The Lord Wants YouThe Lord Wants You

God is SovereignGod is Sovereign• God is not sustained by men, God is not sustained by men,

Acts 17:25Acts 17:25• God wants men and women of God wants men and women of

faith:faith:– To bear good fruit, Jno 15:5To bear good fruit, Jno 15:5– To influence world, Phil 2:14-16To influence world, Phil 2:14-16– To spread the gospel, Mark 16:15To spread the gospel, Mark 16:15

• Jesus wants and needs you! Jesus wants and needs you! (cf. Matt 21:1-3) (cf. Matt 21:1-3)

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FIRST PLACE IN YOUR FIRST PLACE IN YOUR HEARTHEART

1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15

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First Place in Your First Place in Your HeartHeart

• Some have no room for Some have no room for Jesus, Luke 2:7Jesus, Luke 2:7–No room for His word, Jno No room for His word, Jno

8:378:37– This is because their heart is This is because their heart is

filled with the lusts and filled with the lusts and works of Satan, Jno 8:38, works of Satan, Jno 8:38, 41-4741-47

• These are not God’s children; These are not God’s children; blinded by Satanblinded by Satan

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First Place in Your First Place in Your HeartHeart

• Some have too little room Some have too little room for Jesus, Mark 4:18-19for Jesus, Mark 4:18-19–Wandering mind not fixed on Wandering mind not fixed on

Christ is deterred by other Christ is deterred by other thingsthings

– Just enough interest in Christ Just enough interest in Christ to be hindered – and to be a to be hindered – and to be a hindrance to othershindrance to others

–Must be constantly coaxed to Must be constantly coaxed to obey the Lord (Heb 6:1)obey the Lord (Heb 6:1)

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First Place in Your First Place in Your HeartHeart

• Some give Jesus all the room Some give Jesus all the room He wants and deservesHe wants and deserves– Paul, Phil 3:5-11Paul, Phil 3:5-11– Cornelius, Acts 10:33, 2, 22; Cornelius, Acts 10:33, 2, 22;

11:1411:14• How? By faith, Gal 2:20; Eph 3: How? By faith, Gal 2:20; Eph 3:

14-1914-19– Strengthened by God, 3:16Strengthened by God, 3:16– Christ in heart by faith, 3:17Christ in heart by faith, 3:17– Lay hold of His love, filled, 3:18-Lay hold of His love, filled, 3:18-

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FAITHFUL WORKERSFAITHFUL WORKERSMatt 9:37-38; 2 Cor 5:15Matt 9:37-38; 2 Cor 5:15

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Faithful WorkersFaithful Workers• Sacrificial workers, Jno 21:15-Sacrificial workers, Jno 21:15-

1919– Peter’s work would require Peter’s work would require

supreme love for Christ, 21:15-17supreme love for Christ, 21:15-17– Loving sacrifice would be required Loving sacrifice would be required

in Peter’s death, 21:18-19in Peter’s death, 21:18-19– Work faithfully regardless of Work faithfully regardless of

someone else’s circumstance, someone else’s circumstance, 21:20-2221:20-22

– Carry your cross without shame, Carry your cross without shame, Lk 9:23-26Lk 9:23-26

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Faithful WorkersFaithful Workers

• Diligent workers, Rom 12:11Diligent workers, Rom 12:11– To obtain the promise, Heb To obtain the promise, Heb

6:11-126:11-12– To make your calling and To make your calling and

election sure, 2 Pet 1:5, 10election sure, 2 Pet 1:5, 10– To be acceptable at His return, To be acceptable at His return,

2 Pet 3:14 2 Pet 3:14– Do not be deterred from Do not be deterred from

excellence for the Masterexcellence for the Master9

Faithful WorkersFaithful Workers

• Uncompromising workersUncompromising workers– Who will contend earnestly Who will contend earnestly

for the faith, not cower for the faith, not cower eagerly from the battle, Jude eagerly from the battle, Jude 33

– Who will hold up against the Who will hold up against the deceptions and devices of the deceptions and devices of the devil, 2 Cor 11:3-4 (2:11)devil, 2 Cor 11:3-4 (2:11)

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DEVOUT CHRISTIANSDEVOUT CHRISTIANSMatthew 6:24, 33Matthew 6:24, 33

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Devout ChristiansDevout Christians““lit., taking hold well...primarily, lit., taking hold well...primarily,

cautious, signifies in the NT, careful cautious, signifies in the NT, careful as to the realization of the presence as to the realization of the presence and claims of God, reverencing God, and claims of God, reverencing God, pious...reverence exhibited especially pious...reverence exhibited especially

in actions” (Vine)in actions” (Vine)

•Who will pray, 1 Ths 5:17Who will pray, 1 Ths 5:17–Energetically for righteous Energetically for righteous purposes, Jas 5:16purposes, Jas 5:16–According to the Lord’s will, According to the Lord’s will, Jas 4:3; 1 Jno 5:14-15 Jas 4:3; 1 Jno 5:14-15 12

Devout ChristiansDevout Christians

• Who will use God’s word Who will use God’s word properly, 2 Tim 2:15properly, 2 Tim 2:15– As the sufficient and final As the sufficient and final

guide for life and godliness, 2 guide for life and godliness, 2 Tim 3:16-17Tim 3:16-17

– Without alteration, 2 Cor 2:17; Without alteration, 2 Cor 2:17; 2 Tim 4:3-4 2 Tim 4:3-4

– Without ignoring it or trying to Without ignoring it or trying to destroy it, Jer 36:23-25destroy it, Jer 36:23-25

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THE LORD WANTS THE LORD WANTS YOU!YOU!

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