II Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

What is your ministry field for God? Are you a faithful minister unto God right where HE has placed you today? It is easy to become focused on the future and everything that God might have for you soon. However, the future should not be your focus, your focus needs to be serving God right where HE has placed you today.

It only takes you a few minutes to read the entire story of Joseph. However, from the time Joseph was sold as a slave until he was released from prison was a total of 13 years. During this time, Joseph was focused upon serving the Lord right where the Lord had placed him. Joseph suffered many afflictions and many distresses, but by being patient, God was glorified through his life.

Things do not always go your way. Your dreams sometimes will seem just like that, a dream. However, just because things do not go your way, that does not mean that God is not looking out for you. God has you right where HE desires you to be. God knew that Adam and Eve were going to sin and HE allowed them to do so. God knew that Peter was going to deny Jesus, but HE gave Peter a way of escape and when Peter did not spend the time in prayer, Peter by his own choice denied Jesus Christ.

We must remember that God has placed us right where HE desires us to be. God has a ministry for us with the people whom HE has already placed in our life. Maybe we do not see the people around us as the great and glorious ministry that we desire to have. Nonetheless, there is someone in our life that we can touch if we will only allow ourselves to be a vessel in the hands of God. Rather than looking for all the ways that we expect God to bless us, we should be looking for all the ways that we can minister unto God.

God is able to take your afflictions and turn them into HIS glory. God is able to take our distresses and change them into HIS glory. God is able to take those times when we have to exercise patience and use them so that those who are around us see the power of God in our life.

Maybe you desire to be a missionary. Maybe you desire to be the head of some exciting ministry. Maybe you desire to be an inspirational speaker that touches the life of millions. You must understand that just because things are not going your way, it does not mean that God is not in the center of your problems. If you will learn to see God right where you are, then you will be in a position that God can use you right where you are. As you see God work in your life in the small things, God will be able to expand your horizons so that HE is glorified in great things.

It does not matter how big or how small your world seems, you cannot afford to allow Satan to focus your attention upon that which is not in front of you today. Satan would like nothing more to make you ineffective for God by causing you to think really big for the cause of Christ. Because you become so focused on all the ways that God can use you, you very quickly lose sight of all the ways that you are not serving God today.

Yes you may desire to do great things for God, but you need to remember that this time of patience is a part of God’s plan. God is not going to put you in a situation that you are not able to handle. Learn to thank God for allowing you to wait for HIS perfect timing. Learn to serve God today right where HE has placed you.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The New Testament church was growing and it became clear to all that the widows were not being taken care of as they should have been. The twelve apostles requested that seven followers be selected to take care of the widows so that they could continue to dedicate themselves to the ministry that God had called them to.

It is real easy to become distracted from the purpose that God has for you. All around you there are people who have some ministry that they think is really important and they may constantly be telling you just how great their ministry is. However, just as there is a difference between a toe and a knee, so also God has created each of us with a different purpose in life.

The apostles understood that while the ministering to the widows was an important duty, it was not the calling that God had for them. If they were to drop their ministry and start taking care of the widows, they would be out of the will of God for their life.

Have you ever met an individual who was really into soul winning? Every day you can find them sharing the gospel with someone. This individual has lost track of how many souls that they have led to the Lord. Most likely, this individual has also applied a lot of pressure on you as to why you need to be more active in your soul winning. They quote scriptures to you about how you are supposed to be fishers of men and try to give you a guilt trip as to why you are not doing more for God in winning souls.

If God has called you to a ministry of being a soul winner and you are not, then maybe you should feel guilty in the fact that you are not actively doing the perfect will of God for your life. If God has recently prompted you to lead someone to the Lord and you have not, then you need to take the promptings of the evangelist to heart and change your actions. However, if you have a ministry that God has given you and you are faithful in fulfilling that ministry, you do not need to worry that you are not doing your job because you have not won 100 souls to the Lord in the last year.

God gives to each of us a ministry that HE desires we fulfill. We need to be diligent to understand the ministry that God has for us. There will be many good meaning people who will show us other ministries and try to persuade us that if we are not helping them with their ministry that we are not doing all that we can be for God. If an eye is not hearing, no one says that the eye is not doing its job. If the finger is not tasting, no one says the finger is not doing its job. If hand is not walking, no one is saying that it is not doing its job.

