The Rewards Of A Worthy Walk Series

c) The Drop Off

“In your inner being”

Illus: I recently sent in my laptop computer to Sears to have it repaired. On thursday I called Sears to see if it was finished. The Customer Service guy asked for my name and immediately he told me that it was going to be worked on Friday morning. I asked if he was sure on that, and he replied that the work order was waiting on the technicians desk. Feeling confident I would have the machine back next week I hung up the phone, went to the post office, to discover that the package was not on the technicians desk waiting to be prepared, but actually sitting in our postoffice downtown. The Customer Service guy just told me what I wanted to hear.

God works in our inner being to bring the necessary changes. He drops the package off right where we need.

Our inner being is the place we function from…it is the place that all of our words and actions originate from.

When we embrace his grace he strengthens us in a place that brings results. The second reward of walking worthy is being rooted and established in love.

2) Rooted and established in love vv17,18

Illus:

When Ole accidentally lost 50 cents in the outhouse, he immediately threw in his watch and billfold. He explained, "I’m not going down dere yust for 50 cents."

Two Norwegians from Minnesota went fishing in Canada and returned with only one fish. "The way I figger it, dat fish cost us $400" said the first Norwegian. "Vell," said the other one, "At dat price it’s a good ting ve didn’t catch any more."

Paul says His prayer for the church in Ephesus is that they be Rooted and established in love.

a) First we must be established in our love for God ?What do you think this Means???

When we have chosen to Love God he brings in Power for Life

1 Cor 1:18

Acts 1:8

1 Cor 4:18-21

It is through the power of God that we flourish or wither. At the close of the service we are going to be seeking an special infilling of the power of God.

When we have chosen to Love God he helps us love the Saints. Paul reveals the Father’s expectations of us in Romans…

It is characterized our love for Him and our love for others

Romans 9:9-21

When we are established in our love for God, we are going to begin to reach out and love one another.

When God is at work in this, we love one another not for what we can get, but for what we can give.

Illus "Dearest Jimmy, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you! Yours forever, Marie... P.S., And congratulations on willing the state lottery."

Paul then says that his prayer is that they grasp the Love of Christ.

b) Grasp the Love of Christ

When we are striving to live a life that is worthy God reveals to us the Love of Christ. We begin to understand the Love it took to go to the cross.We begin to grasp his longing to show goodness, kindness and mercy to us.

Illus:

One night a wife found her husband standing over their infant’s crib. As she watched him looking down at their very first baby, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: …disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, skepticism. Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arm around her husband. "A penny for your thoughts," she said.