Faithfulness and Ministry in Paul's Epistles
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the Pauline Epistles, letters written by the Apostle Paul, and their significance in the New Testament. I began by providing a background on Paul, explaining his Hebrew name Saul, his upbringing under the leading Rabbi Gamaliel, and his zealous persecution of Christians before his conversion. I then delved into the content of the Epistles, highlighting key verses and their implications for our faith. I emphasized the importance of faithfulness, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, and the significance of fulfilling the ministry we have received from the Lord, as stated in Colossians 4:17. I also touched on the importance of not growing weary in doing good, as Galatians 6:9 encourages us, and the assurance that the good work God began in us will continue until completion, as promised in Philippians 1:6.
In the second part of the sermon, I discussed the importance of prayer language, encouraging those who have not yet received it to seek it out. I also explored the concept of timing in God's plan, emphasizing that God's blessings will come at the right time if we do not give up. I concluded the sermon by reading from the book of Philemon, one of Paul's prison epistles, and encouraging the congregation to read these powerful letters for themselves.
Key Takeaways:
- God, who calls us to serve Him, is faithful and will fulfill His promises (1 Thessalonians 5:24) ([01:01:22
- We each have a ministry to fulfill that we have received from the Lord (Colossians 4:17) ([59:55
- We should not grow weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings (Galatians 6:9) ([52:41
- The good work God began in us will continue until completion (Philippians 1:6) ([58:37
- The importance of prayer language in our spiritual journey ([51:56
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 [50:46
2. Galatians 6:9 [52:41
3. Romans (general reference) [48:42
Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says he prays in tongues more than the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 14:18-19?
2. In Galatians 6:9, what does Paul mean by "reaping a harvest of blessing"?
3. What are some key themes or teachings in the book of Romans?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's practice of praying in tongues relate to his relationship with God according to 1 Corinthians 14:18-19?
2. What does Galatians 6:9 suggest about the timing and nature of God's blessings?
3. How do the teachings in Romans reflect the core beliefs of Christianity?
Application Questions:
1. How can you incorporate the practice of praying in tongues, as Paul did, into your own prayer life?
2. Can you think of a time when you felt tired of doing good? How does Galatians 6:9 speak to that experience?
3. What is one teaching from the book of Romans that you can apply to your life this week?
4. How can you demonstrate patience and perseverance in your faith journey, as suggested by Galatians 6:9?
5. How can you deepen your understanding of the teachings in Romans and apply them to your daily life?
Devotional
Day 1: The Gift of Prayer Language
The gift of prayer language is a divine endowment that God desires for us to have. It is a spiritual tool that enhances our communication with God and strengthens our spiritual life. This gift is not exclusive to a select few, but available to all who seek it earnestly. [51:56
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 14:2 - "For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you actively seek and utilize the gift of prayer language in your spiritual journey?
Day 2: The Right Time for Blessings
God's timing is perfect and He blesses us at the right time. We may feel weary and think that our prayers are not being answered, but God is working behind the scenes. We must not give up, but hold on to our faith, knowing that our harvest of blessings will come at the right time. [53:24
Bible passage: Habakkuk 2:3 - "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."
Reflection: How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's perfect timing in your life?
Day 3: The Continuation of God's Work
God's work in us is continuous and will be completed on the day when Jesus Christ comes again. We must not lose hope or feel forgotten, but remain confident in God's promise to complete the good work He started in us. [58:37
Bible passage: Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's ongoing work in your life?
Day 4: Fulfilling Our Ministry
Each of us has received a ministry from the Lord. We have been given gifts and assignments that we are called to fulfill. We must recognize and embrace our unique ministry, and strive to fulfill it to the best of our ability. [01:00:34
Bible passage: 1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What is the ministry that God has given you and how can you fulfill it?
Day 5: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
As Christians, we are called to forgive those who have wronged us. This is not always easy, but it is a crucial part of our spiritual growth and maturity. We must strive to forgive and reconcile, just as God has forgiven us. [01:12:21
Bible passage: Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Reflection: How can you practice forgiveness and reconciliation in your relationships?
Quotes
1. "I do this more than any of you and so I want to encourage you just last week or or week two weeks ago maybe we baptized a young lady who received her prayer language while she was still in the baptistry. I love that and I would love to see any and all of you in fact my recommendation would be if you don't have a prayer language yet when we close all of our services with an opportunity for people to receive Ministry." - 51:01
2. "Let's not get tired of doing what's good at just the right time there's the part that you need to hear because you've been thinking it wasn't going to work for you. You've been thinking God doesn't answer my prayers. You've been thinking there must be something wrong with me. No, there's something wrong with the time and he said at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." - 51:01
3. "He who calls you is faithful, yes who also will do it. What he's calling you to do, he's going to fulfill. Amen. And you saw in the announcement video today about life University, I want to tell you I hadn't even thought about it at all in that context but the class that I'm teaching this starting not this Tuesday but the following Tuesday is the names of God." - 01:00:51
4. "It's serious business when you twist scripture out of context. You try to make it say what you want it to say. Hello, and he says when that happens you will be destroyed. You'll it'll result in your destruction. Doesn't matter how intelligent people are, doesn't matter how well educated people are, there are folks even today who twist the word of God to try and make it say what they want." - 41:29
5. "I thank you that we're learning from the apostles letters and specifically this one letter to phiman that you want us to have a changed life that you want to do a work in us that goes beyond just worship on Sunday morning but affects how we live Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday and Sunday." - 01:11:12
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