If you are born again and dying to self daily---then God has set you apart for HIS divine purposes! You are His. He needs a witness in this earth and He has chosen you. Dying to self every single day is a must, just as Apostle Paul had to die daily--so do we! However, let that not be the only thing we focus on day after day. The point is to die to self not focus in it.
Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1-3, (AMP) "Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God."
How do we set our minds on things above? We seek the Father daily on what He is doing and what He is a saying--making it our purpose to be About My Father's Business (Rev. Connie tag line) every day.
What is His business? I think Apostle Paul summed it up pretty good in Romans 15:1-3 (Message), "Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out."
This strength is not a physical strength--it is strength in faith! We are to help those around us who need help and especially those who falter or are weak in faith. Every man has been given a measure of faith and those who are weak but are wanting to believe--God wants us who are strong to pull up, lend a helping hand. The thing is we, of ourselves without God, will only help as we can see from our perspective and it will probably have a whole lot of self or simply knowledge or religion in it. However, when we seek God and what He wants to do then we can be sure the help they get is exactly what they need. This is why we need to be About His Business and not our own. God is for us--He is not against us enjoying life. As we begin to allow Him to work through us to help another person in need--we will find greater joy in life than we have known simply living for ourselves.
Let's Discuss!
Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why?
How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come?
Strength for service not for status--what does this mean to YOU?
What was your aha, ouch, or oh my--did you even have one?
Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why? Faith definitely increased during this service. Hearing the word that God has created us to be capable of steadying/balancing/supporting/serving made the desire to die each day a priority.
How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come?
Faith comes by hearing the word and understanding it. If there is no action to my faith, it means that I do not understand that it is the source and conduit for everything that God is doing.
Strength for service not for status--what does this mean to YOU?
"Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step…
1. Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why? Yes, The word is living and when I hear the preaching of the word it can change our condition when we let it.
2. How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come?
Faith comes by hearing the word a parable, a demonstration of the word working. If it’s not Pray that I am able to see and hear what the sprite is saying to me
3. Strength for service not for status--what does this mean to YOU?
In all my doing it’s important to never let the want for attention bring praise to myself but to…
Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why? Yes my faith was increased, it was increased in hearing that my strength is not for me but it is to be used for others who aren't as strong as I am in certain areas of their lives.
How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing or understanding comes by the Word of God. I need to change the amount of Word that is getting into my life.
Strength for service not for status--what does this mean to YOU? My strength should be used for others who aren't as strong, and…
Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why?
Faith in my life did increase during this service. I am well loved by the Father, and I receive it (I choose to believe and obey it). The beauty of it is that, while I reap benefits of faith increase, it's not for me but for to be the aid/the compassion/the help for someone else.-that is a beautiful thing.
How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come?
Comes by hearing, and faith that is lined up with God comes by hearing His word.
Strength for service not for status--what does this mean to YOU?
All that we…
Did faith increase in your life during this particular service? If not, do you know why? I do believe faith increased in my life during this service. So many times, I have looked at my faith and that is it, MY faith as just for me. To help me when it isn’t just for me it is for others.
How does faith come? What do you need to change if it has not come? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I know God uses His written word to speak to us and He has done that for me many times. What I need to change and what has been changing in the last weeks is…