How to exercise diligence
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· 12 viewsThere is a cause to fight for, there are people that we all know that are in a desperate spiritual condition. They are Parlyzed by guilt, doubt and fear, they can’t find their way to Jesus and are depending on us. You could be someone’s last hope, don’t give up. Do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus. No matter what we have to do, how long it takes or how much people criticize us. For their sakes don’t give up!
Notes
Transcript
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Trapped by circumstance
Trapped by circumstance
Many times in life we find ourselves in situations that we didn’t foresee that keep us from fulfilling our objectives. Sometimes the most routine of agendas turns out to be difficult if not impossible to accomplish. We can feel trapped in our circumstances and need help to escape. At other times we may be the help that someone else desperately needs.
Circumstance of Floyd Collins
Circumstance of Floyd Collins
Family Vacations in Cave City KY
Family Vacations in Cave City KY
When I was young we used to take our annual vacations at Cave City Ky and explored mammoth cave. One year I couldn’t go, but my Dad and Brother decided to take a spelunking tour. Complete with knee pads and hard hats. They had to crawl through some very tight passageways and in one of them my Dad got stuck when he was about half way through. He said that it was one of the scariest events of his life. This brings to mind the story of a man by the name of Floyd Collins.
Crystal and Sand Caves
Crystal and Sand Caves
Floyd’s family owned crystal cave
too far off the tourist trail to be profitable
Floyd decided to find an entrance to Mammoth cave that visitors would see before they came to the official entrance
Sand Cave was normally bypassed by everyone
January 30, 1925
January 30, 1925
Floyd was exiting an unstable passage
27lb boulder fell on his foot - trapping him
120 ft from the entrance/exit
60 ft underground
unable to move
trapped for 2 weeks
Carnival atmosphere on the surface
Carnival atmosphere on the surface
Daily Newspaper reports
Brave reporter navigated down to Floyd
Brought food and tried to free Floyd
Floyd remained trapped until his death on the 15th day
Today we will look at a man in the Bible that was unable to move; just like Floyd Collins, he was trapped and unable to free himself.
PRAY
Mark 2:1-5
Mark 2:1-5
Sick of the Palsy
Sick of the Palsy
PALSY, = To paralyze; to deprive of the power of motion; to destroy energy.
Palsy is a type of the dead and helpless state of our fallen nature
Ephesians 2:4-12
Ephesians 2:4-12
Fallen man is no more able in himself to give life to his sould than the palsied man could to his limbs
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Desire without diligence is empty
Desire without diligence is empty
DILIGENCE, n. [L., to love earnestly; to choose.]
1. Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.
4 ways that diligence was exercised
4 ways that diligence was exercised
1. Diligence in their concern for others
1. Diligence in their concern for others
Compassion is required of the believer
Eph 4:32
Col 3.12
1 Cor 1:3-5
1 Peter 3:8
Diligence in Faith
Diligence in Faith
Faith that is real
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Worshiping faith (vs1) - Able
Walking Faith (vs2) - Enoch
Working Faith (vs3) - Noah
They had a faith that works
Put action behind your faith
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Ask
Seek
Knock
Most stop at the asking
Didn't stop when it got hard
3. Diligence in adversity
3. Diligence in adversity
Couldn’t come near because of the press
Couldn’t come near because of the press
That’s what the press will do
That’s what the press will do
try to keep you from Jesus
Convince you this isn’t a Christian nation
Convince you that all roads lead to the same place
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Convince you that you came from a rock
Carried him to the roof
Carried him to the roof
They didn’t give up
need help from up on high (roof)
Took effort to overcome obstacles that were separating them from Jesus
Need to break through everything that keeps us snug and comfortable
Need to break through everything that keeps us snug and comfortable
self reliance
normalcy bias
family
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
family is the first to discourage
They humbled themselves before the Lord (vs 4)
They humbled themselves before the Lord (vs 4)
Lowered him to Jesus
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
The Lord not only cured his palsy, but forgave his sin (vs5)
The Lord not only cured his palsy, but forgave his sin (vs5)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
He did more for them than they even imagined was possible
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
4. Diligence in Unity
4. Diligence in Unity
Find others to work with
Find others to work with
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
dare to be different
Climbing on a roof and tearing a whoe was definatley different
be ye seperate
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Is there not a cause?
Is there not a cause?
There are people that we all know
that are in desperate Spiritual condition
Paralyzed by
Guilt
Doubt
Fear
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
They can’t get to Jesus and are depending on us
They can’t get to Jesus and are depending on us
you could be someone’s last hope
Don’t give up
No matter:
What we have to do
How long it takes
How much criticism you get
For their sakes Don’t give up!
There is a cause to fight for,
Do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus. No matter what we have to do, how long it takes or how much people criticize us. For their sakes don’t give up!