R370 Why Are We So Different

God's word has encouragement for each of us as we open it together and discover what were so different that's a topic from Dr. Don Wilton yes the message today is why we are so different we had in the book of Ephesians in just a moment. Dr. Don was to remind you that we're here for you 24 hours a day connecting keyboard to keyboard on our website@dewonline.org. This phone number 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 967, 314, EW online.org many folks online are taking a peek book, Dr. will release recently call Saturdays with Billy plus the 31 days of prayer for our nation. Powerful resource again. Take a peek online right now@gwonline.org now today's teaching with Dr. Don Wilton on The Encouraging Word I want you to turn with me in your Bibles to Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, and while I'm turning their I wonder if you wouldn't mind we going to need this box appeared on her own full if you could bring that up there because we got to me that in a minute as a congregation we going to be looking at a very rational subject this morning. If you would just look at me for a moment, please. We going to be looking at a very special subject in Ephesians chapter 4 genetics.

It's an amazing thing to see how God's people come together what went what we a basketball you know that it's a remarkable thing to know that in our congregation that we have so many people who work and give a big giftedness in the ministry of recreation.

What is this faster even as we speak here number of men and women, boys and girls that are helping downstairs to take care of some of the most essential needs of our little ones even now so we can work while I'm glad you gave me a clean one brick. This is a director do you know that as we worship the Lord Jesus to buy but you know that we've literally got scores of little babies that people are looking off to right now so that moms and dads can be in this church you know that we've got some people brick who very rarely if ever get to coming to worship because they serving you and me by love us so much and you know what I'm told I'm told that the older a person becomes, the less likely it is that they going to give their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ and the key lies at this stage, these little ones.

You mean so much to us personally, but they mean so much to the Lord Jesus Christ and how much we thank God for the army of men and women who minister to our little ones. What else to be have all what is this not okay you can take that this is first Baptist Church Spartanburg century quiet all the music programs that we have. What a blessing as a T-shirt. I recognize this this is our young people recognize this. This is mirror image you can see a map from last year. Mirror image went all the way down the to the keys in Florida the year before when all the way up to Toronto, Canada sang in prisons went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City. We saw over 1000 people give their hearts to Jesus Christ. The last two years you know that our young people are training every single week putting in hours upon hours all for one reason and that is to going share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ parents to give up of the time to work with our young people.

What a blessing this is interesting.

Thank you.

See why we needed the stuff I have to have this brick. This is a a map it's an interesting thing. It's got all well that you can see India. There I think about medical hospital and in India. I see Russia back then you know that we got some about a man Jason Brown and Tom are you going to Russia in a couple of weeks again. South Africa or the got some funny people would come from there and I bought look at this I began the United States and Australia down on the good I might, and all the rest of it that goes with it. You know that our church every year for the possible years, has given $10,000 in our budget to help build churches in Brazil and we have teams of people who go down there every year and I am open to correction, but I believe that our church is participated in building 10 new churches for the witness of Jesus in Brazil missions. We got people involved in missions and in giving all over our church pastor. You don't have to go farther to be involved in missions as well all I love this and I'm so glad he gave me oatmeal I love oatmeal I love guided Cracker Barrel and Brandon using Landon getting a big bowl of oatmeal. Let me tell you, oatmeal is not oatmeal without a jolly good pinch of brown sugar a little dab of butter and a spot of milk models absolutely on the spot. Do you know folks that people in our church.

Many, many of our people spend many hours giving to the poor and the hungry and the needy bringing food draw food kitchen dispensing items so that others can head others can have their needs met as well. The ministry read all I love this. This is a flag do not.

This reminds me of Britain. It reminds me of our scouting program.

We have the most incredible scouting program at first Baptist Church in fact, we've got a whole lot about scouts here today because this is Scott recognition today. Scott's and those involved would you stand up this morning.

Would you just stand up this recognize them in briefing this morning. What is done for the Lord Jesus Christ in the minds of our young people through the ministry of scouts at first Baptist Church has given estimable value couple couple more things.

