WHAT MUST I DO? YOU MUST BE FAITHFUL
1 CORINTHIANS 4:2
Big Idea: When we do great things in the name of God, we can be sure that while His ways will always be the best, they definitely won’t be the easiest.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to lightwhat is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
When I was a young believer I remember listening to a story-teller talk about his time in Vietnam. He was talking about the patrols that he and his squad were responsible for. They were, as you can imagine, quite dangerous and they always felt vulnerable … at death’s door. His squad was responsible to patrol some of the rice patties in the area. There was a lot of brush in the waters now, they had grown up during the war, and seeing what lied in front of you was very very hard. To top it off, it was very humid, very hot, and the mosquitos were as big as birds.
One day, in particular, was extremely laborious. While on patrol he and the squad he was attached to came upon a good sized, appealing knoll emerging from the rice patties. It was particularly inviting. The elevation gave them some breeze; the ground was relatively dry and plush with vegetation. The patrol immediately made their way to the knoll and began to rest. They laid down their weapons, broke out the cigarettes, and began to chat a bit.
The storyteller talked about how he withdrew into his own little world while on that knoll. He hated Vietnam and he would escape like this often. As he sat there, and then laid there, on the knoll he remembers thinking, “This is a nice place. I could just stay here forever. This is a nice place to relax and escape. It’s a nice place … FOR AN AMBUSH!!!!” Immediately he jumped to his feet, took his weapon and began yelling at the men to make ready. They got off the knoll as quick as possible and went back to alertness and patrol.
Comfort was an enemy to those in the Vietnam War. Setting on an elevated knoll relaxing made you easy picking for an enemy sniper.
Comfort is an enemy for the saint too. We are in a fight for the souls of men. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Any tendency to ease up on the mission or urgency is dangerous. When we become comfortable – we become vulnerable. And as you have heard me say before, God did not call us to be comfortable – he called us to be faithful.
Shakirah Hill is a New York native, a writer, and a speaker. She loves Jesus showing the world God’s heart.
(You can check out her website www.shakirahadianna.com.)
I recently read an article she wrote for Relevant Magazine titled “Your Calling Isn’t Meant to be Easy.”
In it she talks about her calling from God. She feels called to serve the world and to write.
She says (in part):
What I didn’t know was God’s calling on my life would send me on a challenging yet invigorating journey. From the moment I said yes to God, life suddenly got hard. This was shocking. If I was following God’s plan and the leading of the Holy Spirit shouldn’t pursuing my God-inspired dreams have been easy?
Not exactly.
Our calling was never meant to be easy. It sounds glamorous when we talk about our dreams and all the awe-inspiring things we believe God is birthing out of us: … Yet, when we find ourselves in the middle of the desert or valley in pursuit of that calling, we can begin to question whether our dreams were actually God-inspired. Even worse, we doubt our ability to keep moving forward to see the calling through to completion.
Challenging callings have biblical precedent. They are to be met with obedience.
• Abraham was instructed to go to a land he wouldn’t know until God told him all-the-while waiting more than 20 years for God to fulfill the promise of a son.
• Noah was told to build an ark, gather up two of every animal and save the last of humanity before a flood would destroy the earth.
• A young queen Esther risked her very own life and the genocide of her people when boldly confronting King Xerxes.
WHEN WE DO GREAT THINGS IN THE NAME OF GOD, WE CAN BE SURE THAT WHILE HIS WAYS WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST, THEY DEFINITELY WON’T BE THE EASIEST.
So, what does this mean for us today? What are we to learn from Abraham, Noah, Esther and the many of other men and women who have done remarkable things to advance God’s Kingdom?
I believe there are three biblical principles that will help us continue to move forward in obedience.
Here’s what you have to remember:
1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE
It’s not surprising that God repeatedly told Joshua He was with him just before instructing Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. That’s because being called by God can feel like a moment of isolation. When we pursue God well-meaning people will not always understand and that may cause some people (even friends) to turn away. God’s voice led Abraham outside the comfort zone of a land he knew with familiarity. Not even Abraham’s wife, Sarah, understood the weight of God’s promise over their lives.
