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Glorious Morning Princesses!
Happy Autumn! Can you believe it, we are approaching Week 4! For our online family, you are entering Week 3! Please keep each other uplifted in prayer.
Similar to the seasons changing, I thank God for all of you and for His faithfulness to each of us as the seasons in our lives change. Remember in every season there is an opportunity for ministry.
How's Your Penmanship?
If you are completing the writing portion for our Fall 2016 session, on page 180 of your study guide you will find space to continue writing 2 Timothy- this week it's Chapter 2. We will continue to pray through our writing portion. It's a labor of love!
Rather than an expository this week, I am being led to send you a series of reflective questions to pray on this week. In the next couple of paragraphs, pray that the truths of Holy Spirit will lead you in thought, actions and words.
1.The Gospel, The Gifting and a Little Backbone...
13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
We know that God has entrusted us with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit-gifting to share it.
Knowing this Holy Spirit truth, how does that truth transform how you life each day?
2. Fulfilling Your Ministry, You Better Choose
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. (1 Timothy 6:20 ESV)
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:10-14 ESV)
These verses demonstrate one foundational fact...God is in control. As Paul indicated to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:10 (above) know also that our faithfulness is the key to someone else's faith. " (Entrusted, B. Moore) So, knowing that we have an assignment, have you ever asked God to "improve you in ______" or have you asked God what you have been called to do?
In order to serve God, we need to be willing to turn the reigns of our life over to Him. In other words, we have to have Godin our lives in order to serve Him. God has always been and remains faithful. He is intentional about us. Nothing else matters, but fulfilling our ministry.
Knowing this Holy Spirit truth, what are the ways you can be more intentional in your relationship with God so you are equipped to serve Him?
3.Whose Approval Do You Seek- God or Man?
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workerwho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.(Matthew 6:23; Luke 16:13 ESV)
In looking at our long history, (recognizing that we are part of a royal priesthood) of those that have run this race before us and have fulfilled their ministry, I wonder what advice they could offer us today? I would imagine, they may revisit 2 Timothy 2:15 with us and express that if we are to accomplish our enormous goals (mighty servants of God), two things must occur:
be loosed from the approval of man; and be loosed from our insatiable lust for human affirmation. (Day 3)
Knowing this Holy Spirit truth, when was the last time you tasted how toxic the desire for human approval and affirmation could be? Why wasn't God's approval enough? Do you believe that God is continually and mericfully after your good?
As you think through these questions and verses my prayer is that through the Holy Sprirt, God will reveal to what you need to know at this season in your life. That you will realize your "calling is in front of you" and not behind you. Finally, that your flame will burn white hot for our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Most importantly remember to KEEP MOVING FORWARD:
Mighty servants of God turned loose on this globe in the great name of Jesus.
Closing Thought-
Prayer “empowers and ‘charges up’ every other piece so they can be used effectively against the enemy. Without prayer…your armor, cannot, will not, be infused with the power that only God’s-Spirit can give. (The Armor of God- P.Shirer)
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Know that through the Holy Spirit you can:
do things you couldn't;feel things you didn't; andknow things you wouldn't.
For your praise and worship:
Nothing Else Matters- I. Houghton
I Will Follow- C. Tomlin
Housekeeping:
Don't forget to register (or forward to a friend) for our Fall 2016 session. We are working on Week 4 (face to face) and Week 3 (online):
Remember, each day is an opportunity for us to...
Lead, Serve and GO!
Krista
Each day we have an opportunity to be the light and salt God has called us to be to others. Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)