From the Heart

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Author: Anthony Smith

Article source: http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/. Used with author's permission.

1 Corinthians 9:19-9:23

From The Heart A Look at Christianity from a Ministers Point of View. The following scriptures give us an insight on who we are and the awesome responsibility that we have as ministers of the word of God. Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 states that Jesus came to minister to man, salvation thru His name and His upcoming sacrifice, are we more than our master that we are immune to sacrifice? We are to give our lives to the promotion of the Gospel and the Salvation of others thru the diligents and preaching of the Gospel. In the world of mankind there are very few that have been called to minister to many. Paul stated; 1Co 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Begotten denotes the physical relation of either parent to a child.

Then doesn't this statement by Paul tell us that we are in a close relationship with those that we minister to, as with a child or children? These people that we minister to are children that we have been given, to protect and nurture and give ourselves too, these are our responsibility and we will give an account as to the care that we gave them. It is not our words that we preach that saves, it is Gods word that we preach that saves. Paul goes on to say;

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling {Called by God, not man}, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh { mans Idea of Educated}, not many mighty {Strong in presents of appearances}, not many noble {of noble decent}, are called:

1Co 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. So many key words in Paul's statements; "not seeking mine own profit." "but the profit of many."," that they may be saved." To profit; To benefit; to advantage; applied to one's self, to derive some pecuniary interest or some accession of good from any thing; as, to profit one's self by a commercial undertaking, or by reading or instruction. In this sense, the verb is generally used intransitively. Seeking His own profit is speaking of wisdom and knowledge in Gods word; He was stating that the wisdom was to be given to many to their profit to saving of their soul. We don't please all men, that's not what Paul was saying. Paul was stating that,

He knew their way and could identify with them, as far as their infirmities, in religion, He knew of Idolatry and He knew of the Law, He knew the Rich and He knew the Poor, He knew of the strong and the weak, all of this he was speaking was of the spirit and not of the flesh. Paul used all resources He knew to reach all men that by some means He might win some. He could identify with their need for salvation thru Jesus. Religion is an infirmity to many, there are many religious people in the world but on the whole few Christians. Being religious does not mean that you are saved. 1Co 9:19-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Have we all become all things to all men as Paul did? Or are we in a world of our own, only seeking those things and people that are like us? How many fellow Christians are suffering today that are in need of prayer and support? Lets read a little, 09/09/2004: GFA Missionaries Held Hostage To Be Killed within 48 Hours! Anti-Christian elements in Bihar have captured, severely beaten and are threatening to kill GFA native missionary Pastor Manrathan and his wife. GFA Bible woman Sarita is also being held hostage.

An anti-Christian mob from six villages holds the Gospel workers tied to a sacred tree, demanding 25,000 rupees as a ransom for desecrating their village with the Gospel. If the exorbitant amount is not received within 48 hours, they plan to kill the missionaries. There are no police in the isolated area to intervene. GFA leaders are fervently praying for wisdom on how they can best help the situation.

The anti-Christian group spearheading the incident is the same one that burned missionary Graham Staines and his two children alive in Orissa several years ago. In recent years a number of GFA missionaries serving in their native India have been brutally murdered for sharing their faith as well.

Pastor Manrathan's village has proven extremely dangerous for Christian workers, yet God has blessed his courage and commitment. They recently planted a church in this remote area of North India. A few weeks ago, Pastor Manrathan held a service where new believers publicly proclaimed their Christian faith. It was a significant time for the congregation. One new believer, a tribal person, renounced his old faith publicly by turning away from everything else to believe in God.

This act was brought to the attention of the whole village by his neighbors, who objected to his conversion. In no time, the news of this event spread to six surrounding villages. Soon a large mob descended on the small congregation of new believers and began to beat them. Pastor Manrathan, his wife and Sarita were taken from the church, beaten mercilessly and tied to a tree. No one was allowed to leave the village, to prevent others from hearing of the beatings. Only yesterday, one of the believers escaped with the news.

Your urgent prayers for the lives of these missionaries are needed. Pray the Lord will give them strength and that His presence would be real to them during this time of trial and persecution. Pray also for endurance and boldness. 2Co 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. Jam 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

How can we ignore the other side of Christianity, how can we not have compassion for our brothers and sisters in peril? Prophecy must be fulfilled but that doesn't stop us from giving the Gospel the best we have. Preaching, teaching, witnessing to others with all our hearts. Would you here today, that are lost be able to take the punishment of terrorism and stay faithful to your cause, do you have someone to turn to that would understand and protect you in time of need? Without Jesus you have no one. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. Its past time that we began again to be Christ like, to pray and Fast and be as our Master, to love one another and not being careful for nothing, standing up for the God of all Creation. I say these things out of my love for mankind and Gods Children. Sometimes the truth is hard to take but we must remember that Jesus can come at any moment, shouldn't we be about our Fathers business when He returns?

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