January 9
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A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. -Titus 1: 7 (NLT)
GOD’S MANAGERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you decide to become a church leader
God requires you to be a good role model
You must not be arrogant or quick-tempered
No heavy drinking or you must not be dishonest.
Church leaders are God’s managers in his kingdom
They must be blameless and live in freedom
They need to be honest doers of the word
They cannot be easily corrupted by the world.
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When one is called to minister for God in any aspect of leading a church, there are pre-requisites that God had laid out for them to follow. 1 Timothy 3:1-2 says that they must be temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, be able to teach, faithful to only one spouse. Paul adds more to these criteria in Titus 1:7. They must be humble, not arrogant, not heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. Yet we see in so many churches how these leaders are not living up to God’s expectations and requirements.
God’s managers are obliged to follow such requirements because their flock watches them and he or she is responsible for their spiritual growth. Their lives rather than their sermons will be the preaching that the congregation will hear much louder.
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PRAYER
Lord, I pray for all church leaders to keep abiding to your will.
REFLECTION
Why is following God’s requirement essential to church leaders?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
Tag Archives: church
FULL & COMPLETE BY CHRIST Poem Devotional
October 9 The Power of God’s Word
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. – Ephesians 1:23 (NLT)
FULL & COMPLETE BY CHRIST
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you feel empty and incomplete in your life?
Have you accepted and committed to Christ?
If you believe that Christ came to save you
You will be part of his church which renews.
You will have a new life and die to your old self
You will give up self-effort and seek God for help
You will be made full and complete by Christ
He will fill you with his Spirit and you’ll gain insight.
For many years of my life, I chased dreams, ambitions and approval from others. I felt incomplete and empty despite all these efforts. When I gave up rebellion, disobedience and self effort, Christ revealed to me the toxic gospels that I believed in before. The word of God changed my view and led me to the truth that only Christ can make us complete. I stopped relying on myself. Instead, I focused on Christ’s mercy and grace.
When we believe in Christ, we become part of his body. He fills us with his spirit that makes us full and complete. We stop performing and start following and living in love. We become dependent on him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to focus on you always.
REFLECTION
What things and dreams keep you from focusing on Christ?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s Poem Devotionals, or to receive emails of the poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
CHURCH IS GOD’S WARFARE Poem Devotional
Aug 15 The Power of God’s Word
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
– Ephesians 3:10 (NLT)
CHURCH IS GOD’S WARFARE
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you belong to the body of Christ?
Does God use you to shine his light?
The purpose of the church is to display God’s wisdom
It is to combat the unseen rulers who attack His kingdom.
This is why we need to be part of Christ’s body
It shows that we are his soldiers marching for victory
It displays God’s wisdom in its rich variety
It diminishes evil and darkness caused by the enemy.
There are many believers who do not go to church because of past experiences that were unpleasant. Some Christians justify that since they are reading the bible daily and following Christ, they need not be part of a church. As believers, we are expected to partake in the body of Christ. As family members of the church, we all have roles to play in preaching the good news and spreading his kingdom.
God’s purpose for the church is to display his wisdom to the unseen rulers. When we participate in church, we are like God’s soldiers bravely taking part in his warfare with the spirit realm.
PRAYER
Lord, give me courage to be your soldier.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to be part of a church?