The Truth About Success In The Kingdom of God

The Truth About Success In God’s Kingdom Acts 19. 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. II Timothy 1.15 You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Do you see what is going on here? Paul the apostle has preached in Ephesus as a center and all the Greeks and Jews living in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Then go ahead to a number of years to when he writes to Timothy. He tells Timothy that all Asia has forsaken him. He tells Timothy at the end of the letter that when he stood for his first defense no one stood with them may it not be held against them but the LORD was at my side. Paul and Stephen have the same attitude of Christ Jesus: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. LORD, do not hold this sin to their charge. May it not be held against them. What a way to live and pray and finish! Oh to be like Jesus in this! What are some truths we can glean that will help give us a right perspective in our work for the LORD? We all want to be successful. This kingdom has different parameters that any other. This is not just in the church. It is in all of life. Work Done For Christ Is Just That: Work For Christ It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Colossians 3.24 We need to remember that. Paul would have been disappointed if after years of preaching he was serving people who deserted him! If we serve the church we will become disillusioned. If we serve the LORD we will be content. There is a huge difference. We need to love the church but not be surprised when it lets us down. It will. I totally agree with Dr. E. Stanley Jones, “The church, with all other faults, is still the best serving organization on earth. So get into it and serve.” Just remember It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. But we must guard against bitterness... Milo Arnold/ E. Stanley Jones Remember the LORD Jesus. He had opposition, things said about Him that were not true. He also had His Deserters. John 6. 66 From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.) Jesus gave us a perfect example of what to expect when we served Him in the account of the Ten Lepers Bring Healed. Luke 17. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Don’t be surprised if after someone is healed or helped that they go on and forget to even give thanks to the LORD. I remember the first time this happened. I was a young pastor. It blew me away nearly. We actually went to pray with a guy who was dying. A few weeks later he was fine. I figured the whole family would come to church. He never showed up. The family never acknowledged God’s healing to us. The rewards of serving Jesus blow us away. To be part of His work is wonderful!However we must remember that there is this other side we are speaking about this morning. You and the LORD know many things in your service to Him that others do not know or see. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Those times when you do what is right because it is right, those times when you go the extra mile, do the extra work. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Colossians 3.22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the LORD. The Only One We Can Always Depend On is Jesus. II Timothy 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength, It is marvelous to have the LORD stand at your side. To have His Hand upon you is simple amazing. He is with us. He will never leave us. Friends who leave when circumstances change were never ours to begin with! Proverbs 19.4 Wealth attracts many friends,     but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. Nobody wanted Him, No one cared But as long as the miracles flowed like wine they called him wonderful they came to dine. Jesus was crowded by so many wanting to be healed. When He talked about suffering they rejected that teaching, even His own disciples, even Peter! God gives us strength to suffer. It is not all a struggle. Serving Jesus is wonder filled. I Timothy 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. It is the LORD Who Gives Success. Numbers are not the bottom line in this Kingdom. Faithfulness to the LORD is. Christian character is. Christian Influence matters. Some have ten talents, others of us just one. Use your talents in the Kingdom. John 3.27 A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. Success is faithfulness. Hebrews 4. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. God sees the things we do when no one is watching. He knows the giving and praying and fasting we have done in His Name. He knows the phone calls, cards and texts we we send to simply encourage souls. He is keeping account. That is what we will commended for when we stand before Him. Hebrews 10.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.