There will be a lot of pressure upon you to conform yourself to the ministry of others. We must be patient to allow God to have HIS perfect work in us. Just because God is blessing someone else in their ministry, it does not mean that God will bless us in the same manner. We need to be patient to the calling that God has for us. This means that we need to hear the voice of God in our life and we need to be faithful to obey HIS calling.

The apostles understood that they could quickly be overwhelmed with all the ministries that they could do. These ministries were good ministries but they would not be the perfect ministry because it was not the ministry that God called them to. The apostles were wise in not allowing well meaning people distract them from God’s perfect will for their life.

1 Timothy 4:13 to exhortation

Timothy was a young man who was called by God to preach. However, because of Timothy’s age, there would be many people who would be inclined to ignore the message that Timothy preached. As such, Paul gave Timothy five lessons that he should implement into his life so that his ministry would not be diminished. The first lesson that Timothy was to learn was that he was to be an example to others of the change that happens to one who fully belongs to God. The second lesson that Timothy was to learn was that he was to give attention to three things.

The first thing that Timothy was to give attention to reading the Bible. The second thing that Timothy was to give attention to was exhortation. Timothy was to understand the scriptures so that when he was counseling with people, he could encourage them to do what was right in the eyes of God.

The gift of exhortation is one which every Christian needs to practice. You, at some time will go through some kind of trial that will discourage you. When you go through a trial and desire to give up, it will be good to have someone right beside you who can encourage you in the ways of God. The more trials that you go through, the easier it will be for you to relate to someone else’s trial that they currently face. You can be a comfort to them just as God will bring others into your life to be a comfort to others.

Timothy was instructed to give close attention to exhortation. Everyone likes a little encouragement. If Timothy was quick to give encouragement to others, then when he was preaching, those same people who he had reached out to give encouragement to would be less likely to despise his youth.

Youth tend to be self-centered and thinking only about their own needs. When you are actively in looking for how you can meet the needs of others, others will notice the difference and they will not be so quick to dismiss God’s calling for your life.

If God has called you to do great things for HIM, then you need to start looking for opportunities to minister to others through your words. Be quick to give comfort to one who is down. Be quick to encourage those who you see doing that which is right in the eyes of God. As you look for opportunities to lift others up, you will find that your ministry will grow.

Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

Go find a world class athlete who does not train. The athlete understands that they must remain at the top of their game. If they do not maintain the top of their game, then there is some new person who is at the top of their game ready to replace them. It does not matter what the sport is, the athlete will train so as to get better.

The same should be true in our spiritual life. Scripture tells us that a wise man will be strong when it comes to facing trials and temptations. A wise man will be strong when it comes to sharing with others the truth that is within him. However, the wise man does not allow himself to think that he fully understands the ways of God.

A wise man will continue to take time to study the ways of God so that he will increase in strength. A wise man will always be looking for ways that he can expand his ministry here on this earth. A wise man will not allow Satan to lull him into a position where he becomes week and is thus susceptible to temptation.

Samuel was a wise man who heard from God at a very young age. However, if you study the life of Samuel, you will see that this was not the only time he heard from God. Throughout his life he heard the voice of God. Samuel anointed two kings as a direct result of hearing from God. Samuel advised Saul on multiple occasions as to what he was to do based upon what God told him. Samuel built upon his reputation as being a judge in Israel by not simply having been a man who heard God once. Because of the constant communication with God that Samuel had, people understood that Samuel was the leader of the nation.

Solomon was a man who was very wise. However, Solomon did not take the time to increase his strength. Instead, Solomon rested in his wisdom and as a result, we see that Solomon started marrying many foreign women. These women were able to lead Solomon astray to the point that he was building high places for the false gods of his wives. Solomon may have been one of the wisest men that had ever lived, but he allowed his strength to fade and become of little effect in his latter days.

