Concerning this fact the Apostle Paul uses the wordbut But all things are of Godas though he would anticipate, intercept, or arrest an impulseto rush away and attempt life or service upon an old creationbasis, or with old creation resource.
Jesus had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.Hebrews 2:17
Willing Service
At the age of 12, Jesus had understood that He must be about His Father’s business – and His willingness to labour at the wooden bench of His earthly father demonstrates a determination to complete the eternal business of His heavenly Father’s calling.
as demonstrated by the long years of willing service at the carpenter’s bench.
He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Neither quality nor quantity is the product of the branch, for the branch merely receives what is produced by the vine.To walk with God in hallowed fellowship is not only the secret of joy and growth, it is the condition of all acceptable service, of all real usefulness.
When, however, you and I are prepared, in simple humility, to make the fact of our death with Christ our daily basis of life and service, there is nothing that can prevent the uprising and outflow of new life, and meet the need of thirsty souls around us. -J.C.M.
Good Works
Some consider that living godly is through service to God or ministration to mankind. Indeed, Christ was One, Who went around doing good – serving God and others, but unless administered in the power of the Spirit, our works are filthy dross to God.
The good works and service we consider so vital to godliness are not necessarily so.
Man of God
Paul was a man who loved his Saviour and a man whose service to his Lord is one that we hold up as an example of a great man of faith – a man of God that we ourselves would seek to emulate, and yet his comparatively short life in the ministry was one that was engulfed by an overabundance of problems and difficulties – a ministry that was packed from start to finish with unbelievable severities and significant hardships.
Different Empowerment
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit gifted a few people for their particular ministry or their specific service – or for a certain office such as prophet, priest, or king.
Let us wait until we know His pattern for our life lest, in our impatience, we seek to throw aside the very things permitted of Him to fit us for some special service in His vineyard.
This truth is insightful to us, as it reaches the root of all matters of life and service..
Thus the law of an effective and life, service, and prayer is a oneness with Him – a oneness with Jesus - a oneness with Christ, that we only do, but surely do what He does.
This is what constitutes spirituality - this is what makes a life or service spiritual: it is the drawing upon heavenly resources, living the life as out from heaven.
A barren life means barren service, and no amount of self-effort will ever make up for that!Not I, but Christ.' The Lord Jesus does not ask that we should work for Him, but He intends to work through us.
Life must be much less than it need be if you are not going all the way with the Lord; and what obtains in the matter of our consecration to the Lord, our entire and complete abandonment to Him in our life and our complete cut with all that is not of the Lord, obtains in the realm of service.
Christ is not a second personality or power, to come along to reinforce us, to vivify us, to strengthen us, for us to use in life and in service, and that He should make us something.
Christians are wanting to be made something, even as Christians; and Christian workers and the Lord's servants are, though perhaps unwittingly, wanting to be made something as workers; and they want Christ to reinforce them, come behind them, and make them something as His servants and in His service.
The truth is that Christ shall be All, and that we decrease that He may increase; that He should be the primary Personality, and that the impact and registration of any life and any service should not be: What a good man he was!
High Priest
And there is even MORE- Jesus had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people. What grace that God should send His only begotten Son to be our kinsman-redeemer. What grace that the eternal Son of God should set aside His deity to be born as man and clothe Himself in human flesh – so that we could be redeemed by His blood.
We have almost assumed the whole responsibility for our spiritual life, and made it as though it depended upon our labors in prayer, our labors in the Word of God, our labors in the Lord service, our effort, our stress.
But this knowledge is firstly, constitutional: that is, it is to constitute a certain kind of person and character; and secondly it is vocational: it does not end with the person concerned, but is the essence of service, in time and eternity.
God is very practical, and requires that things in His service are never merely theoretical but real and true to life. -T.
Actually, our Lord does not have any noncombatant soldiers whatsoever in His service, since the battle line extends from the front all the way to the rear; to say nothing of the fact that we are all camped in enemy territory.
Let no one imagine that he can be effectively used in the Lord's service, or even make progress in the Christian life, without some measure of real entrance into the valuable principle: When I am weak, then am I strong' (2 Cor. 12:10).
often labelled ‘vegetables‘ by Social Service, I had a responsibility and I had a choice – accept the ‘professional’ opinion or discover their premise to be false.
And only then do we find that we have learned the lesson of faith; to find our tiny craft of life rushing onward to a blessed life of fruitfulness and service undreamt of in the days of our fleshly strength and self-reliance.
I am sure many in the church of Christ long to be effective in their service to Him, but fullness of life and service in the inner man is birthed from Christ’s imputed life.. and for a believer to live in newness of life in Christ – he first must die on the cross.
For He lives the same life of blessed freedom from bondage, and of joyful service to God, within us by His Spirit, as He does seated in a body, in heaven before God His Father. -W.R.N.
It will either be our self-occupation which is but a form of trying to be something fine, something in ourselves which will bring satisfaction to God or it will be our self-effort in service.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15).Do not look for service, look for preparation for it.
I never met with anyone making his service prominent who knew what it was to sit at the Master's feet; but, thank God, I know indefatigable workers who enjoy sitting at His feet above any service.
It is clear that those who abide in Him must be most competent to serve, and most in His confidence, which, after all, is the clue to all effective service -J.B.S.
All activity, work, and what is called service for the Lord, without that behind it, is lacking in the true power of fruitful service, but if that is there, we cannot help being the Lord servants.
The certainty and the assurance that was right at the root of his Christian life and service came because of this one thing: he'd seen everything in Jesus.
Most of our service during this time is learning how not to do it.
Incalculable harm has been done to the deeper spirituality of the Church, by the idea that when once we are saved the using of the gifts in His service follows as a matter of course.
Like the musician, the master, the artist, or the virtuoso we too have a heavenly Benefactor, and like them we too can be inspired to carry out the work He has for us to do. But God will equip us, in Christ, to do the particular work He has given us to do… so that the work and service He has prepared for us, will be well-pleasing to Him.
And what patience Paul had to develop, as he waited years to be called into service. So how do you develop this rare and precious fruit, bestowed by the Spirit of God?
some set off to do what a work that they perceive to be His will. Some see it as their job and responsibility to convert the world – some are quickly pushed into a ministry or service by other people.
