Paul's advice to Teachers and preachers

"Remove  All  Hindrances"

1 Timothy 4:6 - 8

"If  thou  put  the  brethren  in  remembrance  of  these things,  thou  shalt  be  a  good  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, nourished   up  in  the  words  of  faith  and  of  good doctrine,  whereunto  thou  hast  attained. But  refuse  profane  and  old  wives'  fables,  and exercise  thyself  rather  unto  godliness. For  bodily  exercise  profiteth  little:  but  godliness  is profitable  unto  all  things,  having  promise  of  the  life that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come."

"The  gift  of  God  doesn't  just  spring  forth  by  itself.  You've  got to  yield  yourself  to  it.  You've  got  to  exercise  yourself  with  it. And  Paul  says  it  is  essential  for  you  to  strip  off  anything  that would  hinder  you." (Rick Rennet)

 "..  .exercise  thyself  unto  godliness..."  This  word  "godliness" is  the  Greek  word "usebeia".  This  word  "eusebeia"  can  be  translated "piety"  or  "godliness."  But  really,  both  of  these  ideas  miss  the mark,  because  this  word  "eusebeia" refers  to  one's  loyalty  to  his religion.
This  is  what  we  would  call  a  fanatic—someone  who  is  so deeply  devoted  to  what  he  is  doing  that  he  appears  to  be fanatical.  He  is  deeply,  deeply  devoted.

So  Paul  says,  "The  way  to  become  more  committed—the  way to  become  more  developed—is  not  to  sit  back  and  listen  to  the old  women  of  the  church  who  say,  'Take  it  easy.'  Rather,  if  you want  to  be  the  best  you  can  be,  you  must  give  yourself  wholly  to your  ministry. Be an example of Christ Jesus in your ministry.

You've  got  to  exercise  yourself  unto  godliness."
And  the  whole  idea  of  this  word  "gumnadzo"—"exercise  while naked"—is,
 "There  are  some  things  which  are  keeping  you  from developing  as  quickly  as  you  can.  And  you  need  to  take  off  these hindering  forces  so  you  will  have  greater  movement  and  you  can develop  faster."

This  is  not  a time  to  take  it  easy.  This  is,  rather,  a  time  to  take off   all   the   restrictions—any   hindering   things—that   would impede  you  and give  yourself  to  development.

Today ask yourself;

Am I giving myself wholly (my best) to my ministry?

Prayer
Spirit of God, help me identify and remove all hindrances around and within me, in Christ Jesus name.

SHALOM!!!!

"IMPACTING GENERATIONS"

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