[birthdays class=””][birthdays class=””]We see in Ephesians 1:20 Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father … but the case in which Jesus stood up was when he was receiving Stephen, dying for the sake of the Gospel while witnessing for Him.
Acts 7:55-56 “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God”.
Put your heart into being ignited with the souls more than anything else … You may lose your dignity for the sake of the souls, you may pay an expensive price for their sake like your rest, or even suffering troubles. Remember the investment in what Jesus did depends on you … He values, respects and rewards you for this … Jesus stood up because of it … Is it because of your witnessing that Jesus stands up in appreciation of what you are doing?
All intersession, all exhaustion, all work and all office work done for the sake of the souls is appreciated by Jesus. Live your life in view of this day when you shall meet Jesus personally and be asked by Him about what you did on earth.
Many consider ministry as a promotion into a position of a director or a president. In no doubt take pride in the service of the Lord but know that ministry is a responsibility, this is evident in Luke 12: 35-48.
How much do I love verse 37 which shows the Lord’s reaction personally towards the person who will do his entrusted work.
Luke 12:35-48 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more”. [ESV Bible]
I love so much the verse in Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Live your life for him, do not put an account for anything, and do not consider anything more precious to you so that you may:
- Complete and finish the task to the end.
- With joy the course and the ministry that the Lord has placed you in which no one else but you will accomplish.
The Lord is asking you: “Do you love me?” . . . to eat the Word according to John 14:15; this is loving the Lord to eat the Word.
Also according to John 21: 15 love is to shepherd and take care of the souls … Do you love the Lord? Prove it! Do something for the souls, win them, feed them, bear with them, build them up, do what is entrusted to you in ministry with your heart, because the Lord appreciates this … Look at Stephen who was a deacon, a servant assistant but still worked in the service of tables according to Acts 6:5. This is not only for the servants of the pulpit, but for every person … If you are in any part of the ministry, you can change people’s lives … and make Jesus appreciate you not as a son but as an investor in the kingdom of heaven.
Paul often talked boldly about his labor in the souls … This is not to humiliate his listeners nor to exaggerate, but he actually labored and offered what is expensive while considering his sacrifices as being not precious to him.
The Lord cares about you personally, and your place comes before any service work. This is done through perfecting your personal circle by being in intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
When you put the Lord on top of your priorities you will be ignited with all His heart and you will not differentiate and distinguish between one person and another, not even by the person’s background or his intelligence, his social level or his religion, neither by being an Arab nor being foreign, nor by his past, nor by his deeds. All the souls will become equal in your sight and you will be able to reach them with Jesus.
Will Jesus appreciate you when you meet Him? Do you love Him with a love that makes Him turn to you?
