25/01/2024
WILLING HEARTS, WILLING VESSELS
Matt. 8:18-22; II Cor. 8:1-5,12
18 When Jesus saw the crowd, he went across Lake Galilee. 19 A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him and said, “Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.”
21 Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
22 Jesus answered, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” (Matt.8:18-22)CEV
1 My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have shown others God's gift of undeserved grace. 2 Although they were going through hard times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. 3 They gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to. 4 They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people. 5 And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do.
12 It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have. (II Cor. 8:1-5, 12) CEV
A willing heart and a willing vessel are most desirable to God in His service. From the Old Testament church to the New Testament church; the scripture shows that God only accepts OFFERINGS (materials, money or man) that comes from a willing heart. (Ex. 25:1-2)
One of the distinguishing features and indices of a willing heart and vessel is FAT.
F - FAITHFULNESS
A - AVAILABILITY
T - TEACHABILITY
Your faithfulness in all things; to the word of God, money, men, time, the church etc., aptly indicate the condition of your heart.
The availability in the place of christian duty is crucial in testing the functionality of a church worker. Many supposed church workers are like the Scribe in the biblical passage read earlier in the eight chapter of the gospel according to Matthew.
They hastily resolved to follow Jesus out of religious impulse without Godly conviction and counting the cost of being Christ's disciples.
Their resolve to be church workers come from a worldly, covetous principle to gain reputation without responsibilities. Comfort without corrections (they detest rebuke and reproof), excitement without exposition (you will never see them in the Bible class), worship without warnings and happiness without holiness. (Cf. II Tim. 3:16-17)
Are you the type that always give excuses because of the hardship and difficulties in serving the Christ of the church like the Scribe? Or slow and sluggish in heeding to His call for discipleship and service?
8 After this, I heard the LORD ask, “Is there anyone I can send? Will someone speak for us?”
“I'll go,” I answered. “Send me!” (Is. 6:8, CEV)
"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."(Ezek. 22:30,KJV)
A church worker must be a willing vessel who is teachable. Willing to learn, unlearn and relearn. A day one ceases to learn is to live in fool's paradise. One of the parameters of Jesus' disciples is learning at His feet. The early church which is our model church continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. (Acts.2:42)
This weekend God's willing, all the soldiers of the cross will be converging in the Christ's barracks for revitalization, refilling, refueling, re- enforcement to refire for the Lord.
Are you willing heartily to be counted for the Lord of the church as part of His battalions?
3 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering. 4 Soldiers on duty don't work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer. 5 No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules.(II Tim. 2:3-5)
See you on Fri 26th Jan., by 11:00pm at the Empowerment night, Sat., 27th Jan., by 9:00am in the Ministers'/ Workers' seminar tagged: The Purpose, Pattern and Partnering in the body of Christ
Yours in His grip,
Pst. J. A. Gbolahan
