But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Today we are going to continue looking at what Paul wrote about his ministry to the church in Thessalonica. Paul was greatly moved by his love for this particular church. He was highly motivated to give of himself and to do whatever was necessary to impart to them the truths they needed to put down their spiritual roots and to grow and develop in Christ.

To do all that, Paul had to very quickly develop a genuine relationship with those church members. Paul actively sought out a relationship with these believers in the short time that he was with them — and that relationship was marked by certain characteristics, which we will look at in depth today.

Paul felt privileged to be called into the ministry and to reach the Gentiles for Christ (see 1 Timothy 1:12), but he also felt a great responsibility toward his calling and toward those to whom God had called him to disciple and minister. Paul’s role was one of a spiritual father, and he took that role and responsibility very seriously.

In regard to this role, he wrote, “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (see 1 Thessalonians 2:7). Notice Paul’s gentle approach with these people. He wasn’t harsh or demanding — rather, he nurtured these church members as a mother would nurse her child.

The word “nurse” is from the Greek word trophos, which literally means a wet nurse. In ancient Greece and in other cultures around the world, a wet nurse was not the mother of a child — rather, she was a woman called in to nurse a baby for its mother. By using this term “wet nurse,” Paul was defining his relationship with the believers at Thessalonica.

In essence, Paul was saying, “Some of you came to know the Lord through my ministry, and I have nursed you as my own children. Some of you were won to the Lord by others — they have entrusted you into my care, and I’ve nursed you as though you were my own. Regardless of whether you came to the Lord through my ministry or someone else’s, you were all young in the Lord, and I treated you as though you were my children.”

As a mother cherishes her children, Paul cherished the believers in Thessalonica. The word “cherisheth” is from the Greek word thalpo, which means to warm, hold, cuddle, be tender toward, and nourish. It carries the idea of holding an infant in one’s arms and taking care of it — rocking it, helping it fall asleep, feeding it, and teaching it how to eat.

When a mother “cherishes” her child, she cradles that small child in her arms, feeds him, and makes him feel safe. By using this natural comparison, Paul was describing his attitude toward the church. He cared for them like spiritual infants that God had placed in his arms.

What tenderness we see here in the apostle Paul’s attitude toward these young believers! Paul didn’t see this church as just another new thing he was doing. Instead, he saw it as a new “baby” God had dropped into his life. Because Paul loved the Thessalonian church with his whole heart, he treated it tenderly, just as a mother would treat a brand-new baby. His responsibility was to nurse it, or feed it, and treat it with tremendous care.

We need to ask ourselves: How do we care for the new believers that God has brought across our path? Do we treat them with tenderness, as Paul treated the Thessalonians? I believe that today the Holy Spirit is imploring us to think carefully about this question and to do all we can to help them get established firmly in the faith until they become strong. That’s the heart of the Father, and we are called to demonstrate His heart through our lives. What an honor!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I want to be sensitive to the needs of new and younger believers. Help me to pay special attention to those who are new. Even if I didn’t personally win them to Christ, help me to do whatever I can do to help them get on a strong path toward maturity if I see they are young, tender, and needy. Help me not to be self-absorbed with my personal interests but to put aside my own desires and respond to the needs of younger believers as a priority. Oh, Holy Spirit, help me to understand the great honor and privilege it is to minister to anyone, and especially to those who are young and new.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess by faith that I am sensitive to the needs of new and young believers. I do not see it as a burden to minister to them. I am thankful for those who ministered to me, and I count it a great privilege and responsibility to return this blessing by ministering to others who are young and new in the faith. I declare that the love of God in my heart is growing and multiplying and my concern for others is increasing. None of this is possible without the work of the Holy Spirit. So, Holy Spirit, I thank You for helping me grow in this area of my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Is there a new or young believer whom God has recently brought across your path? What are you doing to help him or her get established in the faith?
  2. When you were young in the Lord, who was the person who really paid attention to helping you get established in your faith? Have you ever taken time to personally thank that person for what they did for you?
  3. Can you think of a Bible character who helped someone else get established in the faith? Who is that person?

What Triggers a Demonic Attack?

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things….
— 2 Timothy 1:11,12

What triggers demonic attacks against you, your dream, your vision, your calling, your business, your family, your church, or your ministry? What makes the devil so upset that he rises up to resist you and your efforts? If God chose you, why are you experiencing so many hassles and difficulties along the way to your goal of fulfilling all He has called you to do?

In Second Timothy 1:11 and 12, Paul gives us incredible insight into what triggers a demonic attack. He says, “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things….” In this verse, Paul writes about his specific calling in the Body of Christ. He affirms to us that he is called and appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. Then notice that he immediately follows by saying, “For the which cause I also suffer these things…” (2 Timothy 1:12).

The word “suffer” is the Greek word pascho, and first and foremost it means to suffer as a result of outside forces or outside circumstances. It could include physical suffering due to persecution; mental suffering due to outside pressures; financial suffering due to monetary hardships; or any inconvenience that stems from something outside of oneself or outside of one’s control. Thus, the word pascho would depict any suffering or inconvenience due to forces beyond oneself.

When Paul wrote this verse, he used a tense in the Greek that lets us know he was experiencing these inconveniences at the very moment he was writing this epistle. At that time, Paul was in Rome, sitting in a prison cell, awaiting his own execution, and being accused of crimes that he had not committed. Because Satan couldn’t find a way to personally destroy Paul, the enemy was manipulating outside forces against Paul and his ministry. The apostle’s situation had been created by outside pressures that had nothing to do with himself but that the devil had orchestrated to use against him.

Satan was terrified of Paul’s calling! The reason Paul was recurrently attacked is that the devil was fearful of the enormous progress Paul would make if he didn’t face opposition. Paul let us know that his anointing, his calling, and his potential were the factors that triggered these demonic attacks. It’s almost as though Paul was saying, “Do you want to know why I’ve suffered so many crazy things during the course of my ministry? Because I am appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

You see, Satan was scared stiff of what would happen if Paul operated 100 percent in his call. How much would he be able to accomplish if he had no resistance? If Paul was able to do the incredible things he did for God’s Kingdom in the face of such opposition, what kind of Gospel advancements would he make if there was no opposition? This thought was so chilling to the devil that he threw every possible obstacle in Paul’s path to slow him down, to discredit him, to destroy his friendships, and, if possible, to even kill him. Satan hated the call on Paul’s life.

