CHALLENGES A CONGREGATION MUST MEET
Rev. 3:11-13
If he can, the devil would like to hinder the gospel from being
spread ? 1 Thess. 2:18.
He is intelligent enough to be very subtle and shrewd in his attempt
to obstruct our progress in the Lords work. Cf. Gen. 3:1;
2 Cor. 11:3.
a. The result is that we may attend to certain of the devils
diversionary tactics all the while
overlooking some of the things that are really holding us back.
(A) There are some challenges that any congregation of Christians
must meet in order to
serve the Lord faithfully.
A congregation must remember what its work is ...Sowing
the Seed.
It requires constant discipline to stick to our work and let the
Lord do His. Jer. 7:27; Ezek. 2:7.
It is our work to plant and water; it
is the Lords work to give the increase 1 Cor.
3:6.
Ultimately, the Lord will want to know not how many people we
baptized, but how many people were left in our community that
we never confronted with the gospel.
We are constantly tempted to bypass the work of seed?sowing or
to believe that we are doing enough we must
resist both of these temptations.
We need to be a congregation from which the gospel sounds
forth 1 Thess. 1:8.
That will require on the part of every member. Living above pettiness.
(B) To be successful every Congregation must live above pettiness
It requires constant discipline to keep away from itsy?bitsy
thinking. Pygmy soul people will destroy all the good efforts
of an entire congregation.
Selfishness, gossip, and factionalism are the bane of the Lords
work in many places. Phil. 2:3,4; 4:2.
Nothing does that like every member having a sense of proportion
and priorities. It is disastrous to major in minors.
We must be able to see the largeness and importance of the work
we are doing in comparison to our own personal concerns - e.g.
Phil. 1:12?18!
What the Lords work is about is co?operation ? Phil. 1:27.
The emphasis is on together in Eph. 2:19?22; 4:16.
b. A congregation has to believe it can make a difference in its
community.
It requires constant discipline to be confident we can bring about
significant changes for good where we live.
Without some hope (desire + expectation), our work will cease
altogether.
When Christ sets before us an open door (Rev. 3:8),
no one can shut it.
We simply must keep in mind that He who is in us is greater than
he who is in the world ? 1 Jno. 4:4.
A congregation must maintain gratitude for its blessings.
(1) It requires constant discipline to emphasize the positive
rather than the negative aspects of our congregational situation.
(2) Few congregations have had more problems than Corinth
yet there were still things to be thankful for ? 1 Cor. 1:4?9.
(1) A scriptural congregation is a thankful congregation ? Col.
3:17.
(1) Develop an attitude of gratitude because they met their challenges
successfully.
(1) Thats why we must be determined to meet all challenges
victoriously.
(2) 1 Cor. 10:13, says, God always provides a way of escape
for every temptation and sin. Thats true of both individuals
and congregations.
(2) That only happens when we are honesty enough to see temptation,
see the problem for what it is, and arm ourselves against it,
Eph. 6:10-11.
(1) Have to be vigilent, committed, to meet every task before
us.
(2) That means you are going to have to make some sacrifices.
Put God first.
(3) What ever you do, dont let the devil rob you of your
salvation.
(1) Meet the challenges in the strength of God and God will provide
victory!
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 07/15 /2001 am
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