THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING GOD

 

                                                                Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. “THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING GOD” PUTS SOME ON THE DEFENSIVE

 

1. Moses Fussed [Ex. 3-4]

2. Jonah Fled [Jonah 1]

3. Ananias Feared [Acts 9:10-14]

 

II. “THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING GOD” SHOWS WE NEED SOME SIMPLE DIRECTIONS

 

1. Don’t Talk Back to God – Talk for God [Ex. 3-4ff.]

2. Don’t “Stop” at a “Yield” Sign [Jonah 2:1-3:3, Romans 6:13, 16, 19]

 

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

 

3. Let God & Let God [Acts 9:15-19]

 

III. “THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING GOD” FALTERS IN THE FACE OF DEVOTION

 

1. Live by Faith [Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38] The just shall live by faith.

2. Die to Self [John 12:24-25, 1 Corinthians 15:31]

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily .

 

3. Give God the Praise [Psalm 40:3,  Hebrews 13:15, 1 Peter 4:11]

 

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

IV. “THE INCONVENIENCE OF SERVING GOD” IS FOOLISH IN THE FACE OF SOUND DECLARATION S

 

1. It May Not Be Convenient to Serve God BUT It Is Right! [Acts 4: 19-20, Ephesians 6:1]

 

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

 

2. It May Not Be Convenient to Serve God BUT It Is Reasonable! [Romans 12:1-2]

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

3. It May Not Be Convenient to Serve God BUT It Is Rewarding! [1 Cor. 15:58,  Hebrews 11:26]

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.