The reason Paul was never defeated by these attacks is that he had made a decision. He decided he would not stop or give up until he had apprehended that for which Christ Jesus had apprehended him (Philippians 3:12). Likewise, the only way you’ll be able to resist the devil’s attacks and successfully achieve all God has called you to do is by determining never to stop until you have accomplished your divine assignment. Jesus taught that those who “endure to the end” are the ones who will receive the prize (Matthew 24:13).

If you want to overcome all the attacks the devil tries to wage against you through outside forces, you will have to be determined to outlast every attack! Determination is a key factor in finishing one’s race of faith.

Of course, no one can successfully resist the devil’s attacks without the power of the Holy Spirit, but neither is the power of the Holy Spirit enough by itself. For that power to be effective, it must work in a committed person. God’s power works in people who have resolve. It works proficiently through people who have decided they will never turn back until the assignment is finished. God delights in using people who are steadfast and unmoving in their conviction, tenacious and diehard in their commitment. He takes pleasure in those who have stamina, spunk, and a dogged determination to hold on to the vision He put in their hearts.

The most common reason people don’t make it all the way to the end is that they weren’t totally committed to completing the task assigned to them. Maybe they tried it or gave it a shot, but their commitment wasn’t strong enough, and that’s why they didn’t make it.

There are many things Satan can do to try to elbow us out of the race, but the only one who can decide to quit is you or me. Satan can’t make us quit. That choice lies in our hands alone.

If you make the decision to stay in faith and “slug it out” with the power of God at your side, you can do exactly what God called you to do. But you must begin with a rock-solid, hard-core decision to do it, do it, and keep doing it until it’s done. Make any lesser choice, and you will never fulfill your God-given purpose.

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me stay focused on my calling and remain determined to do what You’ve told me to do, even if I am assaulted by outside forces that seem to be beyond my control. I know the devil hopes to slow me down or even to stop me by orchestrating outside pressures to come against me. But I also know that Your Spirit works mightily in me, giving me all the power I need to resist every assault the devil tries to bring against me. Help me to be completely determined and committed to keep pushing ahead and to never let go until I’ve accomplished my God-given mission!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I boldly confess that I will not stop or give up until I have apprehended that for which Christ Jesus apprehended me! I will resist the devil’s attacks and successfully achieve all God has called me to do, for I have determined that I will never stop until I have finished the task. I have the stamina, spunk, and doggedness it takes to get the job done. I have made the decision to stay in faith and slug it out with the power of God at my side. I can and will do exactly what God called me to do!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What are the outside forces that Satan has tried to use to hinder you? Has it been your health, your job, your children, your family, your finances? What is the one thing Satan seems to use repeatedly as he tries to resist you?

2. When you are aware that the devil is trying to use events, circumstances, or people to slow you down or to distract you from your calling, how do you respond to these attacks? What steps do you take to overcome them and to stay on track?

3. Do you seek the strength and counsel of other believers when these attacks occur, or do you usually slug it out silently on your own? Judging by the outcome when you go through these difficult times alone, do you think you need to seek the strength and counsel of others more often?

Look at What You’ve Been Given In Jesus Christ!

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
— John 1:12

You have been given so much in Jesus Christ! You have no legitimate reason for failing to be an awesome success in life, because you have so much going for you! In fact, you have much more going for you than you could possibly imagine. Today let me encourage you with just a few of the things you’ve been given in Jesus Christ!

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” This verse reveals that you received divine power the day you became a child of God. The word “power” is the Greek word exousia. It describes delegated authority or influence. The day you chose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior is the day He delegated to you the power and authority to become a child of God. Think of it — at that moment of decision, all the power, authority, and divine influence that is resident within the mighty name of Jesus Christ came to live on the inside of you!

So rather than complain that you’re weak and nothing special, it’s time to start laying claim to what is stored up inside you! The same explosive, dynamic, phenomenal authority and power that resides within Jesus has now been delegated to reside in you!

As if that wasn’t already enough, Second Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This verse says you’re a brand-new creature if you are in Christ Jesus. The word “new” is from the Greek word kainos, and it describes something that is brand new or recently made. It also carries the idea of something that is superior. This means when Jesus Christ came into your life, you were made brand, spanking new! The new you is superior to the old you! In fact, you are so new that this verse calls you a new “creature.”

The word “creature” is the Greek word ktisis. It is the same word used to describe the creation of the world. When God created the universe, He used no existing materials or old elements to make it. Everything in creation was newly made. Now that same word is used to describe what happened to you the day you got saved. Everything about you is new! You’re not an amended, corrected, improved version of what you used to be. You are an absolutely brand-new creation! You are completely detached from the person you once were before Christ.

Psalm 103:12 tells you how far your old ways have been removed from you: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” When Jesus Christ came into your life, He created you to be free from the past, free from the negative effects of your family, and liberated from all former hang-ups — in short, a brand-new creature!

So stop laying claim to your family’s genetic problems, inheritable sicknesses, dysfunctional behavior, disorders, hang-ups, curses, or any other negative thing that was a part of your life before Christ. That old person no longer exists. He is dead. You are brand new.

But wait — there’s so much more that you’ve been given in Jesus Christ! For instance, Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The first part of this verse says that you and I are God’s “workmanship.” This comes from the Greek word poiema. The word poiema carries the idea of something that is artfully created. The Greek word for a poet, poietes, comes from this same word. In reference to a poet, this Greek word would denote one who has the extraordinary ability to write or create a literary masterpiece.

Because Paul uses the word poiema to explain what happened when you became a child of God, it emphatically means that on the day you got saved, God put forth His most powerful and creative effort to make you new. Once God was finished making you new, you became a masterpiece, skillfully and artfully created in Christ Jesus. There’s nothing cheap about you at all! God’s creative, artistic, intelligent genius went into your making.

Look how much you’ve been given in Jesus Christ! Don’t you think it’s time to stop moaning about how dumb, stupid, ugly, or untalented you “feel” compared to others? Those “feelings” are all lies. Some of that may have been true before you were born again, but none of it is true of you now that you are in Christ. God turned you into something spectacular. That’s who you are now! So lay claim to your new identity. Adjust your thinking and talking to reflect who you really are!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, forgive me for being so negative and for talking so badly about myself after You have given me so much! I have no excuse for accepting defeat or low self-esteem as a way of life, because You have made me totally new! Help me renew my mind to the truth about who You have made me to be, and help me guard the words of my mouth so that instead of speaking evil of myself, I affirm the truth about who I am in Christ.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that the day I was born again, I received the dynamic, explosive power of God into my life. That power removed my old nature and made me a brand-new creature! Nothing from the old me continues to exist, for I am completely brand new. When God made me, He put forth His finest creative powers, and I now live on this earth as a masterpiece of His grace. God has made me into something quite spectacular!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. In what ways did you notice that you immediately changed after you invited Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life?

