posted Sep 14, 2009, 7:42 AM by Website Administrator
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updated Sep 14, 2009, 7:56 AM
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2 Thess. 3: 6-15
February 22, 2009
Idol of Idle
Christianity is not an excuse for just getting by or a hall pass for laziness in life. Rather it should be a stimulus to promote positive action and successful performance. You’re not lost & waiting; you’ve been found & lifted up – NOW act that way!
§ Never Idle (1 Cor. 10: 31, Col. 3: 17 & 23-24)
- Physical Work – Productivity in the place you’re put with an attitude of service. Ministry in the secular; Business as Missions.
- Spiritual Activity – Christians don’t sit on the bench, they’re active in the game. You didn’t buy a ticket, you joined the team!
- Burden Test – If what you’re doing is a source of burden to family/friend/fellowship then stop doing it. Crazy as it seems, some people like the attention of being a burden! They like to be the center of controversy and the focus of despair.
§ Never Tire (Galatians 6: 9)
- Don’t associate with “shame” (Romans 16: 17-18)
- Warn Brothers (Mt 18: 15-17, Gal 6: 1-5, Titus 3: 10-11) – provide a sense of Biblical wisdom to alter behavior.
§ Spiritual Action
1. Evidence of Worthiness (2 Thess. 2: 3-5) – Col. 1: 9-12
- Faith is Growing – roots, trunk, and limbs
- Love is Increasing – how you see & how you are seen, action
- Perseverance – in it to win it, “I ran the sprint”
- Endurance – take a beating and keep on ticking, “I run the race”
2. Worthy of Calling (2 Thess. 2: 11-12) - Eph 4: 1-3
- Power – He is our battery pack, energizer
- Purpose – What He desires to ‘fulfill’ through you
- Prompting – The whisper of His still small voice directing your action and illuminating your path (1King 19: 12, Ps. 119: 105)
- Glorification – Your shining of Jesus & His shining on you
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