Go The Distance (Part 2)

Go the Distance Part II

2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

June 7, 1998

Morning Service

Introduction

I. Review

A. Passion - The Holy want to: Genuine love, desire to serve & prioirty of focus

B. Preparation - Paying the price for growth: Prayer & petition of God, study of the Word, & faith

II. Where are we going?

A. We decide where we go: The future of this church is being decided now, we are currently making the decisions that produce our future, in the constant of the present is where the future is forged,

B. What kind of Christian do you want to be?: Life is like a taxi. The meter keeps ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still. - Lou Erickson,

We will become what we desire to become, if we have no desire we will become nothing, we must place a central focus on becoming what God wants for us to become

Read Text

Main Points

III. Perspiration - Working hard

“If you’re not doing something with your life, it doesn’t matter how long it is.” Peace Corps Commercial

A. Works of Faith - James 2:20-24

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Issac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. you see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

1. We are called to serve God: Faith is essential to salvation, works and deeds do not save, they are the example and proof of salvation, faith without works is dead we can not say that we love God and do nothing to serve him

2. We are called to serve others: Our love for God is the key motivation to serve others, our love for others is proven by how we serve them, if we are serving no one do we really love them or God for that matter?

B. Servants are Active

“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender” - Vince Lombardi

1. They serve out of love: Love helps keep our motives right and pure, love keeps our focus on God and others, it keeps us from being selfish, love creates the desire to serve

2. They are not inactive: Servants who do not serve are not servants, it is complete ignorance or arrogance to believe that you can be a Christian and not serve, it is impossible, some people are trying to do this in the church, servants work hard for God, the goal is to please God, do whatever it takes to serve God, we cannot serve God by doing nothing

3. They are not destructive: Servants are more concerned about God’s agenda than their agenda, God’s will is a chief motivation, longing to obedient - if we are more focused on gossip, slander and malicious talk it is destructive - our focus should be God not talk, If you talk the talk; you must walk the walk

IV. Perspective - Willingness of the Mind

A. Why we serve

1. The Right reasons: Proper motivation, we do things because it is what God wants, we are not to do things to keep a good image, keep our positions and titles

2. Correct Attitude:“Your attitude is either your best friend or your worst enemy; your greatest asset or your greatest liability.” - J. Maxwell, The need for correct attitude is vital, our influence can be positive or negative, we need to be positive, see the glass as half full rather than half empty,

B. What we can do and will do

1. With God all things are possible: God is all powerful and can do anything, we just don’t believe it, can God renew this church? Absolutely!, Can we lead 40 people to Christ in the next 6 months? Yes!, Can we become all that God wants us to be, Yes! the key is allowing God to do His work in us and through us

2. Be obedient to God: the church will not be blessed when people refuse to obey God, look at Jeremiah - he was faithful and worked his tail off but he was not blessed because of the people around him,

We have similar problems

* the bickering or arguing spirit

* gossip that destroys lives

* lies that are like poison

* lack of tithing

* angry and selfish spirits

pray that God either changes and convicts peoples hearts or removes them from the body, God can not and will not bless us as individuals or a corporate body if we tolerate disobedience