Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

The urgent need for more godly servants. There are more opportunities growing in need of faithful ministry service.

Scripture Texts

Philippians 2:19-24

Main Points or Ideas

1. The need for individuals who are marked by humility

• V. 22 - served
• Paraphrase: Seeking our own, neglecting Christ, is a great sin - Matthew Henry

2. The need for individuals who are marked by teachableness

• V. 20 - like-minded
• Good listener
• Willing to learn
• Diligent follower

3. The need for individuals marked by availability

• V. 20 - I have
• At Paul’s disposal
• No boundaries

4. The need for individuals who are marked by proven character

• V. 22 - know
• Openly observed
• Willingly tested
• Found reliable

5. The need for individuals who are marked by usefulness

• V. 19, 23 - Send Timothy, send him
• Always the guy Paul wanted to send
• Always the guy Paul needed
• A benefit wherever he was

Conclusion

How will you be a benefit to your people around you? Are you willing to do so?

God’s faithfulness should be a stimulus for us to trust Him.

Scripture Texts

1 Timothy 3:1; Luke 14:25-30; Mark 10:29-30

Main Points or Ideas

“'To reach or stretch out,' is the middle voice, signifying the mental effort of stretching oneself out for a thing, of longing after it, with stress upon the object desired" - Vine

1. Because the ministry is HARD

• Satan opposes you
• Sin desires you
• People argue you
• Sorrow overwhelms you

2. Because the ministry is FUN

• God supports you
• Jesus cleanses you
• People help you
• Joy overwhelms you

• “Too many Christians write their successes in the sand and chisel their failures in stone.”

• “God doesn't need your ability. He needs your availability.” - Warren Weirsbe

Conclusion

Count the cost! Take a risk!

There may be things that may need to be done, but are not desirable.

Scripture Texts

Colossians 3:12-13

Main Points or Ideas

Qualification does not mean quality.

1. Compassion

• Softness, vulnerability, fellowship
• No transformation without transparency

2. Kindness

• Romans 2:4
• Closely related to grace

3. Humility and meekness

• Lowliness
• Putting others first

4. Gentleness

• 1 Peter 3:15
• Showing kindness and calmness

5. Patience

• Opposite of revenge and resentment
• Bearing one another and forgiving one another

1. Love

• Do you genuinely love people
• It is divinely sourced, distinctly Christian, and extremely difficult

Conclusion

What may seem like a little thing goes a long way.

The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground.

Scripture Text

Acts 14:8-23

Main Points or Ideas

Four Non-Optional Rules For Spiritual Victory

1. Complete the Mission

• Be glued to the mission
• The mission demands us to keep going
• What distractions are keeping you from completing the mission?

2. Whatever you do, do it to your utmost (Colossians 3:23)

• Stay committed to your task
• Acts 13:2
• Acts 14:21-23
• If you’re pursuing ministry, pursue it with all of your heart

3. Be fearless of criticism

• IDF - “The secret weapon.”
• How do you respond to criticism? Will you accept it?
• Who has the freedom to speak to you a hard word?

4. Have no alternative

• No plan B
• Jesus didn’t say, “go and make disciples. If that doesn’t work, open a coffee shop.”

Conclusion

Are you giving it all in your mission, all of it in your ministry?

Suffering and questioning/deconstructing beliefs is a common issue with our age.

Scripture Texts: Hebrews 12

Main Points or Ideas:

How do we run with endurance?

1. God’s discipline creates a heart of righteousness (v. 10)

2. Strive for peace with all men (v. 14)

3. Focus on grace, cling to it (vv. 15-16)

1. This is our main responsibility

2. When we suffer, we tend to take our eyes off of the grace of God

4. The blood of Jesus speaks better than Abel (v. 24)

1. His blood speaks justice

2. His blood speaks redemption

5. The reality of suffering is that you lose things (v. 27-29)

1. We have a better thing to cling to that is not shaken - Jesus

2. His kingdom that is coming is unshaken!

Conclusion: Keep running with endurance. We will soon receive a kingdom that is unshaken.

We all get weary, both physically and spiritually. In Ephesians 6, Paul provides principles that help us combat the weariness that we experience in life.

Scripture Text

Ephesians 6

Main Points or Ideas

Paul gives several phrases that help us understand how we need to deal with physical and spiritual weariness so that we can be refreshed and energized.

1. Recognize that you are in a battle “against (5x)

• It is a constant battle

• It is a cosmic battle

• It is a costly battle

2. Realize your responsibility in the battle is “to stand” (4x)

3. Remember that you can win the battle “in the strength of the Lord.”

Conclusion

If we’re going to be refresh and energized, we first have to recognize that we are in a battle. Second, we have to realize that we have a responsibility to stand fast in the battle. Finally, we have to remember that our battles can only be won in God’s strength!

Out of the mass reservoir of Jesus’ inherent omnipotence, you have access to be enabled to win any battle.

You may only have 80% of the information when you go to make a decision. The decisions in the dark are often the most critical.

Scripture Texts

Psalm 142; 1 Samuel 24

Main Points or Ideas

3 Lessons on Leadership in 1 Samuel 24:

1. Truth Based (v. 6)

2. Others Focused (v. 7)

3. Respect Authority (v. 8)

Sometimes, it is good to wait, but the Lord also allows decisions to be made in the dark.

