Promises for the Battle
Service
Courage #7—Courageous Humility
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6–7 Here’s the trouble: hanging on to our anxiety feeds our sense of self-sufficiency and our commitment to self-exaltation. Since pride actually goes before … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Prayer 2023
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15 As I thought about this year’s Thanksgiving prayer, I noticed that the Apostle Paul rarely runs out of words to express the power and scope of his delight for all that God did for his people through Christ. But at the close of his … Continue reading
Freedom #7—Freedom to Serve
Though I am free from all, I have enslaved myself to all that I might win the more. … I have become all things to all kinds of people … I do all this for the sake of the gospel so I might participate in it. 1 Corinthians 9:18–23 Cultural restraints do not bind Christians. … Continue reading
Freedom #6—Transforming Freedom
When someone turns to the Lord, the inability to see God’s glory is removed. The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we each, with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. 2 Corinthians … Continue reading
Freedom #2b—Serving in Freedom
You were called to freedom, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-centered action, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 It is good to be free. Some we know think highly enough of freedom to invest a good portion of their lives securing and preserving it for others as well … Continue reading
Freedom #2—Loving Freedom
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. … For you were called to freedom; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:1, 13 Because we are … Continue reading
Servants #1—Merciful Servants
God designed us to be stewards of his grace who serve one another in his name. Since we are all difficult to serve, we need to be motivated. Moving beyond ourselves, out of our comfort zones and into the messy details of one another’s lives takes great confidence that we will have the physical and … Continue reading
Comfort #2—Ministry Comfort
I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:7 The comfort of love rests on the evidence of service. Love is comforting only if we know it is real. In an age when we hear the word “love” … Continue reading
Grace #4—Co-operating Grace
I am the least of the apostles—unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not wasted. Instead, I strove harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of … Continue reading
Grace #2—Grace for Service
Toward scorners Yahweh is scornful, but to the humble he gives grace. … Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5). Peter not only knew the Scripture he had been taught, he also learned from the example … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 