Plan of God
The plan of God in each life is not that they do service, but He does it through them.
Our Father purges us on the principle of we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake.' In service you are sure to find some kind of pressure on you.
It may be on your body, and often is; or it may be persecution; but you will hardly ever have a fruitful field of service before you, unless you are crippled for it.
Therefore, that portion of our lives that is not His living is not Christian living; and that portion of our service that is not His doing is not service; for all such life and service have but a human and natural source, but Christian life and service have a supernatural and spiritual source.” That supernatural, spiritual source – is the Spirit of Christ in you.
There are great days, days of decisive battles, days of crisis in spiritual history, days of triumph in Christian service, days of the right hand of the Father upon us.
But there are also idle days, days of apparent uselessness, when even prayer and service seem a burden.
A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny
Threefold Name
Our triune God created triune man: spirit, soul, and body for a threefold purpose:-salvation, sanctification and service, for time and through eternity.
We must be born into our ministry, our service; and it must be born in us.
Our Father will never put work or service in the place of character; and, if we do that, eternity will reveal that, however much we may have done, we are very small amongst the inhabitants of the Land, whose stature will be measured by the measure of Christ.' It would be well if all who contemplate or are engaged in the work of God were governed by this one absolute final law: that, both as to themselves and as to those amongst whom they minister, the ultimate test is - not how much work is done, but how much of Christ is present, or results from the sharing. -T.
So then, to gather that up in one word, it means that for our lives and for our service, our ministry, our heavenly vocation, there are, in union with Christ, resources at our disposal which are heavenly, inexhaustible, and incorruptible.
It is better to lose time as to work in preparation for service than to lose time in repairing one's mistakes in undertaking a work for which one is not yet qualified.
A servant's discipline must always be in advance of the service prepared for him.
Ministering Service
He exhorts us to put no obstruction; no occasion for stumbling, in anyone’s way - to eschew the actions of Job’s friends, who all were a grave cause for stumbling.
Why does the Spirit of Comfort admonish us and warn us to be like Job..? Why does He counsel us to put no spiritual stumbling block in our friend’s way? So that, like Job, our ministering service will not be blamed.
And only then do we find that we have learned the lesson of faith; to find our tiny craft of life rushing onward to a blessed victory of life and power and service undreamt of, in the days of our fleshly strength and self-reliance.
Identification with Christ
But through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul challenges each of us to learn Christ… an outward, objective observance was to become an inward, subjective service.
We may think our motives to be perfectly pure; but not until we pass into daily death, death to any or all of the above, and find ourselves despised and rejected of men,' our names cast out as evil, and a real hold-up (seemingly) of our work, do we really come to face the true purpose and motive of our having any place in the service of God.
Service begins with separation from the world, emancipation from the kingdom of this world, but it is a very thoroughgoing thing.
You see, Mosesservice was a very thoroughgoing service, and it went that far, that not a hoof was left behind, and that is service to God.
Do remember that service is always governed by this: a deep inward separation.
Presently when he really enters upon his life work, his life service, one of the things that he will need most will be patience, and there is nothing more calculated to produce patience than the discipline of inaction.
But when we are not allowed to do anything, when we are cut off from ministry and work and service, and shut up to the discipline of inaction and the discipline of delay, God is preparing for better service than we would ever have fulfilled otherwise.
A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny
Image and Likeness
The triune God created man in His own image with body, soul, and a spirit, and in His grace God gave fallen man a threefold life-experience with his Creator:- salvation, sanctification, and service, and it is all through the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we work for Him as Lord in service: to will and do of His good pleasure.
And so we work for Him as Lord in our service: to will and to do of His good pleasure.
True service emanates from recognising that Christ is Lord of our life, no matter what - for you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1Cor.6:20.
Allotted Tasks
Whether we meet Him on a Damascus Road or speak with Him on an Emmaus Way, or if we see Him in a revelatory Patmos vision, such as God gave to His servant John, we are all without fame or favour, background of service – accepted in the Beloved, and we all are ‘sent from God,’ and we all have a definite and allotted task to do.
up to His sweet service. Let us from this day forward seek after Him with every fibre of our beings. Let us cry with the sweet psalmist of Israel: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.. My flesh longs for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
Ingredient of Faith
One essential ingredient for faith, growth, and service rests on God’s principle of ‘need‘..
And in the matter of service, in witnessing and helping others, we must watch and wait for the hungry, needy heart – if there is to be abiding fruit. The true value of anything is known only when it is wanted.
If we are seeking to go on with God to any degree beyond that which is commonly accepted as a true Christian life; if we are called to pioneer the way for any further advance in spiritual life or Divine service; if we are given a vision of God's will and purpose not seen by the general mass of God's people or even the larger number of the servants of God ours will be a lonely way.
This truth is very discriminating, and goes to the root of all matters of life and service.
Thus the law of effective and fruitful life, service, prayer, etc., is that there shall be such a oneness that we only do but surely do what He is doing.
There is all the difference between being saved and then going into Christian service with the resultant studying of the Bible, the preparation of sermons, addresses, lessons; collecting material, mastering themes and subjects; etc., etc., and giving this out as required or as opportunity affords there is all the difference between this and an open heaven, an anointing, a revelation by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.Hebrews 2:17
You see, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become our merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God – so that He could make propitiation for the sins of the people – for your sins and for mine.
At times the suggestion wouldbe influenced by necessity of circumstances, at times by thepromise of effectiveness in His service, or again byrepresentation of the utter un-wisdom of the line that He wastaking, as when His own brethren, who did not believe in Him,chided Him for delay, saying, Go up to Jerusalem and showyourself!
Doubt and Disbelief
The other is do with the enemy of our soul – the accuser of the child of God. Satan that old serpent called the devil seeks to accuse us day and night before God. He will seek to make you think that you are not worthy to be called into such service.
One may have a great zeal in God's service, and may be used to influence many for good, and yet, when weighed in the balance of love, be found sadly wanting.
“It is feared that when we speak of being here for Christ it is often the thought of our service or conduct that is prominent, and therefore it is well to be reminded that there is something over which the Lord Jesus is more concerned than He is over our conduct or our service.
