Category: Servants of God

Jesus is Our Guide

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Bold Confidence, Christian, Eternal Life, Faith, Follow Jesus, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Protector, Servants of GodLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 13.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night.22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people. Ex 13:21-22 (NLT)

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

One of the more popular tours anyone can take is a guided tour, because the guide is well versed in the history of the area and the guide has a personal stake in preserving and forever celebrating the area. This sounds much like God with the Israelites, and it also reminds me of God, through His Son Jesus, today. God had brought the Israelites through a lot, and He held the hands of Moses and Aaron for a long time while He worked on Pharaoh. He has also brought us through a lot in our lifetime, and we should never be so silly as to brush that aside as good luck, good fortune or even think that it was a natural course of action. I love that saying that “if He brings us to it, He will bring us through it”. I am convinced that just as we could see in our past how God has worked through the miracles that He performed in our lives and the lives of our relatives, He still has a purpose in our lives today. In fact, He wants to guide us through paths that will impact unbelievers, so that He can deal in their lives towards the hope that is theirs in knowing Jesus as Lord. Although so unfortunate, I have seen over recent days how people who once attended church for the wrong reasons, are now out of touch with the Master of this universe, and with His people. There is still much work to be done, and I believe that God is looking for humble, dedicated, willing servants to carry the gospel into the highways and byways, to our family, friends and our neighbors, through our example and witness to the fact that Jesus is Lord in our life. Friends, I believe that this is as urgent as the command to the Israelites, we need to ‘place the sacrificed blood on our doorposts’ so that others will know that Jesus reigns in our hearts and lives, and also as a constant reminder of our dedication to Christ. Only what’s done for Jesus will last friend, but we have to do it – do something, to be God’s instruments in witnessing to, and winning, the lost.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father thank You for the reminder of the urgency of the hour in which we live. Thank You for being my Deliverer, my Friend and my Guide. Please continue to work in my life so that I may represent You well before a lost and dying world. Please make me constantly aware of the lost around me, and the boldness to share the gospel with them in ways that You can open their hearts into making decisions to accept Your gracious Son, Jesus. There are many obstacles in this life that will lead me astray, but thank You for guiding me into heaven, Your home eternal, as You did in guiding the Israelites into the promised land,

Obviously Filled With The Spirit

On By Ed AlgreenIn Ask and Receive, Bible Believing, Encourage, Facial Expression, Humility, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Reflecting Christ, Servants of GodLeave a comment

Scripture: Genesis 41  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Gen 41:38 (NLT)

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

This is a phrase that I don’t believe that we should ever let come out of our mouths about ourselves, because had it not been for the grace of God, we would be nothing to brag about. I believe that what Pharaoh saw was God’s power at work, and because Joseph was humble and obedient to allow God to work through him, he received credit from Pharaoh for being ‘Obviously Filled with the Spirit’. Friends, when we can put self aside, and when we can place our faith totally in God and allow Him to accomplish His will in our lives, to such an extent that others will see Jesus instead of our weak and faulty selves, then they will acknowledge that it is Jesus/His Holy Spirit that is working in us. In other words, they will realize that we must be ‘Obviously Filled With The Spirit’. This will only happen when they not see any selfish motives or pride evident in us. A preacher I once knew pasted these words on his pulpit that I believe sums up my thoughts here: “Oh That They May See Jesus”.

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, my desire is that those that I come in contact with may see Jesus in my words, my actions and in my demeanor. Please remind me of this when I am tempted to be selfish, prideful or promoting self.

God Can Use Us to Bless Others

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Bold Confidence, Chosen by God, Christian, Faith, Follow Jesus, Fruit of the Spirit, God Cares For Us, God our Helper, God’s Word, Helper, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Love, Love God, Love your Neighbor, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Pleasing to God, Purity, Reflecting Christ, Righteousness, Servants of God, Surrender, Victorious Life, Work Til Jesus ComesLeave a comment

Scripture: Genesis 38-39  

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

2 The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.4 This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. ~ Gen 39:2-5 (NLT)

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

I am always so thrilled to notice times when God blesses His people that serve Him faithfully. There is no indication in this passage that Joseph ever had to plead before God for anything, but many blessings were bestowed upon Joseph in return for his faithfulness and ongoing persistent commitment to God, and all this in spite of the circumstances where he had been sold by his own brothers, now resulting in him living in a foreign land with total strangers. I remember a plaque that read something like “God can do anything through a life totally committed to Him”. Joseph had no power to bless the home of Potiphar, but God certainly had the power to do it because of the faithfulness of His servant Joseph. I want to make my life so available to God and so responsive to His will, that He could easily shower His blessings through me and accomplish much for His glory.

