~
Labor For God Everyday ~
Introduction ~ God
desires that all Christians labor for Him every day. He has given each of His children spiritual
gifts which are to be used in ministering to others. He never promises a smooth road—in fact He
assures us of the opposite: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you
may have peace. In the world you will
have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’” (John
16:33). Here are four aspects of the
ministry which God has imparted to us.
Ministers of God (the Father) ~ “We
give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as
ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in
distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in
sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by
kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the
power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by
honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as
dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).
“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it
good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister
of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you
and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these
afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were
with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure
it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you,
and our labor might be in vain” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-6).
Ministers of Christ (the Son) ~ “Are
they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? — I speak
as a fool — I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in
prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty
stripes minus one. Three times I was
beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and
a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles,
in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — besides the other
things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with
indignation?” (2 Corinthians 11:22-29).
“We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for
you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the
gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing
forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace
of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,
who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared
to us your love in the Spirit” (Colossians 1:3-8).
Ministers of the Word (enabled by
the Spirit) ~ “Now in those days, when the number of the
disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the
Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the
disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God
and serve tables. Therefore, brethren,
seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit
and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves
continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word’” (Acts 6:1-4).
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own
desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to
fables. But you be watchful in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Ministers of the Grace of God
(a summary) ~ “But the end of all things is at hand;
therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one
another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without
grumbling. As each one has received a
gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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” (1 Peter 4:7-11).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW
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