Do All You Do in Jesus Name

2 Kings 3—4; Genesis 12

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us

Introduction:

Illustration:
Wallace Johnson, builder of numerous Holiday Inn motels and convalescent hospitals said, "When I was forty years old, I worked in a sawmill. One morning the boss told me, 'Your fired! ' Depressed and discouraged, I felt like the world had caved in on me. It was during the depression, and my wife and I greatly needed the small wages I had been earning. "When I went home, I told my wife what had happened. She asked, "What are you going to do now?" "I replied, 'I'm going to mortgage our little home, and go into the building business.” "My first venture was the construction of two small buildings. Within five years, I was a multi-millionaire!” "Today, if I could locate the man who fired me. I would sincerely thank him for what he did. At the time it happened, I didn't understand why I was fired. Later, I saw that it was God's unerring and wondrous plan to get me into the way of His choosing! "

Often in the middle of difficulties and trials we often loose sight of Romans 8:28…
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

And we lose sight of the working out of God’s goodness. Many times we grumble and complain instead of obey and gain. Our faith in God and His Word will make the difference in how we get along in this life.

I believe that great blessings from God are just around the corner. I've been there for sure and I know what I'm talking about. You can miss them though. Often our flesh and the world fool us into thinking that there is no blessing coming. Well, there is, just get ready to get blessed.

Theme: Get Ready to be Blessed:

I. When the work seems useless and a waste of time!

2 Kings 3:16-20

Illustration:
A young man accepted as an African Missionary reported to New York for "passage" but soon found that his wife could not tolerate the climate physically. Brokenhearted he returned home. His father was a dentist and he felt no use in becoming a dentist. His father had started a small business on the side making an unfermented wine for use in the Lord's Supper. He began to dabble in this business until he finally took it over. What a waste of time he must have thought as he worked at making grape juice. The business took off and prospered and the man whose last name still is on his families product gave millions to missions around the world. Welch' s Grape Juice.

A Nothing done by direction of God is ever useless in God's plan, nothing!

B. No time is a waste of time if it is directed and orchestrated by God's Word.

Transition:
Get ready to be blessed when your work in the Lord seems begrudgingly a waste of time. When things done seem useless in purpose get ready to be blessed!

Theme: Get Ready to be Blessed:

I. When the work seems useless and a waste of time!

II. When the preparation seems senseless!

2 Kings 4:1-7

Illustration: Robert Moffatt, Scottish missionary to Africa, came back to recruit young men for the field. He was greeted by the fury of a cold British winter. Arriving at the church where he was to speak he noted only a small group had braved the elements to hear his appeal. What disturbed him even more was that he had prepared his sermon on Proverbs 8:4, "Unto you, O men, I call," and only ladies had shown up.

I'm sure that Dr. Moffatt felt like his preparation senseless in light of the fact that, in that day, few women could be expected to undergo the rigorous experiences of the African Mission field. But God thought not the preparation senseless.

A boy in the organ loft that was pumping the organ out of sight was thrilled and challenged by the message. Deciding to follow in the footsteps of the veteran missionary, he went to school, became a doctor, and spent the rest of his life ministering to the unreached tribes of Africa. His name was David Livingstone!

A. Conducting ourselves as Christians, staying true to the word of God and working diligently for him is not senseless.

To a lost world it is a terrible waste of time and effort but to the Christian it is divine stewardship.

B. When you have done all that God has commanded you to prepare, stand ready for a blessing!

Note: The most exciting times in life are the ones in which I could do nothing else in the face of calamity except trust in God.

Transition:
Get ready for a blessing when the preparation seems senseless and you tire of your work. Hang on the blessing is about to be bestowed.

Theme: Get Ready to be Blessed:

I. When the work seems useless and a waste of time!
II. When the preparation seems senseless!

III. When the direction seems to go nowhere!

Genesis 12:1-4

Hebrews 11:8
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

Illustration:
It is said that Sir Thomas Huxley was once on his way to a meeting of some importance and had arrived late at the station. Hurriedly he jumped into a jaunting car, and told the coachman to "Drive fast! " Away went the cab, jolting over the streets. At length Huxley inquired of the driver. "Do you know where you are going?" He answered with a grin. "No, I don't know where I'm going, but I'm driving very fast.

Christians today, as a whole, seem to be not so much concerned about their direction as they are about how fast they can get there.

A. Direction must come from God.

Our forcing God's direction on our lives will only serve to ruin us.

B. We must proceed with faith and trust that God will not let us enter into doors he has not opened.

Transition:
Though our direction is not clearly visible to us, if God has led, we can step out on faith and expect the blessings of God to be upon us forthwith.

Theme: Get Ready to be Blessed:

I. When the work seems useless and a waste of time!
II. When the preparation seems senseless!
III. When the direction seems to go nowhere!

Conclusion:

Get ready to be blessed when your work in the Lord seems begrudgingly a waste of time…

When things done seem useless in purpose get ready to be blessed!

Get ready for a blessing when the preparation seems senseless and you tire of your work.
Hang on the blessing is about to be bestowed. Though our direction is not clearly visible to us, if God has led, we can step out on faith and expect the blessings of God to be upon us forthwith.

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don't quit
Life is strange with its twists and turns
as many of us sometimes learn
And many a failure turns about
when he might have won had he stuck it out
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
you may succeed with another blow
Often the goal is nearer than it seems
to a faint and faltering man
Often the struggler has given up
when he might have won the victor's cup
And he learned too late when the night came down
how close he was to the golden crown
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far
So don't give up when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit

Never, never, never quit - Winston Churchill
Never, never, never quit - more recently, Jerry Falwell

Paul said it in Galatians 6:9:
And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Don’t Quit!)

Jesus said it in Luke 18:1:
…men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Don’t Quit!)

Don’t Quit!