Magnify Your Office

Magnify Your Office
Romans 11:13

Sermon by Jack Nazary

Introduction: Explanation of content and main idea - context: Paul, Apostle to Gentiles yet concerned for Jews, too.

General principle seen in Ephesians 4:11-16 - The office of the servant of God must be magnified always, everywhere by all whom God has provided with a gift and placed in service. Three thoughts we will concern ourselves with - 1. The office itself 2. Why it should be magnified 3. How to magnify it

I. The Office
Webster says "office" is a special duty, trust, charge or position conferred by authority for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority. The duty, charge, or trust is special. It is conferred by authority, it is for a public purpose. The trust is sacred, and God conferred it. Privilege of every Christian to tell the story of Cross, yet he calls specific ones for service and bestows gifts.

NOTE: 3 things - 1. A charge or trust of sacred nature 2. Conferred by God Himself 3. Public Service - His responsibility = a proof of office

1. Terms used by God to designate work speaks of office - Shepherd, Bishop, Ambassadors
2. Responsibility is proof of office - must answer to God in day of accounting

II. Why the office should be magnified?
1. Because of Him who appoints it
Lord of harvest sent forth laborers
As they are treated He considers it rendered to Himself.
2. Because of the work involved in it
Reconciliation of sinner to God and edification - the up building of saints
Acts 26:17-18 - What service does he...
Sight to blindness, light for darkness, forgiveness for guilt, hope for despair, a heavenly inheritance for spiritual bankruptcy, fatherhood for orphanage, and see saved man redeemed, regenerated
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 - ministry of reconciliation
3. Because of the extraordinary = we are appointed for accomplishing work of reconciliation and edification - the inspired work of God
2 Timothy 4:1 - Preach the Word
Matthew 28:19-10 - "teaching them"
4. Because of the Holy Spirit who accompanies the one sent and gives power and makes effective his words and work.
5. Because of the extraordinary qualifications required of the sent one. Mental, moral, and spiritual

III. How shall the office be magnified?
1. By a profound realization of its importance
2. Profound gratitude to God for putting you in the office
3. By studying and being diligent, to show yourself approved unto God - a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly diving the work of God.
4. By giving yourself wholly to it
5. By regarding God's interests, solemnly committed to you, as exceedingly above, place, world, or selfish pursuits.
6. By continually renewing your consecration = What I am to do? Where I am to do it? How I am to do it?

Strangers to Great Experiences

Strangers to Great Experiences
John 4:32

Sermon by Jack Nazary

I. Fellowship with God in Prayer

II. Soul Winning

III. Lordship of Christ

IV. Fullness of Spirit

V. Love for Brothers

VI. Forgiveness

VII. Knowing and Doing Will of God
1. The Will of God - to know - to do
God has a very definite plan and purpose for every redeemed life!!

Ephesians 5:17 - "Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is."

Colossians 1:9 - "We desire that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will."

Colossians 4:12 - "That ye may stand perfect and complete in the Will of God."

1 Peter 3:17 - "For it is better if the will of God be so, if ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing"

1 John 2:17 - "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the Will of God abideth forever."

Romans 12:1-3 - Example of lives chosen of God for specific tasks God's son - Jesus "Lo, I come to do thy Will O, God"

Hebrews 10:9 - (His birth and life) "not my will"

Paul - "Lord what wilt thou have me to do"

To Ananias - Acts 9:15-16

Acts 13:2-3 - "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work"

Abraham - father of chosen Nation

Joseph - Genesis 50:20 - "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto Good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive"

David, Elijah, Isaiah, Moses, John the Baptist, ....Luther, Wesley, Carey, Livingston

To Know God's will - Some considerations - Romans 12:1
A. Surrender - Utter, unreserved, unqualified surrender

Present your bodies - give it up completely, all we are, all we have, our desires, places, objectives, choices, likes and dislikes.

Not so easy to do - complete surrender takes a daily commitment, reasonable service

Reminded of the hymn - I gave my life for thee

A HEART problem

Absolute surrender

B. Separation from the World
Worldliness, worldly conformity, worldly ambition, worldly living, worldly goals, worldly standards, worldly habits, worldly dress, pleasures

Be not conformed to the world - love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him - 1 John 2:15

What does "conformed to the world" mean?
1. Not too conformed to world's pattern or principles - that is pattern of selfishness, sinfulness - Principle - materialism, greed, lust

2. We are not to seek or indulge in the world's pleasures - Hollywood has set pace - sin, sex, some smut theaters specialize in crime, horror, and sex which magnifies illicit love affairs, nudism, lustful suggestions - Dance Hall is based essentially on sex and lust.

How Christians can participate in, how churches can sponsor them, how Christian parents can condone them is beyond our comprehension - How can they know God's will?

