Sundayword: For the work of the gospel

By Prosper Tingini | Oct. 22, 2023

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band

Greetings to you all. It is another good and blessed week. We continue again with the same topic as we try and help each on how we can be affective and useful in our gathering places. We will look at some of the people who were committed to the church through their deeds. It is important that we must learn from the bible and emulate those who ran this race before us. The work of the gospel needs all of us to put our hands together in order to make it more effective.

Acts 9:36-37, 39 (KJV)

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them... Here is a story from the Bible of a woman called Dorcas or Tabitha. This woman was so much committed in helping others such that her good works spoke for her even in death. She understood her area of calling, she embraced her role in the church and community. After she understood her calling she kept to that calling and did not strudel to other departments. This made her to have a huge impact in her community. After her death the Apostles were informed, and people had evidence of her good works. Today I implore you to augment the work of your Pastor, Apostle, Prophet Etc. Make an impact by touching other people’s lives. Don’t wait until you have enough. Give even your time to others

Acts 10:1-5 (KJV)

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: Here is another great example of a believer who embraced Christ and activated his faith by helping others. From the position of Faith he made a difference through giving. Today I am talking to devout men and women, even on positions of influence, use your influence to transform others. Cornelius reached out to others. Through his giving God reached out to him. His giving opened a door for him to receive a Man of God in his house. Be positioned in your area of gifting in church as you support the vision. Be principled my Brother and my Sister. I declare and I decree may you be the Cornelius of our generation in Jesus’s name.

Ephesians 6:21-22 (MSG)

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. It is very important to be dependable when it comes to the work of the gospel. Here is a Man of God trusted by Brother Paul. The work of God is self-commitment. It is voluntary and requires a lot of time and resources. Today I want you to check yourself, can people depend on you. Can your Man of God depend on you? Can your community depend on you? Paul was bearing witness of Tychicus. Paul had confidence that even if he was to send him to Mwenezi, to Zaka, to Zvimba, Plumtree or to Binga Tychicus will go. Many of today’s Minister of the Gospel will not go. They will have many reasons to abscond.

Philippians 4:1-3 (MSG)

My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.
I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.
And, oh, yes, Syzygus, since you’re right there to help them work things out, do your best with them. These women worked for the Message hand in hand with Clement and me, and with the other veterans--worked as hard as any of us. Remember, their names are also in the book of life. In this scripture we also see Brother Paul assigning yet another dependable Son in the Lord Syzygus. A lot takes place in church organisation. People may have different approaches to handling issues arising in Church. Some people may end up arguing or quarreling. From His base Paul is addressing those issues. He is sending his Son to handle committed members of the Church. It is my prayer that our Tafadzwa, Chipos, Tatendas of this generation may be like Clement and Syzygus. The church needs such people. Your Pastor yawn for such kind of Sons and followers.

Philippians 4:15-18 (MSG)

You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one.
Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out--and not only once, but twice.
Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.
And now I have it all--and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. Many Ministers of the Gospel are suffering silently as they so the work of God. Paul is addressing people in church who do not care about the welfare of their Pastor. All the care about is that the Pastor must pray for them in the houses or hospital. How he gets there, they don’t care. Many resign from ministry because they also have needs for their children. Be like the church of which took care of Brother Paul. We need people like Epaphroditus who were send to take care of the Man of God.

2 Timothy 1:15-18 (NIV)

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains?
On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. As we continue, you can see that there are churches out there who can choose to ignore and desert their Pastors. Phygelus and Hermogenes deserted Paul. Are you not the one Pastor will mention by name? Is he not going to say Takura deserted me, Simbarashe deserted me or Chengeto deserted me? How are you treating your Pastor? Onesiphorus refreshed the Man of God. Where ever you are, pray and say God raise me to be like Onesiphorus.

Today’s Church is not holding together because there is lack of love. There is no unity in the church. Saints are actually fighting each other for positions thereby giving pain to their Leaders. The Church is bleeding because many Pastors are now abandoning the pulpit to look for welfare. It is because the Saints are frustrating their Leaders. They are becoming rebellious to their Leaders. I urge you today to run this race and support your Leaders. Do not desert your Pastors. Stand with them. Can you be that Son who is dependable? Next week we conclude on this topic with more enlightenment. See you next week, Love you all.

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Prosper Tingini is the Scribe of the Children of God Missionary Assembly — God’s messengers. Contact details: Mobile & WhatsApp — 0771 260 195. Email address: ptingini@gmail.com