Surprise frm God today!!!

I was reading this article of the Methodist Message, and felt tt there are so much we could learn from it. I felt quite down and quite discouraged ytd, in fact i was searching 4 an ans past few months ... yet God knows my need and speaks to me this morning... hahaz ... im amazed!!
Thank you Lord, you are good. you are good all the times.
Title of the article is "Watch your life and doctrine closely".

part of it goes like this:
"You are brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching - trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine. You have been trained in words (theological training, etc). But words must be accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit who alone can produce conviction and change of life in ppl.
"Train yourself to be godly. You were trained, now cont training yourself, and the focus of the training is towards godliness."

What's godliness? How does it look like?
"It looks like Christ, for He is the Model of godliness. To train yourself to be godly means to become like Christ, your Master." It means spending time with Jesus, to leran frm Him, to be a true disciple of His, and to be so infused with His Spirit tt the fruit of the Spirit will shine thru your lives.

Respect your pastors, dont look down on them. Observe your pastors. If they are good, you will learn a lot by precept and example. If you see progress in your pastors, encourage them. The inner life of a pastor is of utmost importance. Mission naturally follows the life. A weaker inner life will result in the erosion of the soul, and decreasing effectiveness in ministry. We may build institutions but they will nvr last or touch the inner lives of ppl. We may speak a lot of words but they would hv no healing or transforming power. We may teach methods but they cannot change ppl deeply. We may give a lot of advice but we can nvr give true spiritual direction.

Godliness helps us to discern. To know bet tt which is central and the peripheral. What is impt and what is not. What is truth and what is not. Character is essential. Godliness results in a life lived in hope - in the living God, the Savior. We teach not just by precept but by example. We must not only tell, but show how to live as a disciple of Christ. We must be living examples of the spiritual life, and of Christian maturity.

Do not neglect the gift. The key gift of teaching and preaching, caring for the flock, etc, can be neglected cos the distortions of modern ministry. We must be diligent. Diligence means tt we do our ministry well, whether we are observed or not. we prepare sermons well. We visit ppl with a real desire to minister. We give our hearts and minds in preparing and leading worship, teaching, preaching, caring, mentoring.

Watching life and ministry is nvr easy. There are so many other things to do, so many distractions. Also those who do this well often face serious difficulties and challenges, severe spiritual attacks, cos such ministers are really effective and the devil does not like this. this is why Paul uses the word 'persevere'. Hang on. Be faithful. Fulfill your ministry.

The result is that we will be saved ourselves. But watching our live and ministry will also save our hearers and those we minister to. It means that our ministry will really be effective, tt we will really be able to touch ppl's live, and tt ppl will really find salvation for their souls frm our ministry.

Watch your life and ministry. Keep your focus on your inner life in Christ. Faithfully discharge your key duties.