MOTIVATIONS FOR
SERVING THE LORD.
Apostle Paul had many temptations to quit from the ministry
of the Lord. But in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5, in the 21 verses, we
see a few facts that kept him going on in the ministry.
1: STEWARDSHIP OF HIS BODY: (vv: 1-8).
Paul reminded himself that his body is given to him by the
Lord. He realized that his duty is to use his body for serving the Lord alone.
Paul had many groans while in his body. He was not a healthy man. Opinions and
conclusions differ among Bible Scholars. Some say that he had fits of epilepsy,
some say that he had malarial attacks, some say that he had eye problem and yet
others say that he had a chronic stomach problem. Whatever the case, Paul
wanted to leave this body and be present with Christ.
But Paul opted to live in the world as long as god wanted
him to serve. He realized that his body is given to him by God to serve and
suffer for Christ and His Church. (Phil: 1:19-26). It is good for us to remind
ourselves of the fact that God has given us healthy bodies to employ it for
Gospel Travels, hunger, thirst, sacrifices, pain and sufferings for the sake of
Christ. It is good each morning to pause for a moment to thank God for giving
you a body, a healthy body while many are blind, deaf, dump and lame.
Like my dad who is now 90 years old longs to pack his box
and travel for the Lord, we all will come to stage when we are not able to do
for God what we desire to do. Therefore dear brethren, let us recognize the
fact that we are not the owners of our bodies, but we are just the managers,
the keepers, the stewards. Let us remind ourselves of the truth that we have to
give an account of what we have done with our bodies while in this world.
Whether we eat or drink or do anything, let it be for the glory of the Lord.
2: PLEASURE OF OUR GOD (VV: 8, 9).
In all what Paul did, he sought to please God. What is the
pleasure of our God? Salvation of souls!!
There is great joy in heaven when people are saved from hell fire to enter into
His kingdom. The thing that pleases our
God is soul winning. The Lord declared that He was well pleased when His Son,
Jesus Christ yielded to baptism in the river Jordan, signifying his readiness to
die on the cross for the salvation of souls.
Whatever we do, dear brother be for pulling precious souls
from the lake of fire. May you never
slow down? May you never quit? Go soul winning till the end of your life in
this world? Paul is one of our great examples.
3: REWARD AT HIS
COMING: (v: 10).
It is exciting beyond measure when we think of the Judgment
seat of Christ at the Rapture that we are going to be abundantly rewarded by
our Master for all the services we have done for Him. True, even when we are in this world God will
reward us for our faithful service. We will see harvests. We will see souls
saved. That is greater satisfaction than accumulating millions in the Bank,
which are perishable. When we see our
Jesus face to face, He will remember even a cup of water we have given out in
His name. Let us increase our treasure
in Heaven, dear servant of God.
4: TORMENTS OF HELL.
(V: 11)
Apostle Paul had always the heart breaking realization of
the eternal torment of sinners in the lake of fire, called hell. His heart did
always pump shouting to him, “pull them out, and stop them, save them”. Anybody who believes the reality of hell will
persevere to pull precious souls from that terrible and eternal agony of the
bottomless pit. Anyone who is convinced of the Biblical teaching on the eternal
darkness for sinners will keep preaching on Hell and judgment.
There are many liberals who do believe in literal hell. Such
people may keep preaching a social gospel or the love of Christ on the cross,
without mentioning the fact of hell in their declaration. Because of that
thousands are declared saved and big statistics appear in the news, of many
conversions. But they were never scared of hell and judgment. They never
repented of their sin. They do have an intellectual assent to the Gospel. But
they are not born again. Their lives are not changed. These are nominal
Christians that are on their way to hell. As preachers, dear brothers, let us
not increase the number of such counterfeit Christians. Let us keep preaching
on Judgment and Hell and then plead with them to escape to the cross of Calvary.
5: THE LOVE OF CHRIST (V: 14).
The love of Christ is the strongest factor that keeps us in
the mission fields. It is not our love for Christ, though we must have that
love to Him. But our love can be up and down, fluctuating all the time. But the
fact that compels us to go on serving, suffering and witnessing is the Love of
Christ towards us- His love that is manifested on the cross, His unfailing love,
His everlasting love. Nothing could stop Him from the cross because He loved us
before we were born, before man was created, before the world began, yes, from
eternity. He is the lamb that was slaughtered even before the foundation of the
world.
When we think of His low, how can we stop loving Him? How
can we stop serving Him? When ever you get discouraged, when ever you get
spiritually lukewarm , when ever you have a desire for comfort zones and
materialism, please think of Golgotha,
please meditate on the Cross m please visualize the crucifixion . Vision of the
Cross, that is it dear preacher friend.
6: THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST. V: 15 cf: Rom: 14:7-9.
The death of Christ demands that we should welcome Him as
the Lord in our hearts, in our lives, in our homes, in our Church, in our
community and in our Nation.
“Sanctify (set apart) God, as the Lord of our heart” 1 Pet:
3:15
“No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” 1
Cor: 12:3
Jehovah Witness people are not true Christians because they
do not accept Jesus as the Lord. That means they do not have the Holy Spirit
dwelling in them!!
“Do you love me more than these?” is the penetrating
question from Jesus to us. John: 21:15.
He Demands to be our Lord.
He deserves to be our Lord.
He desires to be our Lord.
Bible Declares His Lordship.
Jesus Demonstrated His Lordship.
7: THE TRANSFORMATION OF LIVES. V: 17
When Christ comes in, a metamorphosis takes place and
sinners are made saints. Infidels become God worshippers. Atheists become
theists. Cannibals are turned to be kind hearted people with love for others.
Head hunters become humanitarians. Drunkards, Murderers, Robbers and Criminals
are changed into a new creation in Christ. They become Children of God. This is
because of the dynamic power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is more powerful
than any law or power on earth. Rom: 1:16. It is exciting to preach this Gospel
to the ends of the earth. Children of this world become children of God.
Children of Satan become Children of God. Children of Hell become children of
Heaven.
8: OUR COMMISSION FROM GOD: vv: 18-21.
We are appointed by God as Ambassadors. This is the highest
vocation because this commission is from God. The ministry is great because the
message we have is the message of reconciliation. Reconciliation between God
and Man and also peace between men. Because of sin and rebellion man has become
the enemy of God. As a result we got the curse from God. So the whole world is
in sin, pain, curse and death. The whole world is at war with God and also
between men. Gospel of Christ is the only solution. That alone brings peace on
earth.
These are sufficient reasons for me to be the Herald of the
Gospel. This is the best commodity I can distribute to the world. This Gospel
is incomparable. These facts motivate me
to continue witnessing and soul winning. These facts persuade me to be a Church
Planter and face all sufferings, ridicule, reproach and death. I thank my God
for calling me to this glorious ministry, as an Evangelist.
Source:
Evangelist C.V. John
