{"id":3764,"date":"2015-10-23T00:03:28","date_gmt":"2015-10-23T07:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3764"},"modified":"2015-10-22T22:40:36","modified_gmt":"2015-10-23T05:40:36","slug":"1023-twenty-six-ways-to-be-useful-to-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/23\/1023-twenty-six-ways-to-be-useful-to-god\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/23: Twenty-Six Ways to Be Useful to God (\u7bb425:21-26:2 \u63d0\u540e2:1-26 \u803649:7-50:10)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u7bb425:21-26:2 \u63d0\u540e2:1-26 \u803649:7-50:10<\/h2>\n

Twenty-Six Ways to Be Useful to God<\/h2>\n
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He is one of my great heroes of faith. He was a model of godliness, faith and humility. God used him greatly. When he died in 1982, his executors were unable to trace a single member of his family still living. No one came forward claiming to be even a distant relation.<\/p>\n

Yet, The Times<\/em> obituary about him rightly noted that his influence within the Church of England during the previous fifty years was probably greater than any of his contemporaries. John Stott, who was one of the numerous influential Christian leaders whom he led to faith in Christ, said of him: \u2018Those who knew him well and those who worked with him never expect to see his like again; for rarely can anyone have meant so much to so many as this quietly spoken, modest and deeply spiritual man.\u2019<\/p>\n

Why was this man \u2013 the Reverend E.J.H. Nash \u2013 so useful to God? How can you be useful to God?<\/p>\n

St Paul writes, \u2018Become the kind of container God can use<\/em> to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing\u2019 (2 Timothy 2:20\u201321, MSG).<\/p>\n

John Stott writes, \u2018No higher honour could be imagined than to be an instrument in the hand of Jesus Christ, to be at his disposal for the furtherance of his purposes, to be available whenever wanted for his service.\u2019 Being \u2018useful to the Master\u2019 and \u2018instruments for noble purposes\u2019 (v.21) starts with dedicating <\/em>your life to him and re-dedicating it regularly to his service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Love your enemy<\/h2>\n

Proverbs 25:21-26:2<\/a>\u2018If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch;
\nif he\u2019s thirsty, bring him a drink.
\nYour generosity will surprise him with goodness,
\nand God will look after you\u2019 (25:21\u201322, MSG; see also Romans 12:20).<\/p>\n

2. Watch your tongue<\/h2>\n

\u2018A north wind brings stormy weather,
\nand a gossipy tongue stormy looks\u2019 (Proverbs 25:23, MSG).<\/p>\n

If you want to change your actions, start with your thoughts and words. In our New Testament passage for today Paul urges us to \u2018Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly\u2019 (2 Timothy 2:16).<\/p>\n

3. Avoid quarrelling<\/h2>\n

\u2018Better to live on the corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife\u2019 (Proverbs 25:24).<\/p>\n

Avoiding quarrelling is also a major theme in the New Testament passage for today. Paul writes, \u2018Warn them before God against quarrelling about words<\/em>; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen\u2019 (2 Timothy 2:14). He goes on to say, \u2018Don\u2019t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord\u2019s servants must not quarrel<\/em>\u2019 (vv.23\u201324).<\/p>\n

4. Bring good news<\/h2>\n

\u2018Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land\u2019 (Proverbs 25:25). We are so privileged to be able to bring the good news of Jesus. It is like \u2018cold water to a weary soul\u2019.<\/p>\n

5. Stand your ground<\/h2>\n

\u2018Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked\u2019 (v.26). Sometimes it is important to stand your ground.<\/p>\n

6. Do not seek honour<\/h2>\n

If you seek your own honour you will find that true honour eludes you: \u2018It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honourable to seek one\u2019s own honour\u2019 (v.27).<\/p>\n

7. Be self-controlled<\/h2>\n

\u2018A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out\u2019 (v.28, MSG). Don\u2019t try to control others. The only person you should try to control is yourself. Self-control is one of the characteristics that make up the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22\u201323).<\/p>\n

8. Don\u2019t worry about what others say<\/h2>\n

You do not need to fear bad publicity or slander: \u2018Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an underserved curse does not come to rest\u2019 (Proverbs 26:2).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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9. Pass it on<\/h2>\n

2 Timothy 2:1-26<\/a>It is so important to pass on the message and invest in others. There are four stages of investing in others in 2 Timothy 2:2:<\/p>\n