LEADERS
KEEPING ON IN THE SPIRITUAL RACE: GOD'S HELP FOR THE CHURCH AND CHURCH LEADERS
TO KEEP GOING IN THE SPIRITUAL RACE
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27) [24] Know
ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So
run, that ye may obtain.
[25] And every man that striveth for the mastery
is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but
we an incorruptible.
[26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
[27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
1. THE DAILY DEVOTION OF CHRISTIANS HELPS KEEP THEM GOING
IN THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD.
(Psalms 1:1-3) [1] Blessed
is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the
way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
[2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.
[3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
·
God’s wonderful promise in
daily meditation on the Word of God:
(Joshua 1:8) This book
of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success.
·
The promise of great
rewards from the Word of God if we continue in it:
(Psalms 19:11) Moreover by
them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
2. THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH HELP KEEP THE CHURCH AND
CHRISTIANS GOING IN THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD.
(Hebrews 4:16) Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need.
·
Jabez is a good model of a
prayerful Christian:
(1 Chronicles 4:10) And Jabez
called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and
enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest
keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he
requested.
·
The Jerusalem Church is a
good model of a prayerful Church:
(Acts 6:4-7) [4] But we
will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
[5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of
Antioch:
[6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7] And the word of God increased; and the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith.
3. GOD HELPS ALL SPIRITUAL LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN
CHRISTIANS TO KEEP GOING.
(Ephesians 4:11-16) [11] And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ:
[14] That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
4. GOD HELPS THE CHURCH BY GIVING GIFTS AND TALENTS TO
CHRISTIANS TO KEEP THEM GOING THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN THE MINISTRIES OF THE
LOCAL CHURCH.
(Romans 12:6-11) [6] Having
then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
[11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord;
5. GOD HELPS THE CHURCH TO PLANT MISSION WORK IN THE
REGIONS BEYOND.
(Philippians 4:15-19) [15] Now ye
Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed
from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving, but ye only.
[16] For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and
again unto my necessity.
[17] Not because I desire a gift: but I desire
fruit that may abound to your account.
[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having
received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
[19] But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
6. GOD HELPS THE CHURCH TO HAVE A BURDEN FOR MULTITUDES
OF LOST PEOPLE SO THAT MANY SOULS ARE SAVED.
(Matthew 9:35-38) [35] And
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every
disease among the people.
[36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved
with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as
sheep having no shepherd.
[37] Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest
truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
[38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
7. THE
HOLY SPIRIT HELPS THE CHURCH AND CHRISTIANS TO KEEP GOING IN THE WORK OF THE
LORD.
(Acts 1:8) But ye
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
* God
bless you all always *
No comments:
Post a Comment