Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2023

GALATIANS 6 VERSES 1 - 10

"Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

1 Peter 1 verse 23 "Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever."

Hebrews 4 verse 12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Psalm 119 verse 130 "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."

God's work is not easy, it doesn't matter what part you are involved in.  The devil is prepared to weary us, to get us out of doing God's work but Paul says here "stick at it"!  Why should we?  Because "in due season we will reap."  Whatever you do for the Lord will reap a harvest.  Paul was aware of the enemy of the work.  Paul himself suffered physically - 2 Corinthians 11 verses 23 - 28.  Why? For "the care of all the churches".  That weighed on him more than anything else.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul warned them to watch out for themselves but also for one another.  Notice in this verse ...

A duty spoken of.  we cannot ignore what we can do for God.  Jesus said to his disciples that this is our duty - "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  We should live our lives in such a way to bring glory to God whatever our situation.  James said "a man may say, thou hast faith and I have works; shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works."  Our faith should be in Jesus not in who I am or what I have done.  He took on himself our sin and went to Calvary to die, to be buried and then to rise again.  Faith in self will take you to this side of the grave but it will part with you there.  That is the reality today.  Peter spoke of the Christians being ridiculed, mocked, slandered but he told them "having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."  In Jesus' day the Pharisees followed him and his disciples.  They realised that his disciples were uneducated men but they had been with Jesus and that made the difference.  "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2 verse 10)  So often we don't want to talk about good works as these will never save us but we are saved unto good works not by them!  The woman with the alabaster box poured all its content on Jesus' feet.

The diligence that has to be sought.  Galatians 6 verse 10 "As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men."  We have to open our eyes and see the opportunity to do good to all men.  That woman with the alabaster box gave the equivalent of a years wages.  She saw the opportunity to anoint Jesus.  She realised that opportunity would not come again.  She seized the opportunity to display her service to the Lord.  In the gospels we read of a man who owned a great property.  He gave 3 men talents according to each.  He went on a journey to a far country.  The 2 men with 5 and 3 talents brought back double what had been given to them but the man with the one talent had dug a hole and buried it.  Will we in 2023 look for the opportunities God gives us to work for him?  To increase God's work perhaps?

The danger described here.  In verse 9 we are told not to "be weary" and "faint not".  We should not give up in praying for individuals.  Paul encourages us to keep on going.  Paul mentioned Demas in 2 Timothy 4 as "hath forsaken me having loved this present world."  He forsook Paul but didn't lose his faith altogether.  Jesus gave that wonderful illustration of the unjust judge.  A woman had a difficulty in her life and she continually came to the judge.  Eventually he listened to her words, why because he was concerned that by continually coming to him she would weary him.  Jesus then went on to say "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them?"  Nehemiah took on that great task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  The enemy came against him and asked him to stop for a while and talk with them.  Nehemiah replied he couldn't because "he was doing a great work".

A delight that results - "for in due season we shall reap."

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2023

1 CHRONICLES 4 VERSES 1 - 10

In verse 10 we read of a man called Jabez.  Nothing more is recorded of him than this verse.  Just a man of God, a mere man.  His example can challenge us.  This man is characterised by faith.  He called on the God of heaven and that prayer is here recorded for us.

He had a faith that was focused.  "And Jabez called on the God of Israel"  Is our focus on Jesus today?  He paid the price for our sin on Calvary.  Where is your faith today?  Think of the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land.  As they walked through the wilderness they grumbled because they wanted water to drink.  They started to complain to Moses and Aaron.  God sent vipers into the camp who bit them.  That poison would have brought death.  Moses was told by God to make a brazen snake and set it in the middle of the camp.  When the people looked to it they would be healed.  Years later they still had that snake set up.  It was an object of worship not the object of their faith.  The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians reminds them of how he left them.  He told them he had warned them of those who would come in after him and lead them astray.  He reminded them of the work he had put in.  He preached from place to place, testifying both to the Jews and the Greeks.  He taught them of repentance, turning away from sin and placing their trust in the Lord God.  Everyone has a degree of faith but not all in Jesus Christ.  We need faith in him otherwise it is no good. "You believe in God believe also in me."  Hebrews tells us to run the race looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

A fight that was before him.  He called on the God of Israel.  "O that thou wouldest bless me and enlarge my coast."  Are we seeking blessing from the hand of God?  "Every good and perfect gift cometh from above."  We are not asking for God to bless us but through it he might be glorified.  Jabez was in a battle and he knew he could not win.  He called on the God of heaven to help him.  Like Paul he believed "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me."  He was asking for strength for the battle.  Paul said "we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places."  This is a battle we cannot win in our own strength.  We are told in Ephesians to "put on the whole armour of God."  That is our responsibility.  If we are facing battles, spiritual difficulties then we need to stop and put on the full armour of God that we might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  Do not live saying "I have faith" but "I have faith in Christ who died for me."  Remember David going out to fight Goliath.  He had been watching his father's sheep when his father told him to go and see how his brothers were doing.  When David arrived he found a large giant shouting and ridiculing the God of heaven.  Daivd looked at this giant and said he is only a man.  Saul thought he could get David rigged out and put on the full armour on him.  David threw it off him and went in with a sling and 5 stones from the brook.  He put them in his pouch and went out to meet the giant.  Goliath saw him coming and laughed.  David said "you have come to me with great military experience and weapons but I come in the name of the God of Israel.  That is how he would face him.  The shepherd that goes before us is the one who will take us through the battle.  David took 1 stone and put it into the sling.  With that one stone he brought the great giant down.  Caleb back in Joshua 15 was entering the land.  He said in his prayer "give me this mountain, if so be the Lord be with me then I will be able to drive them out as the Lord saith."  At 80 years of age this man was determined to follow through on what he had been promised 40 years before.  Is our faith focused on him today?  Jabez' faith was in the God of heaven.

