Cultivate your heart (2)
God’s plan for the earth is to have men saved, to have men come to the knowledge of the Father. You can’t say you love Jesus and you don’t have someone you are teaching God’s word. It’s the same gospel that the apostles lived and died for, James was beheaded and Stephen was stoned for this same gospel and you, as a believer, don’t even have one disciple, it’s a shame. Our passion for winning souls for the Lord is in our hearts.
When the believer is not available for prayer, preaching, hearing and studying God’s word; something else is taking that heart away from serving God because serving God is from the heart. You need to watch your heart. You should not allow challenges get in your way. That’s when you ought to pray more – in challenges and afflictions, pray to God.
James 5:13 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The church in Macedonia gave even though they were poor; they had an economic crisis and still gave to churches that were in need, Paul called that the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 8:5 – And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Before they gave their money, they gave themselves – their lives had been given in service. We don’t just give our money and resources, we also give our lives to the church – we should be readily available; it is the work of ministry, and it has everything to do with the heart – that is the place of consecration.
Consecration says: ‘it is not easy, but I’m moving on!’ The moment you are pitied for your service to God, you have received your reward. A consecrated person will be submissive to authority, he will be sensitive in his heart as regards ministry. When weariness steps in; it’s time to pray. Prayer is an integral part of your service.
Without giving your life to prayer, fasting, studying, and following the leading of the spirit, ministry will be a struggle, because your heart won’t be in the service. Before giving your money and material things, yield yourself to the service to God – giving your life is service.
If you cannot give your life, then it shows you don’t love Jesus. Thus, learn to put your heart in things you do in your local church, learn to put your heart in service. From 2 Corinthians 8:5; the believers in Macedonia gave themselves not only to God but also to the apostles – when you see a believer that is consecrated, he will be submissive to authority. There is a giving that is beyond material giving. Someone who is sensitive in his heart as regards ministry will be a loyal man.
So, ask yourself: Am I loyal? Is my heart stayed on my service?
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – John 13-16
TEACHING OF THE DAY
Salvation Through Faith in Christ (Series 3A) (1)