Knowing God

I remember a time years ago when my son and I had the chance to attend a World Series game, and then rode on the team bus with the New York Yankees afterward. One of them introduced himself to my son: “Hi, I’m Reggie Jackson from California.” Nathan had no idea who “Mr. October” was, so he replied, “Hi, I’m Nate Heitzig from Albuquerque.”

The disciples of Jesus were in a similar state of ignorance in John 14. Although they knew Him better than any other people did, they didn’t fully comprehend His identity—His deity. That’s what Jesus was referring to when He said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me?” (v. 9). Instead of seeing Him as “my Lord and my God,” they said, “Show us the Father.” They didn’t fully know him, and they wanted some physical manifestation.

It’s possible to be around someone and not know who they are. I hear this from married people: “I’ve been married to him for 20 years, but I really don’t know him.”

But there are resources to knowing God. The first is simply being in His presence. It is possible to know God, when you have an open heart and an inquisitive mind. Spend time with Him—in prayer and in meditating on His Word.

The second is believing in His person. In verses 10-11, the word for believe means to keep on believing, and to let your faith grow. God is “a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Are you diligently seeking Him? Is your faith growing, or is it stagnant?

Third is bending to His Word. I believe one of the strongest signs of a real child of God is that person's hunger to learn more about God. If you want to know God, read His book. His personality, His will, what He hates, what He loves, how He works with people—all are revealed in His book.

And the fourth is beholding His works. In verse 11, Jesus says, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” One of the ways to know God is by seeing what He has done, for instance, the transformation in the lives He has touched.

Do you want to know God? Hang out with Him. Learn to trust Him more, surrender more. Read His book. Check out what He is doing. But let it be your highest priority in life to know God, as Jesus cried out, “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

By Skip Heitzig

VOLUNTEERS AND SERVANTS

“Volunteers raise their hand to be called on.
Servants are called by the Hand of God.

Volunteers do work for God.
Servants do work with God.

Volunteers get tired of the work,
Servants are tired in the work.

Volunteers pray their work will succeed.
Servants succeed as they pray for their work.

Volunteers serve from their commitment.
Servants serve in their surrender.

Volunteers come and go as they please.
Servants are pleased to come and stay.

Volunteers are faced with ministry problems.
Servants are faced with ministry opportunities.

Volunteers teach the Bible Story to others.
Servants are the Living Bible Story to others.

Volunteers want to be led in ministry.
Servants lead in ministry.

Volunteers love the Ministry
Servants love Jesus in the ministry.

Volunteers serve under their supervisor.
Servants serve God alone.

Volunteers see their ministry as small.
Servants see the world as their ministry.

Volunteers say, “This is the Day the Lord has made? 
Servants say, “This is the Day the Lord has made!!”

Volunteers are excited when they succeed.
Servants are excited to make others succeed.”

--Doug Sarver, FBC Springdale, Year Unknown

My Friend, Do You Need Refreshment?

Life giving water sources always have an incoming source and an outgoing flow. If either one of these stops, life stops. The same is true in our own lives and ministry.

Each of us in ministry need to be refreshed on a continual basis. Without refreshment, our well will ultimately run dry. On the other hand, we are called to be the source of refreshment to others. They depend on us for encouragement and help. Without our encouragement, they will fail. There is a giving and receiving side to refreshment; we need both to experience true Life in Jesus Christ.

In a recently added sermon titled, "The Ministry of Refreshment", Rev. Phillip Harrelson shares great insight into the Apostle Paul's ability to encourage and refresh others in ministry. Paul was able to do so because there were men in his life who encouraged and refreshed him. One of these men is a man rarely spoken of; His name is Onesiphorus. In this sermon, Rev. Harrelson shares the story of Onesiphorus's devotion to encouraging and refreshing Paul during his darkest hours.

When Paul was locked down in Rome, It was Onesiphorus who turned Rome upside down until he found him and encouraged him.

2 Timothy 1:17 KJV  But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

Rev. Harrelson states;

This is how great churches are built, by people who are willing to shoulder the responsibility and do the work of the ministry of refreshment.  Great churches don't just happen, they are populated by men and women who have great-hearts and are inclined to help somebody with their chain.   

Responsibility rings out of that passage of Scripture.  He sought me out very diligently. He searched hard.

·         This means traveling the high, stormy seas from Asia to Italy.

·         This means putting life on hold for an extended period of time.

·         This means leaving the warmth of family and the camaraderie of friends.

·         This means getting there at your own expense to do the will of God.

Onesiphorus was a noble-minded and strong-hearted man who had determined to give himself to the ministry of refreshment. 

This kind of devotion will knit the hearts of people in a church together. 

Paul was successful because he recognized the importance of the ministry of refreshment. There was always an incoming source and an outgoing flow of this ministry in his life.

Rev. James smith

Preach.org