This is marvelous. I went into someone's home yesterday that I have three little ones and I so enjoyed sitting on one of the doctors and talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. When I see something like this.

I think about all of our Sunday school teachers. I think about all men and women who spend literally hours talking about Jesus Christ and teaching others about the wonderful truth of knowing him as they personal Lord and Savior. Our Sunday school is such a vital part of our church. I hope that your involved. I hope it if your teacher or you would love to teach that you volunteered.

You say Lord Jesus. This is my love gift to you. I want to be used of you. I hope that your involved in our discipleship programs that we've spoken about monster laugh and play groups in an and all different kinds of things that are going on in life Institute on Sunday off names. Thank you so much bread. I guess that's about. There's one more thing pastor that can reminds me where I need to be right now all lowered. Thank you sir. A television monitor here. Where would we be without television and communication ministries that reach so many people, for the Lord Jesus. I wish that each one of you could see the letters that dear people write to us. Prayer requests from nursing homes and from places all over the show people in every kind of circumstance of life, they bring such joy to our hearts and how much we thank Britt Dillard and our folks in the media ministry about church. You mean so much to us. Thank you. I do appreciate that and it seems to me remarkable to think that Britt couldn't pick that box up by himself. It's amazing but it's true. You look good, but do not quite at that point yet on its right that's turning out Bibles to understand what it is that God is trying to teach us in Ephesians chapter 4. What is it that makes people want to serve the Lord Jesus Christ like us. How do you explain it in today's day and age. I want to remind you in Ephesians chapter 4 in the verses that we've already discussed together, and particularly verse same in the Bible say is that each one of us grace has been given as the Lord Jesus Christ has apportioned and then you go down the verse 16, and Paul puts us all into one whole not show as a good. He says for from him.

That is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. It is absolutely mind-boggling to think that in this church that God is raising up a group of men and women and young people who are willing to say Lord Jesus, you have blessed me, and in return I want to bless you now how do we explain this well today and next week we going to be looking at Ephesians chapter 4 from verse 17 because Ephesians 4 and from verse 17 explains to us what it is that is taking place in our hearts.

Why is it that so many people want to serve God in such a fashion which read it together. Verse 17 so I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord Jesus Christ, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.

Surely you heard of him and were told of him him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus Christ, you would talk with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires in order to be made new in the attitude of your mind, and to put on the new sill created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

There's a lot more but may the Lord and his blessing to this reading from his word. How do you explain to the world what happens amongst God's people in God's church.

How do you explain that a group of people who have so much to do seem to know no limit to what they are prepared to do in order that others might come to know Christ. You, my friend already developing the cycle you are in the process of growing in the nurture and in the admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ. Next week I'm going to be doing an exegesis of verse 17 through verse 24 explaining to us, according to God's word. How we came to the sport but this morning I want on through a very simple question. What is a developing disciple. What is it that causes you and me to come to church on a Sunday morning order read our Bible order talk to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer or to meet at a prayer retreat in a group or to be around other men and women, boys and girls who love the Lord Jesus, and to suddenly begin to feel a strange stirring within our hearts and lives a compulsion if you please to want to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are developing disciple. Two things are happening in your life. First of all, you are you have a developing purpose and secondly you have a developing strategy that is taking place as a result of your developing purpose we going to discover that this is what the apostle Paul was talking about Jesus put it like this. He said if any man women boil go would come after me, he or she must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Jesus said apply Christie's disciples, he said, as you are in the process of following me. I Jesus will make you fishers of men.

We don't make ourselves fishers of men.

It is in response to our following all the Lord Jesus Christ. As we go in the progressive maturational development of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you follow me I will in turn in April you by my grace to become fishers of men. It is a discipleship principle that is written in the heart of God. What was Jesus. I he was saying that if you love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Two. Things are going to happen number one you going to have a developing purpose and number two, you're going to have a developing strategy.

What is it mean to have a developing purpose.

