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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
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Ephesians 2:10(NKJV) 10For 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 goodworks • 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