Solomon was destroyed because he disobeyed God by marrying women that God had told the Israelites that they were not supposed to marry. Rather than marrying women of the nation of Israel who served the living God, Solomon pursued the women of different faiths. Solomon slowly destroyed his effectiveness for God by making small compromises. The more he compromised, the weaker his faith became.

What is the status of your faith today? Are you stronger than you were one year ago? Are you weaker than you were one year ago? Is your faith stagnant and about the same? When was the last time you heard from God about the direction you are to go? When was the last time you prayed for an entire hour? What was the last verse that you memorized and how long ago was it? How many chapters of the Bible did you read yesterday, last week, last month, and last year?

You are a child of God and HE has a purpose for your life here on this earth. If you are going to be effective for HIM, then you need to spend time adding knowledge of the ways of God to your life. Do not rest on what the Lord told you yesterday. You need to hear from God today. Do not grow stagnant in your spiritual life, seek God today.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

The Grecians were murmuring because they felt that the widows were being neglected. The twelve apostles understood that they could not be responsible for every aspect of the ministry. They had been called by God to preach the gospel. Because of the calling of God on their lives, they did not want to be bogged down by taking care of other ministries that God did not call them to.

The apostles understood that they needed to find seven men who were called to take care of the widows. The apostles knew that everyone was not called to the same ministry. Just because there was a need, it did not mean that they were the ones responsible for fulfilling that need. The apostle Paul later teaches how we are the body of Christ and how we have different callings. The apostles understood that they needed to continue to study the word of God; they needed to continue to keep a close relationship with God so that they could fulfill the will of God.

Stephen was one of the seven men who was chosen to take care of the widows. However, just because he was chosen to take care of widows, it did not stop him from preaching the word of God. Stephen still had the responsibility to obey the commandment of Christ to preach the gospel but his calling in ministry was to take care of the widows.

Knowledge in the ways of God requires that you understand that not every Christian is called to the same ministry that you are called. What you have been called to do is not what everyone has been called to do. We are the body of Christ. Paul gave us the picture of the body. The foot cannot do what the hand can do, and the hand cannot see like the eye does. God gave us different talents and abilities so that we can fulfill the purposes of God. If God called everyone to be a missionary to Africa, who would be left to reach the lost in your hometown?

What has God called you to do? Are you fulfilling that ministry? Too many of us are easily distracted by the ministries of others. We hear a need and we quickly volunteer to meet that need before we take the time to pray and determine if this is the ministry that God desires us to fulfill. A close relationship with God is crucial if you desire to hear the still small voice of God. If you desire to be in the center of the will of God for your life, then you must have a relationship with God that enables you to not be distracted by the callings of others.

Not every ministry offered to you is one that God has called you to. Not every need that you hear is your responsibility to meet. If you are going to be satisfied in your Christian life, then you must learn to understand the ways of God for your life. Do not let Satan distract you by becoming so busy meeting the needs of others that you fail to fulfill the calling God has for you. You have seen those people who are so diligent in meeting every need that arrives at the church that they fail to take care of the needs of their own family.

A close relationship with God will enable you to say no to some opportunities to minister that comes your way. Just because an opportunity to minister is offered to you, it does not mean that it is the will of God that you take that ministry. Instead, learn to be wise like the apostles who understood what the calling of God was and they proceeded to be faithful. The apostles did not let the need go unmet, they found others who had been called, and they let them met the needs.

Psalms 36:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In this passage we see an individual who constantly is flattering himself. Why would one flatter themselves? Hitler once said that if you tell a lie loud enough and long enough people would believe it. Are you like the man in this Psalm who constantly flatters yourself in such a way to build up your self-esteem? God desires you to recognize that you are a sinner and that it is only by the grace of God that you are able to live and have communion with God.

If you spend your time thinking on your own greatness, you will become like Nebuchadnezzar who was judged by God for his pride. Nebuchadnezzar said “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment was swift, in the same hour he did eat grass as oxen. The curse of Nebuchadnezzar was not lifted until he “lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, I praised and honored him that liveth for ever” (Daniel 4:34).