The fellowship that is sought.  "and that thine hand might be with me."  He was crying out for fellowship with the Lord.  May that be the prayer of our hearts and lives, that the Lord would presence himself with us.  In Joshua 3 as the priests stepped down into the Jordan river the people kept their eyes on the ark.  Why? "for you haven't gone this way before".  We have never lived this year before.  We need to keep our eyes on the God of heaven.  Jesus said "for where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst."

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 15 JANUARY 2023

Galatians 6 verse 9 "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not."

1 Chronicles 4 verse 10 "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed and enlarge my coast and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me."

Jabez was a man characterised by his faith and walk with God.  He was known by that faith - steadfast and sure.  It was founded in the finished work of Calvary.  He believed that Jesus came into the world as God's own son, to die for the world's sin.  The mark of any man is in his relationship with God.  

Our reading today was from Jeremiah 29 verses 1 to 14.  Jeremiah records a letter from the hand of God.  He was writing to a people who had been carried away captive to Babylon.  Jeremiah told them that God wanted them to be model citizens.  They were to sow, plant and reap, to live off the fruit of the land.  God wants us to do the same today.  Somehow we have the attitude of "oh well God knows all about the nature I have."  That is not an excuse we should use - Jesus told us we are the light of the world and we should shine before everyone.  Why?  So that people will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  Jeremiah warned the people that there would be dark days ahead, deceivers would come in among them and they were not to listen to them.  There are people today who have a perverted message, a message that will lead many to a lost and Christless eternity.  There is a message of hope though - 70 years from their captivity they would be brought home again.  We can be sure that God is in control today.  He promises that those deep waters will not overpower us nor will the fire burn us.

First of all it is a solitary prayer.  It cost Jabez time, he had to set things aside.  There are things we have to set aside to be in the place of prayer.  We have to forego the last cup of tea, the heat of the fire just to be in the place of prayer.  It costs us to be in the place of prayer.  Abraham in Genesis 18 - the sin of Sodom was so great that the vapours of that sin reached to heavens gate.  God said "I am coming down to examine this."  God knew all about the sin going on.  He comes down right to where Abraham was.  He reveals that to Abraham.  The sin of Sodom is terrible.  I have come down to judge the penalty for that sin and it will be the ruination of Sodom.  Can you imagine the burden on Abraham's shoulders at that time.  Do we have a vision today seeing men and women going out into a Christless eternity?  What a weight this was.  Abraham had a burden to plead for the city.  We come to pray for the province and seek the Lord's face.  We pray for our family and loved ones.  "And Abraham stood before the Lord."  He knew he had a family in that city.  He got to work, he started to pray and plead for God to change his mind.  Prayer took priority in Abraham's life.  Habakkuk did the same thing.  He could see what was happening to his nation.  "I will get into the tower and wait to see what God will do."  Moses climbed up the hill.  The battle was going on down in the valley.  Moses was praying and pleading on top of the hill.  Jesus himself sent the multitude away and went up into the mountain apart to pray and when evening was come he was there alone (Matthew 14 verse 23).  That is his example but what about his teaching?  Matthew 6 verse 6.  Don't seek any other glory.  It is you and God alone.  No-one else needs to know about it.  I wonder how many knew Moses was on the mountain praying while they were in the valley?  God tells us to get away even for a few moments and seek God.  Do nothing else, no reading or anything else just praying.

The simplicity of the prayer.  He asked for what was on his heart.  He feels the need for blessing.  He cried out for something.  "As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after you."  Isaiah said "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens and come down."  He is confident that God can do it.  Jesus said "ask and it will be given unto you."  Hannah came to God.  Her need was plain and clear  She knew what she was doing.  She poured out her soul unto God.  She was in bitterness of soul.  She made her request to God - "give unto thine handmaid a man child."  She was under persecution from another woman who had children and she did not have any.  God wants us to worship him in spirit and in truth.  Remember the centurion who came to Jesus one day.  His servant was lying at home in pain, ready to die.  He came into the presence of Jesus with confidence.  He told Jesus he was not worthy that he should come into his house but asked if he could speak the word only.  He knew that the Lord could touch even at a distance.  What a prayer.  The simplicity of it.  Jabez asked for the Lord to bless him. That is what we need.  Blessing on ourselves, our family and our community.  Will we pray and ask to see men and women saved?

The sincerity of his prayer.  He comes into God's presence and asks with such simplicity.  Prayer is the language of our heart when we come with sincerity.  He knew the one to whom he was coming.  He wanted to do business with God.  In Hebrews we are told "without faith it is impossible to please God."  "Him that cometh to him is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  The message was simple - call upon me and I will hear.  The nature of the prayer.  When you seek me with all your heart.  Do you believe what you say?  Do you believe what you ask?  Jabez was more honourable than his brother.  "Because I bore him with sorrow"  Something happened in childbirth.  There was something of a danger to her and her child.  Maybe that was the moment she looked to the Lord for help, asking God to keep her and her child safe.  Perhaps she related that story and looked to God for similar blessing.  He knew the God of heaven who preserved him in the early days could save him now in the days of trouble.  It is good to teach our children, to tell them about the God of heaven.  We should not miss that opportunity.

Finally the success of his prayer -  "And God granted him that which he requested."  God heard this man as he prayed.  His prayer was simple but it came from his heart.  God still hears and God still answers prayer.  Remember Solomon.  The Lord appeared to him in the night.  Solomon was stepping into the shoes of his father David. A great example to him.  He was coming to the throne of a great nation.  God came to Solomon and asked him what he could do for him.  The young king simply asked "grant me wisdom".  1 Kings 10 verse 29 God granted him his request.  Our motto verse reminds us to not give up, to keep at it.