Let God minister to you and through you.

15 thoughts on “Let God minister to you and through you.”

1. That is so true today! God cares about every detail of our lives. I was serving in Kidzone and did the offering lesson Sunday. The lesson was about giving your first fruits to God and then the example was about having guests over to your house and giving them the best and not leftovers. The example was serving spaghetti. That is what I cooked Friday night for my friends. God is a personal God! He is so good to us!

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   1. I do not feel as if you need to find the reason why before you minister to others. God can use anyone in any situation to change another and yourself at the same time.

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   2. Amen sister and I needed that

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2. Thank you God for this word, touch my heart and help me to touch someone else’s heart by what you give me for them today In Jesus Name Amen 🙏

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3. God richlu bless u for this message. I believe this message is at the heart of our faith and relationship with God. Paul makes mention of being careful not to be a cast away after ministering to others about Christ. Sometimes we may be caught up in ministering to others to the extent that we forget that we have a personal life to live to please God

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4. Dearest Lord, please help me to please you in my relationship with others and to You as well. May l be known as your daughter in whom you are well pleased. I love you Lord !!!!

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5. Thank you Father,
   For choosing me to be your vessel and using me to your glory. I pray that you will continue to use and guide me.

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6. good morning daughter of the most high King I just want to share that we should Pray and seek God first for ourselves then we can be a better help to others have a blessed day

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7. To follow Jesus Christ one must know what it is to be a suffering servant willing to suffer set aside the blood of Jesus will keep you
   amen!

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8. Thank you for this word. I pour out so much of me…I soon forget God desires to pour into me. Here I sit in my van with tears reading this anointed post. This word touched my heart so deeply. Thank you for listening to the Lord for this word. I do need a word for me….a touch for me….a healing for me. Sometimes I feel like I am selfish if I seek for myself, thank you Father ! 🙌 I just cannot stop Thanking Him while these tears are flowing, I cannot stop the flow of my tears. Praise God!!!! Grow me Father and continue to minister to me, so I can be refreshed in order to refresh others. Thank you ! 😃

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9. Service /servant! Summit
   Vessel for the Lord Jesus Christ
   Jesus

   When the Bible talks about “ministry,” what is it talking about? When it says that Christians are to be involved in “works of ministry,” what does it mean? This article examines how the biblical writers used the words for ministry. This can help us understand a little better what we are to be doing in the church and in the world.

   Some of the words, although Greek, are not completely foreign to us. Our English word “deacon” is related to the Greek word diakonia, which is sometimes translated “ministry.” The English word “liturgy” comes from leitourgia, which can also be translated “ministry.”

   The word diakonia is used to describe the “ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4(link is external)), the “ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:8(link is external)) and the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18(link is external)). Leitourgia is used to describe the ministry that Jesus has received as our High Priest (Hebrews 8:6(link is external)). The Corinthian Christians were a result of Paul’s ministry (diakoneo), and Paul considered himself a “minister [leitourgos] of Christ Jesus” (2 Cor­inthians 3:3(link is external); Romans 15:16(link is external)).

   Diakonos service

   Diakonos refers to “a person who serves.” We get the English word “deacon” from it.

   In Philippians 1:1(link is external) and 1 Timothy 3:8-13(link is external) it denotes an office in the church. But almost everywhere else, the word is used in a more general sense. It refers to apostles, preachers and lay members more often than it does to deacons. The general sense of the word is “assistant.” It indicates work that benefits someone else. Paul used this word to describe himself as a servant of the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:5(link is external)), a servant of God (2 Corinthians 6:4(link is external)), a servant of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6(link is external)), a servant of the gospel (Eph­esians 3:7(link is external); Colossians 1:23(link is external)) and a servant of the church (verse 25).

   Paul said that many of his co-workers were also servants: Phoebe (Romans 16:1(link is external)), Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21(link is external); Colossians 4:7(link is external)), Timothy (1 Timothy 4:6(link is external)) and Epaphras (Colossians 1:7(link is external)). Jesus said that his followers should be servants (Matthew 20:26(link is external); 23:11(link is external); John 12:26(link is external)). All Christians must be servants. We are deacons of Christ, of his message and of one another.

   Diakoneo is the verb form of diakonos; it means “serve.” The most specific meaning of diakoneo is to work with food to serve other people. Martha “served” at a dinner (John 12:2(link is external); Luke 10:40(link is external)). Jesus told parables about servants who were expected to prepare food and serve their masters (Luke 17:8(link is external); 22:27(link is external)). In the early church, seven men were chosen “to wait on tables” (Acts 6:2-3(link is external)).

   Diakoneo can refer to more general types of service, too. Jesus served his disciples (Matthew 20:28(link is external); Mark 10:45(link is external)). Jesus’ disciples should also serve (Luke 22:27(link is external); John 12:26(link is external)). When we serve others, we are showing love to God (Hebrews 6:10(link is external)).