3. Not to set affections on worldly possessions
Youth love pleasures
Older love possessions
Both sinful and worldly in light of God's word
1 John 2:15 - refers to "things"

C. Spiritual mindedness
Be ye transformed
Not carnal mindedness but spiritual

III. Salvation - Needed, Provided, and Accepted

Victory Over Worry Part 2

Victory Over Worry
Part 2

II. The Curse of Worry

A. Worry is never a blessing, always a curse.

B. Interesting to trace the origin of our English word "worry"
1. Greeks thought of worry as something that tears a man in two, and drags him in opposite directions.
2. Latin word suggests a turbulent force responsible for turmoil within.
3. Anglo-Saxon word is descriptive of a power gripping a man by the throat "as a wold seizes a sheep and strangles all the vitality out of it."

C. Worry chokes the life of faith - The eye of faith does not see His hand clearly in every circumstance, but He is there - in tragedy He sustains.

D. Let us roll ourselves and our burdens upon the Lord, and leave them there. Tragic part, too many take them back again.

E. Implications of the word worry designate a destructive power - distraction, disturbance, stifling, and choking.
F. H.C. Lee says that "Worry is nearly always a form of fear."

G. Worry is frequently not a thing of the present, but of the future and past."

H. Let me state some reasons shy worry is foolish, and injuries, and sinful:
1. Worry is harmful to ourselves - mentally, physically, and spiritually
2. Worry is harmful to others
a. The Bible tells us that no man liveth to himself.
b. A depressed person can certainly create much gloom.
c. Worry robs of pleasure and satisfaction.
d. Are you bored listening to woes and moans of those who do not live on the sunnier side of the street.
e. Remember, friends and neighbors are watching to see how we bear our burdens, troubles, etc. - Remember we belong to Christ! Act like it!
3. Worry is harmful to God.
a. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we give place to the devil through worry.
b. One thing Hell cannot stand, and that is a happy, victorious believer.
c. Worry leads us to doubt His love
d. Worry constrains us to doubt His wisdom.
e. Worry prompts us to doubt His power.
f. Paul lived a life of undeserved worry. Look what he had to endure. God gave him grace to conquer his loads of care.

Stay close to God. Mother's hand quiets fretful baby - Jesus' hand whispers "Peace be still"

III. The Cure of Worry (Surely it is glad tidings to proclaim that the Scriptures offer a life without worry. To millions of distressed minds, there is hope. Turning, then, to scriptures, let us seek to discover the ingredients in the the divine cure for worry.

Write down the thing worrying you the most. Pray daily for God to reveal how His grace is sufficient for that one thing. God's grace is never exhausted. There's more and more when this is gone. God replenishes the supply. If it's grace you need, help yourself. There's plenty of it.

A. Peace through trusting
1. When the mind is stayed upon God, it experiences a continuous uninterrupted peace.
2. Is there not music in the words, "Peace, perfect peace!!
3. Every heart sighs for rest, "as the ocean shell, when placed to the ear, seems to sigh for the untroubled depths of its native home."
4. Let us look for a moment at the nature of His divine peace.
a. It is perfect - "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
b. It is refreshing - "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:18
c. It is great - "Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Psalm 119:165
d. It is triumphant - "These things have I spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
e. It is incomprehensible - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
f. It is personified - "He is our Peace." Ephesians 2:14

B. Peace through loving - We find perfect peace only when we love God.

C. Peace through casting
1. Peter gives another avenue of victory over worry. His cure is "Casting all your care upon Him, for it matters to Him about you." 1 Peter 5:7
2. Casting is a fisherman's term. As the Big Fisherman, Peter knew what it was to cast, or throw his net away from himself upon the water.
3. Peter, using this expression, simply means for us to throw all our care upon the Lord, just in the old days, "he was to throw his net upon the sea"
4. What would have happened if Peter had thrown a part of the net on the sea and kept the larger half of it in his boat? Why, he would not have gathered a harvest of fish from the sea.
5. What are we doing with our care?
Cast thy care upon the Lord,
The care that loads thy heart;
Take Him this moment at His word,
And let Him do His part.
Thy need is deep, thy care is great,
Thy burden hard to bear;
Roll it on Him with all its weight,
And leave it resting there.

6. We must cast our daily cares to Him who cares for sparrows and saints.
7. Care, as Webster suggests, is defined: "Oppression of mind weighed down by responsibility of mind because of one's interest, affection, or the like"
8. Peter uses it as "That which divides and disturbs the soul; which diverts it from pleasant duty to fret and worry about the future."
9. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

D. Peace through Looking
1. Peace becomes the "possession of care - worn hearts "when they look, not merely "unto Jesus" but "away unto Jesus," that is; away from all else unto Jesus.
2. This looking away unto Jesus is not a mere glance, but a constant gaze. Seeing Him, we become like Him. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

E. Peace through protection
1. Paul's cure for worry. "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus...But my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7, 19
a. Anxious about NOTHING b. Pray about Everything c. Gratitude in ALL THINGS
2. We are told that Bible has 365 "Fret Nots" One for every day of the year. Let these perfume our lives every day.
3. The great immortal Mark Twain said: "I am an old man and have known many troubles, but most over them never happened."

