Tools That Aren't Necessary
A. WE ARE TO BE ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS.
1. There is much to do (Matt. 9:36).
2. There is so little time (John 9:4).
3. There are so many things to hinder us (Heb. 12:1).
B. SKILLFULL WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS.
1. 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Furnished completely - to equip fully (Strong).
2. I have tools I don't need. Car tools, for instance.
C. WE HAVE TOOLS FOR THE LORD'S WORK THAT AREN'T NECESSARY.
A. IT DOESN'T HURT (Acts 18:24, 28).
B. BUT LOOK AT MOSES (Ex. 4:10).
C. HOW DID PAUL DESCRIBE HIMSELF (1 Cor. 2:1, 4; 2 Cor. 11:6).
A. PETER AND JOHN (Acts 4:13).
B. HUMAN EDUCATION LEADS TO RELIANCE ON WHAT? (1 Cor. 1:22-23, 20).
C. EDUCATED IN THE WORD (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:13-15).
A. THE LORD IS ABLE TO MANAGE WITH THE POOR (Mark 12:41-44).
B. EARLY DISCIPLES WILLFULLY SACRIFICED WEALTH.
1. Matthew (Luke 5:27-28).
2. Paul (Phil. 3:7-8).
3. The church (Acts 2:44-45; 2 Cor. 8:5, 12).
C. RICH OR POOR THEY PREACHED (Acts 8:4). Elbow grease is the key to success.
D. ANY MEASURE OF WEALTH IS A STEWARDSHIP (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
A. NOTICE THE CLOTHES OF JOHN (Matt. 3:4; 11:7-9).
B. JESUS DOESN'T JUDGE OUTWARD APPEARANCE (1 Sam. 16:6-7; Jas. 2:1-6).
C. TRUE BEAUTY COMES FROM WITHIN (1 Pet. 3:3-4).
D. STILL, WE SHOULD GIVE OUR BEST TO HIM.
A. ENERGY IS HELPFUL (Acts 20:31).
B. WHAT ABOUT PAUL'S THORN (2 Cor. 12:7-10; Gal. 4:12-15).
C. EPAPHRODITUS (Phil. 2:25-30).
A. PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON (Acts 16:19-34).
B. PAUL BEFORE FELIX, THEN FESTUS (Acts 24 and 25).
C. LIKE GOLD, OPPORTUNITY IS WHERE YOU FIND IT. WE MAKE OPPORTUNITY.
D. WE ARE TO PRAY AND LOOK FOR CHANCES (Col. 4:2-3).
A. THE SCRIPTURES TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO GOD'S WORK.
B. MUCH THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE IS NOT NECESSARY.
C. THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IS THE WILL TO WORK.
