Take Heed To Your Ministry

"And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it."  Colossians 4:17.  We sometimes send a message to someone through another person.  Such is the case in this passage.  Archippus had a responsibility to the ministry which he had received.  A message is sent for him to complete that ministry.  God has given unto all those who choose to follow Him a ministry.  There is a work that we have been given.  Various ministries are received from the Lord.  Our work is to do that ministry.  The Lord's cause depends upon each one fulfilling his work in the kingdom of our Lord.  Ministry is vital to the salvation of humanity.  God uses human vessels to go forth and perform His work.  God's ministry must not be taken lightly.  The ministry of God is the most serious work that one can do.  If we fail to fulfill our ministry, then we have failed God.  We also harm ourselves and those who are dependent upon us.  The world needs our efforts.  The kingdom of God needs our work.  We must not excuse ourselves from our ministry.  God enables us all to do His work.  Let us take heed unto ourselves that we fulfill the ministry that we have received from the Lord.

An Altar of Stone

"And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it."  Genesis 28:18.  From the earliest time, man has offered worship unto God.  Of course, God has changed his requirements of worship over time.  We today do not build altars, but rather, we offer a spiritual worship unto God.  Jacob had gathered stones together for a pillow so that he might sleep.  During the night of sleep, Jacob had an encounter with God in a dream.  The promise made to Abraham was now passed to Jacob.  All the nations of humanity would be blessed through him.  Jacob builds an altar and worships.  God is to be praised throughout the earth because of His marvelous promise to bless all of mankind in Jesus Christ.  Jacob offered his thanks and devotion unto God.  Faith builds altars and praises God.  Faith rejoices in God through worship.  Our hope is displayed in our praise of God.  Let us build our altar of worship and praise the God who has blessed us with an eternal hope.  Let us erect our altar of praise unto the Almighty God because of the pouring out of His everlasting love upon us.  Our meeting with God will bring us to the altar of worship.

Dwelling In Unity

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"  Psalm 133:1.  Brethren are those who share a common faith and a common resolve.  We are the brethren of the Lord.  As brethren, we are to dwell together in unity.  Unity makes dwelling together possible.  Strife is never pleasant.  Strife is harsh.  Unity is pleasant and sweet.  Goals can be accomplished where there is unity.  Work can be completed if there is unity.  There is strength in oneness.  Division causes weakness.  Unity achieves.  Division destroys.  When unity fails, erosion occurs.  Unity dispels argument.  Unity brings trust.  Pleasant indeed.  Unity overthrows the enemy.  Unity wins the battles.  Unity is good.  Unity requires the giving of oneself.  Unity is born when I understand that the work is not about me.  My life will be blessed as well as the life of the brethren. Where there is unity, there is the spirit of unselfishness.  Doing for others always brings satisfaction.  Life is sweeter and better.  All of this because of unity.  

The Kingdom In Power

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."  I Corinthians 4:20.  The kingdom of God is a divine kingdom having been brought into existence by the power of God.  The word of God is proclaimed to those who will hear and have their hearts moved by its power.  This power is a converting power that changes the heart into the image of the divine Maker.  God's word is not just a word, but a word that has the power to convert.  This power translates the souls of men into the everlasting kingdom of Almighty God.  This kingdom stands by divine authority and rules by a divine standard.  The Spirit of God moves within this kingdom exerting God's will over the minds of men.  This power of God controls the spirits of those who will hear and obey.  The kingdom of God is in power because of the will of God exhibiting divine influence over the hearts of humanity.  The power of the kingdom of God is greater than all powers.  Its power changes evil to good and darkness to light.  The kingdom of God makes right that which is wrong.  The kingdom delivers one from the power of Satan to the power of God.  And the kingdom of God will stand eternal in the glory of the everlasting Father.