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

My prayer this morning will actually come directly from God’s Word, Ephesians 3:20-21:

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Eph 3:20-21 (NLT)

Make God First in Your Life, then……

On By Ed AlgreenIn Allegiance to the Lamb, Bible Believing, Bold Confidence, Born Again, Chosen by God, Christian, Disciple, Faith, Follow Jesus, God’s Word, Imitator of Christ, Listen to the Word of God, Obedience, Our Help comes from God, Pleasing to God, Reflecting Christ, Righteousness, Servants of God, Surrender, Work Til Jesus ComesLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE Studied: Matthew 4

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. Matt 4:18-22 (NLT)

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

While this seems like a miraculous thing for Jesus to call these men from what they were doing, and especially for them to leave their secular jobs and follow Him, I believe that this also occurs today. We were created by God, and while our flesh strives to live in and enjoy the pleasures of this world, I believe that our inward soul longs to be with Jesus and live a life pleasing to Him while here on this earth. Unfortunately I believe that the latter is not possible until we accept that deep longing to accept Jesus as Lord of our life. We can always stop and think of what life could be like if we weren’t so stuck on pleasing others. It is so unfortunate that we try so hard to please our peers, our family, our friends, our co-workers, our boss, our pastor and then with whatever is left in us we try to please God. Friend why not try and do this in reverse order – surrender your heart to God, give Him 100% of your effort to please Him and follow His commands, then watch how easy it will be to see others accept you for who you are. A life surrendered to, committed to and following the commands of Jesus will result in a happy, satisfied, fulfilled life with a purpose and a goal oriented mindset that will be fixed on Jesus Christ. Oh that we will do just that this Christmas season – a time on our calendar that we dedicate to the One whose birthday is the whole purpose of Christmas.

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Father, I rededicated myself anew to You this Christmas. I pray that You will direct me each and every day, especially during this busy time on my calendar. I pray that You will help me place my life in perspective – You first, and all else to follow as You direct. May I be deep into Your Word daily so that I may learn of and subsequently follow the plan You have designed for my life. May I be an influence to others, especially those that have not yet accepted You as Lord of their lives. Like Peter, Andrew, James and John, may I be obedient to Your call on my life and serve You willingly every day. Please touch the lives of all readers today that they too may first of all accept You as Lord, then submit their lives totally to You and Your service. You gave Your very best that very first ‘Christmas’, may we in turn give our very best to You this Christmas.

Be One Who Serves Others

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bible Believing, Chosen by God, Christian, Disciple, Love God, Obedience, Servants of GodLeave a comment

A Quality of a Mature, Reproducing Disciple of Jesus Christ

SCRIPTURE

Studied: Eph. 4:11–13, Rom. 12:3–8, 1 Cor. 12:7-11

OBSERVATION (What is God saying here?)

  1. Ephesians 4:11-13 ~ Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
  2. Romans 12:3-8 ~ I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.
  3. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ~ The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God’s Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.

APPLICATION (How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

  1. What a pity that today many of us expect all of these gifts to be in the pastor, so we sit back and expect him to do his thing, while we relax and sometimes soak it up, sometimes just be entertained, often just grumble about what he should have done differently, etc, etc. God knows what He is doing. The Word says that God has given these gifts to some so that His body of believers (the church) will learn, serve and grow strong. When we talk about having ‘weak’ churches that are falling apart, perhaps we are not recognizing the gift of God in the people that surround us, or perhaps not allowing them to exercise their gifts. I believe that this passage teaches us that this method will continue until the church becomes completely like Christ – in other words until Jesus comes, because if there is ever a chance that we might become perfect, there will be new members joining us who will need to learn all about this. My logical brain would say that we should be looking among us to see who may be gifted in the areas mentioned, and then make sure that they are given opportunity to exercise those gifts for the strengthening and growing of the body at large.
  2. There are times that we may start to feel proud if we feel like God has gifted us as indicated in Ephesians, however in this passage from Romans we are reminded that we should measure ourselves according to the faith that God has given to us. Any talent that we possess is a gift from God to be used for His glory and for edifying His church. Conversely, we should be careful not to sit back thinking that we have no usefulness in the kingdom at all, but we should recognize where our source of strength/talent/ability lies and for what purposes it should be used. As we recognize this, and give God His true place in all that we have become, He will be able to use us to help achieve His work among this lost and dying world.
  3. I realize that this study is much longer than my normal ‘Nuggets’ but I believe that it is virtually overwhelming as God has shown in His Word how important it is for us to recognize/acknowledge the gifts given to us by Him, and then use those gifts for His glorification through the local church. I believe that any who say that they have no gift probably displays the unfortunate gift of lying, because God didn’t make junk, so when He said in His Word that He has given each of us a special way of serving others, I believe that gift must be used. I am challenged today to look within and ensure that I am using all the gifts that God has blessed me with, for His glory and for the strengthening and uplifting of the church. I can’t hardly imagine the ‘buzz’ that will fill our church if visitors came and saw our folk actively serving in one capacity or another because they felt like God had gifted them, and that they want to use that gift for the benefit of God and others in the church. Wow, I’m talking about a great big fire of excitement would be evident, and the church will grow by leaps and bounds!!

PRAYER (With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

I am filled to overflowing from this study this morning oh Lord! To recognize that You not only loved me enough to sacrifice Your only Son to die on a cruel cross so that I may have eternal life, and now to study and be reminded that You have also given me special gifts/talents to use in Your service, is nothing short of amazing, glorious, unbelievable, exciting, filled with anticipation, yet humbling to know that I have such an awesome Savior! Please help me to constantly be reminded of the gifts that You have blessed me with and help me to always use them for building up Your kingdom. If I am not at liberty to use these gifts in the work of my local church, then I ask that You direct me to a place where You know that my gifts and God given abilities could be best utilized. May You reign, and may Your servant use the gifts You have blessed me with for the furthering of Your kingdom here on this earth.