Food for thought
- To the Family:
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:15)
- He is our example:
“He that says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk, even as
He walked.” (1Jn. 2:6)
- Service & Ministry:
- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,
To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
[Ministry]
- Prerequisites:
- “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready
always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of
the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Pe. 3:15)
- Understand the responsibility (especially in teaching –
serving the word): “ My brothers, be not many masters, knowing
that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (James 3:1)
- “brothers, look you out among you seven men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this
business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and
to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole
multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch”. (Acts 6:3 – 5)
- Serve ALL:
- Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.
(Romans 12:20)
- How to Serve?
- 27 ¶ Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all
apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with
tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts:
and yet show I to you a more excellent way. (1Co. 12:27 – 31)
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A Model of a Servant
St. Paul
The purpose of his Life
"17 For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of
mine own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me." (1Co. 9:17)
Labor by Grace
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of
God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in
vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the
grace of God which was with me. (1Co. 15:9 - 10)
Seeks Council
“2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain
other of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about
this question”. (Acts 15:2)
Resourceful
St. Paul used his Hebrew background and his Hebrew schooling for the
service of the Lord
He used his Roman citizenship, when necessary, towards the service of the
Lord
St. Paul’s Service
Doctrine
There was a fundamental conception that it was not he (St. Paul) but the
grace of God that was with him and the power if God that worked through
him
Tears
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I
ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:31)
His interest in his Converts
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all
wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29
Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in
me mightily. (Col 1:28)
St. Paul’s Service
Doctrine
There was a fundamental conception that it was not he (St. Paul) but the
grace of God that was with him and the power if God that worked through
him
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The Good Shepherd
My sheep hear my voice, and
I know them, and they follow me
(Jn. 10:27)
A Servant's Prayer
Lord, make me a channel of your peace that where there is
hatred I may bring love. Where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit
of forgiveness. Where there is doubt, I may bring faith. Where there is
sadness I may bring joy.
The Servant is Honored
If any man serve me, let
him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man
serve me, him will my Father honor
(Jn. 12:26)
Knowing that of the
Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the
Lord Christ
(Col. 3:24)
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