In order for us to get grace we have to surrender ourselves to God and accept His grace as a free gift. These are emotional, intellectual, and volitional barriers. Unfortunately many would rather listen to a message that makes no demands on them at all, but offers them all the blessings of God they could ever wish to receive, like good health and wealth. These men were presented to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. The apostles handed the food distribution to seven men selected by the church. God looks at you as a loving Father with his arms wide open and he says to you, Draw near by the blood of my Son.. I signed up . December 10, 2018. God allowed this to happen to mobilize the church from becoming inwardly focused. (More people to deal with, more personality issues, cultural issues and so on). Some even got so bold as to cursing the virus and sending it to hell., My Miracle by Arleen McNamara Brahn Walters March 2021 I dont think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. We are here to help and encourage you! Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. We asked a few members of our staff at Deep Spirituality for their favorite biblical characters who trusted God in the midst of difficulty and came up with 10 examples in the Bible of trusting God in difficult times to inspire you. The death of Jesus and the intercession of Jesus, then, provide the grounds by which we can have a rich relationship with God. Obstacles that we face in life are riddled with anxiety, fear, worry, anger, stress, and every negative emotion that you can think of. Let us turn our Bibles now to Acts 20:28-35. 1. THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE SERVICE OF GOD ARISE FROM THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR CHARACTER AND HIS. Notice how verse 19 begins, Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus. He means that we have access to God now because Jesus died in our place. There is always a temptation for those who serve the Lord to get so busy and involved with serving that they neglect their own walk with God. Staten Island, NY 10314, http://sichristianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept.19.mp3. Do you remember when you first yielded your life to Christ? Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/Getty Images. Just before those verses, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) define a path to spiritual happiness and significance totally contrary to what were normally taught (blessed are the meek, not the proud). Right when the church experienced such growth (a problem arose). CBN is a global ministry committed to preparing the nations of the world for the coming of Jesus Christ through mass media. Paul did not withhold any teaching of Gods Word from the Ephesians. Tozer acknowledged the paradoxes of a believers life and thinking: A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. We dont know for sure. How can tell if your agenda or actions are from God or Satan? These feelings can keep us paralyzed from dealing with the obstacles correctly. But if we withhold our worship, we are saying: We know better than God. Three years was actually the longest time that Paul served in one city throughout all his missionary journeys This was because of its strategic location in reaching out to the whole province of Asia. God rewards faithfulness. In those days when the number of disciples was increasing. In Pauls discourse we can see how greatly concerned he was that the Ephesian church should remain faithful. If youre not turned toward Him now, will you take a moment right now to yield to His Spirit once again or maybe even for the first time? These dark moments can leave you feeling frustrated, scared, and broken. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Dont be afraid to stand up to obstacles and say God is here with me, I can overcome this through Him. And He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'. As a result of this they become spiritually weak, they fall into sin and become ineffective in their service. Did the Ephesian elders fulfill their role well? Challenges in serving God. The Bible says that the church is like a human body. But in serving God, there will always be obstructions and hindrances. This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. God does not willingly make His service hard; it would not be hard if we were not sinful. He is patient toward us, always showing his mercy toward us, always deals with us in his steadfast love. There is no way that you can escape from the fires of hell, unless yourepentof your sins andtrust onlyin Jesus Christ to save you, submitting fully to His Lordship in your life. But overcoming feeling rejected is a secret to moving past approval seeking. A spiritual war is taking place. God wants you to open up about your fears, doubts and anxieties so He can help you overcome them. He said,neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received ofthe Lord JesusIn v.22,23 Paul says,And now, behold,I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying thatbonds and afflictions abide me., Paul was heading for Jerusalem in obedience to the Lords direction for him, despite knowing the awful trials he would have to face there. Romans 1:25. The devil is always looking out for opportunities to gain a foothold in your heart and make you fall. This doesnt happen automatically. 2. Tough times and obstacles in life build Christian character and faith. These obstacles can be as basic as being stuck in a numbers mentality, or as complex as generational patterns of viewing pastors as the only ones capable of experiencing God. By: Ysrael De la Cruz At the beginning of the pandemic, I was able to witness many so called prophets come out to predict what the Lord was telling American through the worldwide epidemic of Covid 19. You can be confident in Gods ability to handle your problems (Job 42:2). Growing in Christ wont be without struggles. Join The Hoot & Howl community for access to all the insider info! knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. They see the ministry of the Word merely as a means to get what they, There is always a temptation for those who serve the Lord to get so busy and involved with serving that they neglect their own walk with God. But what do we see here? God created us in his own image and likeness Gen. 1:27-28. Christian author A.W. Meditate on Scripture and you will know everything is going to be OK. Others struggle to serve the Lord because of illness, a serious disease, or a litany or other reasons. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Nothing like a twisted ankle because you stepped on an uneven surface, rock or twig. You know your sin and guilt, and although you like the idea of a closer relationship with God, you wouldnt dare pursue it. The apostles were the shepherds of the church. After all, God had purchased them with His own blood, as Paul mentioned in v.28 (to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.) This of course refers to God the Son who suffered and died on the cross for our sins. You may be diligent in feeding others, but you also need tofeed yourself. The church needs your effectual fervent prayers! Any complaint would arise, and they will go to any of the seven selected to handle this ministry. Choose seven men from among you: men of good reputation (Good testimony) (known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. "Serving God" is one of the important reasons man was created from the beginning. They would rather increase in fame and fortune. . Right beside the foundation of Jesuss death in our place is this glorious picture of Jesus praying for us. Paul belonged to Him alone, and so he lived to do the will of the Lord Jesus. We must continue to work together tobuild a united church family that is committed