Becoming Diligent Intentional Christians

For ye remember, brethren, our

labor 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 everyone of you,

as a father doth his children

that ye would walk worthy of God,

who hath called you unto 

his kingdom and glory.

1Thessalonians 2:9-12

    Paul is speaking to the Thessalonian Church concerning the faithful discharge of the office of ministry and this concern was to appeal to them to also be faithful in their ministry to which they had been called. Every Christian has a particular calling and in their particular relations, therefore Paul is reminding them of their duty and exciting them to be faithful in their duty and calling and quickening them in their performance of this duty. How affectionate does Paul remind them for he does this as a father, as a father would do the same to their children. We can learn much from this by Paul for he uses persuasion, encouragement, and even commands. This call to our duty is not just for pastors or Church leaders, it is for all Christians for all are called and all have a ministry. Authentic Christians are those who walk worthy of the kingdom or God, for it is God who called them, us, into His kingdom. This is the Gospel, it is God who called you, it is God who has given freely salvation, and an eternal home with Him and it is this message of the Gospel that we are to preach, to teach, to speak to others about. This is a great privilege to be called by God into this work. Peter reminds us: "Wherefore brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2Peter 2:10). What things? Peter wrote before: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (2Peter 2:5-7). 

      There is work to be done by each and every one of us and that work begins with us so that we can be a faithful and trusty worker for God. We are not to be apathetic, just to be a Christian, just to have this hope, no, we are to be proactive, intentional witness for God and for Jesus Christ who saves. Are you being an intentional Christian for the truth? If so, then you can join with those Paul was commending: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13). 

    Do you believe? If so then put all aside that are taking up the priority above being a witness, an ambassador for God, and put God in the highest position and priority of you life. This is your calling, make your election sure by working with God, not for Him, but with Him. It is God first, God in the middle and God in the last. Our time on earth is short but our time in heaven with God is eternal. Our home is not here, this is only temporary, we have been called into His kingdom, therefore live as what you have been called to be: a child of God, the bride of Jesus Christ. There is no higher calling, no work more important. Be intentional, be a witness towards God.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greaer,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; 

To added affliction He addeth His Mercy

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. 

His Love has no limit: His grace has no measure;

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth and giveth and giveth again

                               Annie Johnson Flint

God is your Strength

Richard L. Crumb

Not Seeking The Flattery Of Men

For neither at any time used we

flattering words, as ye know,

nor a cloke of covetousness; 

God is witness: nor of men

sought we glory, neither

of you, nor yet of others,

when we might have been

burdensome, as apostles

of Christ. But we were gentle 

among you, even as a nurse

cherisheth her children;

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.

1Thessalonians 2:5-8

     Paul avoided flattery a thing not so often seen by preachers and teachers that attempt to glow in flattery from others. Sincerity is missing that was not missing by Paul for he preached Jesus Christ crucified. Paul did attempt to gain an interest in men's affections for themselves or others and by this Paul did not flattery men in their sins with vain hopes, or indulge them in any evil work. Today there are so-called "Christian" denominations that approve of homosexuality, same-sex marriage and a host of other sins clearly condemned in Scripture both Old and New Testament. We have to be careful in our approval of men who are godly for even then deceit can arise and interfere with the simplicity of the Gospel. You see many attempt approval and lose sight of the simplicity of faithfulness and our trust and faith simply in Jesus Christ our God and Savior. Vain glory last but a minute and is soon forgotten after we are gone, it is more than fleeting, it is vainity for a momentary self-aggrandizement that infects and affects our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus our greatest example trusted no man: yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, never in despair about any man, because He put God first in trust; He trustee absolutely in what God's grace could do for any man (John 2:24-25). Trusting in human beings first will cause a person to end up in despair, even despair of everyone. Bitterness comes when trust is lost or misapplied for a person insists upon a person being what no man can become and that is absolutely right. Mildness and tenderness is greatly recommended and is conformable to God gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the Gospel. Be ready to do good and to love your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Do good to all, even those who are not a brother or sister. It is this love of God that brings forth good fruit and blessings. 