It is that ‘garden closed,’ that ‘spring shut up,’ that ‘fountain sealed,’ from which all others but Himself are excluded-the hidden spring of those affections which alone satisfy His heart, or render conduct and service acceptable to Him.” -C.A.C.
“All our trials in service only serve to lead us to know the Father, as we could not know Him otherwise, as ‘the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation’ (2 Cor. 1:3).
An instrument for honorable uses, consecrated, useful for the Master, and ready for any good service (2 Tim. 2:21, Wms.).
Sacrificial, because its source is the life of One who gave Himself a sacrifice, and stated that the path of leadership was by the lonely road of sacrificial service. -O.S.
His risen Life can now energize thesebodies; not, for the present, to change them into the likeness ofHis glorious body, but to quicken them for service.
And that has been unto a renewal for a furtherperiod of service.
On the contrary, we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake.' I say this that you may not think it strange when the collar which you have rightly accepted becomes trying or difficult to you; for surely if it be service it must be so; the servant must be more or less a sufferer.
Hard as it is for the believer to finally come to rest concerning his spiritual birth, it seems to be even more difficult for him to simply rest in the Lord Jesus for his life and service.
You may not grasp the point but it is of infinite importance because all progress in the Christian life and all power in Christian service comes from not the grasping, the apprehending, and the enjoyment of salvation as such, but seeing Jesus!
according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5); and our service - . . .
which is your reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).
Reasonable service is based upon sacrifice: I, Paul. . .
The fuller the service, the greater the surrender and sacrifice.
The service declares its virtue and aim by the suffering which is endured in rendering it, for what can be done at one's ease is generally done without much concern for the one to whom it is rendered, and thus the true quality is lost.
I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
Oh, that we should get some better idea of what the service of the Lord is than that it is platforms and pulpits and open-air meetings.
Beloved, service for the Lord is just as important when it is rendering some kindly act of helpful service to some rather depressed child of God in the ordinary domestic things of daily life; just as valuable as getting on the platform and giving a message.
There are too many who want to give up their domestic service and go to Bible College, failing to recognize that that service there may be just as valuable to the Lord as their going out to the mission field.
You see, this servant abandons himself freely, voluntarily, for all time to the service of his master because he has come to love his master.
Heavenly Will
A servant in service to his master should have a servant-spirit.
Servant-hood is far greater than busying oneself in religious service and activities.
This is the power of true service..
Servant-Slave
When a servant-slave in Israel ended his time of servitude, he could claim his liberty, but that servant-slave could also choose to remain in service.
Blood dripped to the threshold, and master and servant stepped across that flood, – confirming a covenant of love – a service of love – a deep love for his master.
But to “Pass-over” the blood together cemented a relationship of service forever.
This is the service that our Lord desires from each of His own bond-servants, for we are not our own, we are bought with the price of Christ’s precious blood. Should this not awaken in us a servant-spirit, a servant-mind, a servant-heart?
The man or woman who has no inner ear, no inner silence, no inner place for hearing the Lord is never going to be of much use in the service of the Lord, and mark you, it must be the Lord, and we must be very careful that we do not give even good men and good writers the place that the Lord ought to have.
A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny
Threefold Life
The Christian life is a three-fold experience – three phases, planned by the Trinity. 1) Salvation : 2) Sanctification : 3) Service. FIRST: we come to Christ for salvation.
Our entire life from then on is being conformed into His image, as we die to self, and we grow from babyhood to maturity, as He trains us through it. THIRD: we work for Christ in service, but we work His way and not ours.
Ineffective Service
But even Christ’s physical presence was not sufficient for His disciples to have faith in Him.
This is not the service He desires…
by sanctification – so that the service you do is not of yourself, but Him living His life through you.
His Good Pleasure
It should not be the service of the flesh, or the works of a guilt-ridden conscience.
This may be the work that God has for you, but it must be His will and not your conscience that performs the service.
Your Service to God must reflect His only Standard of Good – the Lord Jesus..
It is nowhere admitted in Scripture that a servant can be merely the herald of the light of God's grace; that is, that he should only have the joyful side of service.
A certain school of religious teachers make much of surrender' as the way to attain blessing, but it ends in self-sufficiency, because the only motive that is presented for it is the acquisition of a better spiritual state, or power for service, or something of that kind.
The proper sequence for the believer is death to the old, from which emerges newness of life and fruitful service.
“It is a sad thing when service interferes with soul-prosperity.
It is possible to be so engrossed with service that one’s meditations are colored by it, one’s prayers are full of it, and the Word of God becomes simply a quarry out of which material for sermons can be dug up.
“Very often new believers who have not even peace with God are encouraged to take up service, and they become so occupied with what they are doing that they are not at leisure to learn or to take their place in the favor of the Father.
Hence, so long as the service prospers, and they get on pretty well with it, they are happy.
The service is their life!
There must be a man behind the message-a saint behind the service.
How little does one know of the antagonism of our nature to the will of the Father, who thinks that service can be undertaken without that self-renunciation which can only be learned by experiential knowledge of the superiority of His ways and counsels!
To some, He gives a leadership gift to be exercised in public ministry and service but to most, He bestows the quiet endowment for the hidden life of helping others.
to be used in His service, as He wills. Each gift has been chosen with His infinite care and His limitless love.
Complex Service
Each duty is fitted into the complex service of the Church of God..
We may be given one small vital task in the service of one another..
Shine a ray of sunlight in every smile; every word; every deed; every prayer; every act of kindness; every trifling service; every listening ear; every gift – every little encouragement.
They have not seen that God has closed the door to the old creation, and that God attitude is this: The only thing that can satisfy Me, that can serve Me is My Son, and if you are going to come into My service, He has to be the energy of everything, the Life of everything, the Wisdom of everything!
We have got to draw a very broad distinction between doing a lot of things, as we think for the Lord, rushing about and being busy and organizing and conducting and speaking and preaching and taking meetings and classes and all this, and we call this Christian service.
We have got to draw a very broad line of difference between that and real service to the Lord.
Real service to the Lord is the emancipation of a people from this world for Him and the formation of that people according to Christ for a heavenly vocation, and a heavenly vocation now, not afterwards.
You can test your service by this: the measure of the emancipation of the people who come under your hands and the measure of the formation of Christ that is going on.
These are things which are service.