God desires you to be like Paul who recognized all the evil that he had done and was amazed at God’s grace upon his life. Paul was hesitant to be proud of what he had accomplished for God because he understood God’s mercy upon his life in saving him. Paul thanked God for putting him into the ministry, (I Timothy 1:12). Paul acknowledged that his sins were great and in fact stated that Christ saved sinners “of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul understood that it was the love of God that gave him a second chance. Paul understood that apart from God, he could do nothing.

You cannot always control what other people do around you but you can control your thinking. You do not have to allow yourself to think more highly of yourself than you ought. You do not have to allow yourself to constantly dwell on those things that are not pleasing to God. Satan desires to win the victory in your life by causing you to think upon those things that are not pleasing to God. If Satan can distract you with the things of this world, than he knows that your effectiveness for God will be diminished because God will have to bring trials and adversity into your life so as to bring you back to HIM.

There is a great battle raging in your mind. Who are you going to listen to? God desires you to add to your faith virtue and learn to think upon those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and a good report. Satan desires that you spend your time thinking on pride, greed, lust, and worry. If Satan distracts you in these areas, than he knows your usefulness to God will be diminished. He knows that your ability to hear the still small voice will be weakened. He knows that your ability to follow God’s plan for your life will be less unlikely.

Who is going to win the battle of your mind? God has given you the armor to protect you from Satan. Are you going to put it on? Are you willing to battle with the enemy to ensure that you are spiritually ready to do God’s perfect will for your life? You may not control your circumstances but you can control your reaction. You can choose to remain humble or choose to be proud. You can choose to put God first. What is your choice?

Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, an said that he was a god.

Paul was a prisoner traveling to Rome where he was to stand trial before Caesar. However, the ship that Paul was traveling on was just wrecked and he had swam to shore along with all the other prisoners and soldiers on the ship. It was cold and rainy but you did not find Paul sitting by the fire trying to warm himself. Instead, you found Paul serving others and putting the needs of others before his own needs. Paul was gathering wood and placing it on the fire so that his fellow shipmates could stay by the fire and keep warm. However, as Paul was placing some wood on the fire, a viper latched onto his arm. Paul calmly shook the viper into the fire.

What would your response have been had you just been in a horrific storm for over 14 days, been shipwrecked and now bitten by a poisons snake? Would your response been as calm like Paul’s response? Would you have simply shaken the snake off and proceeded with your business? Would you have allowed God to receive the glory in your life for the peace that passeth all understanding?

There was something different about Paul that caused him to respond to this trial differently then most individuals. Most people would have made a great commotion about being bitten by a snake. Most unbelievers would have drawn all sorts of attention to themselves while a good believer might have gone and grabbed all the other believers and had some sort of prayer meeting.

Paul did not respond like you would probably expect him to respond. God had twice told Paul that he was going to preach in Rome. Paul believed God and as such, the fact that a poisonous snake had bitten him must simply be a minor trial that he had to face in order for God to be glorified through him here on this island. Paul remained calm in spite of the trial he faced because his mind was upon the things of God and upon HIS promises for his life. Paul understood that God was in control and Paul allowed God to be glorified.

When you add virtue to your life, your mind is no longer upon yourself but is upon the things of God. Instead of thinking about your problems and how you are going to overcome them, you should be thinking about how your life could glorify God. Instead of seeing your trials as hurdles you must overcome, you should see your trials as obstacles that God desires to remove from your life in such a way that HE will be glorified.

You are a child of the King. You have a higher calling. However, not everyone who claims to be a Christian lives up to God’s perfect plan for their life. God desires that you add virtue to your life. This requires you to change your mindset. God desires that you stop allowing the cares of this world to concern you and instead allow HIM to be first.

Follow the example of Paul and allow the will of God to be so ingrained in your life that the trials of this world do not distract you. Focus your mind upon what God has promised you so that when obstacles arise, you can be free to watch how God is going to solve the problem. Add virtue to your life so that God can expand your ministry to the next level.

Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Samson had lost his strength and was now a prisoner of those whom he was suppose to destroy. The Philistines for 20 years lived in fear of Samson but now they enjoyed mocking him. It was at one of there feast days when 3,000 men and women were in one building a feast that they called for Samson. The lad who led Samson helped him find the support pillars. Once Samson found the pillars, he asked God to give him strength one more time and he bowed himself bringing down the pillars and the entire house.