to making disciples through Salvation, Sanctification and Service to the glory of God. One of the ways we can serve God is by helping his children, our brothers and sisters, through paying a tithing and a generous fast offering. May this occasion also be a time for each of us to search our own hearts with this question: Are you more faithful to the Lord or to yourself? Acts 6:1-7 By: Ysrael De la Cruz The church of Jesus Christ has faced huge challenges throughout it existence and will continue to face challenges until Jesus comes back They came to provide comfort and sympathy to him. He said, "you cannot serve both God and money.". The emotional barrier deals with bad experiences, but the intellectual barrier deals with bad teaching. Please do not think that there isno rolefor you at all in Gods kingdom. With God, you can navigated the deepest and darkest valleys of life and walk high on the mountain. There's three main categories: People, Places and Things. Committed to Loving God and Loving People. When it comes to facing challenges as a church, we must learn like the first Christians did. You can be assured of Gods intentions that He has your best interests at heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hebrews 12:10). You can count on Gods promise (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Confusion: Perhaps worse than the ignorant are the confused. After our conversion, our inner person matures and grows, but our flesh is neither removed nor improved. Here are some key strategies you can use to help overcome your obstacles with Gods help. When we come within inches of making an enormous mistake that could lead to injury or some other kind of catastrophic failure, we have to praise God for allowing us to dodge a bullet. The trouble is, many congregations face substantial obstacles that make the daily practice of experiencing God more challenging. Sometimes people who begin a ministry die or moved and there is not one else to carry it; they come to an end. Two of the biggest barriers to adults being engaged in serving the body of Christ are these feelings: "I don't have anything in common with those I want to serve" and "I don't have anything to offer.". Hearing from God is rooted in faith and belief. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. They even say,Surely God wants His servants to have the very best!, The apostle Paul would have disagreed with them very strongly. Audio Version. In 1 Kings 19, we see how detrimental fear can be to hearing God. The Third Sunday in Lent Sermon starts at 14:15 in recording Service Booklet All Readings Gospel: John 2:13-22 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. The word of God continued to spread (to be taught and preached); more people were becoming disciples, even some Jewish priests received the gospel of Jesus. One great way to combat this is by spending more time at church with your fellow Christians. This helps to shift your perspective and gain the confidence needed to know you can handle it with Gods help. God detests pride, but humility prompts the gift of His grace. Two Obstacles in the Way But it's not that simple. Because the call of God is heaven bound, Satan opposes it with all the weapons in his arsenal. The outcome of the apostles decision? -- Jack Hyles #People #Needs #Serving God Church was never intended to be a place where we serve God to the exclusion of meeting with Him. It is God's will that we come to Him and serve. If Christ has purchased His Church at such great cost to Himself, do you think He will leave its fate to be determined by the changing hearts of men? Yes, we deserve punishment. You might start to lose some of your faith in God. Our Christian life comprises of many obstacles we meet. "Listen to advice and accept discipline . If you are united to Jesus by faith, the anger is gone. Send a prayer request now, or call 18007007000. But it was a problem now. I'm sure you all could have guessed this one would be on this list. Much as we have faith in God and promise to maintain closeness to God at all times, there are few things that will give friction to us in the way of our Christian life to love God at all times. More growth was taking place. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. For greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.". When we spend too much time in a secularized society, the enemy can infiltrate and weaken our spiritual walls. This was his role in serving the Lord, and he devoted himself to fulfill it faithfully wherever he went. It is, There is an important detail here which I want you to notice. Some use their service to God to upgrade themselves they urge people to give and give sacrificially to support their ministry, but they fly business class or in their own private jet, they stay in the most expensive hotels, and they eat at the most expensive restaurants. 2. Is anything too hard for me? When faced with an enormous obstacle, dont focus on how big the problem is. Paul did not say, , If anyone here is still unsaved, please listen to this carefully, because it is part of Gods whole counsel . Have you ever wondered why we get caught in the same sins over and over? Look at what he said in v.33,34, When this question has been settled, we should then go on to another area that requires faithfulness , Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of, Three years was actually the longest time that Paul served in one city throughout all his missionary journeys This was because of its strategic location in reaching out to the whole province of Asia. This relationship were called to is not our building a tower, or our climbing stairs, or our somehow trying to maneuver our way to get close to him. When I started cultivating a relationship with God, there were obstacles I had to overcome; barriers that suppressed my motivation to seek God as He calls us to. God made it possible for you to know. How do we trust and submit to God? These are emotional, intellectual, and volitional barriers. The fear of disappointment, on the other hand, says, Oh yeah, I get that relationship stuff. However with God, your biggest setbacks can become your biggest comebacks. You can be secure in Gods love, which is a demonstrated, sacrificial, and caring love (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10, 19). If God Is Loving, Why Is there So Much Pain in this Life? If you want to remain faithful, you must give sufficient time to the study of Gods Word. When the church began by the preaching of the apostles; It was primarily Jewish, but it didnt take long for it to become more diverse. Hebrews 7:25 tells us, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. He is always praying for us, always fueling the furnace of our faith. They see the ministry of the Word merely as a means to get what theywantinstead of what theyneed. - Obstacles to Following God's Call The Hoot & Howl What's Stopping You? There are obstacles in our way. If He leads us to it, He'll lead us through it. Similarly, repentance is not so much a matter of turning from evil as it is a turning to God. We can certainly learn how to handle any challenge or difficulty when we examine how the first century church handled her own challenges. In fact, faithfulness is the most important quality needed in serving the Lord. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" ( Isaiah 12:2 ). He is our perfect, spotless righteousness and our lives are hid with him on high. If we allow fear to take over, then faith gets pushed aside. Obstacles to serving God. So, this distribution of goods took place before and there wasnt a problem. Regardless of any problem or issue we face as a church; we must never neglect Christs mission: to reach the lost; to make disciples of all nations through the preaching of his word. 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