We are called to be careful in our decisions. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Take Home Truths:

1. Hit Pause

2. Pay Attention to the Tension

3. Don’t React But Act

Result:

• Saul was humiliated by David’s humility (v. 16-18)

Conclusion

Humility is the Runway to Harmony

We are looking at something very familiar, trials and temptations.

Scripture Text

James 1:1-15

We Meet/Face Trials Of All Types

We Have A Responsibility To Respond To Trials With:

• Joy (V. 2a)

• Letting steadfastness have its full effect (v. 4)

• Steadfastness = endurance (Vv. 3-4)

Similar To Trials, We Can Be Tempted (Vv. 13-15)

• Response - not blaming God (v. 13)

• Not letting our desire produce sin (Vv. 14-15)

Similarities Between Trials And Temptations:

• Both words, TRIAL and TEMPTATION are the same word in origin, but are different depending on their contexts

• Temptations are on the inside; trials are on the outside

• Trials are the test of our faith

• Temptations are the desires for evil or an inordinate amount of a good thing

• James does not have an expanded definition of these two

• Response:

• They (TRIALS and TEMPTATIONS) are everywhere.

• They can be part of each other!

Four Synthesis Questions:

1. How are trials and temptations interrelated?

• When I am in a trial, how am I prone to be in temptation?
• In my temptation, how is my faith being tested?

2. How is our thinking related to trials and temptations?

• How will you choose to respond?
• Are you thinking carefully about these things?
• Think carefully about the progress of the desires. Is your mind becoming a slave to your emotions, desires, and feelings?

3. How are the ends of trials and temptations related?

• Let steadfastness do its work
• Sin always leads to death. Do not give into temptation!

4. How is steadfastness related to both?

• V. 3-4, 12 - It is a key component to responding rightly to both trials and temptations
• It is not giving up in trials, not giving into temptation
• What is your tendency in both of these things?
  

Conclusion

God is pleased when we respond well in trials and temptations.

We will stand and read the word out of Song of Songs 2:8-3:5.

Scripture Texts: Song of Songs 2:8-3:5

Main Points or Ideas:

PRELIMINARIES:

1. It should be interpreted literally

2. It is a song, not a drama

3. The main characters are ideal, archetypal characters like the Proverbs 31 woman

4. Song of Songs primarily instructs single women like Proverbs teaches young men

KEY POINTS:

1. Love Restrains Strong Desires (2:8-17)

1. Male sexual desire is very strong (vv. 8-9)

2. Sexual desire is appropriate at the right time (vv. 10-14)

3. Love seizes the foxes (v. 15)

1. Jackals (Judges 15:4; Ezekiel 13:4; Psalm 63:14; Lamentations 5:18) destroys things

2. What does the gospel demand? It demands forgiveness!

3. God’s design for intimacy is the two together

4. “Occurrence in the night” - Deuteronomy 23:9-11 - intimacy; God’s Design for Purity

4. THE GOSPEL MUST BE DISPLAYED IN OUR LOVE/MARRIAGES

SONG OF SONGS WIFE VERSUS DAME FOLLY:

• Distinction between the Proverbs 7 promiscuous woman and the Song of Songs 3 wife

• The setting, seeking, location and seizing are the same actions and words used

• The house and end result are vastly different.

• SoS Wife in chapter 3 - house of LIFE

• Proverbs 7 Woman - house of DEATH

• A question raised: Why is her husband on the streets?

• A fox may need to be seized

• He is in a dangerous position

KEY POINTS (again):

1. Love Desires When One Doesn’t Desire

1. Through inconvenience

2. Through danger

3. Through obstacles

4. The wise woman builds up her house (Proverbs 14:1)

2. Love Discerns the Times

1. The two chapters (2:8-3:5) are bound together by a word: seized

2. 2:15 - seize the foxes

3. 3:4 - the wife seizes her wandering husband

Conclusion: This is a deep-seated, servant-hearted, self-sacrificing, “taking up your cross and follow me” kind of love for “the one whom your soul loves.”

If you don’t fully understand what’s being communicated, mistakes will happen. You can have the right key, but if you use it incorrectly, it is worthless.

Scripture Texts

Genesis 3; 2 Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15 - STUDY, SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD (Matthew 25:21 - God is our master) WORKMAN NEED NOT BE (no cause for…) SHAME. RIGHTLY DIVIDING (interpretation, studying, understanding)… THE WORD OF GOD!

Tools Satan Uses That Leads to Misinterpretation of Scripture:

1. DOUBT

• Genesis 3:1 - “Did God really say…?”
• How do we deal with doubt? We have to know what God says!
• How do we not deal with doubt?
• Proverbs 3:3-7

2. BLATANT LIES/MISQUOTING

• Genesis 3:4-5 - Adam and Eve actually did die spiritually right away, and then later physically
• “Being like God” - another lie
• We must speak the truth in love! (Reasons for Hope promo video)

3. MISINTERPRETATION/MISUSE

• Luke 4 - temptation of Jesus by Satan - misuse of Scripture
• Psalm 91:16-17 - General promise of God to take care of his people; misinterpreted falsely by Satan in the temptation

How do we deal with doubt? The same way Christ did! Ephesians 6:10-13 - Put on the whole armor of God… so that you may be able to withstand the evil day!

Conclusion

If you point others to Christ, you have the power to instill hope.