“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” (vs11-12)
The ministry’s goal is the helping and strengthening of others. We do what we do because we love PEOPLE, not just doctrine, and this is because we FIRST love Christ, because He loves us.
The essence of grace is ELECTION, so that I did nothing to put myself into Christ and receive the benefits. Like Paul, I’ve been chosen - “The God of our fathers has chosen you“ (Acts 22:14). Meeting Christ was a gift of grace, which I didn’t earn or even seek (Acts 22:6-9). God came upon me uniquely, saved me from perishing in hell, and He did this according to His will, turning me from darkness to light, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom 9:13).
Now, when I believe God’s love to me, He gives me love for people. And now, that I understand the will of God, my way of saying “thanks” to God is to serve people, “For you shall be his witness unto all men of what you have seen and heard” (experienced of Christ’s grace) (Acts 22:15).
(1) I’m not preaching to be noticed or approved of; I’m preaching so that SINNERS can be spared and saints saved. We love people, so we serve them, rather than using salvation to serve ourselves, as if we’re great and worthy of praise.
If I’d done something, then I’d exalt myself as a king, but having done nothing, I can only serve as my reasonable response: Yes, election is unto service, and every God-taught child agrees that it is right for us to LOVE in response to His love, to do others good because He’s done great things for us… to live that THEY be saved, because we are saved already.
(2) This assurance of purpose is in the scriptures, and blessed are all who participate. Let your love and care for men ABOUND. If you’ve been called to be a saint, then be a saint wholeheartedly, devoting yourself to PEOPLE, and you will experience the harmony of God in your soul, as you do His will - “we have received grace and apostleship“, Paul says, “for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name“, so that everyone may hear and honor Christ (Rom 1:5). Do not slack back from your purpose and become selfish; serve others and serve your own joy in the process.
We preach, labor, give, pray, and do all sorts of things for the souls of men. We are not those who say, “God is sovereign, and He doesn’t need me”, but we know OUR mission, and we BEG God to use us - “Making request, if by any means now at length, I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established“ (vs10-11). He needs no one, but BLESSED are those tools that He uses to spare and serve His people. He rewards us both now and forever.
(3) You and I can’t be happy self-serving, so break away from it and get grace of holiness. You and I are holy the instant that we believe, but washing continues daily, and this is how we grow - Jesus said to [Peter], “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean…” We have sins exposed and healed, we get Christ in areas of need and failure, and the result is a better person and life, as God accepts us and what we do by faith (Gen 4:4; Heb 11:4).
If you are called of God, it is to holiness, which is love, which is helping others to know the God who reveals Himself to you (1 Thess 3:12-13).
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