   Some people served Paul in prison (Philemon 13(link is external); 2 Timothy 1:18(link is external)). Serving can include financial assistance: Several women served Jesus from their own possessions (Luke 8:3(link is external)). Paul collected an offering to serve the saints in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25(link is external)).

   Diakoneo often means manual labor, but service to others can also be done through speaking. When Jesus said that he served his disciples, he included his teaching. The gospel is included when Paul says that the Corinthian church was a result of his serving (2 Corinthians 3:3(link is external)).

   1 Peter 4:10-11(link is external) uses the word in both a general sense and then in a more specific sense:

   Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides.

   Everyone should serve (in a general sense), but each serves in a different way – some serve by speaking and some serve by manual labor. It is this latter type of service that forms the core of the office of deacon (1 Timothy 3:10(link is external), 13(link is external)). No matter what type of serving is done, it should be done with the strength God provides, so that he gets the praise and glory (1 Peter 4:11(link is external)).

   Diakonia is another word in the diakonos family. It denotes the result of serving – “service” or “ministry.” It is translated in a variety of ways. Martha was busy with dinner “preparation” (Luke 10:40(link is external)). In the early church, there was a daily “distribution” of food for widows (Acts 6:1(link is external)). Famine relief was also called a ministry (Acts 11:29(link is external); 12:25(link is external); Romans 15:31(link is external); 2 Corinthians 8:4(link is external); 9:1(link is external), 12-13(link is external)). When Macedonian believers supported Paul, it was a ministry to him (2 Corinthians 11:8(link is external)).

   Diakonia is often used to refer to a spiritual ministry. The apostles had a “ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4(link is external)). Paul said that his ministry was “the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24(link is external)). Paul’s message of recon­ciliation was his ministry (2 Corinthians 5:18(link is external)). The new covenant is a “ministry that brings righteousness” (2 Corinthians 3:8-9(link is external)).

   All members are encouraged to have a ministry. Church leaders exist “to prepare God’s people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:12(link is external)) – “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (NRSV). There are different kinds of ministry (1 Cor­inthians 12:5(link is external)), but they should all be used “for the common good” (verse 7). Those who have been given a gift of ministry should use that gift (Romans 12:7(link is external)). Those who have other gifts should likewise use them to serve others (1 Peter 4:10(link is external)).

   Doulos service

   Paul frequently called himself a doulos – a slave or servant of Jesus Christ. In Jewish society, a doulos was usually a servant. In Greek society, he was usually a slave. However, this type of service is not restricted to slaves and apostles – it is commanded for all Christians. This is another description of our ministry.

   Christ took on the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:7(link is external)), and he quoted the proverb, “No servant is greater than his master” (Matthew 10:24-25(link is external); John 15:20-21(link is external)). Since our Master served as a servant, shouldn’t we also be servants? In Christianity, greatness is measured by service. “Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Matthew 20:27(link is external); Mark 10:44(link is external)).

   Numerous people were called slave-servants of God: Moses, Simeon, Mary, Paul, Timothy, Silas, Luke, Epaphras, Tychicus, Peter, John, James and Jude. All of God’s people are commanded to be servants (1 Peter 2:16(link is external)). Service is part of what it means to be a Christian. Many of Jesus’ parables included servants; these parables have extra meaning for Christians, the servants of Christ.

   Doulos also has metaphorical uses – sinners are slaves of whatever has power over them (2 Peter 2:19(link is external)). Christ frees us from the slavery of the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15(link is external)). He frees us from the slavery of sin (John 8:34(link is external); Romans 6:16-20(link is external)) by redeeming us, purchasing us with his own blood. He frees us from “the yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1(link is external)) so that we may serve him in the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:6(link is external)). We become slaves to obedience, slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:16-22(link is external)).

   Christians are “slaves of Christ” (1 Corinthians 7:22(link is external); Ephesians 6:6(link is external)). We are all admonished to serve the Lord (Romans 12:11(link is external); 14:18(link is external); 1 Thes­salonians 1:9(link is external)), and one of the primary responsibilities our Lord gives us is to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13(link is external)). As slaves of Christ and slaves of one another, we serve one another by using the gifts God gives us (see appendix below).

   Paul calls us slaves, but he also says that we are not slaves (Galatians 4:7(link is external)). In some ways we are like slaves, but in other ways we are not. With respect to obedience, our obligation to Christ is like that of a slave – we are to obey. But with respect to reward, we are much better than slaves. “As long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave…. You are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4:1(link is external), 7(link is external)).

   “A slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever” (John 8:35(link is external)). “I no longer call you servants…. Instead, I have called you friends” (John 15:15(link is external)).