A Servant So Doing

"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."  Luke 12:43.  Jesus has spoken a parable about watchfulness.  A servant is to watch for the coming of his lord.  The labor must be completed and all things in readiness for the return of the lord.  Jesus is our Lord.  We are His servants who are laboring in His kingdom.  We are to be constantly laboring ever mindful of His return.  The coming of the Lord will not be announced.  The coming will be unexpected.  We are to watch meaning that we are to be in constant readiness.  If our lives are prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus, the time of the return will not be important.  Jesus can come at any time for we are always ready.  The Lord must not come and find us unprepared.  That would be our great loss.  Let us always be mindful that the Lord wants His workers to be engaged in the labor of the kingdom.  Let us always be mindful that the Lord wants our lives prepared for His return.  Jesus says that such watchful servants will be blessed.  The blessings of eternity are for those who are doing His work when He comes.

Know The Things Of God

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God: that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."  I Corinthians 2:12.  The world knoweth not God.  The world has a wisdom that is not of God.  The world denies God.  A rejection of God opens the door for every vile and evil affection.  However, the church is not of the world.  The church of God are those precious souls that have been sanctified by the Spirit of God.  The church has separated from the world.  The church loves not the world, nor the things of the world.  The church embraces God because God has embraced the church.  God, therefore, has given us His spirit so that we might know the blessings that He has given to us.  God's blessings upon His people are given freely.  Freely we have received.  By the spirit which is of God we come to know God.  We understand and accept His wisdom and His will for our lives.  His blessings give us access to His presence and His companionship.  We give ourselves to His leadership and kingship.  God bestows upon us precious treasures that the world cannot know.  These treasures are for now, and the ages to come.

Abhor All Evil

"Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."  Romans 12:9.  The admonition is to hate that which is evil.  Many choose to embrace evil for it brings unto them pleasure or fame.  But, they who choose to follow God are to have a hatred of evil, and therefore, they are to shun it.  Evil destroys individuals and nations.  It brings downfall.  Wherefore evil goes, it leaves disaster in its path.  Evil can grow in intensity.  Evil has an appealing quality.  It deceives never revealing its true nature until it has taken its toll.  Evil enters into the heart and corrupts the life.  Evil is venom to the soul.  Abhor evil for it will never take you up, but always bring you down.  Evil leads to every vile corruption.  It pollutes and defiles. Do not tolerate evil, but hate evil.  Do not simply dislike evil, but hate evil.  It produces no good, only harm.  Abhor evil for God abhors evil.  No character that embraces God can associate with evil.  Be not the friends of evil people, but keep thyself from them for their influence will stain you and leave you ruined.  But, love the good.  Embrace the good.  Lift high the good.  The good brings you into the very presence of God.

Faith Without Works

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."  James 2:26.  This second chapter of James deals with the subject of faith and works.  James, the author, shows that faith is active and obedient.  Faith is not a mere mental conviction of God and Christ, but rather, an obedient relationship with God and Christ.  Faith works and serves.  Faith responds in obedient acts to the rules of law that God has delivered through Christ.  God and His salvation is not simply offered upon a grace only or faith only basis.  The grace of God must be received.  Grace demands faith, and faith demands work.  When the spirit leaves the body, the body is dead.  When faith is void of works, then faith is dead.  A dead faith does not save.  Only the believer will come to God, and only the obedient will serve God.  Faith simply does what God requires.  Faith keeps the commandments of God, and helps those who are in need.  Faith seeks a life that is not defined by sin, but rather, by holy living.  Faith sees people as God sees them.  Faith desires their well being as God desires their well being.  Faith always acts as God acts.  The heart of faith is defined by the life of work.  We believe.  Therefore, we serve.

Healing And Deliverance

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."  Psalm 107:20.  God's concern over man's self destruction has been present since the dawn of time.  Were it but for the grace of God, man would write his own failure in history.  Man's sickness comes of his own will.  His own arrogance brings about all of the ills that afflict him.  The fate of all self will is destruction.  But, God has sent His word.  Will we hear?  Will we heed?  God's word has the power to heal our afflictions and deliver us from destruction.  Why does God express such loving concern to a world that seeks its own destruction?  The answer is that He loves.  We should cry unto Him for daily help.  We should seek to praise Him for His wonderful deliverance.  Did not God save Noah from the overwhelming flood?  Did not God spare Lot from the consuming fire?  He spoke His word unto them and they acted according to His instructions.  Their lives were spared when others were destroyed.  In our time of sin and death, God's word speaks to us of salvation and victory from the enemies of destruction.  Let us hear that we might be healed and delivered.