“The Results of Ministry”

Luke 10:17

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

 

In Luke 10 we find the story of Jesus sending out a large group of his followers to minister in his name and to proclaim the Kingdom of God.  Their report is summarized in one exclamation in verse 17, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  The seventy-two were jubilant yet astonished at the spiritual power in the name of Jesus.  The extent of the spiritual power is seen in that even the demons submit to the name of Jesus.

If we want astonishing results in ministry, we must learn the power of Jesus’ name.  We go out in the name of Jesus.  We pray in the name of Jesus.  We worship in the name of Jesus.  We see people saved in the name of Jesus.  Lives are changed in the name of Jesus.  All things are possible through him.  James 1:17 teaches us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

The greatest spiritual power in the universe is the name of Jesus.  It is by that name we are saved, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)  It is at the name of Jesus that all the nations of the earth will finally acknowledge God, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)   Astonishing ministry results in the power of the Spirit of God are possible in the name of Jesus.

 

QUESTIONS:

1. How do you use the name of Jesus?
2. What type of spiritual results would you like to see in your church?
3. How do you understand God unleashing His power in the name of Jesus?

PRAYER:

• Pray for astonishing results in your church.
• Make your prayers in the name of Jesus.   Why is this important?
• Pray for the people on your prayer list.

“Power for Ministry”

Acts 4:33-35        

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

 

There is a difference in ministering with power and ministering in our own strength.  To see great results in ministry Christians must minister with power.  Acting in our own strength demonstrates our inadequacies. 

In Acts 1:8 Jesus teaches, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”  It was based on this God-given power that the disciples were able to witness to the whole world.  The passage was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came on them at Pentecost.  Today’s passage takes place soon after the multitudes were added.  Notice that the church is still acting in the power of the Spirit.  Note the results that come from ministering in the Spirit: “the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”  Truly successful ministry is a result of ministry done in the power of the Spirit.

QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think more people are not ministering in the power of the Spirit?
2.  From the passage, name some things that happened because of ministry in the power of the Spirit
3. Explain what ministering with power means to you.

PRAYER:

•  Pray to be led by Gods Spirit.
• Pray for real power in your ministry and in your church.
• Pray for the people on your prayer list.

“Don’t Be Taken Captive”

Colossians 2:6-8

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

 

Isn’t it great that we don’t have to seek God every time we need Him?  He is always with us in the abiding presence of the Spirit.  We are blessed to have Christ in us.

Paul gives us sound advice in our passage, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him.”  If we have Jesus abiding in us, what does it mean live in him?

Although he is always with us and ready to guide us, Jesus does not treat us like puppets but gives us free will. As we make our choices, Jesus will help – if we let him.  We are to be “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  Paul goes further to warn us not to be taken “captive” through secular philosophies that follow human traditions and principles rather than centering our lives in Christ.  Human wisdom only goes so far.  Divine revelation makes things much clearer.

Don’t be taken captive is good advice as we approach the world.  We must take care that we are “in the world but not of the world.”

QUESTIONS:

1. Is there anything that holds you captive?  Have you asked Christ to break the bonds and set you free?
2. Do you know people who are captive to some worldly thing?  Pray for them to be set free.
3. Is there anything scientific or philosophical that stands in the way of your faith?

PRAYER:

• Pray that God would break down worldly strongholds in your life.
• Pray that God would protect you from everything that would take you captive from your faith.
• Pray for the people on your prayer list.

“The Hope of Glory”

Colossians 1:25-27

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

Paul in this passage discusses, “the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”   For Paul the gift of salvation was wonderful, but the assurance of God’s abiding presence was “glorious.”  Christ in you is for Paul the hope of glory.  What does this mean?

Paul frequently describes the Christian life as living “in Christ.”   I believe that he essentially meant the same thing with his comment “Christ in you.”  Either way Paul says it, Paul is talking about the hard-to-explain relationship of the daily presence of Christ in our lives.  It is this daily presence of Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that makes the Christian life unique.

Our faith sustains us in times of trouble.  But it is the abiding presence of Christ that gives us “hope” for the coming glory he has prepared for us.  Hope is the way God gives us dreams and goals.  Jesus is our Good Shepherd leading us into paths of righteousness.  We know that with his daily presence in our lives we are assured of his guiding hand.  The “hope of glory” is that hope that Christ gives us regarding the final blessed state we will be in when Christ returns.  It involves the assurance of his return, the assurance that we will be with him, and the assurance that we will be blessed at his return.

Can you believe it?  Christ chose to abide in each of us!

QUESTIONS:

1.  In John 14:2-3 Jesus promises, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  How does this relate to the concept “Christ in you the hope of glory”?
2. What does it mean to you to know Christ abides in you?