     Many find it easier to do something for God than to trust in God. We find ourselves in a panic mode and think that this is inspiration. There are so many who are fellow workers for God and few fellow workers with God. This is a lack of trust in God and even a possibility of thinking that God must do what I can't do or that God will not do what I can do. This is a whishy-washy faith and trust. Despair is when a person loses sight that in their own realization of God's power in their lives has dimmed and place the realization upon what they have done and not give to God His wonderful due for doing what is necessary for a person. Keeping a close relationship with God, with Jesus Christ will keep a person from just relying on common sense, even common religious sense, for they come to believe that with just a little more Bible reading, a little more prayer, attending more meetings, more devotion, while all important they are not to take the place of living the life of a child of God. Keep your relationship tight with God, with Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to operate through and with you. You are to manifest the Gospel in any way possible. 

     Paul and the other apostles labored long and hard to bring the Gospel to others, so, why are we not doing the same. We are in place today of the Apostles, we have the same work, to preach, teach, to live daily, momentarily, the Gospel. Preach the Gospel of God!

Moreover he said unto me, 

    Son of man, all my words

that I shall speak unto thee

    receive in thine heart, and

hear with thine ears. and go, 

    get thee to them of the 

captivity, unto the children 

    of they people, and speak

unto them, and tell them, 

    'Thus saith the Lord God; 

whether they will hear, or

    whether they will forbear.

                 Ezekiel 3:10-11

Speak the Gospel today to someone

Richard L. Crumb  

Becoming Fearless Workers For God

For yourselves, brethren, know our

entrance in unto you, that it was

not in vain: but even after that

we had suffered before, and were

shamefully entreated, as ye know,

at Philippi, we were bold in our God

to speak unto you the gospel of God

with much contention. For our 

exhortation was not of deceit, nor

 of uncleanness, nor in guile: but

as we were allowed of God to be

in trust with the gospel, even so

we speak; not as pleasing men, 

but God, which trieth our hearts.

1Thessalonians 2:1-4

 

     A good leader is one that inspects what he expects and gives encouragement so that an employee will progress and perform according to why he/she was hired. Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians as to their progress in faith and holiness, and does this by reminding them of the manner of his preaching, and behaviour. The Thessalonians received the gospel as the word of God, which then worked in them. Paul was overjoyed by this account and desired even more to come to them. The persecution and suffering of Paul, and other apostles was known to them and yet they never wavered from preaching the Gospel of living actively their faith in God, in Jesus Christ, and in His inspired word. 

     Unlike many "preachers" today, they preach words of acceptance by the hearers so that this word leads them, not unto the Gospel, not to living and manifesting true Gospel, rather that they are having their ears tickled. This is deceitfulness, unclean, filled with much guile. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that this was not the way the Gospel was presented to them for he never wavered from the life that God has led him. Paul and the Apostles were bold in their presentation of the Gospel. There was no worldly design in their preaching, all was for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

     At first the Gospel was met with much contention. There were the Judiaizers, the Gnostics, and add to this within many of the cities Christians were persecuted for their faith. Soon even Rome itself joined in this persecution. This did not stop Paul, or the other Apostles. Franklin Roosevelt first inaugural address (1932) stated: "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days." (Italics mine).

     Sometimes it is easy to be entrapped by fear and often this fear is nameless and not found on reasoning, not rationalization, rather upon reasoning found in God's word. Authentic Christians have the Holy Spirit Who will guide and direct a person so long as that person has as their foundation the Gospel of God and not of man. Victory is not found in numbers. Victory is that a person sets aside themselves, to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Jesus Christ. Even when the odds seem to be against you, you are victorious: "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is they sting? O grave, where is they victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abundinb in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that you labour is not in vain in the Lord: *1Corinthians 15:54-58).

     Be an intentional Christian and serve the Lord by taking the Gospel to others. Make time to write letters, to make phone calls, to go and pass out tracts, to prepare to speak the Gospel to anyone who asks (1Peter 3:15). There is time to do things with the family, vacations, dinners, picnics, etc., but we have more to do and that is to bring the Gospel to our world. We are already victorious, our final home is with Jesus Christ eternally, we have no reason to fear.

 

We will shout for joy when you are victorious

   and will lift up our banners in the name of our God 

May the LORD grant all your requests. Now I know that

    the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from

His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.

    Some trust in chariots and some in horses. but we

trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are

     brought to their knees  and fall, but we rise up 

and stand firm. LORD, save the king! Answer us

     when we call.

                 Psalm 20:5-8  

 

Stand Firm For the Faith

 

Richard L. Crumb