2. Do you regularly meditate on who you now are in Jesus Christ, or do you still look at yourself through the eyes of the person you used to be? Do you affirm what Jesus has done in you, or do you “nit-pick” yourself to pieces?

3. How long has it been since you regularly confessed scriptures about your new nature? It’s always healthy to speak the truth to yourself, so why don’t you make the decision that for the next couple of weeks, you are going to confess the truth about who you are in Jesus Christ every morning before your day gets started?

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

What was the apostle Paul’s top priority in life and in ministry? It was to love God and to please Him first. Paul loved people, but his first responsibility was toward the Lord — to love, to obey, and to do that which was pleasing to Him.

We’ve looked at the importance of having the right motives in ministry, and I discussed at length what Paul’s motives for ministry were not. Paul wasn’t motivated by an insatiable desire to get richer and richer and richer. Neither was he motivated by a desire to be popular with people and to receive the accolades of men. The desire for riches and the praise and adulation of others didn’t move Paul or influence his behavior and actions. The apostle Paul simply wasn’t interested in fame or glory.

So what did Paul want? He wanted to please God.

An inordinate desire for money and fame is a snare that has enslaved many God-called ministers of the Gospel who allowed themselves to be sidetracked and their faith shipwrecked because they became errant in their hearts concerning their motives for ministry. But Paul labored to keep his heart’s motives pure and his relationship with God as his highest priority.

It’s very important that we establish our priorities as believers — and especially as ministers of the Gospel — because anyone can say he’s putting God first and claim to have the right motives in ministry. But not everyone can actually make this claim before God, as Paul did, with God as his witness.

In First Thessalonians 2:4,5,10, Paul wrote, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness…. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.”

Notice in these verses that Paul makes the following statements:

What was Paul saying? He was saying, “You know it — and God knows it. You are all our witnesses that we behaved ourselves as holy, just, and blameless among you.”

Let’s look again at the phrase “…God is witness” in verse 5. That word “witness” is translated from the Greek word martus, which was the very word you would use to describe a witness on the witness stand in a court of law.

What do we know about a witness who is sworn in by an officer of the court to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”? By an oath the witness makes before God, that person must tell the truth! So Paul was saying, in effect, “You know that this is true. If you could put even God on a witness stand and ‘swear Him in,’ He would say the exact same thing about my motives in ministry.”

That’s what Paul said in verse 5. Then in verse 6, he also made it clear that he wasn’t in the ministry for fame or glory — or for the praise and adulation of men.

Paul was no doubt answering allegations against him as a minister of the Gospel. You need to know that there will be times when your own motives will be questioned as well.

Each one of us must examine our hearts so thoroughly that we can answer boldly and confidently, as Paul did, and lay every allegation to rest with the truth. Paul didn’t defend his ministry with words that he only wished were true. Instead, he defended his life and ministry before God and man — as if both were witnesses on a witness stand, sworn in to tell the full, complete truth about Paul’s motives and desires concerning ministry and those he ministered to.

If God were to take the witness stand to testify about you, what would He say? What would be the witness of God about you? It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? But you can determine today that you are going to do all you possibly can each day of your life to keep your heart pure.

As I reach the end of this Sparkling Gem today, I feel compelled to examine my own heart to make sure my motivations are God-pleasing and that I am truly people-loving. Why don’t you join me in making a self-evaluation of these crucial issues of the heart?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I want my heart to be aligned with Your heart so I can confidently lay to rest any allegation against the truth. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me evaluate myself to see where I stand on these issues of motivations and priorities that are so vitally important to You and to Your Church. I want my heart to be clear and clean about how I see and treat people. If there are areas where I need to change, I ask You to reveal them to me. Help me as I step forward to make things the way they ought to be.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess and acknowledge that God not only observes what I say and do, but also He takes note of the intent and motivations of my heart. I am open to correction, therefore, I hear and obey the Holy Spirit when He speaks to me about changes I need to make in my life. And when the Holy Spirit speaks to me, He gives me the will and the power to make the changes He requires of me. My goal is to love God, to please Him first, and to keep my heart pure so that if God took the witness stand to testify about me, He would be able to say that I am walking worthily of His call upon me and that I am doing it by the power of His Spirit instead of the vain energy of my flesh. I establish my priorities as a believer in such a way that God Himself can testify that I pursue Him and His will for my life with all my heart, soul, and strength.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you say your chief goal in life is to please the Lord, or are you motivated to please people to influence what they think about you?
  2. If God took the witness stand to truthfully witness about you, what would He testify about you, your character, and your desire to please Him above all others?
  3. Is there any area of your life that is out of sync with your desire to please God above all else? Is there some other person or goal that means more to you than pleasing the Lord? If something comes to mind, recognize that today the Holy Spirit is calling you to lay that area of your life on the altar and fully surrender it to God.

Where Does the Bible Ever Say God Is Looking for Brains?

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen….
— 1 Corinthians 1:26-28

If you see yourself as weak, feeble, or unskilled, don’t let that bother you too much. God has been calling feeble and unskilled people from the beginning of time. Few of those whom God has called have been the “cream of the crop” according to the flesh. Again and again, God has chosen people who were ill-esteemed in the eyes of the world when He needed a candidate or a group of people to do a job.

God has always used common people to build His Kingdom. He doesn’t primarily choose famous movie stars or the royalty and nobility of the world to fulfill His plans and purposes on this earth. God’s criteria are different from the criteria of the world. As Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”

When God chose Samuel to lead the nation, Samuel was just a young boy. When God looked for someone to kill a giant, He chose a young shepherd boy named David. When the fullness of time came and it was time to send His Son to this earth, God chose a young girl named Mary to give birth to the Savior of the world.

When it was time for Jesus to choose disciples, He didn’t go to the theological institutes or seminaries of the day. Rather, Jesus chose disciples who knew more about fishing and tax-collecting than about the Scriptures. And when God searched for someone He could use to write the majority of the New Testament, He chose the apostle Paul, who was once one of the meanest Christian killers of all time!

