Stay on the Journey 2

For every Believer, the Christian life should be a journey of progression and not stagnation

What will keep us progressing on our journey?

1. Putting the Needs of Others Above our Needs
2. Being Equipped with God’s Word

• Having a Grateful Heart

1. Putting the Needs of Others Above our Needs – A Burden for the Lost

1. It is through the transformative and empowering work of the Holy Spirit that believers can become effective witnesses by drawing others to Christ
   1. According to Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

According to Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, Amen.

1. Being Equipped with God’s Word

Ephesians 4:11-12(NKJV)

• 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
• 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

     2 Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
  • God’s word completes the believer, equipping us for every good work by teaching, convicting, and instructing us

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

• Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

• Apostle Paul tells believers:
  • What to do – study
  • Why do it – to be approved unto God; not an ashamed workman
  • How to do it – by rightly dividing the Word of truth

Amos 8:11-12

• “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and from, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.”

• Let us daily feast upon God’s Word and so avoid a similar famine in our souls.

• Having a Grateful Heart

Romans 12:12 NKJV

• Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.

1. Rejoicing in Hope – An earnest expectation – Christ is our Hope

• Philippians 4:4-8

• Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!

• Likewise, we should praise God no matter our circumstances because we know the Lord will redeem our situation for our good and His glory if we trust Him.

Psalm 100

• Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and 2not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations

1. Patient in Tribulation

The word “patient” in this passage is the Greek word hypomania, which means to remain, not recede or flee, to persevere under misfortunes and trials; to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ; to endure…

John 16:33 (NKJV)

• “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. (Isaiah 26:3). In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

• As Jesus stood ready to face the Cross and defeat the last foe, death, He encouraged the disciples to always have confidence in His ability to lead them through to triumph, which was proven at the Resurrection.

Psalms 34:19

• Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Romans 5:1-5

Trials, difficulties, and adversities are often God’s way of developing a Christ like character in us. No one likes trials, but the Lord can use them for our good and His Glory, if we will trust Him.

1. Continuing Steadfastly in Prayer
   • Romans 12:12
     • Continuing steadfastly in prayer
   • 1 Thessalonians 5:17
     • Pray without ceasing,
   • Colossians 4:2
     • Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving
   • Luke 18:1
     • Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
   • Ephesians 6:18
     • Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

• Why Pray?
  • Obedience – God Commands Believers to Pray
  • Intimacy with the Father
  • Because of the Sovereign God, has established prayer as the vehicle by which we receive what He has promised and help fulfill what he has ordained

As Believers, we should keep our hearts in a posture of prayer before God.

For every Believer, the Christian life should be a journey of progression and not stagnation

• Putting the Needs of Others Above our Needs
• Being Equipped with God’s Word
• Having a Grateful Heart by rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, and continuing steadfastly in prayer