Samson had violated God’s commandment for his life and he lost his gift from God that enabled him to do the will of God. Samson saw and lusted after Philistine women and he destroyed the ministry God had for him. Samson not only lost his strength but God allowed the enemy to pluck out the eyes also. Samson no longer had his strength nor his eyesight and he was just betrayed by the person whom he loved.

Samson had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God punished Samson for this sin. However, by faith, Samson believed that God would show him mercy one last time and give him the gift of strength so that Samson could do that which he was given strength to do, destroy the enemies of the Lord. Samson understood God’s purpose for his life and while Samson knew that he could no longer fulfill the purpose of judging Israel, Samson had boldness and asked the Lord to return and give him the strength so that he could fulfill part of his purpose.

Samson was the strongest man in the Bible yet he sinned and fell short of God’s purpose for his life. Just because you are not the strongest person that ever lived, it does not mean that you are immune from Satan’s attempts to cause you to sin and violate God’s purpose for your life. The higher your purpose, the more Satan would like to make an example of you to destroy your ministry for God. When you sin and fall short of the glory of God, you must repent. God is just and there are consequences to your sin. This means that HE must punish you for your willful violations of HIS perfect law.

Nonetheless, just because God has punished you for your willful violations of HIS perfect law, do not hide and assume that God no longer has any use for you. Instead, demonstrate your faith like Samson who looked for a opportunity for God to use him again. Your sin may result in a diminishing of your ministry, but do not allow Satan to win the last battle by your giving up on God using you at all. God still has work for you to do.

Satan will try to remind you of your willful violations and try to convince you that God no longer desires to use you. However, you must remember that the blood of Christ completely washes away your sin. You have been forgiven and it is time for you to spend time seeking the Lord and find ways that you can use your present situation to do God’s will. If Samson had not sinned, he would not have been in the position to destroy 3,000 Philistines. Samson killed more Philistines after his sin then 20 years prior to his sin. God can still use you to do great things for HIM. You too can still be used of God no matter what your sin was. God will forgive, have faith and ask HIM to use you for HIS glory.

Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

Deboarh had just called Barak to the mount of Ephraim where she judged Israel. Deborah told Barak that God commanded that he take 10,000 men from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun and that he was to go to the river Kishon and Jabin’s army would be delivered into his hands. Barak apparently did not doubt that this was the word of the Lord for him because there is no indication that he felt he needed to receive confirmation from God himself and there is no indication that he looked for a sign to assure himself of the word’s of Deborah. Barak’s response was not one of doubt of the calling; his response was a lack of faith that God would be with him absent Deborah being present.

Barak appears to have doubted God’s ability to do what HE said. Because of Barak’s doubt, the glory of killing Jabin was not given to him. Barak’s lack of faith meant that while the enemy was utterly destroyed, he did not receive the privilege of killing the man who was the leader of the opposing army.

Barak’s lack of faith is similar to Moses’ lack of faith when God asked him to go speak to Pharaoh. Moses was convinced that he could not speak and as such, he demanded a spokesman. God gave him Aaron. Aaron led the nation of Israel in rebellion when he made the golden calf. Aaron also questioned Moses’ calling. Moses had demanded a helper, and he received what he requested but there were consequences because he, like Barak were not willing to trust fully in God but insisted upon help.

When God gives you specific directions, do not start asking HIM for help. God is faithful, what HE has commanded you to do, HE is faithful to assist you in doing that which HE requires of you. If you know God is speaking to you, do not start finding excuses as to why you cannot do it. Such actions could result in a diminishing of your ministry. There is a difference between confirming that God is speaking to you and understanding what God is telling you to do and refusing to do it absent HE provide some additional help. Barak and Moses both clearly understood God’s will for their life.

God’s strength is sufficient. You should not doubt HIS power or ability. Instead, when you hear God’s calling, you need to put everything else aside and promptly obey. If you are uncertain as to what God is telling you to do, then you have two choices. You could be like Gideon who asked God for further clarification, or you could be like Jonathan who went to the garrison of the Philistines and watched the Lord deliver them into his hands. Whether you obey and watch how the Lord answers or you stop and ask for clarification, do not doubt God’s ability to do the impossible through you.

