I. Responses To God's Word Are Expected
A. Joshua's Challenge
(Josh 24:14-15) "Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. {15} And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
B. Elijah at Mt. Carmel
(1 Ki 18:21) "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."
II. What do we know?
A. We know what our mission is.
B. We know what true ministry is.
C. We know that we must be filled with the Holy Spirit in order for us to do real ministry.
III. What is next?
(James 1:22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
A. Now God' challenge to us is to be "doers"
B. What the difference between the following:
1. Being in a war and being in a soldier?
2. Building a house and being a builder?
3. Hearing the Word and living the Word?
C. Hearing Is Very Important
1. But we are not to be hearers only
2. The ancient Greek word for hearing means to audit
a. When you audit a class you attend the lectures but don't do any of the assignments.
b. When you audit a class you receive no credit
c. I am afraid their are a lot of people in church who we may call "spiritual auditors"
D. Being Doers Offers Us Reassurance
1. Reassurance that we belong to Him
(John 10:27) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
(John 14:15) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
2, Reassurance that we are fulfilling God's plan for us
(John 15:10) "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
(John 20:21) "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."