Dec. 04, 2022

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE YOUR MINISTRY  12-4-22

Acts 9:13-15 ¹³ "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." ¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  

PRINCIPLES to GUIDE your MINISTRY:

1. FOCUS on others’ POTENTIAL instead of their PAST?

Acts 9:26 ²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

Acts 9:17-20 ¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul… ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized… ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 

Acts 9:21-22 ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.  

Galatians 1:13–16 ¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles...

2. SEE your PAST as PREPARATION for your MINISTRY?

YOU Have The Perfect Resume: 

Your PAST Qualifies you for your PRESENT PURPOSE      

Paul’s Resume:  

Philippians 3:4–6 ⁴ If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:  ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Acts 22:3 ³ "…Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.”

3. ALLOW God to SANCTIFY your Resume?

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.