Mount Isa Baptist Church

LORD, DO THINGS IN US THAT WE ARE NOT USED TO

Yesterday, I suggested that we pray this prayer, which would help us, challenge us, and hopefully stretch us. It goes like this: “Lord, do things in us and through us that we’re not used to.” Simple; Clear; and something we don't like to pray. Why?

Just in case God answers. But it’s a good and frightening thing to ask God to move us out of our comfort zone, and to do with us things that sometimes make us very uncomfortable. The problem with people is that “No One Wants Change.”

“Everyone wants progress, but no one wants change.”

We all say we want to make progress in reaching out and seeing the church grow, but no one wants things to change.

Why is this? Because change propels us out of our comfort zone. It forces us out of our ruts and upsets our routine. Change challenges our priorities and disrupts our plans. Sometimes God looks down from heaven and says, “It’s time for a change.” WHY? That we might become the church God wants us to be.

1st: It all starts with seeing. Jesus saw the multitudes. The world is full of people who are lost, and the first step for us as Christians, the first step for us as Mount Isa Baptist, is to see them!

The 2nd step is to feel compassion

Why was Jesus so moved? Because He knew their true condition. Jesus said the people were like sheep without a shepherd. Please understand what Jesus is saying.

Here are the first steps … Seeing … Feeling … Knowing

Why are those the steps we need to follow? Because

Until you see, you will not feel. Until you feel, you will not know. Until you know, you will not care. Until you care, you will not pray. Until you pray, you will not go. vs.37 – vs.38: Do you see the key word in verse 37? It’s the little word, then.

Then He saw … Then he felt … Then he knew… and then he called his disciples to action. Here is the application for us today: The fields are always white unto harvest. There are lost people all around us, each and every day, ready to be saved if only someone will tell them about Jesus.

There are some questions we need to ask ourselves today:

1. What vision is God birthing in your heart?

2. When people look back at your life, how will you be remembered?

3. How much are you willing to invest?

What did the Lord Jesus say next?

“Pray to the Lord of the harvest.” The church’s primary response to the needs of the world can be summed up in one word. Pray, Pray, Pray. First, we pray; then we go. We pray to the Lord because all things are by Him and through Him and from Him and for Him. We need to pray: “Lord, take your people gathered in comfort in the church and blast them out of this place and into the distant corners of Mount Isa first and then to the ends of the earth.” We must pray and then deepen our own walk with God so that when God calls, we will …

Care more than some think is wise,

Risk more than some think is safe,

Dream more than some think is practical,

Expect more than some think is possible.

Who knows what God will do in Mount Isa once you and I begin to pray?

Who knows what God will do in this church once we begin to pray?

Who knows what God will do in us and through us once we begin to pray?

I began yesterday’s sermon by mentioning the prayer, “Lord, do things we’re not used to.” I urge you to pray that prayer this week.