PRAYER:

•  Pray that God will help you recognize the presence of Christ in you.
• Pray for those on your prayer list.

“The Revealed Mystery”

Colossians 1:25-27

25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

Many people enjoy a good mystery, either in a novel or TV or movie.  It is challenging to try to figure out the mystery before the hero or heroine does.  It is the greatest mystery when we are surprised by the sudden twist that leads to an unexpected revelation.

Salvation was one of those mysteries.  The question asked by Judaism and all religions of the time, “How could a person please God and enter into relationship with Him?”  The answer was a mystery.  Judaism had the best answer based on the revelation of God Himself – keep the law and sacrifice as God had instructed.  But still there was a question if one ever did enough.

God answered the mystery Himself by sending His Son Jesus to bring salvation to mankind.  God went further by giving the Holy Spirit to live in us from the moment of salvation on.  This way God is always with us and Christ Jesus is always in us since where one person of the godhead is present the other two persons are present as well.  We will look more at Paul’s concept of “Christ in you” in the next devotion.

No more mystery!  God has given the solution in Jesus Christ.  No longer hidden from our knowing, salvation and God’s abiding presence are available through Christ.

QUESTIONS:

1.  Have you found the solution to the mystery of salvation through Christ?
2. Do you know people that are still struggling with the mystery of salvation?
3. Are you willing to reveal God’s solution to the mystery of salvation to those around you?

PRAYER:

• Thank God for His answer in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for the evangelization of those who do not know Christ.
• Pray that fellow Christians will recognize the power of God’s abiding presence.
• Pray for those on your Prayer List.

“Discovering a Deeper Spiritual Life”

 2 Chronicles 6:7-9

1.  Desperate Times Draw People to a Deeper Spiritual Life

2.  New Converts Are Hungry for a Deeper Spiritual Life

3.  Satisfied Christians Neglect a Deeper Spiritual Life

4.  Seeking Christians Hope for a Deeper Spiritual Life

5.  Humble, Obedient Christians Find a Deeper Spiritual Life

“Made Alive With Christ”

Ephesians 2:4-5

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

 

Today we celebrate the birth of our nation.  Most of the founding fathers were men of great faith.  Prayer was an important part of their lives.  In their writings they often referred to Jesus the Savior.  They believed that there could be a new nation offering freedom to everyone, a nation with a new way of living.

The Kingdom of God is not a nation but is the expression of God’s rule in the hearts and lives of all those who have come to Him as He has instructed.  The Kingdom of God will be fully established when Jesus returns and is designated King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  So how do we become a part of this Kingdom of God?

God has graciously offered salvation from sin and the promise of eternal life.  Romans 10:9 describes our response to God’s grace stating, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Through Christ we move from spiritual death to spiritual life.  God claims us as His children, and we become a part of His kingdom.

Notice the characteristics of God found in today’s passage:  “his great love for us”;  “rich in mercy”; and “by grace.”  Together they form a definition.  God’s grace is His great love for us that is rich in mercy.  Through our faith response to God’s grace gift of salvation we can now celebrate that we belong to Him.

QUESTIONS:

1. Have you recognized that as a Christian you have dual citizenship?  Name the two governments of which you are now a citizen.
2. Describe what is expected of you in each of your citizenships.
3. Name ways you celebrate the new life you have in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

• Thank God for including you in His kingdom.
• Pray that God will call to your mind names of those who need to be saved.  Write their names on a new page in your prayer journal with the date you start praying for them.
• Pray for all those in your prayer list

“Is Not My House Right With God?”

2 Samuel 23:1-7a

 These are the last words of David:

“The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High,

the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs:

 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me:

‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning,

like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’

 “Is not my house right with God?

Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?

Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?”

 

In this passage David affirms God’s promises to him.  David recognizes that to have power the king must rule over men in “righteousness” and in the “fear of God.”  With a confidence that his heirs would have a heart like God’s the way that David did, David stated, “Is not my house right with God?”  Little did David know that many of his descendants would pursue pagan gods!  No, even though David was right with God, David’s house would not be right with God.

But there is a descendant who fulfilled all of the promises.  He was neither a king of Judah nor Israel.  In fact he was raised in a normal, middle-class type home.  He was intended to take over his father’s carpenter business but became much more than a carpenter.  The descendant’s name was Jesus.  He will one day be announced as king of kings and lord of lords, and at his name every knee shall bow.

God can use anyone.  He used David to secure Israel.  He used Jesus to secure salvation for the world.  He wants to use each of us for His glory and to proclaim the good news of His salvation.

QUESTIONS:

1. Has God ever promised anything to you?  Has the promise been fulfilled?
2. Has God promised anything that will affect your descendants?
3. Is your house right with God?

PRAYER:

• Pray for the people on your prayer list.