

Wouldn’t it be something if we could get some folks to work for ALMIGHTY GOD as hard as they work for the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR?

• Those who labour for the Lord will not be paid with money to buy things that will perish

• But for eternity they will be rewarded with things that will be everlasting

HOW CAN WE BECOME AN EFFECTIVE WORKER FOR THE LORD? There are some things for us to consider, such as:

I. WE ARE TO WORK WITH ENTHUSIASM

Illus: Suppose I come before this congregation and say I read a book that has opened my eyes about how to fill this church every service and have people on the outside trying to get on the inside. I am sure your first thoughts to my comments are:

• Does such a book exist

• Will it really work

I can tell you wholeheartedly that such a book exists, and I can prove to you it has worked. The book I am referring to is the WORD OF GOD, and it reveals to us what filled the early church.

WHAT WAS THEIR METHOD?

They became excited about the Lord Jesus! We can never become EFFECTIVE WORKERS for the Lord until we are filled with ENTHUSIASM!

Look at Acts 2:47, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

The early church grew by leaps and bounds! They had something everyone wanted.

WHAT CAUSED THEM TO ENJOY SUCH GROWTH?

The Bible makes it clear that they went everywhere ENTHUSIASTICALLY PRAISING GOD, AND HAVING FAVOR WITH THE PEOPLE.

And when they did this, the Bible says the Lord ADDED TO THE CHURCH.

Many churches are dying on the vine, and it is due to a lack of enthusiasm in the church.

• Some churches are afraid, I mean really afraid, to have some excitement in the church, and they are drying up on the vine.

• Some are afraid that if they get some excitement, it will turn into having “Wild fire” in the church. It might, but if it does, they need to deal with it.

It is better for the church to have to deal with some wild fire every now and then, than to have to deal with no fire at all.

A church will never be EFFECTIVE until the workers in the church become enthused about this wonderful God we serve.

Many folks can not understand why they have:

• Never been able to invite anyone to church and get them to come

• Never been able to lead someone to the Lord

The reason is that the ones they invite and try to win to the Lord know they go to church, and it is obvious from all their griping and complaining about the church that it is not doing them any good, so they won’t listen to them.