The Word of God Spread

 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

— Acts 6:7

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Years ago, when I first stepped into ministry, my pastor and mentor at the time said to me, "Build your team and you'll build your ministry." I've held onto that wisdom ever since. That's what the apostles were doing then they selected seven men full of the Spirit and wisdom. People who were being overlooked were now being ministered to. Ministry to neglected people flourished without any decline in the ministry of the Word and prayer. The result was the Word of God spread, the number of disciples increased rapidly, and a large number of priests—the religious elite who thought they had God figured out—they became obedient to the faith.

Lord, I humbly ask for your wisdom and direction to see those who are full of the Spirit and wisdom and just waiting to be asked, to be invited into something they were created for. I pray that as people are identified, called, equipped, and sent into effective ministry, we would see the Word of God spread. I pray that as gifted, passionate men and women whose own story shows where they will have the greatest impact, are released into ministry assignment you created for them before the foundation of the world, they would see fruit, and their fruit would remain. 

Gracious Lord, today may I see clearly the needs around me and within our community. May I be empowered by Your Spirit to identify those who are called to meet those needs, to help them discern their calling, and step into their ministry assignment so the Word of God spreads and the number of disciples in our community increases rapidly.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." — 1 Peter 2:21-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly. Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his o...
Read more

Suffering

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, We glory in our sufferings. The word Paul uses here means to "glory in a thing", "to boast", "to rejoice." He's contrasting his previous thought that we boast or rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in our hope of God and  we rejoice in our sufferings. The picture forming in my mind is lifting hands, shouting with joy, as I rejoice in God and then doing the same thing in the midst of my suffering. Yeah. I don't do that. I don't rejoice when suffering comes. I do the opposite. I complain. I sulk. I moan. I am irritated. I am angry. I am resentful. But do I rejoice? No. Yet this is the very thing Paul says we are to do. And it's because of the incredible fruitfulness our suffering brings. Suffering produces perseverance....
Read more

Faithful Stewards

 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." — 1 Peter 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the second time Peter instructs believers to love one another deeply, fervently. Our love for one another overlooks small offenses. Without our deep and fervent love, every little irritation becomes a grievance. It should not be that way in the body of Christ. Because this early church met in homes, hospitality was necessary. To be hospitable means welcoming people into your home, but ...
Read more