God has always shown up in places where He wasn’t expected. Just consider the location where Jesus was born — in a lowly shepherd’s stall. This was certainly not the place anyone would have expected the King of kings to be born. Wouldn’t it have been better for the King of kings to be born in a gold-gilded hall with trumpets blasting to announce His birth?

So if you have ever thought you weren’t good enough for God to use, it’s time for you to renew your thinking! God is looking for people no one else wants or deems valuable. When great victories are won through ordinary folks, there’s no question as to who should receive the glory! As First Corinthians 1:29 says, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

The Old and New Testaments are filled with illustrations of people whom God wanted, but whom the world rejected. God’s choice is not based on beauty or ugliness, talent or lack of talent, education or lack of education, a diploma or lack of a diploma. If a person has a right heart toward God, he is qualified to be used by God.

In First Corinthians 1:26-28, Paul wrote, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen….”

As Paul writes his list of those whom God does and doesn’t call, he begins by stating that God doesn’t call many who are considered “wise” by the world. The word “wise” is from the Greek word sophos. It refers to a person who possesses special enlightenment or special insight.

The word sophos was usually used to portray highly educated people, such as scientists, philosophers, doctors, teachers, and others who were considered to be the super-intelligentsia of the world. These belong to a class of individuals whom the world would call clever, astute, smart, or intellectually brilliant. This term was reserved only for those considered to be super-impressive or a cut above the rest of society.

But Paul says, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh….” Paul informs us that most of the folks God calls don’t fit into this category of the super-intelligentsia. In other words, God doesn’t specialize in calling people who are especially bright, educated, astute, smart, or eminently enlightened.

I would be foolish to overlook the fact that over the years, many intelligent men and women who loved God have made a great impact on the world. Paul himself was a part of this elite group before he came to Christ. Apollos, Paul’s friend who later pastored the church of Corinth, also came from this intellectual “upper echelon” of society. But Paul and Apollos were not typical of the first-century Church.

It was the sophos who scorned and ridiculed Paul when he preached in Athens. The philosophers of Athens, the Epicureans, and the Stoics derided him and made him a laughingstock. Paul said that “not many” are called who fit into this sophos category. Of course, God’s call is to all men; nevertheless, “not many” from this category respond to God’s call.

Take a close look at the Early Church, and you’ll see that it was primarily composed of servants, slaves, and poorer people who heard the Good News of the Gospel and believed. It was an army of common people. Although there were a few elite in the Church, these were the exception rather than the rule. In fact, as you study Church history, you will see that God specializes in calling people from a much lower class. And if you take a close look at the Church today, you’ll see that God still specializes in calling common people.

Now, I’m not debasing education. People should get as much education as possible. But school-issued pieces of paper are not the criteria that impresses God and gets His attention. There have been many educated people whom God could not use. Even though they were brilliant according to the flesh, they were not worthy of being chosen because their hearts weren’t right.

Educational degrees may help you get a good job and positively sway the opinion of men in your favor, but Paul makes it very clear that God is not bent on using people who are especially bright according to the standards of the flesh.

In fact, the Bible shows that when God does call people who are intellectually impressive, such as Moses or the apostle Paul, He usually has to empty them of themselves before He can use them! When they lean on their own understanding, they are unable to accomplish what God wants. But when they lean wholly upon Him, He is able to perform miracles through their lives.

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Certainly natural knowledge and understanding are needful in the world we live in today. But if our natural understanding rather than our trust in God becomes the basis for our confidence, we put ourselves at a disadvantage. We have to learn to use what we know while leaning only on the Lord and His might.

David wrote, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). The best technology of David’s time was used to develop chariots. Man’s greatest intellectual powers were employed to make chariots faster, stronger, and safer. In addition, horses represented natural power, strength, and might. Therefore, David was saying, “Some trust in man’s mind and his great achievements; others rely on their own natural power and might; but we will rely upon the name of the Lord.”

Perhaps you’re one of those people who says, “God can’t use me because I don’t have enough gifts or talents. I haven’t even been to college. I don’t even have a Bible school degree.” If you are, it’s time for you to change the way you’re thinking and talking. It’s time for you to start seeing yourself the way God does!

In fact, if you feel inferior to others, remember that God regularly calls unskilled and uneducated people. Just think of the majority of the apostles whom Jesus hand-picked to serve at His side and to lay the foundation of the Church. Those apostles were fishermen, tax collectors, common people — not theologians.

God is looking to build a strong, powerful army. The soldiers of an army are rarely composed of the intellectually astute. Flavius Vegetius Renatus, who lived around 380 AD, was the author of the most influential military book ever written for the Roman Empire. Look at the type of person  he says makes the best soldier: “Peasants are the most fit to carry arms…. They are simple, content with little, inured to fatigue, and prepared in some measure for military life by their continual employment in farm work, in handling the spade, digging trenches and carrying burdens.”

The truth is, God is looking for people who know how and are willing to pay a price — to undergo any hardship needed, to confront the power of hell, and to “dig trenches and carry burdens” until their assignment is completed just as God ordered it. God doesn’t necessarily need the super-intelligentsia of the world to get these jobs done. In fact, common people are often God’s first choice because they are already equipped to a certain degree to face the challenges and difficulties of life.

So if you want to be used by God and serve in His army, quit complaining that you’re not as smart or sharp as someone else. Where does the Bible ever say God is looking for brains? He’s looking for hearts that are willing to follow Him. If you have that kind of heart, you are exactly the kind of person God wants to use!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I am so glad You don’t choose only the intellectually brilliant. You are looking for anyone who has a heart to be used by You. Well, that’s me, Lord. I want You to use me. I offer You everything I have — my good points, my weak points, my gifts, my talents, and everything else that I am. I want You to use me for Your glory! I’ve told You before, but today I’m telling You again that I want You to take my life and do something wonderful with me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am exactly the kind of person God can use! God is looking to carry out great victories through my life! His choice is not based on beauty or a lack of beauty, talent or lack of talent, education or lack of education, a diploma or lack of a diploma. No, God has chosen me because I have a heart that is right before Him!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Can you recall concrete examples of people in the Bible whom the world thought to be worth nothing — yet God called them, changed them, and then used them to change world history? Try to name five people who fit into this category.

2. Can you think of specific people outside the Bible whom the world thought to be worth nothing, yet God used them to change society? Try to name five people who fit into this category as well.

