All you have to do is put your trust in Him. Only God the Holy Spirit can change a heart. Do you find it hard? In the following paragraphs, I have listed 10 common things that can interfere with our walk with God. We all want to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ better and He certainly wants us to know Him better. 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? The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" ( Isaiah 12:2 ). More growth and new challenges would come ahead. Here are 4 ways to find contentment in Christ: #1 Accept rejection. Many people will spend a lot of time trying to think and maneuver their way around obstacles . Christs mission must be the churchs main priority. I hope that everyone who is serving in any ministry of Life Church will take this exhortation seriously Guard yourself! Submit yourselves therefore to God. and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near . This then is what it means toserve the Lord with allhumilityof mind.The Lords interests must always come first. But God has something to say. There an be obstacles in our spiritual walks, too, and sometimes we place them; sometimes we embrace them - addiction to television, busyness, overextending ourselves, video games Identify and address your obstacles. and its ok. Because the call of God is heaven bound, Satan opposes it with all the weapons in his arsenal. Jesus said in Luke 16:13 (NLT) "No one can serve two masters. (Rom.12:2). This command to draw near might be summarized as a summons to live in a rich God-accomplished relationship with God. Whatever Peter said to Jesus did not support Gods plan. Its a rich relationship, not a mechanical one. But the enemy doesnt like this, so he would use anything to stop you. To draw near. (v.4) We will attend constantly or persist in prayer and the preaching of the gospel. Abraham Taking Isaac to be Sacrificed. Money Money. As in all things, God's ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son ( Romans 8:29 ). There are many things, in fact, that might deter you from a rich relationship with God, but two in particular are worth mentioning: 1) the fear of judgment and 2) the fear of disappointment. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge.*. 9) 1 John 4:4 "Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them. You can count on Gods promise (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). 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. Obstacles that we face in life are riddled with anxiety, fear, worry, anger, stress, and every negative emotion that you can think of. One obstacle that prevents us from serving the Lord as we should is our being ashamed of Him. In v.28 they are told tofeedthe church of God.In vv.29-31 they are told to keepwatchagainst false teachings that may come into the church both from without and from within. Those who stayed in Jerusalem were arrested (Acts 8). Look at v.21 where Paul says that he wastestifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,repentance toward God, and faith toward ourLordJesus Christ.. Copyright 2020 Life Bible-Presbyterian Church. Biblical Truth #2) Trust in God for strength and wisdom to deal with the obstacles. He bore our sins in his body on the tree. What happens when one organ in a persons body is not functioning well? "Listen to advice and accept discipline . The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes - the hope of the world hangs on it (Rom 1:16). Verse Concepts. Stephen: (a man full of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas from Antioch a convert to Judaism. This can be seen in the call which He gave to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:10Be thoufaithfulunto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.It is also seen in the commendation which the servants received from the Lord in Matthew 25:21Well done, thou good andfaithfulservant: thou hast beenfaithfulover a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.. . God wants you to be successful and triumphant, and has a great plan for your life. You can be comforted by Gods commitment (Psalm 46:1; Luke 15:11-32). The problem: a complaint from the Grecian Jews (Hellenistic Jews). This exhortation is found in v.32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God,and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up,and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.(v.32) Paul said this because he had to leave the Ephesians, and would no longer be present to teach them as he had done before. Below we've briefly outlined these the top ten problems people have with God to help you reach skeptical people in our post-truth world. Yes, we are sinners. God allowed this to happen to mobilize the church from becoming inwardly focused. 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. But he also said that the gates of Hades will not overcome his church. No matter how big your problem may feel, or how impossible it may seem for it to get better, know that nothing is too difficult for God to handle. This gravity is like a built-in magnet that draws us toward controlling, creating, and manipulating. As the people contemplated God's instructions, they faced the challenge . The devil is always looking out for opportunities to gain a foothold in your heart and make you fall. 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. For example, if you are struggling to cope with a bad breakup, you can replace your sadness by focusing on the love God has for you. A preacher was once heard yelling, Oh, [expletive]! on the way down. We relish our sin too much to renounce it. There's no doubt, that the Bible is full of Bible verses about struggle and perseverance. The church needs your effectual fervent prayers! Have you ever wondered why we get caught in the same sins over and over? You may be diligent in feeding others, but you also need tofeed yourself. The death of Jesus and the intercession of Jesus, then, provide the grounds by which we can have a rich relationship with God. Sometimes God may call you to a different ministry. He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf. This morning we will see how the apostle Paul highlights the need for faithfulness in Gods service to the Ephesian elders by his example and his exhortations. However, this didnt stop the gospel; the believers continued to be strong in their faith amid persecution and their number continued to increase. About10 years laterwhen Timothy was pastoring the church at Ephesus, Paul wrote to him:Holding faith, and a good conscience;which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.