“For we Do Not preach ourselves BUT, preach Christ Jesus as Lord, and Ourselves as your bond-servants,
 for Jesus Sake.” – 2 Corinthians 4:5

These three truths can transform our living for the Lord Jesus if we would APPLY from Paul’s Teaching in 2 Corinthians 4:5

 

 

 

1.  OUR MESSAGE  – ” We DO NOT preach ourselves BUT Christ as LORD.”

So often we “preach ourselves” don’t we.

How do we do this? We exalt our opinions and learning and what we have accumulated materially, or what we have not and why we have not and who and what has kept us from it.

In essence to “preach ourselves” is to make life all about us-we are the center of every conversation and others should think so too. To make life all about us, that indeed the world exists for us, and all those in it. Now, we probably never would say that publicly at least, but in our thinking, we tend to see every thing and every person as an extension to help us or a hindrance to us. Nobody is neutral, all have their purpose and sadly and sinfully that purpose is often for our own benefit.

Think how this works out in the home. We tend to see one another as our “servants.” Mom’s are “supposed” to have meals on the table, clothes laundered, keep up with “our” needs and “wants”- and basically be unpaid attendants to our every whim. Dad can often see his children as extensions to his feet.” Go…” get this for me. “Go” do that for me, “Hand me this…” ” Fetch that for me….”  We behave as though we cannot walk ourselves to go and do what we often ask our children to do, and we fail to model servant hood but instead model selfishness and lovelessness, and indeed are modeling for them what they are to take into a marriage relationship.

It’s not wrong to ask our children or spouse to help us or do something for us, but when we can -which in all honesty is most always- we need to do things for ourselves. But we “preach ourselves” in the home when we make it all about us – rather than about serving them, for Jesus sake.

We preach ourselves when we boast of abilities or possessions we have, as if it is all down to us. We forget that what we have is because of what God has allowed us to have. We speak of being self made men- Deut 8:18 says it is God who gives the capacity to make wealth, and dearly beloved you are not the owner of it but a steward to mange and give an account for it – to God, as it all belongs to Him!

Our message is not about us. We are not the Theme. Jesus Christ Is. Our Message is – Jesus Christ IS LORD. We PREACH Christ Jesus as Lord. HE is the Christians message. Jesus Christ is Lord…He is the Ultimate Authority, He has the final say, and what He says is Final! He is the Master! SIN COULD NOT MASTER HIM; SATAN-COULD NOT OVERTHROW HIM; DEATH-COULD NOT CONQUER HIM; THE GRAVE – COULD NOT KEEP HIM…because JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OVER ALL! Nothing or no one can defeat or deter Him. Why PROCLAIM HIM? as Paul says in Colossians 1:28?- Because He alone is WORTHY of PROCLAIMING. Who else compares to Him?

 

 

 

2.  OUR MINISTRY – “…ourselves your Bond-Servants.”
Our Ministry is to Choose to esteem others more highly than ourselves and look out for their interests- Phil 2:3-5. Our Ministry is Choosing to serve other people.

The Lord Jesus as our Model, He went about doing “good”-John 10:32

“Therefore as we have opportunity let us DO GOOD to ALL people, especially to those who belong to the Family of God” –  Galatians 6:10

Everyone who comes across our path is a candidate for us to DO GOOD towards. Indeed there is PURPOSE for these GOOD DEEDS as Jesus tells us, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may SEE your GOOD DEEDS and PRAISE your Father in Heaven”- Matthew 5:16. We will always have sufficient to do good for others- 2 Corinthians 9:10-11″Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on Every occasion, and through us your Generosity will result in THANKSGIVING TO GOD.”

“If anyone has material possessions and see his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children let us not love with words or tongue But with ACTIONS and in Truth.”– 1 John 3:16-17

A Good deed, a Kind word … our Ministry is to SERVE OTHERS. To Prefer them, To Honor Them, to be Devoted to them- Romans 12:10, Romans 15:2; Phil 2:3-5; Philemon verse 7. Matthew 25:23 The Lord Jesus commends those who have DONE GOOD, not merely speculated about it, He is commendation is “Well DONE, good and faithful slave.” And in DOING GOOD to Others we do it as to Him- Matthew 25:34-46 and in the same respect failing to do good to others is a failure to minister unto Him.

 

 

 

3.  OUR MOTIVATION –  “For Jesus Sake.”

What is your MOTIVE for serving other people – for their sake? For your sake? For what they may give you, think of you? We are to do so for one SUPREME MOTIVATION, we are to lovingly and graciously and joyfully serve others, “For Jesus Sake.“ All service is to be motivated, not by what we can gain but what we can give for Jesus Sake- Matthew 25:34-46.

If we do it for any lesser vulgar motive, we will tend to be bitter, disappointed when people do not acknowledge, appreciate or esteem our efforts, which is to do so for all the wrong reasons and in reality is but – PRIDE!”- it is IDOLATRY. But if we do it for Jesus Sake, irrespective of how others respond, be it praise or disapproval, it will keep us from bitterness and resentment when they do not respond as we would have hoped, because ultimately our Motive is serving is FOR JESUS SAKE.

SERVING OTHERS, FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS but an opportunity for us to Express Love to the Lord – {Read John 14:21.}

As we serve them for Jesus Sake. Even the most difficult person is but an opportunity for us to express the most diligent Love to Him. Saying in effect, He is Worthy for us to serve them.

 

 

APPLICATION:

Today as a Beloved follower of the Lord Jesus Christ,

COMMIT to memorizing this passage. Perhaps write it on a 3 by 5 card and carry with you and when you have a free moment look at the verse MEDITATE upon it and MEMORIZE it and APPLY it In your Circumstances through out the day. SHARE this verse with someone else through the way you share, why you serve and whom you serve!

2 Corinthians 4:5

“For we Do Not preach ourselves BUT, preach Christ Jesus as Lord, and Ourselves as your bond- servants, for Jesus Sake.”


 

 

 

 

REMEMBER THE THREE TRUTHS THAT COULD TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND GLORIFY GOD IN THE SPHERE YOU ARE IN

1.  Your MESSAGE is  – JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

2. Your MINISTRY – To Serve Others

3. Your MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE?– “FOR JESUS SAKE”

Be encouraged by Gods Grace you can make a difference and Honor Him.

God bless, learning to serve with you For Jesus sake