If a good parent gives a child a task to do, it is because the parent knows that their child has the ability to fulfill the task. The child may not know his or her own ability. However, if the child is willing to trust and obey, the child will soon experience the wisdom of their parents. So to, God is good and HE will not request you to do something that HE knows you cannot handle. Trust in the Lord and obey so that your ministry here on this earth is not diminished. Do not question the calling of God so that HE can use you in ways you may have never imagined.

Acts 28:30-31 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

The book of Acts ends with Paul being a prisoner for two-years. During this period, Paul had great freedom in that rather then sharing a room at the local prison where one soldier watches many prisoners; Paul was permitted to rent his own house where his companions could stay with him. Paul was given his own solider that watched over him in his own house. Because Paul had his own rented house, he was able to minister unto the Christians at Rome since they were able to come unto him while he was in prison.

God did not give us much detail about the final years of Paul’s life. Instead, HE allowed the book of Acts to be ended with Paul being faithful during two years of imprisonment in Rome. God desired to show us a man who was facing huge obstacles who still did the will of God. The last impression that we have of Paul is not his conversion by bright lights, nor is it of him arguing in the temple converting many. The last impression that God gave us of Paul was a man in prison being blessed by God to still have an active ministry. God did not forsake Paul because he was in prison. God continued to use Paul by bringing people to him and by allowing Paul to write many letters that we read today.

You may live your entire life and never be put in prison for the gospel of Christ. Nonetheless, you are going to face trials. God desires you to look at the life of Paul and realize that HE can use you regardless of the obstacles. God is looking for you to finish the race that is set before you. Just as Paul finished his life strong, so too must you remain faithful to God and watch how HE opens the doors so that you can serve HIM. It was God who permitted Paul to rent his own house. Paul took advantage of God�s blessing and lived his life so that God would receive the glory.

God had shut the door in Paul’s life of him going where he wanted when he wanted. However, God opened a door of him being able to minister to others out of his own home. When God shut one door in Paul’s life, he opened another door. Rather then morning the closed door, Paul went through the new door and diligently served the Lord.

During your life, you will see the Lord close many doors. When the Lord closes a door, HE does not leave you in the hallway. The Lord will open up a door for you to enter. It might not be clear what door HE desires you to enter. It is during these times that you need to spend time in prayer asking, seeking, and knocking. God will make HIS way clear unto you. When the Lord opens the door, do not hesitate and look back at the closed door but instead, serve the Lord where HE has now placed you.

The Bible does not promise that the Christian life is easy. Instead, God allows challenges to be placed in your life so that the world can see God’s strength through your life as you face each new opportunity. As you live your life, God will open doors that seem impossible. It is your duty to exercise your faith and make the most out of the opportunity that God gives unto you. Thank God for the place that HE has you. Do not keep looking back at what might have been. God knows what is best and it is your job to exercise your faith by doing all that you can where the Lord places you today.

Acts 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

Paul was a prisoner bound and on his way to Rome. However, as they were traveling through Puteoli, he came across some Christians. The Christians were so glad to see Paul that they invited everyone to stay with them for seven days.

Julius who was in charge of Paul appears not to be in a big hurry to get him to Rome. Paul has proven himself and rather then Paul being the prisoner going where Julius desires, it almost appears that Julius has allowed himself to be constrained by Paul’s scheduled. Paul was permitted to tarry with the Puteoli Christians for seven days and to minister unto them while being ministered to by them.

Paul had been preaching the gospel of Christ for many years. Paul was now a prisoner being taken to Rome. However, just because Paul was a prisoner, God continued to open doors so that Paul was able to minister to others. God enabled Paul to meet Christians when they passed through Puteoli. God further caused the brethren in Puteoli to issue an invitation that they tarry a week. God worked on the heart of Julius to allow HIM to give Paul the time to visit with the Puteoli Christians.

When you are in the center of God’s will, amazing doors will open for you that you never thought possible. Throughout this whole trip to Rome, Paul had many miracles occur that would cause even the most casual observer to see that God was with Paul and that God desired to use Paul. Paul had many opportunities to minister from the time he was imprisoned in Jerusalem all the way until his death two years after his arrival in Rome. God constantly open the doors for him so that he was not treated like a normal prisoner.

