SERVING THE LORD WILLINGLY

(23-05-2010) 1Timothy 1:12-16 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has counted me faithful and put me in the ministry. Each one of us who is called into a specific ministry, we start by answering the first call of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. I will say yes Lord.


Joshua 24:15,21 Serving the Lord is a choice. You should do it willingly.


Have a mind to work.


Nehemiah 4:6 "…, for the people had a mind to work." (King James Version). Do you have a mind to work? I mean working without anybody pushing you. Having a mind like that of Jesus whose delight was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work. (John 4:34)


Let's learn from the book of Nehemiah how to work.


It is easy to analyse, scrutinise and talk about the problems in the world or in the church. But we need people who are like Nehemiah who take action to solve the problem. Did you know that people who are committed to church do not have time to criticize or gossip?


Nehemiah 1:1-4 Nehemiah asked about the Jews who had survived the captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. After he heard the answer, he did something about the problem. There are people who ask just to satisfy their minds but do not help. But Nehemiah was a true servant of the Lord. He had a mind to work.


Doing the Lord's work does not mean you will go unchallenged. Opposition will come to try and stop you from fulfilling what God has called you to do. Expect opposition and challenges as you do the Lord's work.


Nehemiah 4:1-6 Sanballat and Tobiah were used by the enemy as source of discouragement, but people continued to work because they had a mind to work.

When the enemy tries to discourage you, take courage.


Nehemiah 6:16 As we succeed with tasks that look impossible, our enemy will know that the work had been done with the help of our God.


Haggai 1:14 When the Lord wanted his house to be built, he stirred up the spirit of His people to work on the house.


2 Corinthians 8:11-12 If there be first a willing mind, our offerings will be accepted according to what we have.


2 Corinthians 9:7 Even when you give, do it cheerfully and willingly.