Rules for Serving (part 2)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Be Diligent
Be Diligent
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
I want. I desire and never I do. Desire without diligence is wishful thinking
2. "Wanting without taking action leads to nothing."
3. "It's not enough to wish, one must also work."
4. "Desire must be coupled with effort to bring results."
5. "Dreaming alone won't make it happen."
6. "Desire is just the first step; action is required for success."
7. "You can't achieve your goals by wishing alone."
8. "Desire without action is merely a wish."
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
Be Fervent
Be Fervent
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
πνεύματι: (an idiom, literally ‘to boil in the spirit’) to show great eagerness toward something—‘to show enthusiasm, to commit oneself completely to
With Loving
With Loving
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
In Prayer
In Prayer
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
In Speaking Truth
In Speaking Truth
This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Serving the Lord
Serving the Lord
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Rejoice
Rejoice
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Show Patience
Show Patience
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Be Steadfast
Be Steadfast
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
Saint centered
Saint centered
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Hospitable
Hospitable
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.