Well according to God's word. It means four things. It means number one that you really want to worship God. It's as simple as that your purpose is to worship God. God created us with the ultimate purpose of wanting to worship him and I developing disciple finds himself more and more wanting to be drawn into the heart of God, wanting to worship God. It is being said and I believe this to be true that you never have to be a born-again believer to come to church. Why because a born-again believer is in the process of growing in Christ of developing vaccines of spiritual purpose. And what is a sense of spiritual purpose. Do it means that you really want to worship God in two ways corporately together as believers.

The gathered church and personally in your own private time in your unquiet time in your own prayer time. That's what God does for you. Second, you really want to obey God's word. If you're developing disciple with a developing purpose you going to really want to obey God's word. It's very simple.

What is God's word say what is the Bible teach me on the basis of the authority of God's word. I want to do what God wants me to do I have the privilege is all about ministers do pricing with couples who been married for some time, something not so long, some for very long time. Once in a while a company come and see me in Lotta strident friction in the marriage. You know that many times the calls of the friction in their marriage is the refusal of one or the other of the spouses to submit themselves to the one they say that they love their Messiah word to the manager among if you've married that dear lady and you love her as the question, why don't you want to obey her obedience, not in the sense of a dictatorial authoritarian obedience either vice versa but obedience in the sense of a willingness to want to submit everything that person represent a willingness to say I just simply love you. Therefore, I want to submit to you.

I want to do what ever it is that is going to make you perfectly happy and make you a complete person.

What is a developing disciple in his relationship with Jesus Christ you really want to worship God you really want to obey God's word number three you really want to contribute to God's work. How do you contribute to God's work number one in relationships. That's why we care this morning. There are so many men and women in this congregation that I know when they sit and when they worship and when they function according to God's grace that it seems to me that everything and every time you meet always on your mind is the compulsion to want to reach out to somebody else in true God-given spiritual loving relationships God's family is all about relationships.

That's why it's important to be a part of God's church.

I don't know how people can survive in this world without being a part of God's church frame.

Let me tell you something when you suffer need. When you lose a loved one when you diagnosed with the dreaded disease. When your children hurt when you marriage suffers straying at the edges. I want you to know there is nobody will minister more to you than those you go to church with those who are your genuine friends in Christ. We want to impact God's will in God's working relationships in the giving of our money.

I'm trying beloved friends at the time, and this church that no member of this church will ever give money to the church because of the positive preachers in the school.

No one will ever give money to this church because of a program that your children are involved. No one will ever give money to the church because of anything else other than the Lord Jesus Christ's you're listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word.

Please don't go away.

He'll be back to complete this message why we are so different in just a moment Dr. Don Wilton remind you that we are connecting you with resources that can change your life every day. So many have been talking about the 31 days of prayer for my nation a resource to find on our website right now ITW online.org it's just one of many resources, both audio resources, written book resources and yes we still have copies of the fresh new book Dr. Don Wilton Saturdays with Billy, the wonderful treatment of the time that Dr. Don spent with Billy Graham of the last 25 years and that Dr. Todd with his pastor all the details are on our website@tewonline.org now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton.

Why do I give I give because it's his church. I did because I'm a developing disciple.

I really want to worship God. I really want to obey God. I really want to contribute to God's work with my relationship with the money that I've got with my talents. That's what happened last week. That's what's happening this week. People are saying I'm giving this love offering to God because I am a developing disciple, but in the fourth place you really want to impact God's world.

You're developing disciple you not prepared to just sit there you not prepared to just pay somebody else to do missions for you if you just played somebody else to do missions for you. That's not missions. That's mercenary. Not everybody can go.

But God's word says beloved friends that because we are developing disciples, we become active participants in the giving of our money in our prayer in our encouragement in the notes that we write in the practical participation that we entered into by God's grace. Evangelism, discipleship missions, see friends. These are biblical values that we stand firmly upon you have a developing purpose. Secondly, you have a developing strategy. How do you put this all together.

If you're a born-again believer. What you do what's your strategy when you go to next.