The true service can be tested by these things, and the true servant can be tested by the measure of those virtues of Christ: utterly selfless, self-empty.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
There is a tremendous amount of energy, and activity, and machinery, and zeal and devotion in the work of the Lord, in the service of the Lord, which seems to be producing something quite big, and carrying on something quite extensive.
When eventually all work, all service, all activity, is weighed in the balances, which will determine what abides forever or passes away forever, all that which was merely human energy for God will go; all that which was merely man's enterprise for the Lord will go; all that which was in any way out from man himself, even though in devotion to God, will go.
We are not speaking of an official, organized service for God, where you have to be continually ministering to others, whether you have the resources with which to do it or not.
Our minds are so often occupied with service and work; we think that doing things for the Lord is the chief object of life.
Bible study and knowledge of the Scriptures, with efficiency in the matter of leading in Christian service as the end in view, are matters of pressing importance with all.
It is very possible to have a wonderful grasp of the Scriptures, a comprehensive and intimate familiarity with doctrine; to stand for cardinal verities of the faith; to be an unceasing worker in Christian service; to have a great devotion to the salvation of men, and yet, alas, to have a very inadequate and limited personal knowledge of God within.
Our obligation to be punished for our sin, was removed by Christ, and we have a new obligation to loving obedience and lifelong service: “for He who is called by the Lord as a slave, is the Lord’s free man.
Should we not live each day of our life for Him, in grateful thanks and devoted service.
The Cross has to deal with all that to make things safe for God, and to keep us moving in the way of increasing knowledge of the Lord, which, as we have said, lies behind all our value to the Lord, all our usefulness, all our service.
Lifelong Journey
One writer puts it this way: The Husbandman’s method for true spiritual growth involves: pain as well as joy; suffering as well as happines; failure as well as success; inactivity as well as service; death as well as life.
When we pray for Revival let us be careful as to what we are after and as to what means we use to promote it, or carry it on.... The Apostle Paul makes it very clear that the secret of everything in his life and service was the fact that he received his gospel by revelation.
Service of God
There are many that claim to be in the service of God. Many that claim to be doing mighty works in the Name of Jesus, but thank God that true ministry is not to be judged and assessed by man – but please God that we will all judge and assess our own hearts and motives.
Word and Service
Much is heard of ‘Ministry Work’ and ‘Missionary Work’ and ‘Christian Work’..
work that is often couched in the terms of ‘Vocation’; ‘Calling’; ‘Evangelism’… service that is often dependent on senses; intellect; emotions – the external appeal – labour designed to satiates the tickled ear, the straying eye, the emotional high.
Dead Mausoleums
Many living ministries become dead mausoleum when Christ’s is not preeminent. Much sacred service becomes profane self-obsession when He is not central. So often the Name; the Reputation, the Position becomes the essential element. As Christ stands outside the door and knocks and pleads, ‘will anyone hear My voice?’ Revelation 3:20
There can be no fruitful service, except by the works of the Spirit of God.
3rd : Service
THIRD: Christ lived a life of service demonstrating the work of the Spirit through Him, so that we would understand that our service can only be carried out in His power.
Harrison puts it this way: the Holy Spirit is equally intent upon securing service through us, as we are yielded to Him.
To be unwilling at His hands, to repress Him and thus to thwart His purpose of testimony and service – is to QUENCH Him.
Bring Him your best and most precious ministries and humble service, though your heart may ache – as did these dear women so early in the day.
God opens the door of duty and service for each of us – if we will but step out in faith, and quietly move on in the direction He has planned for us, and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, This is the way – walk in it – when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Never permit the foolishness of our erstwhile great nations to deter your obedient service.
The Godhead created Adam with spirit, soul, and body, for a threefold life:- a life of salvation, sanctification, and service.
Service for Him: Romans 12:1 to Romans 15:3
All By Grace
We come to the Lord Jesus – for salvation (which is all by grace. We live in the Lord Jesus – for sanctification (which is all by grace). We work for the Lord Jesus – in service (which is all by grace)
Some attempt service through their own strength, but quench the Holy Spirit.
And then continue through the ongoing process of sanctification and service, so that the believer can have that life and have it more abundantly.
He spent His whole life in service and good deeds, but naught but His death and spilling of His sinless blood caused the Temple veil to be rent in two.
It is a great temptation to those who serve to be arriving at something above the common standard, but God gives out His best work to less than the least.' His service wants depth, not height. -C.A.C.
Whether single or married, parent or child, pastor or layman, young or old – each, through the busyness of service and striving, arrive at their own spiritual ‘Waterloo’.
distresses.. It looked as if these five things would terminate Paul’s ministering service, just as Satan expected that these same five things to end Job’s intercessions – just as Satan aspires to curtail His work in you and in me.
Growing in grace requires failure as well as success, inactivity as well as service.
It Takes Patience
There are great days, days of decisive battles, days of crises in spiritual history, days of triumph in Christian service, days of the right hand of God upon us.
But there are also idle days, days apparently useless, when even prayer and holy service seem a burden.
Soon Forgotten
A few have left an indelible mark in the pages of history – some for good and others for ill. Names may be remembered – people will be forgotten as the grass of the field, but today is the day to make your life count. Moses told the Israelites: today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord. Exodus 32:29
Psalm 90:6 But Today is the accepted hour. Today is the day of Salvation. Today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord.
Prelude to Eternity
This human life is but a prelude to eternity. The decisions made on this mortal coil are fixed in the books of eternity. May each of us make today count – for today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord. The believer’s time of probation and training needs to be enacted out for the serious purpose.
Service To God
For the Word of the Lord endures forever, and the Name of the Lord endures forever, and today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord. Today is the day of salvation – harden not your heart.
The Ten Commandments require no life of prayer, no Christian service, no evangelism, no missionary outreach, no Gospel preaching, no life and walk in the Spirit, no union with the Lord Jesus Christ, no fellowship of saints, no hope of salvation, and no hope of heaven. -L.S.C.
Succinct Outline
Metcalf gives a succinct outline of the problem and the solution – he writes:- The modern teaching of consecration, which is tantamount to the consecration of the ‘old man,’ seeks to bypass the death sentence and, and therefore, only leads to frustration and failure. When, however, you and I are prepared, in simple humility, to make the FACT of our death with Christ our daily basis of life and service, there is nothing that can prevent the uprising and outflow of the new life in Christ, and meet the need of thirsty souls around us.
