If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it 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. 1Peter 4:11 (NIV)
In Part I of this series on Serving, we learned that it is the Lord that we serve first and foremost. In Part II we learned that we serve Him, and those in our lives because of love. We learned that we have been given a great example of how we are to do this, and that example is Jesus Christ. His life gave testimony of what it means to consider others better than yourself, and to serve them, while denying yourself. And in Part III we learned How, we should serve others with a happy heart and a sincere attitude.
In Part IV, we will take a look at where. In this case, the question is where do we get our strength to serve.
The scripture above in 1 Peter, gives us valuable insight into how we are to serve others. It states that we are to serve with the strength that God provides. This is where, unfortunately, many times Christians make the mistake of attempting to do things within their own power, and with their limited abilities and resources. rather than applying the F.R.O.G. principle, which means to Fully Rely on God.
Q: Why should we serve with Gods Strength, and not our own?
Q: Because we will eventually fail when we rely on our own abilities, resources and strengths.
We will only go so far until:
"Fatigue sets in
"We get stressed out
"We get physically sick
"Someone doesnt respect or appreciate what we are doing
"We dont get the glory we think we deserve
"We dont get the praise that we want
"We become overwhelmed
"We get bent out of shape
"We become mad at others
"We quit serving
God knew that we would not be able to consistently serve others in the way He intended with our limited abilities, so He gave us a helper, which is the Holy Spirit.
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you foreverthe Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 (NIV)
We are told in Philippians 4:19 that God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches. This means that He will give us whatever we need for each situation that He has called us to serve in. You might not consider yourself a natural speaker, but God will take your limited abilities in this area and He will increase them to greater levels to accomplish His will. And let me just say, that it is this divine empowering of these unique individual gifts that we have all been given in one form or another that testifies of His greatness.
You see, God uses us ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. We just need to be willing to serve Him and then to allow Him to use the power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish these things. If youre a Christian, youve been called to serve. And you can be confident that you will be given a great and mighty power to accomplish all that you have been led to do.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8 (NIV)
I want to encourage you to never doubt your ability to be used in a mighty way in Gods great ministry. Its not about what you have to offer God, its about God revealing to the world that it is by His might, and His strength that these things are done. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong (see I Cor. 1:27).
STUDY QUESTION: According to 1 Peter 4:11, where should we get the strength to serve?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you found that you have attempted to serve others, only to get burned out, or frustrated?
APPLICATION: Seek God in prayer when considering serving. If you feel that God has provided an opportunity to serve others, then ask Him to empower you to serve in a way that brings glory to His name.
In Part I of this series on Serving, we learned that it is the Lord that we serve first and foremost. In Part II we learned that we serve Him, and those in our lives because of love. We learned that we have been given a great example of how we are to do this, and that example is Jesus Christ. His life gave testimony of what it means to consider others better than yourself, and to serve them, while denying yourself. And in Part III we learned How, we should serve others with a happy heart and a sincere attitude.
In Part IV, we will take a look at where. In this case, the question is where do we get our strength to serve.
The scripture above in 1 Peter, gives us valuable insight into how we are to serve others. It states that we are to serve with the strength that God provides. This is where, unfortunately, many times Christians make the mistake of attempting to do things within their own power, and with their limited abilities and resources. rather than applying the F.R.O.G. principle, which means to Fully Rely on God.
Q: Why should we serve with Gods Strength, and not our own?
Q: Because we will eventually fail when we rely on our own abilities, resources and strengths.
We will only go so far until:
"Fatigue sets in
"We get stressed out
"We get physically sick
"Someone doesnt respect or appreciate what we are doing
"We dont get the glory we think we deserve
"We dont get the praise that we want
"We become overwhelmed
"We get bent out of shape
"We become mad at others
"We quit serving
God knew that we would not be able to consistently serve others in the way He intended with our limited abilities, so He gave us a helper, which is the Holy Spirit.
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you foreverthe Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 (NIV)
We are told in Philippians 4:19 that God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches. This means that He will give us whatever we need for each situation that He has called us to serve in. You might not consider yourself a natural speaker, but God will take your limited abilities in this area and He will increase them to greater levels to accomplish His will. And let me just say, that it is this divine empowering of these unique individual gifts that we have all been given in one form or another that testifies of His greatness.
You see, God uses us ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. We just need to be willing to serve Him and then to allow Him to use the power of His Holy Spirit to accomplish these things. If youre a Christian, youve been called to serve. And you can be confident that you will be given a great and mighty power to accomplish all that you have been led to do.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8 (NIV)
I want to encourage you to never doubt your ability to be used in a mighty way in Gods great ministry. Its not about what you have to offer God, its about God revealing to the world that it is by His might, and His strength that these things are done. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong (see I Cor. 1:27).
STUDY QUESTION: According to 1 Peter 4:11, where should we get the strength to serve?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you found that you have attempted to serve others, only to get burned out, or frustrated?
APPLICATION: Seek God in prayer when considering serving. If you feel that God has provided an opportunity to serve others, then ask Him to empower you to serve in a way that brings glory to His name.
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