One Prayer Devotional
By Stovall's Blog
Ephesians 4:11-3 (NIV)It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
God gives us spiritual gifts not for ourselves, but for others. It’s good to have an ambition to see the kingdom of God thrive and expand. However, Godly ambition expresses itself through servanthood, not through selfish promotion. Many people believe that the church is given to them as a platform to find expression for their gifts, when really God has given them their gifts to build and enrich the church. Christ gives us spiritual gifts so that we can labor alongside Him as He builds His church, bringing her to full maturity.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
As long as we see only part of the picture, we will tend to fill in the gaps with our own idea of what the whole picture should look like – and that will inevitably lead to disagreement. But I do believe that as the church continues to grow in her knowledge of Christ, we will learn to move together in that rhythm of grace and servanthood which characterizes spiritual maturity.
How can you promote unity, even when you don’t see things the same way? How can you build an attitude of servanthood in your life and in the lives of those you influence?
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10 Responses to “One Prayer Devotional”
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I am so encouraged by how you, Pastor, have allowed God to use the gifts that He has given you. Your messages are always relevant and speak right to me in ways that I can apply to my life. Thank you.
Stovall, your post resonates in me in a way it just would not have when I was a younger woman and a younger Christian. When I see people caught in the trap of self-promotion in ministry, I am reminded of my younger, eager and overly ambitious self – full of an honest desire to serve God but ensnared in just way too much of the world’s way of thinking. I think it’s just part of the peeling-away journey of maturity we take with the Holy Spirit when we finally get to the point that we stop saying, “I want to do great things for God!” and start saying, “I want to see God do great things.” I was listening to that old Jennifer Knapp song the other day – “Undo Me” and this was a strong reminder today that we all need to be “undone” by God. I still have a long journey ahead of me, but one of the revelations of turning 40 this year was that I realized I had stopped praying, “Lord, use me.” Now I just pray, “Lord, help me stay out of your way!” :c)
When I was younger I used to hate Christians…I used to hate church…but God has done a lot in my life…a lot to a point where I feel a call that one day I will serve in the ministry. I have felt this burning desire in me to start seriously going to church, which has been lacking in my life… but I have been burnt by church so much that I didn’t want to go.
I became a Christian when I was 15 years old, on my knees with a gun held to the back of my head…that’s the first time I really prayed to God and told Him if I live I want to serve Him..
The family that took me in, because my parents didn’t go to church, stopped believing in God…this broke my heart along with other things that have happened in church.
It’s funny my whole life I have always felt accepted every where else but in church among Christians, which really gives me empathy for those who are lost and seeking God.
For the past week I have been having this hunger, this craving, to go to church and this one church “Celebration Church” has been ringing in my ears… on Friday morning this craving was so strong that I drove to church, walked in and just asked to speak to someone.
I met a pastor by the name of “Chris” and he just took me in with open arms…I had a heart to heart talk with him and almost started crying.
On Saturday… I woke up with one goal, to go to church…so I went. I was amazed at this church…Pastor Chris saw me in a group of people, remembered my name and had me meet the Senior Pastor “Stovall”…now keep in mind that the church was packed…over 500 people…
Stovall is the coolest preacher I have ever met in my entire life…he welcomed me with open arms and I felt his “realness” and also that I could relate to him…which is something I am not used to…
I truly feel at home in this church…with these people…the whole point of my message here is simply if you are in Jacksonville, Florida and you need an amazing church to go to…check out Celebration….this is coming from a guy who used to hate church…you know it is all about love…I wish more “Christians” would realize this….
Jesus is indeed building His Church!! Glad to be a part of it.
Could you go on the road with that talk, we need it in Ohio.
Pastor, You’ve brought it once again; the truth in love. I thank God for raising up a pastor like yourself with such an incredible love for His flock. You’re a man who truly knows The Man, and you seek after His heart! Come’on Pastor!!
I recently ran across a Hillsong London promo video. There was a line in there that really struck a chord with me. “I don’t go to Church anymore…. I am the Church!”
I love it!
Come on Stovall! Stir it up!
I wonder if it wouldn’t help to maintain unity in the Church if we all would come to the place that we would recognize that individually we don’t have the “full counsel of God” and that as an individual I don’t have complete revelation of the mind of Christ. I would also say there has to be room for preference in the Body. What I mean by that is in my mind there are some things that are set in stone (Jesus’ death & resurrection – God loves me) but there are other things that are preference and those are more subjective. My perspective may be different than yours, but HUMILITY would allow me to see the value in your perspective as much as my own.
As far as promoting an attitude of servanthood, I have always believed that servanthood is something best modeled and caught. IE Jesus washing the feet of the twelve. If we as leaders in the Body model it those we lead will eventually catch it.
Yes, Pastor that is so true! It is not about us but Him!