MULTIPLE GREAT MEN OF GOD THAT SHOWED
GREAT DETERMINATION IN THE WORK OF THE LORD
( Acts 20:19-24 ) Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of
mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in
wait of the Jews:
Acts 20:20 [And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but
have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not
knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Acts 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds
and afflictions abide me.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I
have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
* INTRODUCTION:
* Determined: confident to finish the
job. Be firm and fix decision to do a better job.
( Acts 20:24 ) But none of these things move me, neither count I my
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
Introduction:
1. This lesson is a challenge to all of us as servants of God and also a challenge
to all church members to continue serving the Lord faithfully until Jesus
Christ returns and find us faithfully serving Him in our own local churches
where we belong.
( Matthew 24:45-47 ) 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his
lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed
is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily
I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
2. Paul is a good example of the men of God who have the determination to
finish his calling to the Lord despite the many revelations of the Holy Spirit
to him of the great threat he will experience from the persecutors of the
believers of Christ. But his determination to go on was firm and fix and he is
confident that he will finish his calling no matter what happens to him.
( Acts 20:24 ) 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I
my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
I.
DANIEL WAS DETERMINED TO CONTINUE
PRAYING TO GOD IN SPITE OF HIS ENEMY HINDERING HIM.
1. Now Daniel heard that there was a decree from the king that contained a
decree that no one should ask a petition to any other gods but only to the god
of the king.
( Daniel 6: 8-11 ) 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the
writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and
Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the
writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his
chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and
found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
* But Daniel was determined not to stop praying 3 times a day to come to
God in prayers.
( Daniel 6:10-11 ) 10 Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his
chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and
found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
* THIS DETERMINATION OF GOD’S SERVANT, NOTHING CAN STOP HIM FROM
APPROACHING GOD IN PRAYER 3 TIMES A DAY.
* Honestly speaking, Daniel is different to many God's servants in our
time. Although we have all the opportunity to come to God in prayers. There are
many worldly things that God's servants and Christians hinder them from coming
to God in prayer. Like enjoying our fellowship with the unbelievers. Some
friends in secular invite us to do some worldly things. These things stop us
from coming to God in many prayers.
* It is a serious command of God to separate from them.
(II Corinthians 6:16-18)
16. And
what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17.Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and
I will receive you,
18.And
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty.
II.
THE OLD TESTAMENT MEN AND WOMEN OF
GOD WERE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LORD VICTORIOUSLY WITH STRONG
FAITH TO GOD.
( Hebrews 11:1-2 ) 1 Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a
good report.
a. The Old Testament Christians had a good report meaning they had a testimony
in their time because of strong faith in God they had.
( Hebrews 11:6 ) 6 But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
b. The Old Testament Christians faced a great threat and persecution,
the Bible said.
( Hebrews 11:32-39 )
32 And
what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of
Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the
prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant
in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead
raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that
they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were
sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not
worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained
a good report through faith, received not the promise:
c. This is another evidence of the DETERMINATION OF CHRISTIANS DURING
THE OLD TESTAMENT.
* Their faith in God is firm and fixed and they are confident to
continue to obey God's will and calling to finish the Christian race that God
has given to them.
( Hebrews 12:1-2 ) 1 Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us,
2 Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God.
III.
KING DAVID WAS DETERMINED TO FACE THE
CHALLENGE OF GIANT GOLIATH TO HIM BECAUSE HE TRUSTED THE LORD TO DEFEAT HIS
GIANT OPPONENT.
* King David was an ordinary man in his time. He was not a soldier but
all his brothers were soldiers of King Saul. He is just a shepherd boy of his
father, Jessie. He took care of the sheep his father and also brought food for
all his brothers who were soldiers under king Saul. Until he saw and heard the
Giant Goliath challenging all the Israelites to fight him.
* We know the story. King David accepted the challenge because no one in
all of the soldiers of King Saul accepted to fight the giant Goliath.
* King David faced and fought Goliath and defeated Goliath and he killed
him and he beheaded the giant Goliath.
(1 Samuel 17:40-54 ) 40 And he took his staff in his
hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a
shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand:
and he drew near to the Philistine.
41 And the Philistine came on and
drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42 And when the Philistine looked
about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and
of a fair countenance.
43 And the Philistine said unto
David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine
cursed David by his gods.
44 And the Philistine said to
David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to
the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the
Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a
shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver
thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and
I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls
of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know
that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall
know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the
LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the
Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and
ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49 And David put his hand in his
bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his
forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to
the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the
Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew
him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran, and stood
upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof,
and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw
their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Israel and of
Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the
valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down
by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53 And the children of Israel
returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And David took the head of the
Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
* King David was determined and firm
and fixed and confident to win the fight. He said to Goliath, “In the Name of
God, I will kill you.” Big amen and amen.
IV.
THE SOULWINNERS OF THE JERUSALEM
CHURCH WERE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE WINNING SOULS DESPITE THE PERSECUTION THEY HAVE
EXPERIENCED AT THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY OF THE GOSPEL.
( Acts 5: 26-29 ) 26 Then went the captain with the
officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest
they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them,
they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly
command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled
Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
a. They are Jerusalem Church soulwinners. They were threatened and
always warned not to speak about the gospel of Christ.
b. But these soulwinners were determined to share the gospel of Christ
with courage and they were confident to answer their persecutors "that
they obey God rather than man.”
( Acts 5:29 ) Then Peter and the other apostles
answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
b. Soulwinners, it is a great challenge for all of us to have
determination and be firm and fix and have the courage and confidence to
continue to reach and win souls for Christ.
( II Timothy 4:2 ) Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and
doctrine.
( Romans 1:15-16 ) 15 So, as much as in me is, I am
ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
V.
PAUL WAS DETERMINED TO FINISH HIS
CALLING TO THE LORD DESPITE THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALING TO HIM THE GREAT THREAT
THAT HE WOULD EXPERIENCE IN OBEYING GOD IN HIS CALLING.
1. Paul is a good example of the determination to finish the calling of
the Lord despite the many revelations of the Holy Spirit to him of the great threat
he will experience from the persecutors of the believers of Christ. But his
conviction to continue was firm and fixed and he was confident of finishing the
calling no matter what worse things happened to him.
( Acts 20:24 ) 24 But none of these things move
me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course
with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God.
2. Paul was very sincere in serving God. He was a good example of a good
Soulwinners of the Lord Jesus Christ.
( Acts 20:19-21) Serving the Lord with all humility
of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in
wait of the Jews:
And how I kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly,
and from house to house,
Testifying both to the Jews, and
also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ.
c. Paul was a Soulwinner servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and always
flexible to kinds of people when he approaches them just to win to Christ by
all means.
( I Corinthians
9:19-22 ) 19. For
though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I
might gain the more.
20.And unto the Jews I became as a
Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the
law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21.To them that are without law,
as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law.
22.To the weak became I as weak,
that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by
all means save some.
* Conclusion:
* Determination in serving God is needed if God’s servant wants to
continue victoriously and bountifully in the work of the Lord.
( I Corinthians
15:58 ) 58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in
the Lord.
*God bless you always *
No comments:
Post a Comment