Don't Do It Without Me 2024

Don’t Do It Without Me

Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11; First Peter 4:10-11; Isaiah 6:8

Good morning Strangers Rest. If you recall from my message last week, I talked about how you, as a Church, have come this far by faith. Next week we will celebrate the Church’s 99th anniversary and as I concluded my message last Sunday I asked you “Where do you go from here?” We know that God has a plan for this Church and that plan has been in existence since this Church was formed. Because you are here, His plan for this Church includes you. As a reminder, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.” While we understand that God has a definite plan for this Church, each of you must decide if you want to be a part of His plan - doing so by faith since you do not know every aspect of God’s plan for this congregation. The title of my message this morning is, “Don’t Do It Without Me.”

If you were here before service started, you might have heard the song by Bishop Paul Morton titled “Don’t Do It Without Me.” In that song it says, “Lord whatever You are doing in this season, please don’t do it without me.” In other words, whatever the Lord is doing right now we have a desire to be in the midst of it. We have a desire to be a part of it. We want to be involved, regardless of what those around us might be doing. It is not about them; it is about our own personal desire to be a part of what the Lord is doing in this season. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, there was an increase in people attending Church. People felt vulnerable and they sought out the Church for comfort. They wanted the comfort that only comes through a genuine relationship with Christ. However, years later as the impact of that day became more of a distant memory, some reverted back to their pre-9/11 ways. Their desire for a closer relationship with Christ was overshadowed by a desire to “return to a normal lifestyle.”

I point this out so you understand that our decision to be a part of what Christ is doing is not a one and done decision. We must renew that decision with every “new thing” the Lord does. Just because you liked and participated in something the Lord did last year does not mean you will want to be a part of the next thing that He does. We must make the decision to be a part of what He is doing daily. And, once that decision is made and the work begins, do we commit to it? This is a heart issue because for many they only want to be a part of what Christ is doing if it fits within their schedule. So, I am asking each of you today, if your heart saying, “Lord don’t do it without me!” or are you saying, “Lord let me check my schedule and I will get back with You.”

Have you ever had a desire or opportunity to be a part of something special? You heard about something being planned and you were so excited about what you heard that you wanted to participate in it. At that point it did not matter what your role would be, you just wanted to be a part of it. In that moment you were all in to do whatever was asked of you. It did not matter what others were doing, you just wanted to do something. You just wanted to be a part of it. No role in the project was too small; you just wanted to contribute and be in the midst of it. That mindset is totally different from the mindset that says you will only participate in something if you can choose what your role is and if that role fits the self-image you are trying to portray. In other words, some roles would be beneath you. This is the mindset of some Christians when it comes to doing the work of the ministry and that mindset will hinder what God wants to do. This morning, I hope you will decide that whatever God is doing in this place, you do not want Him to do it without you because you are willing to use all your gifts and talents for His work. As Peter said, “(10) As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (First Peter 4:10-11) We serve and use our gifts so that God can be glorified in everything that we do. We do not do it so we can receive recognition. We do it for the Lord because God needs us to partner with Him in the things He is doing.