measure of our commitment

THE MEASURE OR OUR COMMITMENT & MINISTRY BEFORE THE LORD!

I. Foundation of ministry is CHARACTER / CALLING.
A. God knows what calling to give us.
(Rom 11:29 KJV) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(Rom 11:29) Amplified For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
B. God calls from all walks of life.
(1 Cor 1:26 AMP) For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.
C. We are to satifisied with our calling. That happens when we submit our will to His Will.
(1 Cor 7:20 KJV) Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
D. There is hope in His calling.
(Eph 1:18 KJV) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
1. I was called by the Lord to be a missionary evangelist in May of 1959, and it was in Nov. 30, 1975 in Brazil leading about 6,000 to Christ that I saw the fullness of His calling, I had hope.
(Eph 4:4 KJV) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
E. We never quit growing in our Calling.
(Phil 3:14 KJV) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
F. We want to be worthy of His calling.
(2 Th 1:11 KJV) Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
1. We do that by being faithful.
G.(2 Tim 1:9 KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
(Heb 3:1 KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
(1 Pet 3:6 KJV) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
(2 Pet 1:10 KJV) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

II. Nature of ministry is SERVANT HOOD / LEADERSHIP.

III. Motive of our ministry is LOVE.
A. To God first. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
B. To Man second. Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

IV. Measure of our ministry is SACRIFICE.

V. Authority of our ministry is SUBMISSION.
- John 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
- Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

VI. The purpose of our ministry is the GLORY OF GOD.

VII. Tools of ministry is PRAYER AND THE WORD OF GOD.
- Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
VIII. Privilege of ministry is PERSONAL GROWTH/CO=LABORERS

IX. Power of ministry is the HOLY SPIRIT.
Zech 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

IX. Model of ministry is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

God bless you and yours!
On behalf of this generation,
Your friends in the service of Christ,
Tony and Marge Abram
Abundant Life Crusades

If we could be of more help or if you want more information please visit:
www.tonyabram.com or www.abundantlifecrusades.com