revking88

Because you use these opportunities to show others who Christ is. Anybody can be a witness when things are going good but the ones who can still profess Christ in the face of adversity are the ones that see progress rather than difficulties and advance the Word of Christ. Because he showed that no matter what the situation, he still preaches the gospel. He was bold and unafraid. He looked at it as an opportunity and took advantage of it. Stress in trying to be a better Christian. Overcoming my short-comings. I am a struggling Minister. My flock is small and not growing. My witness has been challenged to the point that I am close to losing my faith in God altogether. I joined this study in hopes of re-generating myself, kind of like a jump-start. I do not act or speak as a minister should. My witness is one of shame and guilt. I am looking to re-vive myself so that I can witness to people with the Lord on my side. I want Him to shine through me as He once did. I am beginning with baby-steps and I actually can feel the presence of God in some situations. I know that as I continue to "re-grow" I will become that witness for Christ that he wants me to be. Hopefully, one day, as my witness gets stronger, someone will ask me "what's up" and I will be able to show them the way to Christ. I hope that my flock, as small as it is, will see how my struggle and stress has made me stronger and that they will also become stronger and better witnesses for Christ. "Let your light shine before men. that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NIV

So they will be able to discern what is good and what not good and what is best so that they could continue to grow. Are you like a child, still drinking the "milk" out of the bible or are you an adult and eating the meat of the bible, growing and learning more and more everyday. That they may be pure and blameless and filled with the fruit of righteousness until the day of Christ. We can be so prepoccupied with the good things that we donlt have time for the best. We may think that we have the best already and stop looking for the best. We become complacent and stop growing in the direction or the way that we are meant to grew. We can get so wrapped up in the unimportant things that we miss out on the stuff that really matters.

He expects God to finish the good work that was started in Phillippi. Because our salvation and eternal destiny do not rely upon our feeble efforts to be righteous. Because God is faithful. That we sincerely seek to follow Christ, inspite of our imperfections.

I do hope I am doing this correctly. When we give financially help to missionaries we are assisting them to "go into all of the world and share the Gospel." By giving from our hearts we receive blessings from God in different forms. These blessings can come in a windfall or in one things at a time. God will bless us when we give. Tithes, Time, Talent and Love. Tithes has already been discussed. Time and talent are things that we can give to God that are unique to each of us. We each have time that we can set aside to do God's will, Sunday after church to do the dishes or pick up empty programs from the pew or be at church a few minutes early so you can help great. Giving of your talent can mean anything from painting a new sign for the church to having that extra-special talent for being able to weed-wack. Remember, it can't all be done alone so jump-in head-first. Money and time do not show the most important things is our walk as Christians. Anybody can throw money or spend time. It is the true Christian that loves God so much that others can see His work in us. That is where our ministry must begin. That is what holds others ministries together. The people of Phillippi loved Paul and Timothy and did what they could for them.

Hello, every body, sorry I am so late in posting this. Slaves are committed to the Master. We are slaves of Christ Jesus because we are committed to him and comitted to doing His will. The Saints are those that live the way Christ wants us to, to do His wil, living in righteousness. To be a Slave is to be a Saint, to be a Saint is to be a slave. Both require you to serve by living the way He wants. In both words,"You Belong to God. Period."