In every field, whether the arts, industry, sports, or the Christian life and service in general, the necessary training goes far deeper and is much more rigorous than the actual performance.
For we greatly err if we think that having the divine thought is all that is necessary as to our service; we must truly and efficiently be expressive of the thought; and this subjects us, as servants of God, to discipline which we often cannot understand.
We, too, must be as conscious of Divine mercy in our being recovered for God's service as we are of the original mercy which drew us from the dark waters of death. -H.F.
Men may be saved through hearing the Word of God that it contains but, unless they get purer light later, their dependence for life and service will be primarily upon human strength, and not upon the power and demonstration of the Spirit.' Paul (in spite of the Corinthians' demand for it) refused to permit any human wisdom to enter into his ministry for that reason - because he wanted purely spiritual fruit: converts who have seen the power of the Spirit and expect to know it in their lives and service.
These Scriptures are some of the most well known and well loved, even with unbelievers as, year after year, they sing carols, attend nativity plays, and maybe even attend a church service celebrating Christ's birth.
And yet, Paul's petition was to welcome back into his service, the one who formerly was useless to him but now had become useful both to Philemon and to Paul.
He wanted Philemon to know Onesimus was returning into his service as a beloved brother, who not only proved to be profitable to Paul but would also show his worth to Philemon, himself.
It is our spiritual worship and our reasonable service to yield our-lives, our-selves, and our-bodies to the Lord - to consecrate ourselves to Him each day.
Day by day rededication of ourselves to His service is a lifelong programme, which we need to choose consciously.
Nebuchadnezzar killed Israel's princes, blinded the king with a hot poker, and took away the beautiful pots and shovels, the snuffers and basins, and all the pans and bronze vessels used in the Temple service.
There should be no inner murmurings or resentments, but rather our work should flow from an inner being that delights to be of service, and seeks to undertake all that we do enthusiastically and with blessed goodwill, as though we were doing it all for the Lord Jesus Himself.
The requirements and service of the temporary Levitical priesthood and the role of Israel's high priest, stands in stark contrast with Christ's infinitely superior qualifications as God's anointed High Priest and His eternal priesthood, which supersedes every aspect of its earthly counterpart.
This is not a command, for God wants our love and service to be rendered freely and willingly, but in light of the inestimable riches of God's free grace which He has poured out in great measure on fallen sinners simply because we trusted in Christ as our Saviour, surely it should be our joy and delight to present our bodies, day by day, in spiritual worship as a living sacrifice - holy and pleasing to the Lord.
They were to be like Jesus, the Son of Man Who did not come to earth to be served but to be of service to others.
Godly leadership is not designed to serve one's own emotional satisfaction or stoke one's own personal ego but to be of service to others - as did Christ.
May we be ready and willing to live a life of service.
God's holy angels are ministering servants sent forth to render service to those who shall be heirs of salvation.
Employed in continual worship and joyful service of Lord almighty, these holy angels are often engaged to serve those that bear the image and likeness of the Lord, as well as being employed in the angelic conflict against the powers of darkness that seek to usurp the authority of God and slander His holy name.
He thanked God for their work which was energised by faith, their service which was motivated by love, and their unwavering hope in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
May we follow in the footsteps of the Christians of Thessalonica whose good works were energised by faith, whose service was motivated by love, and who maintained an unwavering hope in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is reasonably simple to say, 'I love you' to other people, but the test of genuine love is expressed in deed and in truth.It is not simply expressing affection through what we say, but through the giving up of ourselves for the service of others, no matter what the cost in time, money, reputation – and even life itself.It is a 'dying to self' and a 'living for Christ' which is manifest in works of righteousness for the benefit of others – and to the greater glory of God.
All power in heaven and earth had been entrusted to Him, but He did not demand the service of others but knelt to wash His disciple's feet.
The One before Whom all creation will one day bow in humble adoration, came to be Servant to all, and His final act of service to the children of men, was to become the pivotal point in the history of the universe, when He gave His life as a ransom for many.
During this energetic introduction to Christ's ministry, the drama intensified when a man in their synagogue, who had an unclean spirit, shouted out in the middle of the service: What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth?
The testimony this demon-possessed man was compelled to make during that Sabbath service, stated plainly Who Jesus was and where He was from.
Abiding in Christ is often displayed as a service of suffering.
The man or woman whose life is a service of suffering, is the one that has been prepared to die to self and live to Christ - presenting their body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord.
Should not we who have been saved by grace alone - through faith alone- in Christ alone, give testimony of God's great love for mankind by giving up ourselves to His service until we can say as He did: Father Thy will be done in my life, to Your praise and glory.
And may we be faithful servants in our service to Him, for who knows what God has prepared for us to do if we are ready and willing to respond to His call?
And so, oppressed in his soul and with bitter weeping and eyes that grew weary of looking up to the heavens, he pleaded the Lord to stay His hand and restore his health, and Hezekiah rehearsed his many good deeds and service to the Lord.
We have been endued with heavenly gifts and holy graces so we can offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God, in our service to Him and in our ministry to others.
We should never forget that even our most consecrated praises, sanctified service, and holy prayers can only be accepted by God – THROUGH Christ.
They were quick to boast of their adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises of a Messiah, but refused to recognise their broken covenant, rebellious behaviour, gross apostasy, and offensive idolatry.
But he also knows the dangers of spiritual pride, which promotes 'self' and encourages unloving Christian service that relies on our own human strength and our own carnal capacities.
Paul prays that we will be filled with the Spirit and produce the fruit of the Spirit so that our service may be fortified by the power of the Spirit, producing within us patient endurance and joy in the Lord.
This apparently sincere cry for help may have come from a truly repentant group of people, or it may have been no more than hollow lip-service to the Lord from a group who had already determined in their heart what they intended to do.
He won’t leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished. These and other examples demonstrate that courage and faith are closely linked in the life of a believer.
It was to Israel that the Messiah was sent, and it was to Israel that the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises belonged.
In Hebrews chapter 1 we read that holy angels of God are used by Him as ministering spirits who are sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.
They are commissioned by God to be of service to those that are His children by faith in Christ.
