Slaves of all - Jesus Army
Slaves of all - Jesus Army
Slaves of all - Jesus Army
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<strong>of</strong> friendship evangelism that God started when “He so<br />
loved the world that He gave His Son”.<br />
Compassion<br />
In chapters 12-14 <strong>of</strong> 1 Corinthians, Paul writes about <strong>all</strong><br />
the powerful gifts that God gives to enable us to build<br />
the church. Yet central to this and more important still<br />
is the c<strong>all</strong> to love.<br />
We are to desire the gifts to build the church – yet love<br />
is still the “more excellent way” without which we will<br />
be fruitless and none <strong>of</strong> our gifts will work anyway. It is<br />
this deep compassion for people which will grow and<br />
build up the church.<br />
“Love never fails” – that is, it never stops: it always<br />
carries on giving and believing with great patience.<br />
Does this describe you? Is that your heart for people?<br />
There is no power without love. We must “follow the<br />
way <strong>of</strong> love” (14:1) if we are to be apostolic church.<br />
Company<br />
Paul worked with a great company <strong>of</strong> others; we read<br />
about some <strong>of</strong> them at the end <strong>of</strong> this letter. He was a<br />
networker who needed relationships in order to function:<br />
they “refreshed his spirit” (16:18).<br />
Apostolic church works like this, with networks and<br />
teams pulling together to achieve. Paul had his close<br />
team – Timothy, Titus, Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, and<br />
others – and his wider network – such as Apollos and<br />
others. Relationships will always be <strong>of</strong> key importance<br />
in an apostolic church movement.<br />
Compulsion<br />
Paul’s passionate, compulsive devotion to the cause <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> comes across at the end <strong>of</strong> this extraordinary letter.<br />
It comes across in a kiss and a curse.<br />
A kiss: “greet one another with a holy kiss” (16:20).<br />
Paul writes this four times in various letters. There is a<br />
sacred affection among those who belong together in<br />
the cause <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>. Apostolic churches will always carry<br />
this kind <strong>of</strong> heartfelt devotion to one another.<br />
A curse: “If anyone does not love the Lord – a curse be<br />
on him” (16:22). Paul wasn’t going too far here! We must<br />
live in our love for <strong>Jesus</strong>: nothing else counts but committed,<br />
self-denying, self-giving devotion to <strong>Jesus</strong> and<br />
His Church.<br />
Paul would give himself a black eye in order to win<br />
the fight! (9:27). How about us? Are we ready to give our<br />
<strong>all</strong>, to work with compulsive, powerful love to see the<br />
church built and <strong>Jesus</strong> honoured in our time?<br />
JL<br />
MODERN JESUS ARMY<br />
TRAINING<br />
YEAR<br />
AN ACTION YEAR DEVELOPING THE<br />
POTENTIAL OF A NEW GENERATION OF<br />
SHAPERS AND PIONEERS. THE FOCUS IS<br />
FORMING CHARACTER, RELEASING PEOPLE<br />
INTO BOLDNESS AND STRENGTH IN JESUS<br />
info: www.jesus.org.uk/training<br />
email: training@jesus.org.uk / 0845 166 8175<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Fellowship/Multiply, Nether Heyford, Northampton NN7 3LB<br />
www.jesus.org.uk<br />
GET EQUIPPED to advance in<br />
Holy Spirit movement in the UK today<br />
GET INVOLVED in reaching the<br />
spiritu<strong>all</strong>y hungry people <strong>of</strong> our nation<br />
and build the living church <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong><br />
GO DEEPER in a community<br />
lifestyle <strong>of</strong> simplicity and sacrifice<br />
<strong>Jesus</strong> Life Three/2007 Page 7
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