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Thank God for What You DO Have!
Always remember that this ministry impacts far more lives than just those you see inside of this building! God has given all of you several spiritual gifts - embrace them, encourage them, delight in them, and share them!

Thank God for What You DON'T Have!
Maybe you don't have something because you wouldn't be able to handle it. God won't "bless" you with a curse, but Satan will...'tis why so many Americans are simultaneously wealthy and antagonistic to Christ.

Ps 44:3
For by their own sword they did not possess the land,
And their own arm did not save them,
But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence,
For You favored them.

Glory Be To God
One of the key lessons in studying out the Apostles is NOT necessarily that God will ALWAYS use unexceptional men, but rather that He can/does use ANY kind of person, regardless of their natural abilities!

"for there is no distinction"
We all fail miserably to live up to God's divine standard, so it doesn't really matter what we "bring to the table" in terms of self-righteousness. God's righteousness is independent from man's.

Following Jesus
If Jesus' ministry was defined by "to seek and to save" (Lk 19:10), then His disciples ought to carry on that mission. It's that simple (2Co 11:3). Any believer can evangelize someone. Is there a more righteous thing we could ever do?

Ro 4:20
yet, with respect to the promise of God, [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

God Saves and Is Glorified
God's righteousness is profoundly and indelibly impressed upon His creatures through salvation. Whether we are being saved (imputed R+), or we are evangelizing others (imparted R+), God is glorified. The power of righteousness is exemplified through salvation.

Ro 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

The Magnificent Gospel
For something so "simple" as the Gospel, there's just so much to say, too much, actually, in a single lifetime. Maybe this is why God has chosen to allow the great "theatron" called life to drag on as long as it has???

Sowing Seed
A farmer cannot sow any seed that will bear any harvestable fruit unless he sows it in the field where the fertile soil is. Likewise, as evangelists, we must sow the Gospel seed in God's field (in the lives of others). Spiritual "nerds" talk about sowing seed, but they never actually get their hands dirty.

Balance Statement
You cannot FORCE "true religion" (Jas 1:27), so please do not "pretend". God doesn't want phonies sowing the seed of "love", for the receivers might realize the insincerity and question Christ-ianity altogether.

"Your actions speak so loudly, I can not hear what you are saying."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spreading and Living the Gospel
If we're not verbalizing the Gospel, then we are to live it for all to see its fruit. Our perfect example of this is Jesus. Since every believer's life is different, every ministry is, too!

Diversity Is Good
YOU need to pray about how God wants YOU to spread the Gospel. While you might be encouraged by others fulfilling the plan for THEIR lives, do NOT fret about being motivated differently - THAT is the beauty of God creating YOU!

The Unholy Flesh
The human flesh likes to overstep God's boundaries. It likes to draw conclusions that aren't warranted by Holy Scripture. It particularly likes to impress polarity in others, even historical figures in the Bible (to depravity, or idolatry), all on the basis of creature-credit.

"Case Studies" Aren't Doctrine
While Biblical accounts of the apostles' lives are tremendously valuable, we cannot make the mistake of making doctrines out of everything we read about them. Case in point: just because the apostles were "uneducated" doesn't mean that only "uneducated" people will ever excel spiritually.

God's Sovereign Choices
The original 12 prove that God doesn't need intellectuals to spread the Gospel...and Paul proves that God can use an intellectual to spread the same Gospel.

Context Matters
Life has context. The apostles were no different. You are no different. Every believer is called uniquely. The apostles prove this - just look at the differences between the original twelve and Paul.

Called From Different Places
Jesus called the original twelve apostles, the so-called "uneducated", and they followed Him. However, with Paul the intellect, He had to knock him down!!!

Context is key!!!

"righteousness...on the basis of faith"
The standout exception we have to the rule (Paul) is most humbly stating that, as smart as he is, it means absolutely nothing. The righteousness that all men need is a grace gift, not an intellectual pursuit.