And neither should we judge the value or otherwise of someone's service to the Lord, nor should we be judgmental if they have opinions or reservations that conflict with our own opinions and scruples.
Often, after Sunday service or at a mid-week Bible study, we may bid farewell to our brothers and sisters in Christ with the familiar words 'God bless you'.
Each member of Christ's Body is to carry out their service to the glory of God, by using their spiritual gifts and graces wisely, within the wider Church community.
Let us carry out our service to God in the power of the Spirit and use our gifts and graces wisely and for the benefit of the wider Body of Christ.
God is the source of all love, and herein is love: Not that we loved Him but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. And we who have become part of His family by faith, are obligated to love as Christ loved us and to give our lives in sacrificial service for the benefit of others and to the glory of God.
The letter to the church in Thyatira is no exception and despite being commended for their love, faith, service, and perseverance, church members are fiercely rebuked for permitting sexual immorality to infiltrate the Body of Christ, admonished for embracing other pagan practices, and challenged to change their ways.
Paul used the directive from Moses about not muzzling an ox when threshing, to show that priests and Levites from the Aaronic priesthood were recompensed for their service through the tithing law that God gave to Israel, and Christian ministers should receive the same consideration.
And so, despite some good works, love, service, and faith... the gross participation in pagan practices that persisted in this church at Thyatira continues to this present day.
His inner peace is something to which all believers are called, both individually and corporately and should become a reality in the lives of all who are called by His name.. for each is given particular gifts and a unique ministry that is designed to give mutual encouragement to one another in our service to the Lord.
Paul did not want this important epistle to be lightly received, and so he laid emphasis on his calling, his apostleship, and his service for the Lord.
Paul was prepared to endure ALL THINGS in order to proclaim the whole spectrum of Christian salvation and service - for not only did God save us according to His great mercy but having been saved by grace through faith we are exhorted to present our bodies as a living sacrifice - holy and acceptable to the Lord, which is our reasonable service.
Some today call for a healing service, make a pilgrimage to a religious site, or attend healing conferences - but James simply instructs the sick person to call for the elders - privately.
Paul would gladly pour out his life in sacrificial service to this group of immature believers, if this would bring them to spiritual maturity and godly living.
His third utterance from the Cross, is a one of gracious comfort and loving assurance to His mother, as well as bestowing an opportunity of sweet service to John, the disciple whom Jesus loved.
We are a peculiar people and a royal priesthood who are ordained to offer spiritual sacrifice and service to the Lord; prayers and praises acceptable to God, THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord.
It explains that Jesus is the Mediator of a New and better Covenant, and that His service, sacrifice, mission, and ministry surpassed everything that had gone before.
It is lurking in broken legal systems and biased justice departments, and it pays lip-service to a form of godliness that is divorced from truth of Scripture and the fruit of righteousness.
We are also exhorted to serve the Lord with eagerness and humbleness, not taking this service for granted, but recognising the great honour it is to fulfil the work He has given us to do.
May we follow in the steps of our Saviour and by the mercies of God, present our bodies and our very lives as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God - for this is our reasonable service of thanksgiving and praise to the One Who gave Himself for us.
The Lord Jesus was sent by God to be the suffering Servant for the sin of mankind and throughout His earthly life He became the perfect example of dignity, greatness, humility and gracious service.
And so it was that the Lord Jesus Himself quietly got up from the table and proceeded to carry out this menial task to the utter astonishment and shamefaced mortification of everyone present - demonstrating the perfect example of dignity, greatness, humility, grace and service to others.
and demonstrated a godly greatness in service that is unsurpassed in the history of mankind..
May we seek to live a life of dignity, greatness, humility, grace and service to others..
And so, through the authority of the God-breathed Scriptures we hear through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that angels are messengers in the service of their creator God: But of the Son - Jesus Christ our Lord - God says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of Your kingdom.'
All who are called by His name, forgiven of their sins, and have been granted eternal life, will carry out their service of righteousness, in quietness and in confidence, forever.
It has been suggested that God's grace is needed for every service and His mercy is necessary for every failure, while the peace of God is a requirement for every single circumstance of life.
Chapter one offers a shockingly graphic description of Israel's evil-doing, which could have deterred Isaiah from consecrating himself to God's service: Alas, sinful nation.
Paul had to endure many severe hardships and unjust imprisonments in his service to Christ, but we discover that his response to the difficulties and injustices that stalked his life display a deep understanding of God's greater plan for his life.
And then, in His power and strength, we too may lay down our lives in service to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, in Jesus' name.
We read in Acts that Pricilla instructed Apollos, and that women like Phoebe, Junia, Chloe, and others, were engaged in certain responsibilities and service within the Church Body.
Such service can be of great encouragement to men and women alike, and is encouraged elsewhere in Scripture.
May each one of us strive to use the gifts and graces with which we have been endowed, for the glory of God and in service for the benefit of the Body.
We are set apart for the service of Christ and are commanded to walk in the way that God desires us to walk... and one of the many attributes that we are instructed to imitate is mercy: Be merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful, we are told.
Timothy appeared as a light in a darkened world, for he held fast to the Word of truth and, like Paul, Timothy could be said to be 'poured out as a drink offering - of sacrifice and service'.
Our life is to be a life of surrender, suffering, sacrifice, and service to Him.
Following the Lord in surrender, suffering and service is a daily discipline, but with wonderful benefits not only in this life, but in the eternal ages to come.
The incomparable privileges we have in Christ, the benefits of our heavenly inheritance in His coming kingdom, and the glory that is ours in Him, are accompanied by a severe warning for those who refuse to listen to His Word and obey His voice: Therefore, since we received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.
In consideration of all that God has given us freely, by faith in His Son, there should be no question that we should live our life in thanksgiving and praise for His goodness and grace, and offer to Him our acceptable service - with reverence and awe.
Although this is not a verse that endorses the practice of slavery, it does recognise that there are those that will find themselves in service or servitude to another person - and it provides instruction on how to live to the glory of God, irrespective of our earthly circumstances.
But they are not simply to obey superficially or outwardly, through their external service by being men-pleasers.
the sake of Christ,' was Paul's request to the church members at Philippi, “and hold men like him in high regard.' And in his letter to the Philippians, Paul cited Epaphroditus' self-sacrificial service to himself while he was in prison as an example of the Christ-like behaviour that we should all seek to emulate.
