7 Qualities For Effective Kingdom Service

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Have you ever talked with a job recruiter?

While I've never had to utilize the services of a professional recruiter . .  . I do find what they look for in recruits to be fascinating.

Thirty plus years ago, I had my insurance company marketing offices in the same building as a staffing agency and I found their profiles interesting.

Have you ever wondered about God's profile for those who fit His criteria for Kingdom service? 

There are many possibilities but I'm only going to share seven keys to effective Kingdom service.

1.  Mentally alert.

If you want to be a leader in the Kingdom. . .then you must be mentally alert.

Prayer keeps you alert and focused on your purpose.

1 Peter 1:13 in the Amplified Bible says:

“So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.”

Be ever alert to think on right things.

1 Corinthians 16:13 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!”

Strong faith will keep you alert and growing in strength.

Get ready . . .  this will make you shout!

Jeremiah 1:12 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”

2.  Occupying till He comes.

God saved us for a purpose . . .that purpose was to look at today as a day the Lord has made … not just another day.  A day the Lord has made involves so much more.

He clearly wants us to anticipate the dawn of a new day with expectancyGreet the day with anticipation and expectation of what God is going to do in and through us if we just let Him.

He does not want us to settle for whatever and whoever comes our way.

The scripture in Luke 19:13 says we’re told to “. . . occupy until I come.”

I looked up the word occupy in the Strong’s Concordance (G4231 – pragmateuomai) and it means:  “to be occupied in anything; to carry on in business” and “to carry on the business of a banker or a trader.”

The word occupy also comes from the root of a Greek word meaning “that which has been done, a deed, an accomplished fact” or “what is done or being accomplished.”

As I read these definitions in the concordance, it became even clearer. . .our Heavenly Father does not want us just sitting around biding our time waiting for Jesus to return.

God wants us about His business of occupying or as the definition indicates … carrying on business, getting something accomplished wherever we are and whatever we’re engaged in doing.

Occupying obviously means much more than just taking up space waiting for the rapture.

3.  Maximizing the spiritual and personal power working in us.

Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

There are seven powerful thoughts at work in this verse.

First, all glory to God is a great place to start.

Revelation 4:11 in God’s Word Translation says:

“Our Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power because you created everything. Everything came into existence and was created because of your will.”

Second, God is able.

Romans 4:21 in the New Living Translation says:

“He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

Third, through God’s mighty power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 in the New Living Translation says:

“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

Fourth, His mighty power at work within us.

Ephesians 1:19 in the New Living Translation says:

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power.”

Fifth, we’re to accomplish. . .not be defeated or a failure.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 in the New Living Translation says:

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”

Sixth, more than we. . .not anybody else. . .this is a conscious decision on our part.

Jeremiah 17:10 in God’s WORD Translation says:

“I, the Lord, search minds and test hearts. I will reward each person for what he has done. I will reward him for the results of his actions.”

Seventh, more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

4.  Creating opportunities not settling for what’s available.

Colossians 4:5 in the New English Translation says:

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.”

If you’re not looking for opportunities for God to be glorified in and through your life. . .you will not recognize them when they’re right in front of you.

God wants us using every opportunity we have. . .RIGHT NOW.

1 Corinthians 7:31 in The Living Bible says:

“Those in frequent contact with the exciting things the world offers should make good use of their opportunities without stopping to enjoy them; for the world in its present form will soon be gone.”

Have you thought about why God gives you opportunities?

2 Corinthians 4:11 in The Living Bible says:

“Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunities to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies.”

He gives us opportunities to showcase His power. 

5.  Attempting great things for Him.

On May 30, 1792, William Carey, known as the father of modern missions made a profound statement at the Baptist Association Meeting in Northampton, England when he said:

“Expect great things; attempt great things.”

Ephesians 1:19 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”

Just before his first London crusade, Dr. Billy Graham was asked by a newspaper reporter, "Are you an optimist or a pessimist?"

Dr. Graham said without hesitation, "I’m an optimist! I know God and I have read the end of the Bible and it assures me that we who are in Christ have the victory."

Now that’s what I call expecting great things.

6.  Assuming a position of leadership in our environment

Exodus 18:20 in the Message Bible says:

“Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do.”

An effective leader should always be trying to work themselves out of a job . . .by training and developing new leaders who can assume even greater areas of responsibility.

You’d be amazed or maybe not . . .at the number of people who do everything themselves because they illogically figure that if someone else becomes good at their job. . .they may lose it to them.

Not only is that faulty logic . . .it’s scripturally unsound.  Consider the success principle E68 (Ephesians 6:8).

Whatever good thing you cause to happen to someone else. . .God will do for you.

If you’re good at developing successful leaders . . .you’ll never be out of a job.  And, one more thing, you’ll never be broke again because good leaders are in demand.

7.  Energized and ready for every new day.

Colossians 1:11 in the Amplified Bible says:

“[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy.”

One more scripture.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 in the Message Bible says:

“So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”

Interestingly enough. . .the word reinvigorate doesn’t appear in the scriptures at all.  However, I’m mentioning the word here because I believe it describes the fire of God that lives in your bonesAccording to Dictionary.Com, it is defined as: “to give vigor to; fill with life and energy; energize.”

So here’s the question. . .are you alive with spiritual power invigorating every new day that He gives you?

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