Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Tools For The Trade

Ephesians 2:10

Tools For The Trade

• There are some essential things that we need before we can perform any task

• Whether it be our jobs, work around the house, work on our cars, or repairing our own lives

Tools For The Trade

• What about the essentials needed to do the work of the Lord?

• Eph. 2:10 says that we are created in Christ for good works

• Tit. 2:14 – we are His special people, “zealous for good works”

Tools For The Trade

• The work may not get done because the proper attitudes are not there

• The right attitude can make all the difference

• Dan. 6:3 – Daniel had a great (excellent) attitude

A Powerful Faith

• Where faith is absent, action is absent as well

• 12 Spies – Num. 13:17ff; 14:11-12

• If we don’t think we can do something, then we won’t try

• Matt. 17:14-21

A Powerful Faith

• With faith, all things are possible

• James 2:14ff

• No works = No faith

• No faith = No works

• John 20:30-31

A Joyful Heart

• Phil. 4:4

• Paul was a great worker, look at his attitude

• We should not be despondent or down-hearted

• We have so many things to be thankful for

A Joyful Heart

• We should be thankful:

–We are the children of God – I Jn. 3:1-3

–We have all spiritual blessings – Eph. 1:3

–We will receive the crown of life – II Tim. 4:7-8

Reliance on Prayer

• The prayer of the righteous avails much – Js. 5:16

• People who are not interested enough to pray are not interested enough to work

• We know that God answers prayer – Matt. 7:7-11

Reliance on Prayer

• Paul believed that God answered prayer when it came to evangelism – Col. 4:2-3

• Prayer changes things

• We should pray to the one who can change those things

• We should never lose heart

A Personal Love

• We must have a love for the Lord – Jn. 14:23-24; I Jn. 5:3

• We must have a love for the brethren – I Jn. 4:20-21

–To work together there must be love & unity – I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:1-4

–Some would rather “bite and devour” others – Gal. 5:15

A Personal Love

• We must have a love for the lost – Lk. 19:10

• Heaven’s attitude – Lk. 15:1-7

• If you don’t have love then it really doesn’t matter what you do – I Cor. 13:1-3

A Persistent Effort

• Persistency can be the secret to success – Lk. 18:1-8

• Persistency of Noah – 120 years to build the ark

• Persistency of Paul – Phil. 3:12-15

• We are to live a life of service, not a moment – Rom. 12:1-2; I Cor. 15:58

A Persistent Effort

• We should never be discouraged by a lack of results – Gal. 6:9

• The Lord doesn’t judge us on our results, rather on our effort

• May we give our best effort always – Ecc. 9:10

Tools For The Trade

• Every disciple needs to possess each of these attitudes

• If the work is going to be accomplished, it will be by the hands of those who are loving, joyful, faithful, prayerful, and persistent