At some time during your life, there will be a time when you feel imprisoned by the circumstances around you. No matter what the imprisoning situation is, you must understand that it does not bind you so as to prevent you from fulfilling God’s will for your life. Instead, the obstacles that seem to bind you are designed to demonstrate to you that God is bigger than anything that constrains you here on earth.

You must be constantly looking for ways to minister to those around you. It does not matter how many limitations you are facing, you must do the most with the situation that you find yourself in. Joseph was a prisoner, yet by faith, he rose to the top and was used of God. John Bunyan was imprisoned for many years, but he used this time to write many books that are still an encouragement to Christians today.

God has a purpose for you no matter how constrained you feel your circumstances are. You must learn to live by faith and seek for opportunities for God to use you in the difficult situation that you find yourself in. Rather then feel sorry for yourself, look for ways that God can use you. Change your attitude and realize that God is in control over your situation and that HE has a purpose. As you learn to seek HIM during your difficult times, you will see the Lord working and one day when you look back, you will wonder why you ever felt depressed about your imprisoning situation because God was with you the whole time. God is with you, HE has promised never to leave you. Trust in HIM.

Acts 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

Paul preformed a miracle by healing the father of Publius. This is an act of faith in that healing someone who is sick is not something one can do in his own strength. It took Paul�s faith that if he laid his hands upon the man that God would perform a miracle and give this man his strength.

Because Paul healed Publius’ father, many people came to him desiring to be healed. For the three months that Paul was on the island, he preformed many miracles. Paul laid hands on individuals and they were healed. While the scriptures do not indicate that Paul taught the scriptures, in the past, every time that he healed individuals, his teaching followed. Paul used his ability to heal others as an opportunity to preach and it is highly probable during that three months that Paul help start a little congregation upon the island.

Paul’s act of faith of healing Publius’ father resulted in many other acts of faith as he healed many more people. Paul had healed many people in his lifetime to the point that it probably puzzled him at times why everyone thought it was such a big deal. Paul had faith in God’s power and he simply used this power for God’s glory.

God gives each of us different talents. From a young age, parents can look at their children and see major differences in talents. Some children may be good at math while others English. Some may draw well while others use their creativity in other means. We are instructed that the body of Christ is made up of many different individuals with many different talents. These different talents put together enable the church to be effective at reaching the world today.

God has given you talents that HE has not given to others. These talents that HE has given to you are not designed for you to horde and use for your own selfish purposes. Instead, these talents are to be used of God for the purpose of bringing many into the kingdom of God. God expects you to demonstrate your faith in HIM by some kind of outward manifestation so that the world around you may see and know that you serve a living God. The particular act of faith that God might ask you to perform may seem rather simple to you because you have seen God’s faithfulness for so long, but to others it could appear to be a huge act of faith.

Examine your life. Do you have a ministry that God has given you? Are you daily exercising obedience to HIM by finding opportunities to minister to others using your talent and faith? Your life needs to be full of demonstrations of you living the faith that God has given to you. Church is not just a place where you sit back and are ministered to but it is a place where you minister to the needs of others. The world also needs to be ministered to. There are many out there who are seeking for answers and they can find those answers by seeing you demonstrate your faith. What God intends to do through you, that is between you and God. The question is whether you are seeking those opportunities. Are you fully living up to your potential for God? If the answer is no, then the question becomes, what are you going to do about your problem?

Acts 6:3, 5 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. … And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.

The widows in Jerusalem were not being properly provided for. This was diminishing the power and effectiveness of the apostle’s ministry. The apostle asked the people to select seven men to be appointed over the business of providing for the widows. The people selected Steven because they saw in him that the Holy Ghost was in him and that he was full of faith. Because Steven and the other six did their job, the word of God increased.

Stephen was not filled with the Holy Ghost after he was chosen to serve the widows; he served widows because he was filled with the Holy Ghost. Stephen had proven his faith and God was increasing his ministry. It was because Stephen has chosen to be faithful in that which is little that God chose to use him to be faithful in much.

