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How To Be A Dud For God
Contributed by Patrick Bissig on Nov 28, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: How to be ineffective for the Kingdom of God
I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”
Brought up with fireworks on the 4th of July.
Tennessee to buy them
Every now and then we would have one that
The fuse would light…
Smoke would come out…
Anticipation would raise…NOTHING!!!
It was a dud!
Nothing but a little bitty fire and a little bit of smoke and then zilch…
We would get so mad…but most of all we were disappointed!
A “dud” has all the makings of a bomb, but it doesn’t explode!
Looks like a bomb, smells like a bomb, smokes like a bomb, but nothing happens, no explosion, no results, so excitement.
Sometimes churches are the same way.
Looks like a church, has pews, has a pulpit, has a few bibles laying around, has a piano, stained glass windows, even has some people.
But unless the presence of God is there and lives are changed, it is just a building. . . a “DUD!”
“Crowds mean little if lives are unchanged.”
I don’t want to be a dud
1. Avoid spending as much time in God’s word as you can:
When you read God’s Word it takes root in your heart
It also builds your faith
You begin to take action, witnessing and believing
Romans 8:1-3 “Therefore now there is no condemnation to them that are in
Christ Jesus…
2. What ever you don’t pray:
They just might get answered
Great things might start happening
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you that whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”
3. Don’t be a giver, be as selfish as you possibly can:
When you give others are blessed
Then you are blessed
Horde all you can, be a Scrooge!!
Never give of your time to volunteer
Nothing will ever get done
4. Avoid coming to church:
You might get spiritual
You won’t have any conviction about anything you do!
You will become weak
Hebrews 10:24 &25 “Let us not give up on meeting together….”
5. Keep a critical attitude
Find out all the bad
Make sure you don’t exercise forgiveness and love
6. Be a good gossip, talk about as many people as you can.
Make up details - make it juicy!!!!
Cast the first stone - Throw the first punch
7. Don’t witness to anybody, they just might get saved
It is embarrassing
What would you do if they actually got saved?
The church just might grow!!!
It might make a difference in the community.
I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.”
Watch your speech, life, love, faith… and stay pure.
Devote yourself to the reading and studying of your Bible.
Do not neglect your gift. (Music, preach, decorate, kids…)
Get involved!!!