Serve Like Jesus
by Sis. Jane Kimmes | January 1, 2015
Hello all at GWOD,It is midnight right now and the fireworks are booming in the area. It is a very interesting sound, but nothing like the sound of the jubilant and joyful praise that went up to God as we worshiped Him tonight at GWOD New Year's Eve service. This praise and worship was much more exciting than any firework display could ever be, because nothing can match the fire of a Holy Ghost explosion and it pleases God that we are praising and worshiping Him. I'm still feeling His Presence and Power and I know you all are too.
Let's thank God for every blessing and every trial that we experienced in 2014 because He is working it out for our good. He is bringing a change for us at GWOD in 2015 and this will be "The Year of Dedicated Service for the Souls of Men." It is important for us to be dedicated to community service for the Lord and Pastor Crowder prayed a prayer of dedication over us and the Wisdom to carry it out.
Co Pastor Lane put together a powerful PowerPoint presentation teaching us first of all that faith without works is dead. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" James 2:14-17. She had a picture of a skeleton on its knees praying, this was dead faith. We were asked, "Is your faith dead?" Didn't you just want to speak to the dead bones in your life and prophesy life unto them! Well, I speak right now to all of the dead bones that are in our midst, "Come alive and live and serve the Lord with gladness." Our true calling is to be someone who meets both the spiritual and the physical needs of others, servants for the Lord.
Co Pastor Lane went on to say that our service to others must be consistent and caring. Serving others is the work of the church, human beings among other human beings loving others as Jesus does. "Then shall they also answer him, saying, LORD, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" Matt 25:44-46.
So church, we must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves. Don't be double minded excusing yourself saying, "I don't even have enough for myself" or "I don't have enough time to help others," just tell the devil to get behind you, and listen to God's voice and serve Him by serving others. It is not that we don't have enough, we have too much and are not giving it out to others. When you are helping others with their physical and spiritual needs, give out the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: against such there is no law! The world is broken and people are hurting, angry, and helpless. We have been encouraged to open our hearts and as we reach out God will move. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. By faith in God we are ___________ (we are to put our own answer in this blank space).
Co Pastor McCarty added that we are pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before us. Don't get stuck in what you didn't finish in 2014 but press toward the mark and go forward. Jesus went and did the work, just do the work. We can do it better when we work together. Pastor Crowder added that Joseph was a servant all of his life. We are to serve.
Many shared what they are going to do to get out into the community and serve. It was beautiful to see what God had put in the hearts of each. We are truly pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Be Blessed and open your heart of love and compassion to others by asking yourself, "How can I be of service to this person?" God will show you how. Then act upon it. Be a doer of the Word. I love you all very much.
Love,
Sis. Jane