Epaphroditus displayed the spirit of Christ in his self-sacrificial service to Paul and his love for the Philippian Christians..
Let us seek to live in the unity of spirit and to display Christ-like consideration towards one another, through self-sacrificial service and gracious brotherly affection.
Israel was His adopted son, to whom belonged the Shekinah glory of God, the covenants of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and David, the giving of the Law and the prophets, the temple service and sacrifices.
Christ Himself reminded us that it is hard for those that are rich to enter the kingdom of God, and argues of the futility of gaining the whole world at the expense of one's soul-life: No one can serve God and money at the same time, Jesus further informed us, and any wealth we may have in this life is a gift from the Lord to be used in His service.
And so Paul uses three relational connections as examples of how to walk in spirit and truth, and in wisdom and grace - so that our actions and attitudes render a service to the Lord, honour His name, and demonstrate the godly walk of a spiritual believer.
is the question that is asked in Proverbs, but the wife that seeks to carry out these godly instructions in spirit and truth is giving true, spiritual service to the Lord.
There was an urgency in Paul's heart to make sure that Timothy and other ministers of the gospel were fully furnished for their Christian service, properly prepared as a minister of the Lord, and entirely equipped as elders in the Church of Christ.
Paul knew that each one of us would one day stand alone before Christ when He will judge us for the lives we have led and the service we offered.
In his letter to the Philippians, he explained the joy that such self-sacrifice brings to the faithful servant of God: For even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, he explained, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
He pleaded with the Lord for forgiveness and mercy, and his grief over Jerusalem was reflected in his service to Artaxerxes, the king who questioned him by asking: Why is your face sad Nehemiah, even though you are not sick?
Those in the emperor's service knew very well that any display of emotion or pain, anger or sadness, should be kept hidden before the king and his court.
Their first flush of love and deep devotion for their Lord, was quickly dampened by a flurry of frantic service and self-imposed religious tasks.
They were to repent of their careless attitude towards their Saviour - and they were to return to the devoted service that characterised the early days of their new life in Christ... to return to the days of their deep love for their Lord. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
What a gracious God we serve, that even when we fail in our devoted service or become waylaid by the mounting pressures we inflict on our own Christian service, He is ready and willing to warn us of our failure, to encourage us to listen to God's voice, to instruct us to put our priorities in order, and to command us to return the Lord Jesus to His rightful place in our lives. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, is a warning that every Christian should consider on a daily basis.
The grace that pours into our lives should become a channel of God's blessing, which in turn is willingly poured out in service to others... for His greater glory and praise.
There is an urgency in this final letter from Paul which exhorts Timothy to maintain fidelity, faithfulness, and endurance in his Christian service and warns him of a fast-approaching apostasy.
Suffering afflictions for Christ's sake should be considered as part of our service to the Lord Jesus.
So WHY did these religious priests and Pharisees ignore the shepherd's testimony, the inquiry of the wise men, the fulfilment of Micah's prophecy, the proclamations of Zechariah, the songs of Simeon, the old priest, and Anna, the aged widow woman... both of whom rejoiced publicly and took the baby Jesus in their arms and blessed Him at His dedication service in the Temple of God?
Although the book of Haggai is addressed to Israel, every part of Scripture is profitable for all of God's children, and there is much that we, Christians, can learn from this punchy little book, which shows the value that God places on godly service and humble obedience, even when circumstances are difficult and dangerous.
May we recognise what Christ has done for us, and with grateful praise and a thankful heart, offer up ourselves in service to God as a living sacrifice - a holy offering that is pleasing to the Lord.
May our gratitude and praise become an acceptable service to Him - knowing that our eternal salvation and heavenly calling, depends on what He has done - for us.
Compassionate Christian conduct, a humble Christ-like attitude, godly and gracious service, and a childlike faith that finds its strength in the Lord when faced with suffering and pain, brings Peter to the point in his epistle where he charged Church elders with new and important responsibilities, Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder, and witness of the sufferings of Christ, to care for Christ's flock.
He knew that only the new-life in Christ can be enabled by the Holy Spirit to approve those things that are good and excellent so that the man or woman of God may live a life of godly service that is sincere and blameless before the Lord.
Saul of Tarsus became Paul, the Apostle of Christ, after Jesus met and commissioned him for His own service.
We are to use the gifts and graces that we have been given in the service of God and we are to live our Christian lives in a manner that honours the Lord, as laid out in Scripture.
May we seek to be faithful in our service and give Christian encouragement to others in the God-given ministries with which we have been entrusted.
We do not know what encouragement this man gave Paul or what service he rendered in Ephesus, but we do know that he was a faithful brother in Christ, who had provided Paul with help and encouragement in the past.
And in his lonely cell, as Paul awaited his execution, we are blessed to hear about Onesiphorus, his gracious ministry to the apostle, and his faithful service to the Lord.
But however glorious our salvation and privileged our service, our calling first and foremost is to worship at His feet, to delight to do His will, to treasure His Word in our hearts, and to remain in the centre of His will for the rest of our life.
Paul may have been instructing Titus on his pastoral role and the importance of sound teaching and a sanctified life, but his wise words need to resonate in the ears of all of God's people, and be translated into daily action if we are to be used in His service and bring praise to His name.
Similarly, Paul's appeal enabled Philemon to not only forgive his slave, but also to receive Onesimus back into his service with Christlike love, and regard him as a beloved brother in Christ.
One such law touched on the treatment of a slave who preferred to remain in service to his master, rather than becoming a free man. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out as a free man', then his master shall bring him to God.
May we choose to have our spiritual ear pierced with His holy awl and consecrate the rest of our lives to His service out of deep love for the One Who purchased us with His own precious blood, and sealed our life into His protective care forever.
Only hours earlier, the disciples had been arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and the Gospel of John describes the beautiful example of service and servanthood, when Jesus took off His garment, tied a towel around his waist, and began to wash the disciples' feet.
How wonderful to realise that in Christ, our ministry and mission is to show forth the fragrance of His love, not only with our lips but in our lives by giving up ourselves to His standard and service.
Following his conversion on the road to Damascus Paul had spent his life in sacrificial service to the Lord for the joy of seeing others come to a secure, trusting faith in Christ.
