Do not wait for someone to tell you that you need to get busy and work. II Peter was written from prison during a time of intense persecution and a time of false teachings which condoned a virulent sexual permissiveness and moral relativity. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most, INTRODUCTION Somebody said to me, Well, what about the work-aholics? I answered, One sermon at a time, please. We serve a big God. Sloths are mammals who move only when necessary and even then very slowly. Enter your email address and we will send you instructions on how to reset your password. The rest is history. John Wivell. However, if the lazy were not willing to do the work required to stay out of debt, they will not be willing to do the work to get out of debt. God wants us to be diligent in virtually every corner of our lives. Trevor Musia. 3. Good morning everyone, let me get your mind thinking- Here is the solution to the problem. You may bear different fruit than you thought you would or even hoped for. Noah provides an example of work ethic by laboring to complete the construction of a massive ark (. Lifelong Diligence - A Godly Work Ethic. The fact that God calls what he does work and calls it good means that work must be significant, that it must have intrinsic value. In fact, it acts as a shield or defense in this life, averting, or at least easing, many of the trials and difficulties that this life brings. For example, a weary Jesus, beleaguered by constant preaching, teaching, serving, and badgering, once retired to a deserted place with his apostles, so they could rest. You can be sure that the lawyers on both sides vigorously A weak or vacillating soul may fall back on the fear of punishment or need to survive as a pivotal motivation for diligent labor; however, the mature Christian will ultimately be driven by sober love (. Proper motivation, mixing a sense of obligation, love, hope, faith, and reputation, all help to drive and move us toward a diligent work ethic, much like that of Noah. Hard work! Understand that in working on anything you are creating future opportunities for yourself. Amen. You will have plenty of goats milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls. Proverbs 27:25-27. He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me!" (Song 2:3-4 The Message)I recently had the opportunity to read through a personal testimony that I . Self-Denial and Thrift Do Not Enslave Yourself to Debt, Bond Servitude. Create your own incentives. No man or woman, old or young, white or black can make it, succeed or prevail in whatsoever by diligence, strength or hard work alone (1Sam 2:7-9). God created people to be his coworkers Man was created in the image of God and since God is a worker, man - created in God's image - must be a worker, too. For some reason we seem to think that since God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the universe and anything else in existence that he should do everything on a grand scale. It is a sign of increasing godliness. Paul tells us to be diligent. The lambs will provide you will clothing and goats with the price of a field. 19. We are also called to honor and obey our heavenly Father-this is the highest obedience. The loving Christian will work not just for himself but for others: Noah built the ark, which saved him, but it also saved his family (. Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your faithfulness. In 2 Peter chapter one, before Peter even mentions the first of the virtues to add to our lives, he mentions, One single year of faith has virtually no value: 2 Peter 1:5, One day of being morally courageous has no impact in the long run: 2 Peter 1:5, Being a good Bible study for a few weeks isnt going to give us much wisdom: 2 Peter 1:6. . Consider her ways and be wise, which. If there is a setback, or something in any given project does not cooperate with you, understand that you are learning important skills, trouble-shooting is probably one of the most important things a Christian can learnbecause much is life is all about trouble-shooting the problems caused by sincoming up with solutions and preventing future trouble. There was one in Asheville, NC and one in Corbin, KY. Expositions Of Holy Scripture Ephesians Peter. Workers are commanded to be submissive to their masters, obliged not to men but to God! Work while watching (16-18a) Pentecostal, We must be diligent in taking initiative in our service to God. A. Realizing that giving up will only lead to regret and frustration. He just rolls over and puts the pillow over his head and doesnt get up in the morning. In Scripture diligence is highly commended. Pull some strings. 11775 SW Fifth Street 1. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness (Proverbs 21:5). It is the way of getting up early and staying up late. But being self-motivated can be liberating. 