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3 ways you can be a blessing this Christmas

12/11/2014

3 John 1:5 “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;”

Christmas is a time that can certainly be used for the glory of God, with the intentions of making it “All about Jesus”. Here are three ways in which we can:

1.   Invite

Luke 14:23 “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

a.    To Christ

Christmas is a good occasion to invite people to come to Christ by telling them the true meaning of Christmas.

b.    To Church

Some people would be prone to reposed to your invitation to come to Church during Christmas.

c.    To Home

Perhaps you know someone that does not have family around during this Christmas. This is a good time to demonstrate Christ’s love and invite them to your home.

2.   Invent

As Christians we are to pray for opportunities and find different ways to reach people with the Gospel.

Mark 5:19-20 “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Vs 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”

a.    Testimony

Sharing with others what great things Jesus has done – saving you – is a powerful thing; be passionate about it, and don’t make light of it; boast about God this Christmas.

b.    Gospel

Be sure to be soul-sensitive by passing out gospel tracts, even putting them in Christmas cards. Look for opportunities with family and friends to share with them the plan of salvation.

3.   Intervene

1 Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men… vs 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; vs 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

a.    Pray

Prayer for others is vital. Someone once said “I have learnt to move men through prayer” There are many distractions in this world, and certainly the busyness of life does not make it easy; this is why we need to pray that God will intervene and help people to consider eternal things, the things that matter most, the thing that will last.

b.    Pray some more

At times as a soul-sensitive Christian you will be discouraged because of the apathy and disinterest people have for Christ. We need to pray more, and pray for divine appointments so we do not become apathetic ourselves.

Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator;

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer;

But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.
- unknown

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Dealing with Discouragement

12/9/2014

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Nehemiah 6:9 “For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

As we strive to put God first in all that we do and seek to bring Glory to God by the way we live, we will face various discouragements. Nehemiah had discouragement come his way as he was doing the Work of God. Sanballat and Tobiah found out that the “walls of Jerusalem” were being rebuilt, and they wanted to make sure it didn’t happen. So they invented lies (that he was planning to cause a revolt against the king, and that he wanted to be king) about Nehemiah to cause him to fear so the work would cease.

Nehemiah 6:8 “Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.”

The devil at some point will use someone (whether they know it or not) to discourage you from the work of God. They will falsely accuse you and pursue you so that you would be fearful. This is to weaken and cripple you so will not be effective in the Work of God. Remember, the enemy does not want you to be used for God’s glory.

What do we do when we are discouraged?

1. Cry out to God

Nehemiah 6:9 “For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.”

King David was accustomed to cry out to God when he was discouraged. Either by his enemies or by his own sin. Psalm 59:1-12

2. Continue to do right

Nehemiah 6:10-11 “Afterward I came unto the house of She-ma-iah the son of De-la-iah the son of Me-het-a-beel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. Vs 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.”

Nehemiah didn’t need to hide like a criminal as if he was guilty of the accusation. These were just lies trying to manipulate Nehemiah to do wrong.

Nehemiah 6:13 “Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.”

Fear can grip our hearts and therefore cause us to react and act in haste with our decisions; fear can leads us in a way that demonstrate a lack of Faith in God. As a result we can lose our testimony, and defame the name of God…Nehemiah knew that God will not encourage him to do wrong and go hide in the Temple of God. Nehemiah 6:12 “And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him…”

Cry out to God, Continue to do right, and God will give you the grace you need to battle against discouragement.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

3. Commit the Discourages to God

Notice how Nehemiah goes to God in prayer, entrusting his discouragers - Tobiah and Sanballat – into God’s hands.

Nehemiah 6:14 “My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noa-diah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.”

As the temptation arises to try clear your name, resist the urge and leave it to God…As the flesh desires to move forward to avenge itself, pull back and leave it to God.

Romans 12:17-19 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Vs 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Vs 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

When you react the enemy has you where he wants you. They want you to act in fear. They want you to make hastily decision, greatest of all, they want you to lose your testimony.

Notice what happens when you choose to cry out to God, continue to do right, and commit them in God’s Hands.

Nehemiah 6:15 “So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.”

Nehemiah 6:16 “And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”

You’re able to finish the work God has entrusted to you, and your discouragers will see God’s power and know that they cannot prevail against Him or God’s people. The way you respond as a Christian will play a big part in the eyes of others. Let people see Jesus in you!

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