   Worship service

   Some Greek words for service also mean worship. Latreia and latreuodenote religious service or worship. (We see the root word latr- in the English word idolatry.) The NIV uses “serve” and “worship” almost interchangeably for these words. Worship was done at the temple (Luke 2:37(link is external); Acts 7:7(link is external); Romans 9:4(link is external); Hebrews 8:5(link is external); 9:1(link is external), 6(link is external), 9(link is external);10:2(link is external); 13:10(link is external)). In Revelation, the saints “serve” God in his heavenly temple (Revelation 7:15(link is external)) and will “serve” him always (Revelation 22:3(link is external)).

   Christ has cleansed us so that we may “serve” God (Hebrews 9:14(link is external)). We are exhorted to “wor­ship” God (Hebrews 12:28(link is external)). Christians “worship” by the Spirit of God (Philippians 3:3(link is external)). Paul exhorts us to be living sacrifices, which is our “reasonable service” (KJV), “your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1, NIV(link is external)). Our service to God is not centered on a temple, but is done wherever we are.

   Leitourg- words originally referred to a public service, but they eventually came to refer specifically to religious service and worship. We get the English word liturgy from these Greek words. This was the type of service Jewish priests performed (Luke 1:23(link is external); Hebrews 10:11(link is external); 9:21(link is external)). This religious service is now done by Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 8:2(link is external), 6(link is external)). In the context of priests and sacrifices, Paul said that he was a “minister” of Jesus Christ (Romans 15:16(link is external)).

   A practical service such as famine relief could be called a leitourgia(Romans 15:27(link is external); 2 Corinthians 9:12(link is external)). By using a leitourg- word, Paul was reminding his readers that this seemingly ordinary service to the saints was actually an act of worship. All Christians can perform religious service (Acts 13:2(link is external); Philippians 2:17(link is external)).

   Ministry of all believers

   There is a progression in the way worship words are used. In the old covenant, God required the Israelites to serve him through a priesthood, a sacrificial system and a temple. In the new covenant, allChristians worship God through spiritual sacrifices, and we all serve God in the Spirit. The ministry of worship has been given to all the people.

   This is one reason the 16th-century Reformers taught “the priesthood of all believers.” Jesus Christ is the High Priest, and all Christians are priests (1 Peter 2:5(link is external), 9(link is external); Revelation 1:6(link is external)). Every Christian can enter the heavenly Holy of holies because of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:19(link is external)). Christians offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5(link is external); Romans 12:1(link is external)). We also have the priestly duty of interceding for one another in prayers and in practical action.

   The Reformers also noted that Christians serve God through their secular work – their vocation or “calling” – as well as through their involve­ment in the church. A person who grows food is providing a service to society; a person who works in a factory or teaches school does, too. Christian homemakers and government employees are also serving others.

   “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31(link is external)). All work – in the home, in the store, in the car and in the office – is an act of worship to God. We are his slaves – full-time ministers in his service.

   Summary

   The New Testament says the same thing in many different ways: Christians are commanded to serve one another. None of the words for service or ministry is restricted to the ordained clergy. All members are enslaved to one another. We all have obligations to one another. Whether our service is in word or in deed, it is a religious duty for all Christians. Whether we are ordained or not, we are all called to serve the Lord by serving one another.

   As slave-servants, we are ministering to one another, to the church, to the gospel and to the Lord. God has given each of us a ministry. We should minister to one another’s needs. God has given us abilities so that we will use them to serve others. All Christians – whether men, women, deacons or elders – are called to be ministers.

   Appendix A: Allelon

   The Greek word allelon gives us a helpful introduction to the ways in which Christians should serve each other, because this Greek word means “one another” or “each other.” It is often used to describe our mutual obligations — the responsibility that all members have toward one another.

   Perhaps the most comprehensive command Jesus gave was the well-known “Love one another” (John 13:34). “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (verses 34-35). This command is such a fundamental statement of our Christian duty that it is given again in John 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12; and 2 John 5. This is the attitude in which we should always interact with one another.

   Paul developed the command a little further: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13). He prayed that the Lord would help the Thessalonians’ love to increase not only for each other, but that their love would also increase for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12). “Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” I hope this blesses

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10. lets continue to be blessed, encourage and reminded.
    thank You Lord for your reminders to me today as I ponder upon Your word today. Amen

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11. This is so true, nothing we do should be of ourselves . The word says, not by might, not by power but by MY SPIRIT says the Lord. On our own we can do nothing,but through the working and urging of the Spirit in us things begin to happen in the lives of those we are meant to pray for or serve. This is a powerful truth thank you for setting the example by being led by the Holy Spirit in what you send out. You’re such a blessing, God bless Your ministry richly to change many lives.

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12. 1 cor.9:29 “But l keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when l have preached to others, l myself should be a castaway”. Let my life so shine before men so that people will glorify You by my exampliary life

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13. Hallelujah❕🙌👏👐🎉🎀LOVE SPEAKS❗💯💖💗💙💚💛DOTK👑😇Ty❕🙏🌷🍓🍒🍉🍇💌🙏

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