It’s true that God’s calling can set us apart, whether for a moment or an extended season, but He never intended for us to do it alone. Just as God promised Joshua to never leave him nor forsake him, so it is with us. We have been given the promise of the Holy Spirit, who is not only with us, but also within us. God’s Spirit leads, comforts, directs, instructs and testifies that we are inheritors of the Kingdom.
If there are moments on your journey that you feel isolated while obeying God, remember you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you and with you. You are not alone.
1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE
2. DIFFICULT DOESN’T MEAN DESTITUTE
One of the many names for God found in the Old Testament is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide. An example of God’s provision can be found in the story of the prophet Elijah at Zarepheth (1 Kings 17). The drought in the land did not keep God from securing Elijah housing and meals.
The same is true for you and me. Yes, obeying God maybe challenging and it may require more of our time and resources than we expected. But, we can trust in God’s character. God is faithful to extend provision to His children and sometimes God’s provision comes in an unlikely form, as was the case when the poor widow fed Elijah.
If you’re in a place of pursuing God’s plan for your life and a lack of resources is what’s making your calling difficult, remember that difficult doesn’t mean destitute. God has already set provision in place for you to accomplish everything He’s called you to do.
1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE
2. DIFFICULT DOESN’T MEAN DESTITUTE
3. IT’S AT THE CROSS
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to respond to the challenge of God’s calling, having been beaten and imprisoned while advancing the Gospel. And yet, despite death threats and imprisonment, Paul continued moving forward fulfilling God’s plan. Paul knew this one secret; his calling was not in the work of his ministry. It was in the work already done on the Cross. He said “…But I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:13). He said later in the same book, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
It can be easy to get singularly focused on our mission and completely forget the calling of callings has already been answered. Jesus died on the Cross for the sake of humanity. His work at Calvary carries the weight of our burdens.
If you find yourself reluctant to continue to move forward with God’s calling on your life, remember to look to Jesus. As He said, “Without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
While pursuing God’s purposes and fulfilling His plans won’t always be easy, we can be encouraged that obedience has always been and will always be possible through the power of the Cross. And it is at the cross, it is through the power of the resurrected Christ that we can be faithful … we can know that “WHATEVER GOD’S WORD SAYS I MUST DO, GOD KNOWS I CAN DO.”
God bless you today.
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** Special thanks to Relevant Magazine’s article, “Your Calling Isn’t Meant to Be Easy” by Shakirah A. Hill in their February 20, 2014 edition.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
We have gathered today to celebrate the love of God.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. Let us draw near to God as we partake of the Lord’s Supper together.
The Lord himself ordained this holy sacrament. He commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and cup, emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is His table. The feast is for His disciples. Let all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins, and have believed in Christ unto salvation, draw near and take these emblems, and, by faith, partake of the life of Jesus Christ, to your soul’s comfort and joy.
Let all who seek the Lord come and partake; may you find him and be found by him.
Let us all remember that this is the memorial of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus. It is also a token of His coming again.
Let us not forget that we are one, at one table with the Lord.
Father God,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Jesus’ offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Please say the words on the screen with me.
Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again.
Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and cup.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Jesus comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ.
Please say the words on the screen with me.
By him, and with him and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen.
And as our Lord has taught us to pray, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
I invite you to make your way to the front and receive the elements. After you return to your seats, if you would just hold on the elements and wait until everyone is ready, we will partake of the bread and cup together, as one.
Song:
We are reminded that in the same night that our Lord was betrayed, He took bread and, when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Take and eat this, in remembrance that Christ died for you.
Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
Let us pray together:
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Responsive Reading: The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18
Leader:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
People:
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
Leader:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
People:
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Leader:
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
People:
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Leader:
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
People:
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