How do you use your gifts for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Three ways three considerations in a developing strategy related to all-purpose number one you need to refine your purpose, you need to refine it. I believe that in this church is there are in all of our churches, not adopted First Baptist Church of Florence, South Carolina. There are just many many wonderful diamonds. But you know most of us friends are rough diamonds do not.

Would diamonds come from. They come from a lump of coal.

God begins with a lump of coal and he creates a beautiful priceless precious single gold diamond and before diamond is cotton refine.

It is an uncut rough diamond and God takes us as he's precious Jews, and he begins to refine us and kept us and shape us into that precious commodity. He wants us to be. But secondly, if you have a developing strategy you need to reaffirm a lot of things that you doing God is doing, not only as a church but as individuals reaffirm your commitment to him reaffirm your giftedness. Reaffirm the things that God has blessed you with. But then perhaps sometimes in a developing strategy you need to replace some things, don't you sometimes is developing disciples will not prepared to replace anything we've always done it like that. We've never done it like this before. This is the way we do it.

This is the way I function. I'll never forget the story about the two hunters elk hunters hunting up in Alaska. They went hunting in the pilot came to pick them up on this frozen lake in the mountains of Alaska when he landed on the frozen lake. He got out of the spine.

He said gentlemen. There are two healthcare. You know you're only allowed one elk we breaking the regulations. They said all, all, let's just take the tube back on. He said I couldn't. Anyway my planes too small.

I sit up last year we put to elk on the pilot picked us up so he said okay and they crammed these to melt into the small little airplane began to cycle this what happened. They crashed into the side of the mountain. Fortunately, none of them were killed as one of the hunters began to dig in his way out of all the rubble of eternities buddy was also climbing out of the wreckage and safety of where we need friend looked around. He said automotive but looks like were about 100 yards from where we crashed austere is not just like us. Sometimes is not just like us on how quickly the days passed by. Perhaps today is a unique day for you today were, you realize that it's time for a course correction on adjustment in your trajectory and God's use The Encouraging Word of God, the Bible itself in the teaching of Dr. Don Wilton to help bring that to light if you've heard Dr. Don preaching the last few moments of been stirred by God I pray you to open your heart to what he wants to share with you next. God has spoken to you hasn't you ready to give your heart to Jesus. I'd love to help you right now. Would you pray this prayer with me and accept Jesus into your heart and life. Dear God, I know that Arneson I know that Jesus loves me and died from you right now I repent of my sin and often face my sin. Jesus Christ coming to save me today give me for my sin. Jesus name I pray, amen. If you've prayed that pray we'd love to get along side celebrate St. Vincent literature help users begin to grow and I want you to know that I love you very very much if you just write along with Dr. Wilton. Welcome to the family of God. Perhaps you rededicate your life to Christ to engage your life to Jesus for the first time we have wonderful resources in both situations will help you grow their free for the asking. If you call us at 8668. That's 866-899-9673. I pray you would jot that number down stored in yourself because it's much more than just an opportunity to order a Bible guide or order a book. It's there for you for that, but it's also a powerful avenue for us to pray together first to parents. First of all, to sense, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for people for teams and those in authority… I am typing in the time our lives are anything but peaceful and quiet find peace conferring daily Bible reading. God wants to give us friends. We would be honored to pray for you would be honored to pray for his teeth in your life. The Encouraging Word is a 24 hour live prayer line you can call 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 talk to a real person who will be glad to pray with you The Encouraging Word is a viewer or listener's ministry.

Thank you for listening. I times.

Dr. David Alderson. We were great messages from Dr. Don one from Romans one from Ephesians coming up.

Peace, joy and forgiveness and real commitment. The two messages over the next couple of days here The Encouraging Word if you want to take a peak or maybe listen again.

Today's message all of our resources every broadcast is available for you both to watch and listen to on our website at tewonline.org Margie that's T online.org why you're there, be sure and follow Dr. Don Wilton social medias. He loves getting connected with you, whether it's on twitter Instagram Facebook all those points of connection right there on our website at tewonline.org OR G as well as the other to the number 866899 word love