Devoted to Serving Others – 30 May 2008

The first Christians had this incredibly strong commitment to each other – that came first for them. Yet alongside that was a ready willingness to reach out and serve others with the love of Jesus in response to Jesus command. Not least in the areas of healing and deliverance, also caring for the poor, the fatherless, the prisoners and the widows.

What excites me about the early church was that they weren’t simply putting a comforting arm around those in need, they proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom of God and demonstrated its power as they healed the sick and cast out demons.

We pray frequently:

“Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven”

That is a cry for the things of heaven to be done on earth. As most of us have learnt by now, we have to allow God to make us the answer to our prayers and so to bring in his kingdom by the power of God at work in us through the Holy Spirit.

We need to be ready to serve others as the opportunities arise, but more than that, to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, to heal the sick, to cast out demons and, yes, to even raise the dead!

These things were seen and known in the community of the early church – has God changed? – no he hasn’t! As we are fully devoted to him I’ve a sneaking suspicion we could see the same things happening!

When you see someone today in need, why not take that step of faith and ask them if you can ask God to bring them deliverance – that the kingdom of God may come on this earth.

There’s a section of our website with articles and forums to help us live the Devoted Life – do visit and register yourself on it to access the forums and to receive occasional emails to encourage you and support you in your personal discipleship - Devoted to Jesus

http://www.stmatthews.org.uk/Group/Group.aspx?id=73298