3. If God specializes in calling people who come from common backgrounds, what does this mean for you?

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:8

In the past few Sparkling Gems, we’ve seen how Paul was not motivated by money or glory in his efforts to serve God and spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. However, since he wasn’t interested in fame or fortune, what exactly was his motive for ministry? What was the driving force behind the sacrifices Paul made and the time and energy he spent to preach the Gospel and disciple believers? Today we will conclude our study of First Thessalonians 2 by examining the answer to these important questions.

To be pleasing to the Lord was Paul’s highest aim, and the primary focus of his ministry was relationship. He genuinely cared about the people he was ministering to, and in verse 7, he described his feelings for them. The last thing he wanted to do was abuse them; rather, he wanted to see them grow. He said, “Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:6,7).

In verses 6 and 7, Paul drew a comparison between what he wasn’t and what he was in terms of his attitude and conduct toward the people in the Thessalonian church. Instead of being “burdensome,” he was “gentle.” Like a mother feeding her children, Paul drew them close to his heart to feed them the Word of God and nurture them. All he wanted to do was love the Church. This passage of Scripture paints a very beautiful bond of love and trust — one that should exist between every minister and those whom God has placed under his charge.

In First Thessalonians 2:8, Paul continued, “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”

What did Paul mean when he said he was “affectionately desirous” of the believers in Thessalonica? This phrase is taken from the Greek word homeiromai, and this word is extremely important because it tells us a lot about the heart of the apostle Paul. The word homeiromai was primarily found on the grave markers of children that had died, and it describes what the parents felt for their child. It indicates a deep longing or an affectionate, fervent desire to see the child one more time.

By using this word, Paul was conveying his deep desire to see these Thessalonian believers just one more time. He loved them very much, and like a parent who longs to see again a child who has died, everything within the apostle Paul longed to be able to visit the church of Thessalonica and minister again face to face to these believers whom he held so close to his heart.

Because Paul was so affectionate in his attitude toward the people in Thessalonica, he further expressed, “…we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

When someone is dear to a person, that person is willing to go to great lengths to bring benefit to that loved one. Here Paul was saying that his desire for the Thessalonian believers’ spiritual welfare was so great that he had a “willingness” in his heart to impart to them as much of himself as he could. The word “willing” in this verse is from the Greek word eudokeo, which means to seek something that is pleasurable. This word carries the idea of something that is delightful and wonderful.

Because Paul loved this church so much, he was pleased to do anything and everything he could for them to help them grow and develop as believers in Christ. This was not something he was being forced to do; it was something that flowed from his heart and brought him a great sense of joy.

What did Paul want to impart to this church? Verse 8 says, “…to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls.” The word “imparted” is the Greek word metadidomi, which carries the idea of exchange. By using this word, Paul was saying he was willing to give a part of himself to them, but he wanted something in exchange: He wanted the church in Thessalonica to give a part of themselves to him. In other words, Paul wanted to have a relationship with the believers to whom God called him to minister.

This is such a crucial lesson for us to learn from Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians — one that will help us remain focused and effective in our own priorities and motives as we fulfill our divine callings. Paul wasn’t in the ministry to get rich or to become famous. Rather, he sincerely wanted to please the Lord with his whole heart. And as a result, he was focused on the needs of the people to whom he ministered. The one thing he sought was an authentic relationship with people so he could minister to them more effectively. Not moved by greed or glory, Paul gave his whole heart to God and to the church.

Every one of us must reflect, from time to time, on our motives and priorities in serving others. Using First Thessalonians 2 as a guide in examining ourselves will help us maintain steadfastness of character and a deep devotion to God and His people that we need to carry on effectively and with power.

So here’s a parting thought to ponder as you interact with the people in your life each day: When God’s love for others is a burning compassion in your heart — and not merely a concept understood and accepted in your mind — you will look for ways to bless and help others grow and develop into all they can be in Christ because of your love for Him! You won’t feel forced or compelled to do it as a requirement or for the sake of appearances or what others may think of you. Your desire to please the Lord by walking in His ways will help you see people as He sees them. And it’s your ability to see through Jesus’ eyes that will help you treat each person as He would treat them. That’s the key to living life from a heart motive of unconditional love — and that’s the key to pleasing Him!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I want my priorities to be correct about ministering to people. You deeply care for Your people, and I want that same love and compassion to be exactly what motivates me. Help me search my heart and put aside any other ulterior motive so that the care of Your people is the number-one priority on my heart. I am so thankful for the people who have genuinely cared for me and who continue to care for me. I consider it an honor to show genuine love, concern, care, and compassion for my brothers and sisters in the Christian community.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I love God’s people and that I am doing all I can to help them grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. There are many things that vie for my attention, but I have decided that none is as important as ministering to the Lord and to His saints. Because the Holy Spirit has shed the love of God into my heart, I have a deep-seated, genuine love, concern, care, and compassion for the saints in the Christian community. I love God’s people and my love for them is growing greater all the time!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Do you really care for people? Even more important, what would God say about the way you demonstrate care for people?
  2. The Holy Spirit has shed the love of God abroad in your heart, but it has to be released to effectively minister to other people. Are you allowing that God-deposited love to function and flow through you to others?
  3. What are you doing to help others grow in their relationship with Christ? What would God say you are doing to help others grow in their relationship with Christ?

A Celebration Like No Other!

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
— Colossians 2:15

Have you ever wondered what kind of celebration took place in Heaven after Jesus’ defeat of the devil? Well, it is possible for us to know exactly how Heaven celebrated because Paul gives us a glimpse into that heavenly gala event in Colossians 2:15. It says, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

This is an extremely graphic verse! It is a picture painted for us by the Holy Spirit — a glorious, vivid illustration of what happened the day Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave!

The word “spoiled” is the Greek word apekduomai, which means to strip off or to put off as one would put off his garments. This word could depict the disarming of an enemy — literally stripping his weaponry and artillery from him and leaving him without any weapons with which to respond. One scholar has noted that it refers to stripping one to the point of complete nakedness. By using this word, the Holy Spirit tells us that when Jesus arose from the dead, He thoroughly plundered the enemy!

