Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Tools For The Trade Ephesians 2:10

Tools For The Trade There are some essential things that we need before we can perform any task Whether it be our jobs, work around the house, work on our cars, or repairing our own lives

Tools For The Trade What about the essentials needed to do the work of the Lord? Eph. 2:10 says that we are created in Christ for good works Tit. 2:14 – we are His special people, “ zealous for good works ”

Tools For The Trade The work may not get done because the proper attitudes are not there The right attitude can make all the difference Dan. 6:3 – Daniel had a great (excellent) attitude

A Powerful Faith Where faith is absent, action is absent as well 12 Spies – Num. 13:17ff; 14:11-12 If we don ’ t think we can do something, then we won ’ t try Matt. 17:14-21

A Powerful Faith With faith, all things are possible James 2:14ff No works = No faith No faith = No works John 20:30-31

A Joyful Heart Phil. 4:4 Paul was a great worker, look at his attitude We should not be despondent or down-hearted We have so many things to be thankful for

A Joyful Heart We should be thankful: –We are the children of God – I Jn. 3:1-3 –We have all spiritual blessings – Eph. 1:3 –We will receive the crown of life – II Tim. 4:7-8

Reliance on Prayer The prayer of the righteous avails much – Js. 5:16 People who are not interested enough to pray are not interested enough to work We know that God answers prayer – Matt. 7:7-11

Reliance on Prayer Paul believed that God answered prayer when it came to evangelism – Col. 4:2-3 Prayer changes things We should pray to the one who can change those things We should never lose heart

A Personal Love We must have a love for the Lord – Jn. 14:23-24; I Jn. 5:3 We must have a love for the brethren – I Jn. 4:20-21 –To work together there must be love & unity – I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:1-4 –Some would rather “ bite and devour ” others – Gal. 5:15

A Personal Love We must have a love for the lost – Lk. 19:10 Heaven ’ s attitude – Lk. 15:1-7 If you don ’ t have love then it really doesn ’ t matter what you do – I Cor. 13:1-3

A Persistent Effort Persistency can be the secret to success – Lk. 18:1-8 Persistency of Noah – 120 years to build the ark Persistency of Paul – Phil. 3:12-15 We are to live a life of service, not a moment – Rom. 12:1-2; I Cor. 15:58

A Persistent Effort We should never be discouraged by a lack of results – Gal. 6:9 The Lord doesn ’ t judge us on our results, rather on our effort May we give our best effort always – Ecc. 9:10

Tools For The Trade Every disciple needs to possess each of these attitudes If the work is going to be accomplished, it will be by the hands of those who are loving, joyful, faithful, prayerful, and persistent