Do you want to be used of God? Have you ever prayed the prophet Isaiah’s prayer, here am I Lord, send me? There are those who have a great love for God and desire to be used by HIM. If you are one of those individuals who desire to be used of God, then the lesson of Stephen is one that you must learn. The lesson of Stephen is to develop the inward character of faith in your life and allow God’s ministry to come to you because you have proven yourself to God as an individual who can be used of God.

Stephen never knew that God was going to have him lay down his life. However, Stephen was faithful and he followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and God was pleased with the life of Stephen. God used Stephen to do great things.

A young girl desired to cook an entire meal for her family. However, her mother continually told her she was not ready. Nonetheless, the young girl continued to come into the kitchen and watch her mother and help whenever her mother allowed her to help. One day, the young girl’s mother had a baby and was unable to prepare the meal. It was at that time when the need arose that the young girl was able to serve her family with a meal. The young girl had proven she was faithful in doing the little things and thus when the need arose; she was called upon to do greater things.

Do you desire to be used of God? Would you like to have a ministry where you were able to touch individual’s life and watch them go on and do great things for God. If your heart is crying out to God to be used more by HIM, then the first thing you must do is see if you are being faithful in doing those things that God has placed in front of you right now.

Is the Holy Spirit a part of your life? Are you listening to HIS still small voice? Do you daily seek HIS direction? You need to learn to be like Stephen. Stephen was recognized as being full of faith. Stephen was willing to be used of God. His relationship was so close with God that those in the church when a need arose selected Stephen. God is looking for men and women that HE can use to do great things for HIM. However, HE is looking for those who have proven that they are willing to be faithful where they are today. God is looking, but will HE find you? Will you be found to be full of faith?

Galatians 1:23-24 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

Paul is speaking about himself in this verse. Some churches had heard that Paul was preaching the faith that he once tried to destroy. Even though some churches did not see the transformation of Paul, because they heard and believed, they glorified God.

The wonderful thing about faith is the transformation that occurs after one decides to put on Christ. Name another religion that transforms the believer in such a way. Paul did not have to go out and do anything to earn his transformation; he simply had to believe. Because Paul believed God, God changed him so that the people whom he killed were now the people he desired to help.

Paul developed a ministry working with the Gentiles and all Christians were able to glorify God. It was the faith of Paul that allowed this change. While you may not have killed Christians for their faith, you are a sinner and have fallen short of the glory of God. Your faith in God is what saves you and transforms you. Your faith enables you to take on the name of Christ and start a new ministry in which you can bring glory to God.

The church was able to glorify God because God was being glorified in the life of an individual. People saw how Paul’s actions were now pleasing to God and they gave thanks to God for the change that resulted.

A little boy once played too many video games and never received enough exercise. The boy was quickly becoming obese. Through some drastic events in the boy’s life, his parents were able to encourage him to play football. The boy loved the sport so much that he now spent his free time working out and trying to stay in shape so that he could perform his best on the field. While his aunts and uncles may not watch him play, they will sing praises of the parents who transformed their lazy son into a star football player.

God is the one who receives the glory for the transformation that occurs in our life as a result of our faith in HIM. God is the one who receives the glory because we find a new mission of serving HIM. God is the one who receives the glory from the fruit of the ministry HE has burden us with. God is looking for individuals that HE can transform into doing great things for HIM so that those who hear of the things we are doing are able to give glory to God for the work that HE is doing through us.

It is your faith in God that will give you focus for your life. If you desire to do more for HIM, then put HIM first in your life. Strive to please HIM and seek HIS desires for your life. As you learn to please your Maker, HE will burden your heart with a ministry. Be faithful to the ministry that God has called you to. As you are faithful in doing that which God has burdened, you will experience the joy of seeing HIM bring fruit to your hands. Furthermore, if you are serving God with a proper heart, God will receive the glory for the work of your hands. You need to be like Paul and allow your faith in God to transform you into a dedicated servant of God that bears much fruit. Allow your faith to cause you to seek new individuals that you can minister to. Expand your ministry beyond your comfort zone so that HE is glorified through you.