Furthermore, when Jesus’ sacking and plundering of hell’s powers was complete and His mission was accomplished, Paul tells us that He rubbed this defeat in the devil’s face by throwing the biggest party the universe had ever seen! Colossians 2:15 says, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The word “shew” is taken from the word deigmatidzo, and it literally means to display or to expose something. It was used in classical Greek writing to denote the display of captives, weaponry, and trophies that were seized during war on foreign soil. Once the war was finished and the battle was won, the reigning emperor would return home and victoriously display and expose the treasures, trophies, weaponry, and captives that he had seized during his military conquest. This was a grand moment of celebration for the victor — but it was a humiliating experience for the defunct foe.

But wait — there is still more to Colossians 2:15 that you must understand. Paul goes on to tell us that “…he made a shew of them openly….” The word “openly” is taken from the Greek word parresia, which is used throughout the books of the New Testament to denote boldness, confidence, or something that is done blatantly or even publicly. By using the word parresia, Paul declares that when this heavenly party and celebration of Jesus’ victory commenced, it was no quiet affair! On the contrary — He boldly, confidently, loudly, blatantly, and publicly exposed and displayed this now-defunct foe to the heavenly hosts! It was the greatest celebration in history!

In fact, Paul goes on to say, “…he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” The phrase “triumphing over them in it” is a major key to this verse. This phrase comes from the Greek word triambeuo, which is a technical word used to describe the general or emperor who was returning home from a grand victory in the enemy’s territory. The word “triumph” (triambeuo) was a specific word used to describe a glorious triumphal parade!

When news reached the city that the enemy had been defeated, plans for a triumphal parade went into action. By the time the gates of the city were opened wide to receive this emperor who was now returning home in triumph, his people were ready to celebrate his victory! As the gates swung open and this mighty warrior rode through, the celebration began!

Sitting astride a large, beautiful, white stallion; draped in his kingly, regal garments; and wearing his bright, shining crown upon his head, the returning emperor would lead the entire city in a procession of celebration and victory. It was called his “triumphal parade.” As he rode down the main avenue of the city with his head held high and a look of elation on his face, the city would begin rejoicing. “He’s back! He’s back! Our king has won a massive victory!” the people would cry as they broke into jubilant dancing and singing, joyously twirling around in circles. This was indeed a time to rejoice!

In order to flaunt his great victory, the returning victor would parade behind him the foreign king — the defeated foe, taken in captivity and bound in heavy chains of bondage. Behind this now-defunct enemy would walk the defeated ruling men and leaders, bound and chained along with their ruined king. Further back in the procession were oxcarts loaded to overflowing with booty taken by force from the enemy’s homeland. Once these goods had belonged to the enemy, but now they belonged to the conquering king!

As the returning, victorious emperor rode down the avenue, he’d strut with pride, flaunting his defeated foes. In other words, he’d “make a shew of them openly.” He wanted everyone to see the fabulous goods he had stolen from his enemy’s hand — proof that the conquered foe had been completely “spoiled.”

But the most exciting moment of the entire celebration occurred when the emperor sang a song of victory. As he rode that horse through the gate, leading his triumphal parade, he would open his mouth and begin to sing as loudly as he could sing! With all his might, he would sing something like this: “The enemy is defeated; the foe is conquered; let it be known that I am still the king!” This song would throw the crowd into a frenzy. This was the voice and the song they had been waiting for! The king had returned, and he was still king!

Then, after riding down the main avenue, revealing his booty, and singing his song of victory, the victor would stop in front of a large set of stairs that led upward to a huge, ornate throne. His military conquest had proven that he was still the holder of authority. Therefore, he proudly walked up those steps, turned toward the great crowd who was watching, and lowered himself down to sit in his rightful place — the throne.

Since all this is the background to Colossians 2:15, the verse could be interpreted to read:

“He completely stripped principalities and powers and left them utterly naked; nothing was left at their disposal with which to retaliate. He boldly, confidently, loudly, blatantly, and publicly exposed and displayed this now-defunct foe, leading a gallant triumphal parade in celebration of the enemy’s defeat and His victory!”

Does all this mean that this actual type of celebration took place in Heaven after Jesus’ defeat of the devil? There is no explicit biblical account that records the type of celebration that occurred the day Jesus was raised from the dead, but Paul’s words in Colossians 2:15 certainly indicate that Heaven threw quite a party that day. Jesus’ victory over the devil was the greatest victory ever known! It would be entirely expected that Heaven would celebrate that victory with the Son of God.

So if you feel like shouting when you think about what Jesus did to the devil, go ahead and shout! If thinking of Jesus’ victory makes you want to jump up and down, dance, or twirl around in circles, then go for it! There’s nothing strange about this behavior at all — you have something to rejoice about! When you start rejoicing about Jesus’ victory over the devil, you join the throngs of Heaven who also wildly celebrate Jesus’ victory and Satan’s defeat!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I am stopping everything I’m doing right now to praise You for Your victory over Satan! Thank You for stripping him bare and for leaving him with nothing in his hands with which to retaliate. Thinking of what You did makes me want to shout — so right now I’m going to shout! Realizing what You did makes me want to jump with joy — so right now I’m going to leap up and down in praise to You! I’m excited about what You did, and I’m not ashamed to show how I feel about it. I praise and worship You for the great victory You gained!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am free from Satan’s grip on my life because Jesus stripped him bare and left nothing in his hands that he could use against me! Jesus defeated and disarmed Satan; then He gave me authority over the devil and all his works. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. That means in Jesus Christ I am fully empowered to enforce Satan’s defeat!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What did you learn from today’s Sparkling Gem that you never knew before?

2. How does this new insight into Jesus’ victory over the devil shape your view of your own ability to walk in victory through every situation of life?

3. How long has it been since you spent some time thanking Jesus for what He did for you through His death and resurrection? After reading this today, don’t you think you ought to take a few minutes to really praise Him for His glorious victory and Satan’s defeat?

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:6

Another pitfall that has short-circuited the call of God in lives of others is a desire for glory or fame. But neither money nor fame was Paul’s motive for pursuing ministry. Paul’s primary pursuit was to please God. He genuinely loved God and the people God had called him to reach.

In First Thessalonians 2:6, Paul said, “Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.” The Greek tense makes it clear that Paul was saying he didn’t habitually seek glory from men; it wasn’t his pattern of operation. Then Paul got more specific by using the phrase “neither of you, nor yet of others.” In a general sense, Paul wasn’t seeking glory from people. And in a specific sense, he wasn’t seeking glory from those he knew personally, including the church members in Thessalonica.

