JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons

1 Corinthians 14:17, 1 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Chronicles 2:7, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 1:1, 1Corinthians 6:20, Matthew 22:37-39; Edifiy, Influence and Serve.

"For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified."
NKJV

God has created the church to function in an amazing way. Each person is at a different level of spiritual maturity. Some are new to the faith and are in need of spiritual sustenance. They desire the milk of the Word and need time to learn and grow in Christ. Then there are those who are well equipped with God's Word and who have endured trials and tribulations with Jesus by their side. They are able to pour into others and help equip them for the journey. This is a beautiful part of the body and an important relationship in the church.

As more and more people are filled and equipped, we must be diligent to not become spiritually selfish. It is a blessing to sit and hear the Word of God and to be filled with understanding yet if we are not pouring out into others, we are missing part of the equation. Just like a bird bath will become stagnant, we too can become that way if we are not pouring out into others. And friend, don't worry about running out of water. Our Lord promises fountains of living water that will never run dry, but the key is to share the water so that others can experience the life-changing message of Christ.

Life Lesson: It is possible to be too spiritually selfish.

Dear God,
Father, I am grateful for all that You have done for me. I thank You for the living water of Jesus that flows in me. Help me to pour out my life for Your name's sake and to help equip others to follow You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee

1 Corinthians 9:1

"Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?"
NKJV

Apostle Paul... many of us hear that name and think of teacher, new testament writer and hard core missionary. As we read about his actions in the book of Acts and study his letters throughout the scriptures, we can easily see God's hand on His life. Yet, even this incredible man of God had to deal with people questioning his role as apostle and not just unbelievers, but believers who Paul himself had led to the Lord.

So, what are we to do when we begin to serve God only to find ourselves faced with discouraging words from those we thought we knew? Friend, we pray for them and then we continue walking with the Lord. It's in Christ that we find our encouragement and it's in Christ that we find strength during those battles. I'll go ahead and tell you now that serving God is not going to lessen the number of nay-sayers; it's going to bring more. Of course, while we may face harsh words from those around us, the sweetest words ever to be heard lay before us when Christ says, "well done good and faithful servant."

Life Lesson: The more good we do, or impact or influence we have, the more people will speak ill of us.

Dear Father,
Thank You for my life and for the forgiveness I have through Jesus. Thank You for the opportunities I have to serve You and serve others. Lord, as I step out in faith and begin serving You, may I look to You for my encouragement regardless of what men say. Father, keep me focused on You no matter the circumstance. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee

2 Chronicles 2:7

"Therefore send me at once a man skillful to work in gold and silver, in bronze and iron, in purple and crimson and blue, who has skill to engrave with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided."
NKJV

In 2 Chronicles 2, we find King Solomon preparing to build the Temple. In order to create this amazing structure, he enlists skilled laborers of all different trades to begin working on the Lord's house. Did you know the same is true even today? While we may not be building a physical temple, we are all working to build the Kingdom of God. To do this well, we must use the talents and gifts God has given us for His purpose.

Of course, I can hear some say, "I don't have any gifts" or "I'm not skilled in anything." Friend, this is far from the truth. In fact, God's Word refutes that thought in Ephesians 2:10.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." NKJV

You see, we are God's masterpiece and have been created by God to do good works for Him. In order to walk in those good works, He has gifted us each with certain talents. The exciting part is figuring out what these talents and abilities are and how we can use them to build His Kingdom. What's your skill? Are you ready to use it for the Lord?

Life Lesson: We are all skilled or gifted in an area or areas. Find your gifting and serve God with your whole heart.

Dear Father,
Thank You for making me. I praise You Lord for the abilities I have and the talents You have given me. Lord, help me to look for opportunities to use these special gifts for You. If there is anything keeping me from serving You with all my heart, please remove it. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I will be fully equipped to help build Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee

Romans 1:1

"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God."
NKJV

Consider all that God has done for you and where you would be without His grace. When you truly realize what Jesus did for you, serving is not a chore or a burden. It is an honor and a privilege. How do you view serving? How do you express your love for God? One way you can tell God you love Him is by serving others.

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." NKJV

Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" NKJV

Do you express thanksgiving to God by serving others? Service out of an attitude of love for God will not express itself in a self seeking manner. Love for God is deeply expressed through love for others. When we serve others, we are demonstrating our thanks to God for all that He has done for us. By serving others, we demonstrate the love of God to those who may not know Him and we model His love to other Christians.

Life Lesson: We should serve God out of love. It shows we are truly thankful for all He has done for us.

Dear Father,
Thank You so much for all You have done for me. I want to show You how much I love You and thank You by serving. I ask that you give me opportunity after opportunity to serve others and to demonstrate my love and thanksgiving to You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee

My Comments: By serving others we are serving God and this includes when we help a new believer or a non-believer understand the truth and when we allow God to work through us to grow our gifts and talents for the building up of the Church/the Body of the Lord.

For some this is hard to understand because they are growing and as they read and study the Word of God they will grow in the knowledge and understanding of the will of the Lord in their lives and as a child who learns how to crawl, then walk, then run; so will they learn how to use their gifts for the glory of God. Many mistakenly stay at the crawl stage because they think just getting saved is the end of it all when it is just the beginning of a beautiful life in Christ Jesus, doing the will of God the Father. We do that best by loving God  and our neighbor, and reading His Word is part of that. Loving our neighbor means we reach out to him to bring him into the body of God so he may have life everlasting as we have. If we do not do it he may never know God and may perish. We cannot as believers wait for someone else to do what God is giving us to do.

We are directed to use the talents and gifts God has bestowed on us freely. We may not know what they are yet if we in faith step out and try things we will find out soon enough what they are.

For some it is caring for their family, working diligently in God’s vineyards, singing His praises, sharing His Word, reaching out to our neighbors, helping the homeless, working at places like Care Net, giving talks or teaching, comforting those in sorrow, counseling couples or Mothers or youth. There are many ways talents and gifts manifest themselves. Some write others paint, some work in the business world and show what Christian lives are like, some empty garbage with a smile and others bag our groceries with love. Yet all who are followers of Christ Jesus, do everything with the Love of Christ and we do it to the best of our abilities. We give of ourselves completely without grudges or complaint as Christ did and as we grow more like Him.

The more one grows up in the Lord the more one becomes like Him and Loves others with His love; so much so that they would give their lives for others. They live their lives so others may know Christ and live eternally with Him.

Abba Father help us all to grow and mature in You. May we always seek Your guidance and be filled with and giving Your rivers of living water to all we meet as Your Son did when He was here as a Man. May we not seek to have as much as we seek to give in Your Holy Name. May we encourage others by the way we live our lives to seek and find You. May we study Your Word in order that we may give a good accounting of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and may we influence the World in the name of Him who gave all so we may live eternally with You.

We praise and glorify Your Holy Name and pray all we do will bring praise and glory to You through Your Son, Jesus. Amen

Rebisha