Tag: Paul

What God prompts you to do He will give you the power to do. 2 Thessalonians 1

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From my reading in 2 Thessalonians 1 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

What God prompts you to do He will give you the power to do.

Here is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians.

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” 2 Thess 1:11

Paul prayed that they would live worthy of the call of Jesus. If you are a Christian then God has called to to be a part of his mission on this earth. Paul also prayed that whatever we are prompted to do by faith that God would empower us to accomplish it.

Often God prompts people to do things that risky and difficult.

You will always need God’s power to do God’s work. He is the one that makes our efforts for him successful. If you are being prompted to do something than I encourage you to try it and trust God’s power to come through for you!

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Minister Like Paul… Share The Gospel And Your Life! – 1 Thessalonians 2

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From my reading in 1 Thessalonians 2 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

The love Paul had for the Thessalonians oozes off the pages of this chapter. One verse in particular gives us a great model for how we are to do ministry.

“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

We to share the gospel AND we are to share our lives.

 If you really love the people you are ministering to then it will be a joy to spend your life with them. As you share your life people will “catch the disease” of loving God and others. It has been said…

“You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact people from up close.”

When we share our lives we can set an example for people. People learn best from models. Paul was able to explain the good news and show them how it is to be lived out in daily life.

Are you really sharing your life with those you are ministering to?

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4 Ministry Principles Of Paul – 1 Thessalonians 1

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From my reading in 1 Thessalonians 1 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Paul sets a great example of four practices for those of us in ministry.

1. Pray constantly for those you serve.

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Paul was constantly praying for the people he had ministered to. Most of us don’t pray for our people enough. Often we are too busy doing public ministry that we fail to fulfill the private ministry of prayer. I am challenged to pray more intentionally for those in my flock.

2. Preach with the power of the Holy Spirit.

“For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5a

The Holy Spirit is the one who empowers the preacher. Preaching should be done in reliance on the Holy Spirit. He is the one who will speak to people through you and will facilitate change in people’s lives.

As preachers, it is important for us to stay in step with the Spirit so that we can speak his words instead of relying on our own intellect and human wisdom.

3. Show your love through your life.

“And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5b

It has been said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Leaders should make it obvious to those they are leading that they genuinely love them. If you are using your followers then people will see through that. If you sincerely love them then people will follow you with joy.

4. Set an example by suffering well.

“So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Suffering with joy sets a powerful example for your flock. Paul set an example for them in how to deal with hard times. He endured. He never gave up. Paul imitated Jesus as well. Jesus suffered the ultimate price for the sake of the gospel and did it with joy looking forward to his reward.

It has been said, “people would rather see a sermon that hear one any day.” I pray that I can be a good example to my people especially in times of suffering.

Which of these ministry principles is relevant to your life right now?

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3 Ways To Be A Person Worthy Of Honor – Romans 16

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From my reading in Romans 16 in the One Year Bible New Testament.

Often in the letters of the New Testament I have  tendency to skim over the greetings at the end.  In this chapter Paul greets many people for different reasons. The things he says about the people can teach us how to be a person worthy of such honor.

1. Be Helpful To Many

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.” Rom 16:1 

A helpful person will have many friends. When you help others you are also serving God. When you help a minister like Paul your helpfulness is multiplied because by helping him you are helping many others.

2. Sacrifice For Others & The Gospel

“Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.” Rom 16:3-5

Pricilla and Aquila risked their lives for Paul! Not only that, but they are willing to host a church in their home!  What sacrifice are you making to see the gospel advance?

3. Work hard for the benefit of others.

“Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.” Rom 16:6

“Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.” Rom 16:12

Hard work serving others and the Lord should be honored. When you work hard for God it is not in vain.

Ask yourself…

Have I been helpful to others, especially those serving in ministry?

Have I been making sacrifices for the gospel?

Have I been working hard for God and others?

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Fully Engage The Vision God Has Given You – Acts 18

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From my reading in Acts 18 in the One Year New Testament.

If God has given you a vision then it is your duty to carry it out diligently.

Jesus said some very encouraging things to Paul,

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.” Acts 18:9–11

Jesus encouraged Paul to speak out for him and promised He would be with him.

When God calls us he will go with us.

These instructions are specifically to Paul, but I do believe that if God has called you to a city then usually there are people there who belong to Him whom he wants you to try and reach.

The lesson I take away from this passage is that Paul obeyed.

He spent the next year and a half teaching the word.

If God calls you to do something, not matter how hard it is don’t give in to fear, don’t get discouraged, speak out, and obey God because he wants to use you.

You may never know all the lives you can touch simply by following the vision God has given you!

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