Encouragement

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Some days it's a little more difficult at 79 and 74 yrs. of age, but God is Faithful....
as always!
But La Moyne at her computer ministry and I at the website ministry...
continue to praise God that we're able to 'function' for the Lord and His Work!

It's not as important as to the quantity of work...
as is the quality and character of the work.
Our service is God's Person, Power and Promises working in and through us...
for His Glory and our ministry.

A smile is an outward show of inner strength.
As the physical weakens, the spiritual MUST become stronger!

This of course is easier when the physical is strong, then it seems like all of a sudden...
everything is weaker (even the mental process).

"We may not be the same as our 'yesterdays'...
but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!" (Heb. 13:8)
Verse 5 says: "I will never leave you nor forsake you!"

Bill Crowder wrote in Our Daily Bread:
"In our relationship with God, we find a sufficiency for life...
that can overwhelm our inadequacies and enable us to live victoriously."

1) HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST SCRIPTURES ON 'SERVANT' AND 'SERVICE':

"Our trust is in God for we are not sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is in God Who also has made us ministers (servants) of the New Covenant." (II Cor. 3:4-6)

Moses was a servant who loved God and walked in His Ways kept the Commandments and served God with all of his heart and soul. (Joshua 22:5)

When the three Hebrews were faced with the fiery furnace said, "If it be so, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us and He WILL deliver us out of your hand O King.
But if not, be it known unto thee O King, that we will NOT serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus emphasized that no one can serve two masters.
(Matt. 6:24)
In Luke 6:46 we have what some call 'Jesus' most embarrassing question'....
"Why call me Lord and do not the things which I say?"

Jesus said, "If you serve me, my Father will honor you." (John 12:26)

"With love serve one another and love thy neighbor as thyself." (Gal. 5:13-14)

"To this end, I also labor striving according to His working which works in me mightily." (Col. 1:29) Joe Stowell: "Don't make a cemetery of your life by burying your talents".

"Receive grace that you may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear."
(Heb. 12:28)

My older brother, Bryce, died June 7, 2001.
He was a great brother, working in the business world for 40+ years in Oklahoma and Texas.
At his Memorial Service, there were many who expressed their admiration...
and thanks....for Bryce working with them in Alcoholics Anonymous.

They shared with us that Bryce's ministry in the name of Jesus, meant SO much to them. One of these men is now a member of the church I pastored here in Norman.
He said, "I don't know 'where' I would be had it not been for Bryce Wiginton's ministry of love (service) to me!"

I'm sure that Bryce identified with the Apostle Paul, who expressed joy at being able to be one of God's ministers!
It was Paul who gave thanks for Timothy, his young minister in God's Work.

2) BE A SERVANT LIKE JESUS....WITH THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS:
(Matt. 5:1-12 and Philippians 2:5-11)

Poor in spirit - humbly give Jesus the rightful place in your life.
Mourn - allow God to break your heart with the things that break the heart of God.
Meek - yield possession and personal rights to God as 'on loan' from God for His work and Glory.
Hunger and thirst for God's Word and Principles to be used to reach others.
Merciful - whatever comes, return love and understanding.
Pure in heart - motives and desires under the control of Christ.
Peacemaker - set an example of making things right with whomever has wronged you.
Also, identify with Christ's Way of Peace as a principle of life. Your service should help to bring peace.

3) KOREAN CHRISTIANS:
When we were serving as missionaries to Korea, we found that the Korean Christians were some of the strongest Christians we had ever met.
They exemplified Christ's Blessed Beatitudes in the midst of many wars.

Here are 5 reasons for their strengths:
Evangelistic zeal
Fervency in Prayer
Devotion to the Word of God
Strong in the midst of persecutions
Steadfast faith

Because of this, South Korea is probably the most Christian nation in Asia.
It is due primarily to the blessed Christians, sharing their spiritual blessings with others.

4) ROMANS 12 IS ONE OF THE FINEST CHAPTERS ON 'SERVICE WITH A SMILE':
Paul basically asked 3 questions of the Roman Christians and of course, us.

First question:
'Is Jesus Lord of your work?' (Rom. 12:1-2)
He is....if your commitment is:
Abandoned to Him
Available for Him
Accountable to Him

The 2nd question is:
'Are you a part of a team under the Lordship of Christ?' (Verses 3-8)
No stars or 'hot shots' on God's Team! Sober 'thinkers' are needed.
Grace and Faith are 'musts'.
God's gifts need to be used in God's Work.

The 3rd question is:
'Is Christ-like love the motive and mission of your work?' (Vs. 9-18)
Christ-like love is so scarce....that it is always in danger of substitutes...
and no substitute is more sickening than substitutes for love.

Please get people on your heart, in your prayers, and a part of your work-witness.

CONCLUSION:
Several hymns speak to this subject of 'Service With A Smile'...
but my favorite is 'Serve the Lord with Gladness'.

"Serve the Lord with gladness in our works and ways.
Come before His presence with our songs of praise.
Unto Him our Maker, we would pledge anew
Life's supreme devotion to service true.

Serve the Lord with gladness, thankful all the while
For His tender mercies, for His loving smile.
Blessed truth enduring, always just the same.
We will serve with gladness and praise His name.

Serve the Lord with gladness, this shall be our theme.
As we walk together, in His love supreme.
Listening, ever listening for the still small voice.
His sweet Will so precious, will be our choice.

Serve Him with gladness, Enter His courts with song.
To our Creator, true praises belong.
Great is His mercy, wonderful is His name.
We gladly serve Him, His great love proclaim.
(Words/Music by B.B. McKinney)

If gratitude to God for His mercies does not compel our devotion to Him, nothing will.
Service and work (ministries) that do not grow out of love for God, have to re-fuel at 'flesh pumps'. We MUST re-fuel at 'Spirit pumps'. (John 7: 32-39)

My prayer for all of us is:
"May all we say and do, be said and done in Jesus' Name for the glory of God...
out of a motive of love and for the sake of souls."

This old world needs Jesus....Whom we should serve with gladness!
So SMILE.....Jesus Loves You....and we need to 'Serve the Lord with Gladness'.

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