And despite his imprisonment in a Roman jail, it was with the joy of the Lord that Paul was able to write his letter of encouragement to his brothers and sisters in Philippi - exhorting them to unity, humility and continued sacrificial service to the Lord.
Much of his time in his service to Christ had been fraught with difficulties and dangers..
In many respects they were laying down their lives in sacrificial service to the Lord and Paul was overjoyed to see their faith blossoming into a living sacrifice unto God.
And although part of his letter was used to encourage these saints to set aside all self-interest and selfish ambitions and to be bonded together in the unity of the faith, he gives great encouragement, by describing their work of faith as a precious, sacrificial service to the Lord.
and so we read in his epistle: 'even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.'
Paul may have been in prison for teaching the good news of grace, but in his letter he was able to write: even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
Despite being highly educated members of the revered Sanhedrin, these distinguished men hardened their hearts to the truth and became emotionally unhinged and their extreme hatred of the truth of the gospel caused them to fulfil Christ's own words, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
Paul knew the answer to that cry of despair was Jesus Christ alone, but even after some 30 years of dedicated service Paul assured these believers that there are no super-Christians in God's economy and told them reassuringly..
Sanctification is a life-long process for all believers and like Paul none of us can boast that we have obtained all that God wants to do in our lives - for we each have our own special place of service and we each have our own personal goal that has been established by Christ.
Only days before Mary's sacrificial service, her beloved brother, Lazarus, had been raised from the dead when Jesus made the astonishing proclamation, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
John sets the highest possible standard for Christian love and service in his epistle and identifies the love of our Father in heaven as the primary pattern for our own Christian behaviour.
Paul rejoiced, because their service in giving gladly to the saints in Jerusalem was a proof of their love for the Lord Jesus, and demonstrated caring, godly concern for one another, and through it the Lord was honoured.
They are to equip one another for the ministry or service to which each has been called.
Whether the service we do for the Lord is open and visible to others, or whether we work quietly behind the scenes, Christ is the Head of the Body and we are all members together.
He is the One Who equips us for service and fits us together as He chooses, in order to fulfil His plans and purposes in His perfect way.
Yes a thankful heart, boldness in testifying to the truth of the gospel, power for spiritual service, open-hearted generosity towards others and the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ..
He rejoiced that he was poured forth in the sacrifice and service of these believers and he rejoiced in the Lord always ..and was not ashamed to say it again - rejoice in the Lord!!
Knowledge and application of sound biblical doctrine contained in Scripture is the only foundation for a mature Christian walk and effective Christian service..
Feeding on the Word of God should not be an occasional occurrence or seen as a nescessary obligation that has to be fulfilled during a weekly visit to a church service of religious gathering.
Christ's entire life was an example of humble obedience, submissive service, and active dependence upon His heavenly Father.
Christ's entire life was an example of humble obedience, submissive service, and total dependence upon God, in order to demonstrate to each one of us exactly how God desires us to live - in spirit and truth, in active dependence, humble obedience, and passive submission to our Father's will.
But this can only be effected as we follow Christ's example, through humble obedience, submissive service, and active dependence upon our heavenly Father's will - and in total surrender to Him.
But Scripture makes it very clear that God's mighty, powerful angels are ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.
And the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that these mighty angels of God worship Him day and night and are all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.
In each of his church epistles, Paul pays much attention to instructing believers in our personal consecration, our reasonable service, our spiritual giftings, and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
He also pays close attention to our personal conduct, our service to unbelievers, our responsibilities towards the government and those in authority, and the manner in which we should act towards the world, in general.
And some as evangelists and some as pastor-teachers whose role is to equip the saints in the service of our Father, in order that the Body of Christ may be nourished in the Word of God and built up spiritually.
Today, we see through a glass darkly, for there are many irritants and unholy differences within the Body of Christ which will never be fully harmonised until we are all finally perfected in Him - but He has given us His Word and furnished each one of His children with spiritual gifts, to equip the saints in their service to the Lord.
Not only does Paul encourage faithfulness, which is well-pleasing to the Lord, but also identifies men that may have been fellow-labourers but who had become unfaithful in their service: You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, was Paul's sad reflection, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
And how much better to be remembered as those who are steadfast and unwavering in our service to others, and love for the Lord.
May we be faithful to our calling and render our service willingly and faithfully to Him, for we have an ever-faithful God Who is faithful to keep us and to fulfil all His promises, and He is worthy of all our worship and praise.
God had chosen and consecrated this man into lifelong service, before he was even formed in his mother's womb.
The same supernatural strength and sufficient grace that God bestowed on Jeremiah and other holy men in His service, is equally available to all that are called and chosen today.
We are told about the service of the Levitical priesthood, the garments they were to wear, and the consecration of Aaron the high priest, and his sons.
The gifts of the Spirit are given to help equip other believers in their spiritual service, to edify the Body of Christ, and to help to perfect each member of the Church for the particular ministry to which God has called them.
This is because it predicts persecution and false prophets, encourages fruitful-bearing and godly works, details righteous living through prayer and other godly commitments, and speaks of service and a promise of rewards for faithfulness which covers this entire period.
Persecution, false teachers, godly service, fruit-bearing, promised rewards, and effective prayer, accompanied by a life of faith and a total dependence on the Lord, are required of all Christ's disciples, throughout this extended period.
While each spiritual gift is to be used for the benefit of the whole Body of Christ, Paul identifies a number of gifts that are particularly necessary for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
Having stressed the importance of unity in the body he writes He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers - for the equipping of the saints for the work of service and to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. The first two spiritual gifts were most important in the early church, before the New Testament Scriptures were written, while the others are important in sharing the common truth of the gospel.
The other gift/s Paul identified in helping to equip the saints for the work of service, and to build-up of the body of Christ, is that of Pastor and Teacher.
Every gift of the Spirit is of equal importance and all Christians can exercise their spiritual gifts and graces to bless their brothers and sisters in Christ, and in so doing are helping to equip the saints for their own work of service and to help build up the body of Christ.
Rather let us stir up the spiritual gift with which we have been blessed and exercise it wisely, so that we too may help to equip, encourage, comfort, and support the saints in their spiritual service, and pray that God would use us to help build up the body of Christ, for His name's sake.