Best Use of My Time
“17But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 1 John 3:17-18 NASB
See a need – meet a need! I envision each Christ-follower doing this for one day and the impact that would make in the lives of our community, nation, and world. Life change would be the result. Change in the hearts of those that used their resources to meet a need and change in those that receieved the love of Christ in their time of need.
How can I love in deed and not just in words?
Yesterday, I spent time with God and studied His word and thought about this question. I cried out to God – give me an opportunity! Please! I had the opportunity to invest two hours with a friend as we talked about life, kids (weak area for me – my wife and I don’t have any), Jesus and how we can enrich not only each others lives, but the lives of those around us by meeting a need. We were doing it. The answer: TIME! We made time for each other the same way Christ made time to “be in relationship” with others. Unfortunately, time is what we often times cannot seem to give another person.
For disicpleship to be effective I must be willing to invest my time with others in building and strengthening relationships. We were made for relationships. As I grow in relationship with others I’m able to meet their needs in so many other ways. So for me, the first priority is to make time to build and strengthen relationships with those in my life.
What Concerns God?
What Concerns God? What is God’s will/desire(s) for me?
Salvation
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Sanctification (Purity/Holiness)
1 Thes 4:3-5,7 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
Leviticus 20:26 ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
Suffering/Trials
2Ti 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
1 Pet 4:1-2, 19 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
19Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Spirit Filled Life
Submission
To God – James 4:
To Spouse/ One another Eph 5:22-6:
To Authorities Rom 13
Justice (138), Mercy (99)/Compassion (92) – Humility
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness (mercy), And to walk humbly with your God?
Humility
Micah 6:8
Philippians 2
Col 3:12-13
James 4:6-7, 10; 1 Pet 5:5-6
Matt 20:26-27; Luke 22:26; Eph 4:1-3
2 Cor 12:10
Love (320)
Love God – Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 10:11-13; Matthew 22:36-38
Love Others – John 13:34-36; John 15:12; John 15:17; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Jn 3-4
Col 3:12-14 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Continual Rejoicing, Prayer and Thanksgiving
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Phil 4:4-7
Good Deeds
Heb 10:24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds
Eph 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Titus 2:14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Righteousness (150 OT) Ts@daqah 6666
Justice (403 OT) Mishpat 4941 Justice/Judgment (46 NT) Krisis 2920
Righteous/Just (196 OT) Tsaddiyq 6662
Love (202 OT) ahab 157
Mercy (241) Checed 2617, (43) Racham 7355; (26 NT) Eleos 1656; (5 NT) Oiktirmos 3628
Have Mercy on/for (28 NT) Eleeo 1653
Show Mercy to (72 OT) Chanan 2603
Welcome to Doing Discipleship
Our goal is to grow in discipleship, and to spur one another on to love and good works as we strive to fulfill the Great Commandment from Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded. In order to do this, we must multiply – not just growing in knowledge, because knowledge can puff up, but also passing on what we have seen and heard and learned to others.
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