Lasting Results Part 2 (Audio/Music)
(Introduction)
Warning! I realized something. Whenever teachings are taught, Satan will come and attempt to immediately take away what is sown in our hearts.
Mark 4:15
“And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them.” RSV
- I have been teaching about the desire to change and grow.
- The kingdom of darkness will do everything possible to discourage us from this desire to change and grow.
- If they cannot get to you personally they will come against our family members and those closest to us.
- He will use circumstances, people, and character deficiencies in people and so on.
- If this subject and any subject have been under attack we must respond.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
“For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. RSV
- We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God.
- We are to take every thought captive to obey Christ. (“Thought” makes it personal)
- It does not say God will do this.
- We are responsible to control our thoughts and what we speak.
- If we do not control our thoughts who will?
- We must guard ourselves against discouraging thoughts.
Lasting Results
(Part 2)
(Reviewing part 1)
- When I was born again God manifested in me a huge desire to change and grow.
- Therefore my continued prayer for this teaching is that the desire in me to change and grow transfers to everyone who hears this teaching.
- I believe that there is a difference between change and growth.
- I gave three testimonies as examples to understand the difference between change and growth.
- People can make the decision to change today and stop tomorrow with no growth.
- I said that God has desires.
- Here is one desire of God.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” RSV
- I believe that it is God’s desire to use His children to advance His kingdom and bring about lasting results. (Not just for a week or month)
- When people who are lost get saved that would be considered advancing God’s kingdom.
- We have been sent therefore God desires lasting results.
Romans 10:14-15
“But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? RSV
Mark 9:7
“And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." RSV
Mark 16:15
“And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.” RSV
John 17:18
“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” KJV
- We are all preachers whether we know it or not. (Not just the leaders in a congregation)
- Here is what we ought to preach. (It takes approximately less than 30 seconds)
Jesus came into the world
Crucified
Died
Buried
Raised on the third day
Salvation is now for all those who believe
- Keep in mind that part of the good news is the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
- Remember we are looking for lasting results.
Lasting Results
(Part 2)
- Let us continue.
- It is not wise to send out people unprepared.
- People who are lost need our help but we need to be prepared to handle it.
- The one thing that will stop us from handling it is discouragement.
- Dictionary definition for the word “Preparation”: the action or process of making something ready for use or service.
- Dictionary definition for the word “Ready”: prepared for immediate use, prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action.
- If we are discouraged in our thought life we will not be ready for immediate use.
1 Peter 3:15
“Always be prepared (#2092 ready) to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence” RSV
- In those three testimonies I had to be prepared and I was. (No guessing)
- In Leslie’s situation, I had to leave at least by 1:40 pm; I looked at my watch it was 1:11 pm.
- It was not the time to go and study.
- Remember we are looking for lasting results.
- In Leslie’s testimony last time I taught she was prepared before she made the phone call to the Lutheran teacher.
- Remember why she spoke to the teacher. (Out of her comfort zone)
- It was because of the opposition the teacher gave to her son Zachery about speaking in tongues.
- “You cannot do that, you can only speak in English; you cannot speak what you do not understand.”
- Her thinking was wrong.
- Leslie demonstrated the character of our Master.
- A good example for us to follow.
Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” RSV
2 Timothy 2:24-25
“And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.
He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it]” AMP
- All this takes a certain amount of preparation.
- Remember we are looking for lasting results.
- One thing that would hinder our results or outcome would be a discouragement.
Notice the sequence
- Preparation comes through proper training. (To some degree) (Time factor)
- Proper training leads to effective evangelism. (Mark 16:15)
- Effective evangelism comes through effective and accurate teachings.
- Effective and accurate teachings bring excellent results.
- Effective results need to take place in the following areas. (There is more)
- (Effective and accurate teachings) to avoid cults and cause people to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4) (Salvation) (Proper change)
- (Effective and accurate teachings) to become a practicing Disciple (Grow)
- (Effective and accurate teachings) Water baptism (Why immediate?)
- (Effective and accurate teachings) Lord’s Supper (Strength, health long life)
- (Effective and accurate teachings) Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- (Effective and accurate teachings) Speaking in tongues
- This last week I put together the private aspect of speaking in tongues. (9 pages)
- Some think or have been taught that speaking in tongues is not for everyone.
- However, when the scriptures are rightly divided there is no problem. (2 Timothy 2:15)
- There is a definite need for proper instructions for this subject.
- Remember we are looking for lasting results.
- Sometimes we think that evangelism is out there.
- Dictionary definition for the word “evangelism”: the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ.
- Effective evangelism needs to take place with our children and grandchildren.
- It would be wise to evangelize the inner areas of our children and grandchildren to prevent regret.
- Remember we are looking for lasting results.
- We cannot forget about our children and grandchildren no matter what age.
- We are talking about the desire to change and grow to bring about lasting results.
- God is looking for lasting results.
- We all desire results in many areas of life such as:
- Our children and grandchildren (Behave)
1 Timothy 3:14-15
“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God” RSV
- (Continuing) We all desire results in many areas of life such as:
- Restaurant (Good food, great service, reasonable prices)
- Dinners (Healthy and Taste good)
- Home repairs (Functionality)
- Church service (Power of God, no comprising, comfort, hope, without strife, needs met)
- God desires His kingdom to advance.
- When people get saved His kingdom advances.
To be continued…
Click here for the entire series, “Lasting Results”.
Enjoy this special video!