Paul’s statement in verse 6 was, what I call, a futuristic statement. Paul was saying, “I haven’t sought glory in the past; I’m not seeking glory from you now; and I’m not going to seek glory from anyone else in the future.” Paul simply wasn’t interested in the limelight — in receiving the glory of men.

This is a great test and temptation for anyone who becomes well known. It is a test that must be passed. If having the adulation of men is important to you, it will eventually become a noose that hangs you — as you’ll end up doing or saying anything to get attention and adulation.

Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) holds a powerful warning to us along this line. It tells us that “the fear of man brings a snare….” Being overly concerned about what people think of us and fearing their possible rejection of us is actually a dangerous trap of the enemy that he uses to try to control us. It will either muzzle and silence us from speaking the truth when necessary or provoke us to say what people want to hear — instead of the word of the Lord they need to hear.

Either way, seeking adulation and praise from man is a deceptive trap, and the source is fear. And fear always works to nullify faith, which is essential for you to please God! So make sure your goal is always to stay pleasing to the Lord above all else and all others. It’s that pure desire of your heart to please Jesus that will keep you free every day from the trap of seeking praise from men!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I know what it’s like to live for the honor and adulation of men, and I do not want to live in that kind of slavery ever again. It’s a trap to fear man, to live constantly to please man, and to live for the praises of people. My utmost goal is to live to serve and please You. If I can live in the light of Your glory, I’ll be so thankful — and that will be a glory that never passes with time. That is the true limelight my heart cries out for!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that I do NOT live for the glory and adulation of men. I appreciate being appreciated, and I am glad when people are thankful for what I do — but I live to please God. Daily I present myself before God as a living sacrifice to be acceptable unto Him, while I rely upon His grace to help me maintain a balance in my life of appreciating what others say and do while living exclusively for God and for His approval!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever lived with the adulation of men as a goal for your life? Do you know what it’s like to live in their pleasure or displeasure? I assure you, it is easier to live a life pleasing to God than to try to be pleasing to all the different kinds of people who are in your life!
  2. The Bible says that the fear of man is a trap. Have you ever experienced that trap? Do you know what it’s like to live in the fear of man? Have you been delivered from it? If yes, how were you delivered?
  3. If you’ve lived for the limelight of man and then experienced what it’s like to “fall out of the limelight,” how did it affect you? Did that experience give you a new perspective of what is and isn’t important?

Have You Noticed the People Whom God Has Called To Help You?

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
— 1 Corinthians 4:1

When I was first starting to study New Testament Greek many years ago, I pulled out my Greek New Testament one day and flipped it over to First Corinthians 4:1. There I discovered that the Greek word for “ministers” was the word huperetas — the Greek word that was used to depict the very lowest class of criminals. I knew Paul must have had a reason for selecting this word to describe “ministers,” but it made me wonder.

The huperetas of ancient times were the criminals assigned to live the rest of their lives in the bottom galleys of huge ships. In those galleys, they became the engines that moved the ships through the seas. As I pondered this, I could see so many reasons why Paul used this word to describe those of us who are serving in the Kingdom of God!

For instance, a great number of these criminals were held in the bottom galleys of ships. They were seated and chained to a bench along with other criminals — and together they shared common chains, held a common oar, and worked the same number of hours. They all had to provide equal labor to the task. Their entire lives became a group effort. They became inseparable from the other men who were on the bench with them. As I reflected on this, I thought of how God never calls you to do a big job all by yourself. He will call others at the same time to assist you. When you say yes to the will of God — when you jump into the middle of your assigned task and surrender your time, money, talents, and ideas to the Lord — you will discover that others will be right there by your side to help you with the task. You’re not the only one God has been speaking to!

The ships on which the huperetas served were so huge that it would have been impossible for one servant to move an entire ship by himself. It required the strength and effort of many servants working together in order to move those huge ships.

In the same way, you cannot accomplish what God has called you to do all alone! Look around you! Look at the people God has placed around you to help you fulfill your dream. Don’t ignore them, thinking you can do it alone. If your vision from the Lord is big, it will require others to become involved in what you are doing.

I wouldn’t be able to do what God has told me to do if I had to do it by myself. The vision is too big and demanding. That’s why God didn’t stop after He called me. He also called others to stand with me, pray with me, and stay for the long haul, working beside me “on the under-rowers’ bench.” Their call is just as real as my call. They will answer for their part just as I will answer for mine. And when rewards are given, they will be rewarded for how they helped “row the boat” and kept this ministry moving forward to reach millions of souls.

For example, the Lord has called me to take the teaching of the Bible to spiritually hungry people in the former USSR every day through the vehicle of television. But at the same time He placed this vision in my heart, He also called partners to pray for the program, pay for television time, and support our ministry in the United States. Without our partners, I could not do my part in the territory of the former USSR. They are equally as important as Denise and me and our ministry team.

How about the staff members of our television ministry outreach, such as our television producers, editors, and secretaries? How about the dedicated work force who answer letters from our television viewers? Since 1992, this television staff has answered millions of letters from those who have written to Denise and me as a result of watching our television program. Our television department has also edited thousands of television programs and distributed several hundred thousand separate showings to eleven time zones of the former Soviet Union.

These precious staff members are the ones who do the work behind the scenes so that these programs can go into millions of homes every day of the week. If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t be able to minister to the masses of people God has entrusted to me or help the hundreds of churches and pastors located all over the former USSR who look to me for apostolic guidance. I am so thankful for the others on my team whom God called to help me with this awesome task, because this job is too big for me to do alone!

Likewise, if you are going to fulfill the dream God has given you, you will have to learn how to cooperate with other key people — your partners in life — who can assist you in fulfilling that dream.

The huperetas in Paul’s illustration lived together and worked together. And when rewards were given for their extremely hard work, every man in the group was rewarded. Since they labored at the same task, shared the same oar, and sweated the same amount of sweat, the entire bench of workers was equally rewarded. On the other hand, if one rower on a bench was lazy and kept the whole bench of rowers from carrying their share of the load on the ship, every rower on that bench was punished.

In other words, the difference in one coworker’s attitude was so powerful that it had the ability to bring about victory or defeat for all of them. Since each member of the team was vital to success, their entire existence became a group effort. Therefore, they had to learn how to function as a team.

When these men rowed, the boat moved. When they stopped rowing, the boat stopped. These servants were the driving force behind the speed of the ship. If they ever stopped working hard at rowing, the ship stayed motionless in the water. It was totally dependent on the rowers in the bottom of the boat, which was powerless to travel anywhere without them.

