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| An Excerpt... |
“Serve Me more.”
A few years ago, I was disquieted in my spirit. Things were
going well enough, yet I could not escape this nagging
feeling that something was missing. I had accepted Jesus
into my life as Savior and Lord years earlier, and had spent
the subsequent years diligently pursuing Him. At the time,
I was busy in the church teaching Sunday School, leading
Bible Study and singing in the choir. My wife and I were
also dedicated to our weekly devotional sessions with one
another and with our children. In addition, each month my
wife and I published and distributed a free Christian
newsletter to encourage and inspire the saints of God.
Given this, I truly believed that I was doing what the Lord
would have me to do. Yet, something was not quite right.
After seeking the wisdom of God and asking for His help,
the Lord spoke to me early one morning and told me exactly
what I needed to do to overcome my problem. His answer,
however, was not what I expected or wanted to hear. In His
still, small voice, the Lord revealed His wisdom and said
simply, “Serve Me more.” These three words threw me for a
loop.
Serve You more? But Lord, I’m already doing all that I can. I’m
busy both in the church and outside the church, doing whatever I can
to be a blessing to the body of Christ. I’m sure I could be doing more
… but Lord, are You sure that is the answer to my problem? Serve
You more? Are You sure Lord?
I stayed in this mode for a couple of days. I simply could not
believe that doing more was the cure for my troubled spirit.
It just had to be something else, I thought. At that time, I
believed I needed to receive, and here God was telling me to
give? After a couple of days of contending with God, I finally
came into obedience and made a quality decision to do in
faith what the Lord had instructed me to do. After all, I had
never known the Lord to be wrong about anything.
Within days, the Lord began to show me how I could do
more to serve Him. He presented me with new ideas; He
made me more sensitive to the needs of others and placed
within me a desire to meet those needs; He gave me a true
spirit of praise and taught me the importance of ministering
unto Him before ministering unto His people. As I
purposed to avail myself more to the service of the Lord, an
amazing thing happened: that nagging discomfort in my
spirit lifted, and I had a joy and peace that I had never
experienced before.
The Lord had taught me a valuable lesson: ministry brings
the blessing. And it brings it in abundance. Over the years,
my wife, Evelyn, and I have put this powerful principle to
work in our lives. We have come to learn that when one of
us gets a little down, the best thing to do is to begin doing
something for somebody else. It’s not always easy, but
when we get past ourselves and step in to meet someone else’
s need, the Lord always steps in and meets ours. Always.
After the Father gave us this personal tutorial in this
valuable lesson, the Holy Spirit led me deeper into this truth
through the Word of God. In Jesus’ miraculous feeding of
the 5,000 this unshakable principle is vividly brought to life.
This story is so important that it is the only miracle recorded
in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:
10-17; and John 6:1-13). Each writer gives his own unique
account of this amazing story, adding unique textures and
layers to the life-changing principles that are revealed in the
Scripture text. As you study this familiar story, you will
clearly see that serving others is the key to experiencing
prosperity and abundance in your own life.
In this miraculous story, God reveals seven powerful
principles relating to ministry. Before examining these
principles in detail, however, we will first consider God’s
perspective on ministry and meeting the needs of others; a
perspective that is clearly revealed in His written word. In
all, you will come away with eight life-changing principles
that will both establish you and guide you on your
rewarding journey as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, chances are you may have never thought of yourself
as a minister of God, but if you are a born-again believer,
that’s exactly what you are. As you read this book, get
ready to discover just how you can fulfill the important call
on your life to serve others.
Although this book focuses primarily on Matthew’s account
of the miraculous feeding, interwoven throughout are
accounts from Mark, Luke and John that prayerfully will
add depth to your study and understanding of this
wonderful text. Various translations in addition to the King
James Version are also referenced along the way to provide
deeper insight into the Lord’s call to ministry. I pray that
you will be blessed by the presentation of this fabulous
story, and the revelation that God has blessed me to share
with you. I also pray that you will share your spiritual
insight with your family, friends and others. Most of all, I
pray that you will put the principles contained in this
powerful teaching to work in your own life, that you may
share firsthand in the awesome discovery of just how
wonderfully blessed your life can be when you minister unto
others.
