SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, June 10,
2007
The Year of the Invitation : Do Not Faint in the Work of the Lord
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
One of the sports
that I dabbled in a little in High School was cross country running. I
seemed to have a strong endurance for running long distances. I can still
remember running in a two mile race at one of the meets. Sad to say, I
didn’t really like our main runner and I thought I could beat him. He was
a senior and I was a freshman. He had all kinds of experience in running
races, for me this was my first. I made the mistake of running too fast in
the beginning and then I fainted in the middle, lost my stride and ended
up not giving my best performance in the race. We are instructed in the
Bible that we are not to faint or become weary in the work of the Lord.
The Greek word faint has a very bad definition. It means to “begin to slow
down”, to “stop”, to “quit”, to “weakening in purpose”. We are to stay hot
for the Lord, abounding in the work of the Lord until his return or our
departure. If we faint, we also could turn in a poor performance in our
race of life.
I. Pressing Toward the Goal
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid
hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NKJV
A. I have not already attained, or am already perfected. I press toward
the Goal.
There is a danger in flat teaching that when you become a Christian that
you get everything. I think a safer way to look at this is that everything
now becomes available to you. You have the responsibility to press after
it.
B. Forgetting those things that are behind, I am reaching forward.
No one can run the best race dragging things behind them. We must forget
the death of the past and remember the life of the present and future.
C. I press toward the HIGH upward call. [Paul activated his grace call]
II. The Time and Season of the Laodicea Church.
You have heard me say in recent days that we are living in the last days.
That time in history is the time of the Laodicea church. Let’s look
together at what is said about these last days and the condition of the
church.
A. The Lukewarm Church Laodicea meaning Laid Back
Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning
of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold
nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17
Because you say,'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'
— and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and
naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your
nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that
you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone
hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me
on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His
throne.
22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
NKJV
1. Faithful and True Witness…..gives His diagnoses.
a. I know your works. b. I know your view of yourselves and that we need
eye salve. c. Invitation to come and receive from Him, “I am at the door”.
2. Tells us about Last Days.
2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days ,
walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise
of His coming? NKJV
Matt 24:9- "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and
you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will
be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then
many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold . 13 But he who
endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will
be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the
end will come. NKJV
2. The Vision of the Train Station.
1 Kings 6:37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD
was laid, in the month of Ziv. 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month
of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its
details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in
building it.
1 Kings 7:1 But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house;
so he finished all his house. NKJV
III. Let Us be, “Always Abounding”, when He Comes.
1 Cor 15: 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not
in vain in the Lord. NKJV
D.L. Moody. when coming home from preaching the Gospel around the world
was exhausted. His wife pleaded with him not to do this to himself again.
His response was, “My dear wife, I am weary in doing the work of the Lord,
but I am not weary of the work of the Lord.”
A. Steadfast and immovable in our eternal hope, loving not our lives even
unto death. Not gaining this world but living for that which is to come.
B. Always Abounding in the WORK OF THE LORD.
1. That we would believe in Jesus, not in ourselves.
2. That we would give our lives and all that we are to bring glory to God.
3. That we would be and make disciples of all nations.
4. That we would work together in the order of God.
5. That we would be steadfast in prayer and good works.
Conclusion: Faint not in your Day…Do not become weary of the work
of the Lord [definition: It means to, “Begin to slow down”, to
“stop”, to “quit”, to, “weakening in purpose”.]
But in a great way, become weary in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. NKJV.
A tape recording
of today’s message is available from the church. To get your cassette tape
recording of this message, just send $5 (to cover costs of tape and
postage) to:
Attn.: Tape
Ministry
Abundant Life Fellowship
P.O. Box 22
Boonville, NY 13309-0022
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