Tag Archives: Church ministries
WHAT IS FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Let’s look at a brief definition of these two Christian virtues. The key word here is “brief” as the complete Holy bible is about faith and righteousness.
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Faith is a secure and unquestioning belief in God, a trusting acceptance of God’s will and truth.
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Righteousness is being spiritually and morally upright; without guilt or sin.
We receive salvation and hope of eternal life by the grace and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We become a new creation different from all others in the world. We are unique as we have eternal life in us now. We will go on living even after this corruptible body we are entombed in returns to the dust of the ground. We need the righteousness of Christ in us as our righteousness is described by God as a filthy rag. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. But through the grace of Christ we are made Holy, sanctified, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. The perfect, sinless body of Christ resides in us NOW. We need to be reminded of this that we are Holy, belonging to Jesus Christ, bought and paid for with the high price of His blood. We are no longer of this world. We are citizens of heaven.
Galatians 3:7-9, 14 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans 4:5, 11 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness
As I said earlier we need to be reminded and how are we reminded? God’s Word says by preaching!
Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ” How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
The preaching of faith and righteousness is for all men whether they are lost or saved. We are to grow in the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Those of us who are saved are all preachers of righteousness we are called to be priests of God. Spread the truth of faith and righteousness for all the earth to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
The fields are ripe for the harvest and needs many workers!
God bless your preaching!
WILL YOU STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN?
Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
There are truly fantastic and unimaginable things happening in the world all around us which leads many to believe that beginnings of the end times are here. Jesus gave us insight as to what to watch for, He said that when we see the leaves appear on the fig tree know that spring is near. This is an analogy to be aware of when the end of times is here. In Matthew chapter 24 and Mark 13 He gave many signs that would warn us that the end is near.
The question is what will you have accomplished with your life to be able to stand before the Son of Man? The Apostle Paul give us some instruction and explanation of individual situations. 1 Corinthians 7:17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
Every one will not have the same results. We have been given the parable of the talents as a guide.
But we must use those talents shrewdly.
Matthew 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
What is the lesson here? We need to watch and prepare because we don’t know when our Lord will return. We need to put our life to use for the Lord and accomplish profitable works in spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the world. Our lives should display that we are born again and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven standing for Christ and declaring His salvation for the world. (John3:16)
Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
As the Lord says, overcome and endure. The reward is worth it! What He has in store for us is indescribable but he gives us glimpses.
Revelation 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —
Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Our God and savior will return in the same manner as He left. (Acts 1:11) What will He find? Will we be asleep spiritually or will we be constantly at attention waiting for His return? Are we complacent or are do we really believe and have faith that our Lord returns.
Luke 12:35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
God bless you! Love the Lord with all your heart! Look for Him every day! Amen!
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BE A CHRIST LIKE SERVANT
We should never let anything get between us and the Creator God! There is only one God who has created the heavens and earth and created man to populate it giving him dominion over all things of the earth. God has never failed in anything. The scriptures say that all things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27) God is merciful, slow to anger and loves everyone. He gave His greatest gift to all people by sending His only Son to the earth in the form of a human being to be a servant to us all. (John 3:16)
If we will only serve our Creator full time after He has given us the gift of eternal life, He will bless everything we set our hand to do. His Spirit will give even greater understanding of His Word so we can grow in knowledge and wisdom, something we will never get enough of. Never forget that He is always with you. (Hebrews 13:5) The Lord will surround you like a shield. (Psalms 5:12) He will bless you with peace. (Psalms 29:11) He will increase and bless your business. (Psalms 67:6) Reach up for your higher calling as the LORD requires you to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (James 4:6)
Jesus Christ came as the greatest servant as He humbled Himself as a man for our benefit and example having given His all for us in death on the cross. Therefore we can do no less than to humble ourselves before our Creator as living sacrifices bearing our cross. (Luke 14:27)
We are spiritually encapsulated in the body of Christ filled with the Holy Spirit as we are His temple, and we are no longer of this worlds system but our citizenship is in heaven. We even have a place prepared for us waiting probably with our name plate already on the door. The Creator is faithful in His promises and if we are faithful to Him then we will do even greater works than Jesus did. (John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.)
Are you doing greater works than Jesus did? He said we would!
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
If we, the people of this world (and the Church), would only follow the blueprint that God has made for us, the poor, the orphans and the widows could easily be taken care of. But…
Deuteronomy 24:17 “You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
Psalms 68:5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Pray that we will turn back to God!
USE YOUR ABILITIES TO SERVE GOD
USE YOUR ABILITIES TO SERVE GOD
Most times when people are saved they begin to think about how they can become active in serving God. Every person’s experiences are different so they have to look into their own lives and determine by prayer and bible study where they can fit in. For some this is easy because they have a burning desire to be involved in a ministry that they are deeply concerned about. But for others, it may take some time. Praying, studying, and familiarizing themselves with their Church’s ministries and outreach programs or even looking into studying to be a pastor can lead one to make the right decision. There is something for everyone God has made sure of that.
Your abilities are what set you apart to do your service in the body of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25: 14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability;
It is important that we don’t set idle and do nothing but maybe warm a pew on Sunday. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. Paul worked at serving Christ just as Christ worked at serving God the Father. (John 9:4) God wants you to realize what your abilities are to use them and never look back.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The longer you are in the Church you develop more abilities by growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is your Spiritual growth that is developed by the Holy Spirit residing in you. Your character begins to cling to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
Romans 12: 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Where do your abilities come from? Are they part of your natural carnal self that you were born with? Could there be a spiritual connection inherit in man that God uses to draw man to Himself?
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?
John 3: 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
Through ministries you plant and you water but only God can give the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:5)
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day
Now that your abilities are properly channeled toward Christ know that God will bless you immensely. The joy of the Lord will fill your soul and the cares of this world will be pushed out of your life by your ministry.
I pray that your ministry will bear much fruit and be a witness to those who God is calling to salvation. In Jesus name, amen!
1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Related articles
- Colossians 3:1-17 Study Notes (ising4god.com)
- The Fullness of Christ – Is it for You? (mudpreacher.org)
- Diversity in the body (thelittlehouseontherock.wordpress.com)
- Discontinuing Seeking God Series (christlikeministriesnwa.wordpress.com)
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