Sanctification 1,,

Thots( Our Sanctification )-1The heroed models of Christianity are defined by scriptures. They are those who lay aside in order to serve. They put aside ambitions, pleasures and privileges to serve others. They follow Christ. They Model Him. They make us see in the present day why and how Christ came.Jesus came to Serve. To be used of others.He was "our" waiter. He waited on us- on our needs and insufficiencies.The Woman at the well must have been astonished when He told her who He was.John 4:10 Jesus answered her, If you had only known and had recognized God’s gift and Who this is that is saying to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given you living water.He waited on her. To serve her. To save her.She got the gist. She went about to get more people for Him to serve!John 4:39 Now numerous Samaritans from that town believed in and trusted in Him because of what the woman said when she declared and testified, He told me everything that I ever did.40 So when the Samaritans arrived, they asked Him to remain with them, and He did stay there two days.41 Then many more believed in and adhered to and relied on Him because of His personal message [what He Himself said.Jesus remained with them to serve them. He was hungry. But service came calling. He went for the higher cause. To serve others.When the disciples came he summarised it this way.John 4:31 Meanwhile, the disciples urged Him saying, Rabbi, eat something.32 But He assured them, I have food (nourishment) to eat of which you know nothing and have no idea.33 So the disciples said one to another, Has someone brought Him something to eat?34 Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) ofHim Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.Simple. I am satisfied when others are blessed. This is the spirit of Christianity.We must learn to forgo pleasures and privileges if we are to truly serve.1Corinthians 9:19 For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ.Service is a choice. You choose to be available for others to use!1 Corinthians 10:33 Just as I myself strive to please [to accommodate myself to the opinions, desires, and interests of others, adapting myself to] all men in everything I do, not aiming at or considering my own profit and advantage, but that of the many in order that they may be saved.I have often taught that "the call of God" upon our lives begins when we layaside our plans and pursuits to follow His.Mark 10:29 Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or landsfor My sake and for the Gospel’s30 Who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—housesand brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.They didn’t divorce their wives or disown their kids. Peter still retained his wife and family (1 Corinthians 9:5).But when service comes calling, you put the gospel above family! Above wealth, earthly positions and possessions. Your priorities change.It is no longer family first. It is Christ first. The gospel first. Lives first. Service firstService is the proof of growth.Your personal holiness is useless and vain if NO ONE is receiving salvation, edified, blessed, helped, assisted by you!Service involves helping others. Meeting the needs of others.This service is primarily directed to the Church.We must see ourselves as conduit pipes for others. I mean primarily fellow believers.We must take care of others. We are NOT doing them a favour. We are serving them.I once grumbled about members of the church disturbing me with requests, needs, counselling requests too. The Lord rebuked me. You can’tgrumble over what is your core work. If you grumble , you grumble at Me. You lose your reward. You are to be used. I quickly repented.It is an honour to be bugged. I am only filling the shoes of my Lord! What a privilege! So as not to lose my reward I set my heart right. Motive is more important than activity.I LOVE TO SERVE.We must begin to see ourselves filling the Masters PLACE. The unseen Lord is seen through our devotion to others- most importantly, the Church.He served, we serve. He was used, we are being used.1 Corinthians 11:1 Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).If we must follow men, it must be because they follow the Master. They serve like Him.Many have "dragged" ministry into worldliness. It is now affluence and influence.It is shameful to find Christian leaders teaching secular, worldly leadership.We have been taught and have said that leadership is influence.I agree.But what is that influence?Charisma? Oratory? Wealth? Wits? Fame or acclaim?Matthew 20:25 And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].26 Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,27 And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slaveService. This is the influence.We stop taking initiatives from the world.We must be the influence. The servants. In His service.1Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.Before you start looking for "those who are not serving", remember that its’our collective CALL!By the Way,its trite to NOTE that u will not be judged for another persons work but yours.No matter the amount of energy u put into judging other ministries,u will discover that u have simply being a busy body if u have no work at all to be judged.The Following scriptures will help1Cor3:12 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.You will be tested for what u did/do and not Oyedepo's Church or Hagins's books or Spurgeons errors or Oritsejafors Jet.2Cor5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.Things U have done in the body not what others are doing or are not doing.Rom14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.You will give account of yourself NOT others to God.Keep more watch on your life,ministry and doctrine just as Paul warned timothy!Its needful to know just as Paul had a course to follow and Finnish (2Tim4:7),we all have ours and must keep watch over this. Archippus was told to take heed to his ministry and fulfill it and not other's(Col4;17)!Its time to serve and be available to the Body of Christ.Keep busy working in His HouseWe must be models for one another!Seen this? I love to serve, I want to serve the church- The body of Christ. You have blessed weekJesus is lord,We win!( first posted 2012)