Sermon Central
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Take Advantage
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 31, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Can you believe it? God wants us to take advantage of Him and His Church! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.
Take Advantage
Ecc. 2:24, 3:13, 5:18-19
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TakeAdvantage.html
Can you believe it? God wants to be taken advantage of! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ of someone it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. The book of Acts shows God moving among the church like a wind…we might as well tap into the power source and take advantage. God gives us many advantages, if only we’ll take them, and remember, anything good in our lives comes from God.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father…
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
…the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
But the Bible says since much has been given to us, much is required. And what does God require? Simply for us to take advantage of all that has been given! Shop around, you won’t find a better deal anywhere!
Why not take advantage?
Why not take advantage of the promises of God?
If someone promised to buy you a house free and clear, would you accept it?
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
How about an endless buffet of food, groceries, and supplies? Would you take advantage?
And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
It is beyond me how a thinking, rational person could not take advantage of the free gift of salvation offered to them by Christ.
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
If you could erase the mistakes of your lifetime, and have a second chance, wouldn’t you take advantage?
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I’ll bet that if we had a phone here that you knew would put you thru to God, where you could actually talk to Him, you would use it!
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
So, why don’t we take advantage of such a privilege of prayer?
If you were carrying a heavy bag of cement, and a strong man approached you and offered to carry it for you, would you avail yourself of the opportunity?
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
If being filled w/ the powerful Spirit of God was as simple as flipping a switch, would you flip it?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
If someone discovered a secret recipe that would give you everything you really want in life, would you write that recipe down and follow it?
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
What if you could be made smarter or wiser than you know you really are. Would you wave that magic wand?
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
What if there was someone you could give money to, and they would always give you more back. Would you cash in on that advantage?
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Now we know that is not the motive for giving. We should give out of obedience, and should even desire to give, expecting nothing in return. But for some reason God has included numerous promises in His Word that indicate we cannot outgive Him. Maybe He wants to see who will take advantage of His offer.
