*****SermonOutline*****
Help Wanted!
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1) The Need For Laborers...
a) Use Comparison between companies needing help and churches...
b) Read:
Exo 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Exo 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Exo 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exo 17:12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Exo 17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
c) Illuminate passage-Moses’ role, Joshua’s role, the essential role of Aaron and Hur.(Really expound on the latter.)
Moses= The work of the pastors and teachers...
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Joshua= Evangelists and missionaries...
Aaron and Hur= Other members of the Body...
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Not only does each and every one us have a gift, we have a responsibility to use that gift. Too many christians believe that there sole role is to hear the sermon and go home. No wonder Jesus said in Mat 9:37 ...The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
d) Illustration...
Someone once described a football game as 22 players badly in need of rest observed by thousands of spectators badly in need of exercise. Many churches are like that! Afew people doing all the work while others observe from the sidelines. Christianity is not a spectator sport!!!
e) Faith without works...
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Coming to church doesn’t make you any more of a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a Cadillac!!!
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2) Know Your Place...
a) I hope you wore your loose shoes cause I’m about to step on some toes. Amen!
b) Do your part...
Notice in verse 12 (Ex. 17) that Aaron and Hur didn’t try to take Moses’ staff or replace Joshua on the battlefield.They did their part, and their role was equally important. Take a supporting role if that’s what God has given you the gifts for. Be a help!!! That’s the essence of Paul’s message in 1Cor. 12. Each believer is a part of the body and no part is less vital than the other!
c) Help is wanted...
Especially in supporting roles. These roles may be less celebrated by man, but God is the one to say well done my good and faithful servant. Amen!?!
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3) Support Roles...
a) Read:
Mar 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mar 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
Mar 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mar 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
b) The 4 men and the church...
(1) These 4 men did not show a half hearted attempt at being helpful.
(2) They received no accolades. Their names weren’t even mentioned.
(3) They joined their compassion with their conviction.
(4) They stepped out in faith, put in the work, and got the job done.
c) Illustration:
Sports- all players needed not just the all-stars.
Bible- all books not just one.
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4) Notoriety...
a) From Ex.17 we know it was Aaron and Hur. In Mark 2 no names were given by Mark and no names were asked for by Jesus.
b) Imagine a church where no plaques were given, no certificates of recognition offered, or no names in the bulletin. Very few people would wanna work. We want the world to know the things we do, but the affirmation that should be important to us comes from Jesus. Not from one another.
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Conclusion:
a) Encouragement...
If Aaron and Hur were willing to be a help to fulfil God’s plan, and the 4 men in Mark stepped out in faith to help a friend despite of notoriety, how much more should we as Christians be willing to help in the growing, edifying, and work of the church and God’s Kingdom.
b) Encouragement...
Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
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*****Sermon Outline*****
How To Pray For The Lost And Bound
(the role of the Holy Spirit in witnessing)
1) Pulling down the strong holds...
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Begin to pull down the strong holds in the mind of the bound. These are the "arguments and reasonings of a disputant to defend his positions." Pray that the arguments they use to "shield" themselves from Jesus will seem foolish to them. Ask God to pull down the strong holds (lies) in their mind.
2) Let there be light...
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Ask God to let the light of the glorious gospel (the truth) shine to the lost. The "mind blindnesses" are the strong holds of 2Cor.10:4. We need the demonic to cease in their hold so that the lost can make a decision for Christ. Ask God for that moment when they see their hopelessness and helplessness standing naked and without excuse before God. The light of the Gospel is that Jesus loved them, while they where yet sinners, enough to die in their place, and that salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned.
3) Turn away and trust Him...
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Pray that their eyes would be opened, that they would turn from Satan unto God. This is bible repentance: to turn from trusting yourself for salvation to trusting Jesus Christ. They then may receive salvation (forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of eternal life).
4) Harvest Time!!!...
Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Pray the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into their lives. Everywhere they turn they will run into
a witness. Ask God to send people who will speak into their lives the love of God and the gospel.