God’s Word of Encouragement

God’s Word of Encouragement to the Apostle Paul Acts 18. 9 One night the LORD spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God. In this time we need a word of encouragement from the LORD. The coronavirus and the after affects are taking it’s toll on all of us. Some people are struggling with depression. Some people have become shaky in their faith. One out of three people in the United States that were active are no longer attending church or viewing the services online. Others are trying their best but it seems as if everything’s against them. When Paul was going through a difficult time in his ministry God came to him and spoke to him about the work that he was doing. The LORD speaks to us in our times of struggle and uncertainty. We wonder what is going on today. We want life to be predictable, to even go back to the way things were. We forget that reality does not repeat. In this “End of the World As We Knew It” the LORD has not changed. He and His Word remain the same. Paul, the apostle needed this Word. Paul had to escape several times. He still bore the scars from the beating he had received in Philippi for being falsely accused. God knew that coming to a new area, he would need help and encouragement. We are in a new time. This Word to Paul is for us today. The LORD speaks to us personally! *From His Word The more we are in the Word, the more we will hear Him. Problems in believers’ lives happen when they do things contrary to the Word. *To Our Hearts Hebrews 1. 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. *In Our Hearts The still small voice I Kings 19. 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Do not be afraid One of 365 times One for everyday Keep on speaking Don’t stop doing what you have been doing. Don’t be silent Don’t quit Don’t give up Hebrews 10.39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. I am with you His Presence Exodus 33.15 Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. I will protect you. No one is going to oppress or harm you. I have many people on Long Island God has people in your life people that love him and love you. Paul didn’t even know who these people were. And we may not either. But He has many people around you and he’s going to protect you and he’s going to be with you always. When going through a stressful time, a difficult time we can easily forget that. Elijah was a man just like us. I Kings 19. 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

Be A Berean

Be a Berean Acts 17.10-12 Paul the apostle left Thessalonica and traveled to Berea. This was done at night. He was basically snuck out of the city to escape persecution. He still had the scars from the severe flogging in Philippi. He did the same things with the Bereans as he had always done. He went to their synagogue. His pattern was, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1.16 The success in Berea was greater than Thessalonica. There was a reason for this... actually several: The Bereans were of Noble Character Well behaved Good The Greek word used in Acts is eugenesteroi, which comes from eugenes, from which we derive the personal name "Eugene." Originally, it meant "wellborn" and implied nobility. Later, it described those of a generous spirit, who are open-minded toward truth, not prejudiced, hostile, or suspicious of others, but give others a fair hearing. The Bereans are considered as noble because they listened to the preaching of the gospel with open hearts as they pursued God and His whole truth. May you have an open heart. In this time of great change in the world and Church. In the sunshine and the rain. We need both to make flowers grow. In the seasons of the year and life. The Bereans held the Word of God in high esteem. The character of a nation, a group of people, a denomination, a church’s character will be known by the place it holds the Word of God in its heart and life. Always hold the Word of God along with His Name high in your life. Hide it in your heart. I wish Paul had written a letter to this church. It would have been one full of commendations. May we be that kind of church! Commended by God. What man commends/ What God commends We have the letters of Paul to the churches. We have the messages of Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation. If we were have a letter written to us what would it say? The Bereans were model seekers/ believers They were Eager to learn Take hold of it. Receive it like a grant. Embrace it. Zeal We need to diligently search the Scriptures daily. Marinate yourself in it. We should be people of one Book. All other books should be read in the light of the Word of God. I am concerned because that is not so today, even among so called believers. Our relationship with the Word of God is one of embracing it, being zealous to keep it, receiving the gift of it with thankfulness. What a gift we have been given! I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your Word. Psalm 138.2 Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119.89 The Word of God is our sole basis for truth and error. Testing the Scriptural Teaching To see if what is being proclaimed is true. To see if what I believe is accurate. You didn’t hear from Bereans, “Wow! What a great message! What an awesome speaker. I could listen to that man preach all day! What a great preacher!” May God help us move away from such childish thinking across the Body of Christ! Here is Paul’s Testimony: I Corinthians 2.1 And so it was with me, brothers, When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. The Bereans were a people who held Scripture in such a high regard that it became their daily pursuit, their source of truth, the only reference book or material they would read in search of what is true. Sifted Getting the wheat separated from the chaff Pulling out the truth Examined Checked out his quotes from the Old Testament. Judged Is it reasonable? Is it right? Listening to the Word of God put them in the Word of God daily. Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good. Be a Berean!