Similarly, if you are going to move ahead with what God has called you to do — whether it is your ministry, your family, or your business — you must learn how to be a faithful servant, working together with others as a team “in the bottom of the boat.”

The bottom of the boat may not be the most pleasurable place to be. Serving day in and day out may seem monotonous and almost boring at times. But sticking with the vision and continuing to row will eventually produce eternal results for the Kingdom of God! So surrender to the plan of God, take your place in the ship, grab an oar, and start rowing! If you want to get to your destination more quickly, put your whole heart and soul into rowing that boat!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I thank You for the life-changing truths I just read! I want to take my place in Your plan for my life — and I want to give 100 percent of my attention and strength to see it come to pass in my life. With all my heart, I tell You that I want to follow You and to do whatever is required to see that vision come to pass in my life. And thank You for calling others to come alongside to help me move this vision along a little faster!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I have taken my place in God’s plan. I have grabbed hold of an oar, and I am rowing and rowing with all my strength and energy. The assignment God has given me probably won’t be achieved quickly, so I have mentally prepared myself for a long-term stint at doing what God is calling me to do. It will take unbelievable strength and energy to move that vision from the realm of dreams to the realm of reality. But because of the power of the Holy Spirit in me, I have all the strength I need for this wonderful and awesome task!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. Do you know what boat God has called you to jump into and start rowing? What church, organization, ministry, or mission are you supposed to be helping?

2. When you look at your own life, can you see that it has taken the combined efforts of many faithful people to get you where you are today? Have you ever made a list of the people who helped you get where you are — and have you taken the time to write them a note to say thank you for what they have done for you?

3. If your answer to the above question is no, then why don’t you take a few minutes today to make that list and to write a few notes to people who have made a difference in your life?

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:5

As Paul shared his priorities and motives in ministry, he also talked about what didn’t motivate him in ministry — namely financial gain. In First Thessalonians 2:5, he wrote, “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.” In this verse, Paul specifically dealt with the issue of money in ministry, and he emphatically conveyed that his motives for ministry were not financial gain from those who followed his ministry. Instead, the apostle strove to keep his motives for ministry pure.

If Paul hadn’t made this his first motive — to please God and not man — he would have been vulnerable to becoming a man-pleaser and using “flattering words” to exact some kind of selfish gain from the people he ministered to. But Paul’s primary focus was on pleasing the One who called him and who sent him to the precious people in Thessalonica.

The same quality should be true of us. Our motives for serving God should be pure and unadulterated, rooted solely in a heart desire to please Him through the fruits of our labor as we do what He asks us to do.

Let’s study verse 5 more closely. What exactly does it mean for someone to use “flattering words”? This phrase comes from the Greek word kolakeia, which means to “butter up” someone by saying things he or she wants to hear. Usually, when someone “butters up” another person, he is putting himself in a position to take advantage of that individual. The word kolakeia — “flattering words” — also means to say things with an insincere motive.

In other words, when you’re using kolakeia, your words are just a vehicle to get you what you want. They hold no genuine meaning and are spoken for no other reason than that.

But in these two verses in First Thessalonians 2, Paul was saying he didn’t do that to the congregation in Thessalonica. He didn’t butter them up so he could get something out of them. He didn’t just say good things about them or tell them how wonderful they were to receive some kind of selfish gain. Paul wasn’t insincere in his dealings with the believers in the Thessalonian church; instead, he spoke truthfully to them as he interacted with them and ministered to them.

Now let’s look at the next phrase Paul used in this passage: “cloak of covetousness.” The word “cloak” is the Greek word prophasis, which can be translated as a pretense or something that is phony or not real. The whole idea behind this word prophasis is that a person will be whatever he needs to be to receive some kind of gain from others.

Prophasis describes a person who is constantly changing, not according to his conviction, but according to how he can gain something from someone else. This is why the Bible calls it a “cloak.” It is a covering or a pretense — something that isn’t real.

The Bible calls this cloak a “cloak of covetousness.” I believe that a better translation would be “a cloak for the sake of covetousness.” In this verse where Paul wrote, “For neither at any time used we flattering words…nor a cloak of covetousness,” he was actually referring to the exploitation of people for gain.

The word “covetousness” in First Thessalonians 2:5 is translated from the Greek word pleonexia, which is used in this scripture to describe monetary greed. The word pleonexia carries a few ideas that tend to build upon each other, as in a progression.

This word “covetousness” describes a man who has money in the heart. He “thinks” money. In fact, he thinks about money almost all the time. He eats, drinks, and sleeps money! Money becomes just about all he wants to talk about. When he goes to bed at night, he’s thinking about money — and when he gets out of bed in the morning, his first thoughts turn to money. When he talks to people, he sees currency on their foreheads! He’s constantly looking for more money, and he sees everything — every encounter, every relationship, and everything he does — as an opportunity to turn a buck.

It is this attitude of covetousness that Paul emphatically rejected. His motive for preaching was not to pretend to be something he wasn’t in order to make financial gain from the people God had given him to care for and minister to. And neither can it be our motivation for serving others! Furthermore, people are smart — and if they sense that you are after their money and not their hearts, it won’t be long until they will send you on your way!

So make the decision today that you will always be someone who speaks from an authentic, pure heart and seeks only to edify the listener and glorify God, never to receive monetary gain or advantage for yourself. As you make that your constant practice, people will come to know that they can trust the source! They’ll receive your words as genuine, and the power of love behind your words will minister to people’s hearts as God intends!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father God, everyone needs money, including me — but I ask You to keep my motivation for serving others free from the contamination of greed for money. Scripture is full of examples of people who were spoiled and suffered ruin because they let money become a motivator for ministry. I thank You for meeting my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Keep my heart free from ever serving people with money as a motivator. For my own needs, I look to You, and I trust You to provide for me every step along the way!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I boldly confess that money is not and will never be my motivation for ministry. If making money is what it’s all about, I need to go elsewhere and do something else. God has called me to serve people purely and to trust Him to meet my financial needs and obligations. I look to God, not people, as my Source to meet my needs!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever known someone whose motive for ministry was financial gain? What happened to that person in the end?
  2. When you look at people whom God has brought across your path, do you see them as a financial opportunity or as a ministry opportunity? Your answer to this question is very important!
  3. Have you been hurt by someone whose driving motivation was money? Have you forgiven them? If not, you need to forgive them and release that experience so you can move forward in your walk of faith!