Marks of The Ministry

Billy Graham says: “As an evangelist, I have often felt very weak to minister from the pulpit to men and women who have filled stadiums to hear a message from the Lord. Yet again and again ... More

Steadfast

Often those in the church who cause problems are people who have never truly been born again. They may think they are saved but they are not (vv. 1-2). There is no guarantee that any sinner will have the opportunity to be saved tomorrow. Paul paid a tremendous price to be faithful to the ministry God had called him to, and yet the Corinthians didn’t appreciate all he did for them (v. 3). In these verses Paul was not begging for praise, but he was just reminding the Christians at Corinth that his ministry to them had cost him dearly. As Paul shares how the pressures were coming in from every side, he lists twenty-seven categories that can be divided as follows:

 

1.              His trials (vv. 4-5).

2.              His tools (vv. 6-7).

3.              His testimony (vv. 8-10).

 

In everything he did, Paul always considered what his actions communicated about the Lord. As believers we must be steadfast as we minister for Jesus Christ. Every day, non-Christians observe us. Paul stood faithful to God whether people praised him or condemned him. He remained active, joyous, and content in the most difficult hardships. As a Christian, we must never let our careless or undisciplined actions be another person’s excuse for rejecting Christ.

Application

I must never let people’s expectations govern what I do or don’t do in life. I must be steadfast for God and refuse to compromise my standards for living regardless of what trials may come my way.

II Corinthians 6:1-10 (English Standard Version)


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