People, We Are Born to Serve

For a while now, quite a while…I have been weary, in a spiritual battle. We are all in the battle. Some are more aware than others. If you are breathing, whether you know it or not, you’re in the struggle of your lives. It’s a battle for the lives of your children and children’s children. It’s a battle for one another. We’re all in this together. That’ s why it is so vital for those of us who are of the household faith, to pray. Prayer is communion with God. When we pray, we are talking to our creator the one who is the only one, who can save us, help us, deliver us! He hears our prayers and he answers. He answers with, Yes, No, or Not yet! He sees the whole picture. He sees all lives, in all places, and how it affects eternity. It’s a ripple effect. So, it’s not just what we want, it’s about what He wants.

In this battle…we have an enemy and that enemy is shrewd and strategic, more cunning than all other beings. He’s a master liar, a putrid deceiver, a constant destroyer of anything and anyone living and of those to come. It doesn’t matter who you are, your status, your race, your religion, your creed. Everyone is the same to him. He sees all mankind as an enemy and he is determined to wipe us all out. He is forever lost and wants to take as many as he can with him.

But know this, Jesus has already defeated him and if you are in the family of God, you have an advocate with Jesus the son of God. Jesus is praying for you!

Last Sunday before the service, we have time set aside to pray before the service begins. Many people were visiting with each other which was totally fine. The fellowship was sweet. Gathering together after a week of hard work it’s a nice time to see one another. But I had a heaviness in my spirit and I needed to pray. So, I went down front, I think there was one other person praying at that time. I sat in a seat and silently began to pour my heart out to the Lord. It was as if every sound, all the voices around me became quiet and I was engulfed in the Presence of the Lord. In other words, I didn’t hear anything going on around me. I had an audience with the Lord and it was powerful. Tears ran down my face as I prayed. I prayed that God would forgive me for my faults. I prayed that He would be glorified. I prayed for souls to have a deeper relationship with Him. I prayed more of him and less of me. I prayed for families and for the Church. I prayed he would show me what he wanted me to pray for, that His Heart would be my prayer. Then I heard him say these words, “It’s about people.”

After I heard those words, I felt peace settle within me but those words stayed with me. As Pastor Perry brought the message he began to expound on how, it is all about People. I was elated, he had confirmed that what I heard was from the Lord.

I’m going to get very real right here, right now…we all have challenges we deal with on a daily basis. Sickness, conflicts, jobs, homelessness, finances, Christmas, unsurmountable tasks, wars and rumors of wars, hopelessness, discouragement, endless life struggles, news that shatters your resolve, you know what I’m talking about. Life is hard. But God is good! We as individuals face many, many issues in our lives. From the very young to the very not so young, the time-worn ones. This battle we’re in never ends. It is ongoing, from conception to the passing from this life we are in a fight. We fight physically, spiritually, and mentally. The battle never ends. But as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we’ve been given weapons of; Prayer (seeking God), Power (the Holy Spirit), Love (God’s love) and a Sound Mind (the mind of Christ, the anointed) we’ve been given the Armor of God, to fight in this battle we will overcome fear (false evidence of appearing real). We are not alone. Jesus, Is, With us!

I needed encouragement as my flesh and my spirit battled it out. I’ve been down, discouraged, and I couldn’t seem to find my footing. I’ve prayed, asked all the questions, talked to my heavenly father about all the “stuff” and He listened patiently, waiting for me to be in a position to receive from Him, when he did speak. Oh, there has been encouragement from others as they shared with me their insights, not knowing Papa God was speaking to me through them. They didn’t know I was in the middle of a battle. God was speaking through them trying to get my attention.

In the early morning hours that’s when I hear Him most clearly. Holy Spirit said, “I’ve called you to serve.” The Way he said it, was so reassuring not burdensome. It was light and joyful. It was no longer a thing of, what I was going through, or how I felt, or what I wanted. It wasn’t, what is my purpose? Why am I here? It was what, He said, “I’ve called you to serve.” He turned everything around and put it in a perspective so profound that I understood it was about helping others… “It’s about People!”

The struggle ended. I was no longer the spotlight. It was about “They, Them, He, She, Young, the Time-Worn Ones! The focus changed. Serving, not being served. Giving, not wanting for selfish reasons. He turned the whole battle around and it was no longer a drudge, it was a privileged.

The battle only becomes overwhelming when we focus on the “Me, Myself and I.”

So, battle, weary, soldiers, pick up your sword, the word of God! Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, doing what is right in God’s eyes not our own! Take the Helmet of Salvation and place it on your head, Jesus didn’t die in vain! He, is the savior of the world! Let the Belt of Truth be worn as a mantra to do what God says is true, a good report, steadfast, immovable, standing in His strength! Walk with your feet prepared with the Gospel (Good News) of Peace, His Shalom! Allowing His peace, to carry you to others! Above all, do this, hold the Shield of Faith in front of you, ever ready to deflect all the fiery darts of the evil one! Pray, being thankful and with all supplication (plead humbly) pray in the Spirit, He knows what is needed most and what to ask for! Watch and be prepared with perseverance for the saints, we are all in this battle together!

Come on Servants of the Highest, we’ve got a battle to run toward and not to retreat! Build up the body of Christ by serving one another. Don’t look back, if you do, you’ll get stuck in the rearview mirror of time. Stop complaining! What you say is powerful let your words be life provoking. God is listening and he is waiting for you to put on your uniform and serve with gladness. A merry heart does good like a medicine. Laugh, love, serve Him by serving others. Amen!!!

After all God’s got you! No matter what happens we have already won. This place is not our final home, we are all just passing through. What we do here on this journey will determine who and where we are when it’s all said and done!

You are in service of the King of Glory! I salute you! Go in Peace! Fight the Good Fight of Faith! Don’t fight each other, Serve each other! In Jesus Name, Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 6, 2023

Ephesians 6 The Message

6 ^1-3 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”

⁴ Fathers, don’t frustrate your children with no-win scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.

^5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

⁹ Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.

A Fight to the Finish

^10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

^13-18 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

^19-20 And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

^21-22 Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I’m doing and how things are going with me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master! I’ve sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith.

^23-24 Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.