(1 Timothy1:19) And so, not wanting this to happen to his young co-worker, Paul gave him the very same exhortation that he gave to the Ephesian elders. *A.W. This helps to shift your perspective and gain the confidence needed to know you can handle it with Gods help. The Emotional Barrier: Is It Safe to Trust God? The Bible says eternal life is to "know God and His one and only Son." As I made the transition from knowing about God for 19 years, to actually . 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? As followers of Jesus, we will struggle with trials and tribulations. Do you know that prayer was the secret of success in Pauls ministry? You think a person as messed up as you just isnt supposed to be close to God. 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.'. 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. The enemy does not want you to discover or understand who you are in Christ, and will try to take away your spiritual identity. In the midst of difficulty and temptation, were told to come closer. Paul did not say, , If anyone here is still unsaved, please listen to this carefully, because it is part of Gods whole counsel . In verses 9-21 we, Dont be deceived! Please see the Disclosures for how it will all go down. Here are some key strategies you can use to help overcome your obstacles with Gods help. Certain Relationships Hinder Spiritual Growth. Be willing to say yes to whatever God wants you to do. Staten Island, NY 10314, http://sichristianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sept.19.mp3. He had been doing this to the Ephesians for three years (54-57 AD), as he said to them in vv.18 and 31Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia,after what manner I have been with you at all seasonsTherefore watch, and remember, that by the space ofthree yearsI ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.. Tit was through all these works of God that the Ephesians had now grown into a thriving church, But there is still so much more that needs to be done as we move forward as a church into our 67, build a united church family that is committed to making disciples through Salvation, Sanctification and Service to the glory of God. Everything a church does should fall under the umbrella of reaching the world with the gospel and making people into disciples. Over the last three months we have seen God clearing away all the obstacles for the launching of a new Bible College. Christ went to Jerusalem towards the end of His earthly ministry, despite, The apostle Paul would have disagreed with them very strongly. Satan could not stop the growth of the church through outside influence. Allow God to remind you who He is and what He promises, and then be honest with Him. To move in. Did the Ephesian elders fulfill their role well? Deborah: Trusting God through the demands of life. So, our attitude to serving God should be one that is reflective of Psalm 100:2 (NKJV): "Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.". Christians are called to make disciples, but we are not capable of changing people. Doesnt this remind us of what our Lord Himself did? This email address is being protected from spambots. - 2 Timothy 1:1-18 By Pastor Mark Thomas on 10 April 2016 at the evening service. . Committed to Loving God and Loving People. These dark moments can leave you feeling frustrated, scared, and broken. This was their main priority: In a Christ-centered church the preaching and teaching of Gods word must be the main priority. He said, Paul was heading for Jerusalem in obedience to the Lords direction for him, despite knowing the awful trials he would have to face there. This can be seen in the call which He gave to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:10. The most of men are careless and indifferent to then heavenly King; they remember all things else except the God who made them. Image Credit: Hero Images/Hero Images/Getty Images. Reach out and call Gods name. God calls His people to serve and love one another with humility. Get more than a Sunday sermon. . When it comes to facing challenges as a church, we must learn like the first Christians did. God Will Allow You to Go Through Impossible Situations to Produce a Supernatural Dependence in You. Materialism is the third barrier that keeps us from being available to serve. This actually happened to the Ephesian church about 40 years later. Thats why Christ bestowed all the spiritual gifts which the Church needs for service. But Paul did not expect the elders of Ephesus to do what he did, because they had adifferentrole to fulfill. This shows that Jesus was a very big part of Pauls life. Everyone in the church knew who was overseeing the food distribution ministry. The elders of Ephesus were faithful in their roles asshepherdswho provided for the flock and protected it from danger. Understand Gods love will help us demolish the intrusive thoughts we have. As we now enter into our 67thyear, let us resolve to give Him thefirst and central placein all that we do as a church, so that we may be faithful to Him. The apostles prayed for these ministry leaders and their ministry. With God, you can navigated the deepest and darkest valleys of life and walk high on the mountain. 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. Copyright March 4, 2019,Ken Boa, used with permission. Faith is from God and fear is from the enemy. How do we keep doing all these things until we reach the end? (Food pantry ministry). These are emotional, intellectual, and volitional barriers. 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