DEVOTED
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The goal of this sermon series is to help all of us to be wholly devoted to the Lord. I hope that all of us desire, long to be wholly devoted to the Lord. I pray that we want to get back to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3). What do we mean simplicity and devotion?
simplicity - we are talking about striping everything away and forming simple habits that strengthen, nurture, and grow our relationship with God. It’s easy to make things complicated and to over extend ourselves in the affairs of the world. we are talking simple habits that help us be wholly devoted to the Lord.
purity - sincere love & devotion to the Lord. we can’t serve the Lord & money, we can’t serve the world & God, we cant love the world and God. We need simple habits that help us to to stay unstained by the world.
devotion to Christ - we need to be centered & focused on Heb. 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
How?
Remembering that God is wholly devoted to His children
devoted to prayer
devoted to getting rid of distractions
devoted to ministry of the word
devoted to ministry of the saints
devoted to the ministry of the word
“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Why must they be devoted to the ministry of the Word. It’s life and death when it comes to God’s Word. The furthering of the kingdom of God must be a priority. It takes much time & effort to spread the word and is of vital importance. We need more people devoted to the ministry of the Word. When we are talking about ministry of the word we first need to realize that it takes in-depth study. Mt. 4:4 the church hangs on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”
It’s not about just reading. It’s contemplating, reasoning, meditating, asking questions, understanding the context, the meaning of words.
For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
study needs to be of the bible, not books about the bible. the bible itself. life flows from Gods word not man written books. prayer and study must go together. “Study without prayer is the work of pride. Prayer without study is presumption.”
For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.
“Prayer humbles the heart and gives it the tone of Christ and makes it ready and open and sensitive to the truth of Scripture. But it is study that brings in the truth and fills the heart with joy and power”
Are you ready willing and able to give yourself to the ministry of the Word?
not everyone is going to be devoted to ministry of the Word. the church also needs people who are devoted to ministry of the saints. those seven men of good reputation and full of the spirit & wisdom were given the task of taking care of the widows. I think you can do both for we find Phillip preaching as well. But we need people who are devoted to ministering to the saints. Those help keep the saints saved. people, who encourage, keep track of the brethren, who love the brethren and who serve the brethren. They make sure the body of Christ has everything it needs.
Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
ministry of the saints is putting the church’s needs above your own needs. It is making sure everyone is OK. In order for the church to grow and function we need both those who are given to ministry of the word and those who are given to the ministry of the saints. Which one are you?
Are you struggling with devotion to the Lord? We are all here to help you so please don’t leave this morning without giving us an opportunity to encourage you and lift you up in prayer. Don’t forget that devotion begins with putting your life in Christ hands by being buried with Christ through baptism and being raised in newness of life. Devotion is maintained or built by constantly remembering that God is wholly devoted to his children so I should be devoted to Him. We can stay devoted by being devoted to prayer, devoted to getting rid of distractions, devoted to the ministry of the word, & devoted to the ministry of the saints. May God bless all of us as we strive to be wholly devoted to Him!