'On this very account' -- because He has given so much -- we are to lay 'all diligence' by the side of His gifts, which are useless to the sluggard. Life would not always be hunky-dory, we got to roll up our sleeves and be ready to dirty our fingers! If we are to accomplish anything for God, some work principles need to be kept in mind. Our application has focused primarily on physical labor. If you must be driven to work, then something is seriously wrong. Baptist. If he has not proven himself by working hard for his parents in the past, his training at present, or his preparations for the future, then he will not work hard for you or your children! Luke 5:1-3. Be skilled in what excites you in life, because once you have determined what it is that God has gifted you to do, if you will become skilled at it, you will not serve before obscure men. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. supplying to restaurants. Often people feel hindered at the start of something, and they dont know where to begin. Be honest with your employer about how much you work. It is the word with which the Apostle, left solitary in his prison, besought his sole trusty companion Timothy to 'make haste so as to come to him before winter.' read more, Scripture: Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. read more, Scripture: There is always the possibility that tomorrow may offer a better opportunity than today. Hence we gather that no Christian growth is possible unless a man gives his mind to it. If you do, God will punish you, sooner or later. Have you ever wondered if God made the perfect person for you? Message 33 in our exposition of Romans. In this case, laziness detaches us from the world and the consequences of our unmet obligations. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee (Deuteronomy 6:17). Speak up. This message is not for all but only for people serving in the Christian ministry as pastors, preachers, leaders, care cell leaders, worship leaders, Evangelists, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). However, Like a Girl Its the way of laziness, the way of the sluggard. When we understand God's design and heart for our work lives, it becomes something we no longer push through but thrive from. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.Proverbs 21:25, The sluggard says, Theres a lion outside or Ill be murdered in the streets Proverbs 22:13. Beware the arrogant, consuming, entitled, lazy, leech-like attitude, which can infect an entire generation, and which has helped destroy many nations before our own. Many people move but are not diligent. The Divine gift, then, is everything that will help a man to live a high and godly life. Without it, the faith, though it may be genuine, which lies in a man who is idle in cultivating Christian character, will bear but few and shrivelled fruits. If we become the people God wants us to be, then He will direct us in the path He wants us to take. Diligence refers to attentive, earnest, careful, zealous, persistent effort and application toward a given goal. The most critical realm to exercise our work ethic is that of the spiritual. Even after the day is done, children do not go away. Furthermore, since we are serving God, our passion for work should flow from our heart and passion for God. There is some truth to that. Therefore, Christian diligence gives its best all the time, even when no man is looking. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Work is our place of God's provision and a place of witness. Chuck's sermon is an excellent example of a sermon that sharpens the way we read the Bible. Theme: Character development is not an important part of life?it IS life! Even on the brink of success, while he holds it in his hands, procrastination seduces him to stumble at the threshold of victory. There is coming a day for each of us, if we live to see it, where we may be alive, but we will exert little to no influence on the world around us. I. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! Little progress will be made if we do not work as feeling that 'the night is far spent, the day is at hand,' or as feeling the apparently opposite but really identical conviction, 'I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day. The Season of Easter Series: When Jesus Shows Up The easy road takes you down to the bottom. Features Pricing Upload Sermon Get started for FREE. I have been reevaluating this phrase as a challenge. Sermon Submitted 9 months ago. She is still an immature girl! Being tired is no excuse for bypassing the opportunity to work, and no one appreciates the murmuring, because such complaining belittles the toil that others produce. The great physician cures diseases with simples that grow everywhere. Work together (19-20a) sermon: Giving All Diligence! Stay awake and you will have food to spare. Proverbs 20:13, The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Proverbs 21:5, He who loves pleasure will become poor. Baptist. Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of ding the hard work you already did (Newt Gingrich). Use your power, your intelligence, your vision, your gifts and all that God gave you, to do something. That God gave you, sooner or later and All that God gave you, sooner or later challenge... To begin thrive from refers to attentive, earnest, careful,,... Be kept in mind in Asheville, NC and one in Corbin, KY. Expositions of Holy Scripture Peter... 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