What Holds You Back?
Introduction:
A. Are there things you have intended to do, but keep putting them off?
1. Things like: fixing the roof; painting the house; replacing a faucet.
2. Or...:going to the doctor; having an operation; losing weight.
3. Or even...:write a letter; visit an old friend.
B. What is holding us back?
1. Fear.
2. Desire.
3. Opportunity.
4. Doubt.
What about doing the things God would have you do?
I. God would have you to study His word.
A. God has told us...
1. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
(II Timothy 2:15).
2. Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).
3. Desire the sincere milk of the word.. (I Peter 2:2).
B. God wants us to study...so what is holding you back?
1. Opportunity?
a. I am too busy is the most common excuse.
b. But, we make time for other things we want to do:
1) Watch T.V.
2) Golf.
3) Fish.
c. Maybe desire is the real problem. (I Peter 2:2).
2. Doubt?
a. Some people doubt that they will be able to understand it.
1) Paul said Timothy was able to understand it from his
childhood (II Timothy 3:15).
2) It may take a little effort, but God told us we need to be
workmen at studying His word (II Timothy 2:15).
b. Some doubt that it has anything to offer them. Which of
the following Bible instructions might you find beneficial?
1) How to raise children.
2) How to have a successful marriage.
3) How to overcome depression.
4) How to get along with others.
5) How to be saved from your sin.
II. God wants us to give up sin.
A. God, in His word says...
1. Put off the old man, and put on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24).
2. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them (Ephesians 5:11).
3. Flee youthful lust, but follow after righteousness (II Tim.2:22).
4. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a
vessel of honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use,
and prepared for every good work (II Timothy 2:21).
B. So, what is holding you back?
1. Fear?
a. Some people may be afraid that they will fail.
b. If we fail, and repent, God will forgive us ( I John 1:9).
c. If we keep on sinning: we do not abide in Him; we do
not know Him; and are not known of Him (I John 3:6).
2. Opportunity?
a. Some may say...I want to give up my sin, but the people
at work won't let me.
b. Are they forcing you, or influencing you to sin?
c. God warns us about evil influence (I Corinthians 15:33) ,
but He does not excuse it.
3. Desire?
a. If there is sin in your life you have not put away, maybe you
do not want to put it away because you enjoy the sin.
b. Sin is pleasurable (Hebrews 11:25), but it is only pleasurable
for a little while...punishment will be forever.
III. God wants us to teach others.
A. The Bible says...
1. Go ye therefore and teach all nations...(Matthew 28:19).
2. Preach the gospel to every creature...(Mark 16:15).
3. It is through the foolishness of preaching God has chosen
to save those that believe (I Corinthians 1:21).
B. God says go, and the lost need to hear. What holds us back?
1. Fear?
a. Few people like confrontation, and there is always the
possibility when we start teaching others that there may
be confrontation. But, isn't it worth the risk of making
someone mad if it means they will go to heaven?
b. Some people are afraid because they are afraid of failing,
or that they won't have all the answers.
1) Jesus did not have 100 % success.
2) If you understood what you needed to do to obey the
gospel, then you know the answers to the most important
questions, and you can always get help with the rest.
c. Moses gave all kinds of excuses for not going to Egypt and
delivering the people from slavery. God did not accept any
of his excuses. Do we really think He will accept ours?
2. Opportunity?
a. If someone comes and asks you to teach them, would you?
b. That isn't going to happen very often...so Jesus said "go."
c. We need to make the opportunities, but maybe we just don't
have the desire to do so.
IV. Obeying the gospel.
A. God wants you to obey the gospel.
1. He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you (John 3:16),
but you must obey the gospel, and put Him on in baptism to be
saved (Gal.3:26-29).
2. God does not want any to perish (II Peter 3:9).
3. He gave the gospel, so you could: hear it; obey it; and be saved.
It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
B. What is holding you back?
1. Doubt?
a. What is it you doubt?
1) That there is a God?
2) That Jesus is His Son?
3) What you need to do?
b. If you have doubts about any of these things...
1) You need to study until you are sure, but don't delay!
2) We would be glad to study with you.
2. Fear?
a. Are you held back from obeying because you are afraid
of what others might think, or do?
b. The chief rulers allowed the Pharisees to keep them from
confessing Christ, for they were afraid of being cast out
of the synagogue (John 12:42).
c. There will be a long line, on judgement day, of those who
were held back from obeying because of a husband, wife,
friend, or parent. And, they will all be turned away, because
Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
OBEY Him! (Hebrews 5:9).
Conclusion:
A. Do you agree that God would have you do all these things?
B. What is holding you back?
C. Don't let anything keep you from doing what you know God
wants you to do.