Part Two

Are You Using Your Talents?

Some have observed that 10% of the people in a local church typically do 90% of the work!

Are You Using Your Talents?

Some have observed that 10% of the people in a local church typically do 90% of the work!

Regardless of what others do, I must not be numbered amongst those who are simply observers in the work of the Lord.

Are You Using Your Talents?

Some have observed that 10% of the people in a local church typically do 90% of the work!

Regardless of what others do, I must not be numbered amongst those who are simply observers in the work of the Lord.

It is simply stated in God’s word that those who are converted to Christ will be active in God’s work.

I need the courage to try new things.

How does God develop talents with each of us? (Mt 25:14-30)

I need the courage to try new things.

(Matthew 25:14-30 NKJV) “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. {15} “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

I need the courage to try new things.

{16} “Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. {17} “And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. {18} “But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money…..

I need the courage to try new things.

{24} “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. {25} ‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

I need the courage to try new things.

{26} “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. {27} ‘So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. {28} ‘Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

I need the courage to try new things.

{29} ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. {30} ‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

I need the courage to try new things.

What did God call us to do? (2 Thess 2:13-14)

I need the courage to try new things.

(2 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV) {14} to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I need the courage to try new things.

As a Christian I am to look for doors of opportunity and with wisdom increase my service to God!

I need the courage to try new things.

As a Christian I am to look for doors of opportunity and with wisdom increase my service to God!

One door of faith leads to another! Consider the example of David. (1 Sam 17:34-36)

I need the courage to try new things.

(1 Samuel 17:34-36 NKJV) But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, {35} I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

I need the courage to try new things.

{36} “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

I need the courage to try new things.

We must remember what the work of the Lord is. (1 Cor 3:11-16)

I need the courage to try new things.

(1 Corinthians 3:11-16 NKJV) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, {13} each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

I need the courage to try new things.

{14} If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. {15} If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. {16} Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I need the courage to try new things.

Let us pray for wisdom to see what we can do to build up others.

I need the courage to try new things.

What different abilities are needed in the work of the Lord? (Eph 4:16)

I need the courage to try new things.

(Ephesians 4:16 NKJV) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I need the courage to try new things.

Let us avoid the fruits of a faithless fear.

I need the courage to try new things.

It will sell you short. (Matt 25:25)

I need the courage to try new things.

(Matthew 25:25 NKJV) ‘And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

I need the courage to try new things.

What was this man afraid of? What did he get?

I need the courage to try new things.

What was this man afraid of? What did he get?

"Fear makes come true that which one is afraid of."

I need the courage to try new things.

We must act and not sit during difficult times.

I need the courage to try new things.

We must act and not sit during difficult times. Let me assert my firm belief that the only

thing we have to fear is fear itself. ---- Franklin D. Roosevelt

I need the courage to try new things.

Without proper leadership and example a church often follows the example of fear. “Let us avoid any trouble!” Often this means running from our problems and sitting and doing nothing.

I need the courage to try new things.

How many churches are afraid or real leadership!

I need the courage to try new things.

Backward Christian SoldiersBackward Christian soldiers,

fleeing from the fight,With the cross of Jesus clearly out of sight:

Christ our rightful Master stands against the foe,But forward into battle we are chicken to go.

Like a mighty tortoise moves the church of God;

I need the courage to try new things.

Brothers we are treading where we've often trod,

We are much divided, many bodies we,Having different doctrines, not much charity.Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms

rise and wane,But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain;

I need the courage to try new things.

Gates of hell should never "gainst that Church prevail,

We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail.

Sit here, then, ye people, join our useless throng;

Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song.

I need the courage to try new things.

Blessings, ease, and comfort, ask from Christ the King.

With our modern thinking, we won't do a thing.

I need the courage to try new things.

It will cause you to forsake reason. (Matt 25:25)

I need the courage to try new things.

It will cause you to forsake reason. (Matt 25:25)

Fear painted a picture here that blocked reason.

I need the courage to try new things.

If he has laid out all options then he surely would have chosen the right path. Fear is blinding because it only sees the harm and stops all action.

I need the courage to try new things.

If he has laid out all options then he surely would have chosen the right path. Fear is blinding because it only sees the harm and stops all action.

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” - Edmund Burke

I need the courage to try new things.

Consider the power of this fear. (Mk 14:26; Matt 28:4; Lk 9:45; 21:26)

I need the courage to try new things.

(Matthew 28:4 NKJV) And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

I need the courage to try new things.

(Luke 9:45 NKJV) But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.

I need the courage to try new things.

(Luke 21:26 NKJV) “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

I need the courage to try new things.

Charlie Brown: "I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time." -

Conclusion

God is asking us to step out of our comfort zone.

God wants us to get busy doing His work. Can I find ways that I have not tried before to

better myself in my service to God? What can you do?