A few years ago, I was disquieted in my spirit. Things were
going well enough, yet I could not escape this nagging
feeling that something was missing. I had accepted Jesus
into my life as Savior and Lord years earlier, and had spent
the subsequent years diligently pursuing Him. At the time,
I was busy in the church teaching Sunday School, leading
Bible Study and singing in the choir. My wife and I were
also dedicated to our weekly devotional sessions with one
another and with our children. In addition, each month my
wife and I published and distributed a free Christian
newsletter to encourage and inspire the saints of God.
Given this, I truly believed that I was doing what the Lord
would have me to do. Yet, something was not quite right.
After seeking the wisdom of God and asking for His help,
the Lord spoke to me early one morning and told me exactly
what I needed to do to overcome my problem. His answer,
however, was not what I expected or wanted to hear. In His
still, small voice, the Lord revealed His wisdom and said
simply, “Serve Me more.” These three words threw me for a
loop.
Serve You more? But Lord, I’m already doing all that I can. I’m
busy both in the church and outside the church, doing whatever I can
to be a blessing to the body of Christ. I’m sure I could be doing more
… but Lord, are You sure that is the answer to my problem? Serve
You more? Are You sure Lord?
I stayed in this mode for a couple of days. I simply could not
believe that doing more was the cure for my troubled spirit.
It just had to be something else, I thought. At that time, I
believed I needed to receive, and here God was telling me to
give? After a couple of days of contending with God, I finally
came into obedience and made a quality decision to do in
faith what the Lord had instructed me to do. After all, I had
never known the Lord to be wrong about anything.
Within days, the Lord began to show me how I could do
more to serve Him. He presented me with new ideas; He
made me more sensitive to the needs of others and placed
within me a desire to meet those needs; He gave me a true
spirit of praise and taught me the importance of ministering
unto Him before ministering unto His people. As I
purposed to avail myself more to the service of the Lord, an
amazing thing happened: that nagging discomfort in my
spirit lifted, and I had a joy and peace that I had never
experienced before.
The Lord had taught me a valuable lesson: ministry brings
the blessing. And it brings it in abundance. Over the years,
my wife, Evelyn, and I have put this powerful principle to
work in our lives. We have come to learn that when one of
us gets a little down, the best thing to do is to begin doing
something for somebody else. It’s not always easy, but
when we get past ourselves and step in to meet someone else’
s need, the Lord always steps in and meets ours. Always.
After the Father gave us this personal tutorial in this
valuable lesson, the Holy Spirit led me deeper into this truth
through the Word of God. In Jesus’ miraculous feeding of
the 5,000 this unshakable principle is vividly brought to life.
This story is so important that it is the only miracle recorded
in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:
10-17; and John 6:1-13). Each writer gives his own unique
account of this amazing story, adding unique textures and
layers to the life-changing principles that are revealed in the
Scripture text. As you study this familiar story, you will
clearly see that serving others is the key to experiencing
prosperity and abundance in your own life.
In this miraculous story, God reveals seven powerful
principles relating to ministry. Before examining these
principles in detail, however, we will first consider God’s
perspective on ministry and meeting the needs of others; a
perspective that is clearly revealed in His written word. In
all, you will come away with eight life-changing principles
that will both establish you and guide you on your
rewarding journey as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, chances are you may have never thought of yourself
as a minister of God, but if you are a born-again believer,
that’s exactly what you are. As you read this book, get
ready to discover just how you can fulfill the important call
on your life to serve others.
Although this book focuses primarily on Matthew’s account
of the miraculous feeding, interwoven throughout are
accounts from Mark, Luke and John that prayerfully will
add depth to your study and understanding of this
wonderful text. Various translations in addition to the King
James Version are also referenced along the way to provide
deeper insight into the Lord’s call to ministry. I pray that
you will be blessed by the presentation of this fabulous
story, and the revelation that God has blessed me to share
with you. I also pray that you will share your spiritual
insight with your family, friends and others. Most of all, I
pray that you will put the principles contained in this
powerful teaching to work in your own life, that you may
share firsthand in the awesome discovery of just how
wonderfully blessed your life can be when you minister unto
others.
