BOY! OH BOY! This sure really preached into my heart, mind and soul! Thank you Jonathan Master of CHURCHLEADERS for this very loving and solid message from the life of Paul! PTL!!! This is one of ther very best messages I have read or heard in a very, very long time! PTL! Paul is one of my HEROES FOR LIFE! Pastors have got to preach what God shows them, we are not directed by God to please all people, we are to please God Almighty! We must be HOLY SPIRIT PREACHERS!!! Move in the Spirit of God! Amen! I am all sold out to GOD 24/7!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is Jonathan’s message:
One of the most notable aspects of Paul’s ministry was his commitment to hard work and sacrifice. Paul worked hard—harder than most of his peers. In 1 Corinthians 15, he writes,
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor 15:10).
While he was careful to attribute all of his effort and results to the grace of God, he finished his life by invoking a vivid image from the Old Testament sacrificial system: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Tim 4:6).
I also got all fired up and refreshed after reading Jerry Stewart’s message:
“Does God Need Your Help?”
It’s been said that George Washington actually had a set of false teeth made of wood – that doesn’t appear to be true. And that as a small boy, he chopped down that cherry tree – and when asked by his father, he said, “I cannot tell a lie. Yes, I chopped down that tree.” That story doesn’t appear to be true, either. But it’s easy to see why that story was believed to be true, because George Washington was a man of the highest character and integrity.
Even when George Washington was still a young boy, he wrote what he called Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. In that writing, he had over 100 of these rules that he strived his entire life to live by. And because of his striving, he was highly admired and respected. But amazingly, all the attention and admiration he received did not go to his head. Those who knew him best in life said that he continued to be a modest man, even shy in the face of the honors bestowed upon him.
Yes, George Washington was truly an amazing man. And because of who he was as a person, God chose to use him in a mighty and powerful way. One big reason America won the War for Independence was that those who served under Washington genuinely loved him, trusted him, and were willing to follow him anywhere, anytime. Even after their tours of duty had expired, so many stayed and fought, not just because they believed they believed in their cause – but even more – they believed in him – and God preserved him.
We have read stories of people throughout our history who have been given a special gift or ability to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks – It’s like it’s their destiny in life, their calling – and George Washington was one such man – he was destined to lead America to freedom.
According to written accounts, he had many close brushes with death even before the American Revolution. During one battle in the French and Indian War, he served as a field officer under General Braddock. As the battle raged, every other officer on horseback was shot down. But Washington, despite riding back and forth across the open battlefield, he was never even injured. And even Washington himself was amazed by this. In a letter to his brother, he wrote after the battle, “I had four bullet holes in my coat and two horses shot from under me. Although death was leveling my companions on every side, I escaped, unhurt”.
And just how did he account for his surviving? He said, “By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human capabilities”. He knew that he was being protected by Almighty God.
Want to be a powerful force in your own community, your own life? Then be a person who sets your own Rules of Civility, – and then live by them. Be a person who is not afraid to stand up for what is good and right and just. Finally, put all of your trust and hope in Almighty God? He wants to use you today? Right now.
