We provide a Deacon Minute each Lord’s Day to encourage you from God’s Word to serve the body and to keep you informed of service opportunities in the body. Over the last two weeks you have heard two deacon minutes that deal with two very different areas of service. I would ask to see who remembered what those areas of service were, but this is a deacon MINUTE, so I will remind you, just in case, you have forgotten.Larry spoke last week about praying for our elders, specifically Pastor Dustin, as he is active in evangelism on the streets of Greensboro, and Jeremy asked us to consider how we behave when we are being served. I have been challenged by both of these men and thank them for the time they put into preparation.
So I ask you, did either of these topics cause you to reconsider your behavior or did you hear what was said and then go out and continue to behave as you have? All too often, I hear God Word brought to bear on my life, I feel ashamed at my behavior, I want to change, and then due to the cares of this world, I fall back into my old sinful way of doing things. Praise the Lord, He often reminds me, by the work of the Holy Spirit of this failure and empowers me to change, often times bringing to mind the things that I have been taught, through the preaching of the Word, personal Bible Study or a challenge from another brother.
I hope when a deacon gets up here each week to encourage you, that you are eager to hear from God’s Word. I would ask you to consider praying for your deacons that we will be true to God’s Word as we speak and as we serve? There are currently four (4) serving deacons and now two (2) deacon candidates. There are six (6) men that you will begin to hear from on a rotating basis. Each of us have different abilities and weaknesses. Some of us find it easy to stand and speak, others find it more difficult. Greg and Andrew will start soon, and they are brand new. Ken is coming off of his sabbatical, as it appears his brain is healing well. Will you pray for the six of us? Will you pray that God will use each of us, work through us, and make us true servants; serving the needs of the body, organizing the service to the body and each week exhorting the body to serve while providing necessary information regarding that service? Thank you!
As many of you know through email, Emily will be packing up and moving out this Thursday. Please contact Larry or Greg if you can help. Also, thank you to the two individuals who have offered to serve by continuing the work of preparing the bulletin each week.
In a few minutes, I will read Matthew 14, and we will each be reminded of the account of Peter walking on the water with Jesus. We can ridicule Peter for his lack of faith or marvel that he was willing to step out in the first place, but we will all agree, that none of it was possible with out the power of Jesus at work, controlling nature and circumstances to bring about this miracle. Are we willing to be used by Christ to accomplish his will?
Philippians 2 reminds us of God’s plan for our lives. Verse 13 says, “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” God’s desire is to use us, empowered by His Spirit to do His good pleasure. I am excited when I see God working through His people and accomplishing His Will, I ray that each of us will eagerly submit to His Will.
Deacon Wilson