Worry or Pray???

Worry? Why Worry? What can worry do? It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you. It gives you indigestion, and wakeful hours at night, And fills with gloom the days, however fair and bright.

It puts a frown upon the face, and sharpness in the tone, We're unfit to live with others and unfit to live alone. Worry? Why Worry? What can Worry do? It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you.

Pray? Why Pray? What can praying do? Praying really changes things, arranges like anew. It's good for your digestion, gives peaceful sleep at night. And fills the grayest, gloomiest day with rays of glowing light.

It puts a smile upon your face, the love note in your tone, Makes you fit to live with others, and fit to live alone. Pray? Why Pray? What can Praying do? It brings God down from Heaven, to live and work with you!!

Victory Over Worry

Victory Over Worry Part 1

Not sure who wrote this lesson, but Grandmother's has handwritten notes all over it! I know worry was a problem in her life. She struggled daily with worry. I think I inherited that trait because I really need this lesson today since I am close to freaking out over my new job!

Key of Lesson - We live in a world of worry. Thoreau asks the question in Brute Neighbors "Why will men worry themselves Se?" This is also the question for today. Why, oh why do men who believe in the sovereignty of God worry so?

Little worries! There are no "little worries". Worry is WORRY and it is driving people mad being largely responsible for the alarming increase of lunacy and suicide. Trouble, anxiety, vexations of mind characterize our modern life, and worry seems to be the most common and natural thing to do. But why worry? The Italian proverb has it: "A hundred hours of worry will not pay a farthings worth of debt." Worry, as we shall see, is the most useless, unnecessary and harmful way out of anguish.

I. The Cause of Worry
A. As the physician strives to get at roots of disease and apply a remedy, let us get at the source of the dread disease of worry.

B. In our age many diseases could be prevented only if people would take means to do so.

C. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, but robs today of its strength.

D. Why do multitudes choose to live in dark shadows when they can bask in the sunshine of a heavenly Father's care and provision?

E. God is the only answer to the worried, troubled mind. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." Isaiah 26:3

F. A table of rough approximation of what most people worry about may help you eliminate some of your worries. Provided by Margaret McCordie, University of Wisconsin:
1. Things that never happen - 40%
2. Things over and past that couldn't be changed by all the worry in the world - 30%
3. Petty Worries - 10%
4. Needless health worries - 12%
5. Real, legitimate worries - 8%

G. Only one thing wrong; with child of God there is no real legitimate worry. Christian worry - living in wrong type climate. Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation - In Me Peace"

H. In examining the root causes of worry, it would seem as if they come under three general heads:
1. The Cares of Life
a. Common to mortal life - home cares, business, health, advancing age, excessive labor, money matters, loved ones, church work, ---all produce a great deal of present day worry.
b. Yes, everything that comes along makes for itself a new opportunity for everyone to worry. The responsibilities of life are not meant to become a heavy burden, but an opportunity to fulfill our purposes in life.
c. Carlyle said, "Give me the man who can sing at his work." Let us make up our minds not to let responsibility overwhelm us.
d. Usually it is the accumulation of little loads that we worry about. Don't worry; it may never happen!!
e. Our lives become joyless, and tasks burdensome because of worry.
f. The habit of worry, when formed, is difficult to break.
g. "Why worry about tomorrow; It's always a day away!

2. The Atmosphere of the World
a. Another cause - our presence in a world of worry.
b. Worry is of the world; like a fever - contagious.
c. We as Christians become like the company that we keep. People who worry constantly should be segregated. Should be confined to a colony to themselves.
d. A Godless world worries. We, however, breathe a different atmosphere. A worrying Christian hinders others from becoming Christians.
e. World is as we see it. Two men in prison - one looked out and saw the stars; the other looked out and saw the mud of the ground.
f. In spite of all outer strife, is there a song in your heart? Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

3. The Ignorance of God
a. Another cause of worry is our ignorance of the Biblical revelation of God.
b. Darkness, despair possess a soul without faith in God.
c. God is our "hidden source of calm repose."
d. John Bunyan 's Pilgrim's Progress depicts Little-Faith being "robbed not of his jewels, but of his ready money." He is always worried, not because of jewels, but because of inner peace which he lacks.
e. He is a pilgrim going through life as a spiritual pauper; consequently, the people that he meets are impressed only by his poverty.
f. Today we have many Little-Faiths - easily identified, for they grumble over little things.
g. Jesus said take no anxious thought of the morrow...or not to worry about tomorrow.
h. Jesus said that all things work together for the good of them that love God and are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
i. Thus, we are to look through our cares to God. Christ is the answer!!

To Be Continued.....The Curse of Worry