Don't Hurt Yourself
We love to serve God! We are cheerful givers and have joy in the sacrifice we make to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ! As a
ministry we find no greater happiness than to serve, give and sacrifice for the betterment of our partners. We champion the
sound Biblical mentoring of Servant Leadership. With all the work to be done [because “the harvest is plentiful, but the
laborers are few,”] we applaud those who serve, give and sacrifice.
With that said, we also exhort you, “Don't hurt yourself!” Watch that you don't cross the line into spiritual martyrdom. “Give 'till it
hurts”, “serve 'till you drop”, and “sacrifice all” are clever sayings used to motivate some who are lax, but these motivators must
be metered with the love of God in order to be scripturally sound doctrine. God's ideal for giving is this: “So let each one give
as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [2Corinthians 9:7] His heart for
serving is, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My
Father will honor.” [John12:26] God's intent for sacrifice is, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” [Romans12:1; emphasis
ours] Our God of Love is looking for us to give, but to give cheerfully; to serve with honor; and to sacrifice, but by God's mercy,
with reasonable service.
Not once is it required of us to be martyred for the Glory of God. Although we are to work hard, have the capacity to give
abundantly, live a life that sacrifices worldly passions and lust, “Don't Hurt Yourself!” Jesus was, is and will be the only life
sacrifice required by God for salvation, redemption and deliverance. [please read Hebrews 9 Amplified version.] Although
there are Biblical examples of martyrs,and God honors their sacrifice [see Revelation 20] martyrdom, whether literal or
spiritual, rarely produces Faith, Love, or Hope.
The most notable Biblical martyr, Stephen, was known for his faith, power and the signs he did. Look closely at the condition of
the early church before and after he was stoned. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there
arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, [Acts 6:1] To paraphrase, Stephen was chosen to serve in the
distribution of goods, he was Spirit-filled and had the power of the Spirit upon him. However; he got into a doctrinal dispute
with Jewish leaders, instead of deferring to the Apostles [see, in contrast, Peter's discourse in Acts 2], which resulted in strife.
He was stoned and that event was the beginning of the dispersion and persecution of the church. [Read 1 Timothy 1: 3-16
NIV] “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and
Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only” [Acts 11:19] Stephen's sacrifice, as notable and noble as it may have
been, was the turning point from a multiplying early Church to a dispersed Church. We are to serve, give, and sacrifice for God
and His Church, but not out of His order, or at the expense of faith, hope and love. Not only does “suffering for Jesus” hurt
oneself, it also hinders the witness of God's goodness to mankind. A true witness exhibits how wonderful it is to BE a
Christian. Going to the extreme of sacrifice and service can actually erode our witness and walk of faith. There have been too
many people who have started “on fire” for God, only to burn the “candle” at both ends, martyring their faith on the “altar.” The
end result is often bitterness, a personal dispersion from the things of God, and a “witness” that repels others from intimacy
with the Lord.
The Word puts it so simply; “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. [1Corinthians 9:24&25] and
again; Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. [Hebrews 12:1&2]
Jesus was and is the only martyr necessary for us to have great faith, power and signs, through serving, giving, and sacrifice
without loosing faith, hope, and love.
Be LARGE for God, but please “Don't Hurt Yourself!”
Love In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
We love to serve God! We are cheerful givers and have joy in the sacrifice we make to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ! As a
ministry we find no greater happiness than to serve, give and sacrifice for the betterment of our partners. We champion the
sound Biblical mentoring of Servant Leadership. With all the work to be done [because “the harvest is plentiful, but the
laborers are few,”] we applaud those who serve, give and sacrifice.
With that said, we also exhort you, “Don't hurt yourself!” Watch that you don't cross the line into spiritual martyrdom. “Give 'till it
hurts”, “serve 'till you drop”, and “sacrifice all” are clever sayings used to motivate some who are lax, but these motivators must
be metered with the love of God in order to be scripturally sound doctrine. God's ideal for giving is this: “So let each one give
as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [2Corinthians 9:7] His heart for
serving is, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My
Father will honor.” [John12:26] God's intent for sacrifice is, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” [Romans12:1; emphasis
ours] Our God of Love is looking for us to give, but to give cheerfully; to serve with honor; and to sacrifice, but by God's mercy,
with reasonable service.
Not once is it required of us to be martyred for the Glory of God. Although we are to work hard, have the capacity to give
abundantly, live a life that sacrifices worldly passions and lust, “Don't Hurt Yourself!” Jesus was, is and will be the only life
sacrifice required by God for salvation, redemption and deliverance. [please read Hebrews 9 Amplified version.] Although
there are Biblical examples of martyrs,and God honors their sacrifice [see Revelation 20] martyrdom, whether literal or
spiritual, rarely produces Faith, Love, or Hope.
The most notable Biblical martyr, Stephen, was known for his faith, power and the signs he did. Look closely at the condition of
the early church before and after he was stoned. Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there
arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, [Acts 6:1] To paraphrase, Stephen was chosen to serve in the
distribution of goods, he was Spirit-filled and had the power of the Spirit upon him. However; he got into a doctrinal dispute
with Jewish leaders, instead of deferring to the Apostles [see, in contrast, Peter's discourse in Acts 2], which resulted in strife.
He was stoned and that event was the beginning of the dispersion and persecution of the church. [Read 1 Timothy 1: 3-16
NIV] “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and
Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only” [Acts 11:19] Stephen's sacrifice, as notable and noble as it may have
been, was the turning point from a multiplying early Church to a dispersed Church. We are to serve, give, and sacrifice for God
and His Church, but not out of His order, or at the expense of faith, hope and love. Not only does “suffering for Jesus” hurt
oneself, it also hinders the witness of God's goodness to mankind. A true witness exhibits how wonderful it is to BE a
Christian. Going to the extreme of sacrifice and service can actually erode our witness and walk of faith. There have been too
many people who have started “on fire” for God, only to burn the “candle” at both ends, martyring their faith on the “altar.” The
end result is often bitterness, a personal dispersion from the things of God, and a “witness” that repels others from intimacy
with the Lord.
The Word puts it so simply; “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. [1Corinthians 9:24&25] and
again; Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. [Hebrews 12:1&2]
Jesus was and is the only martyr necessary for us to have great faith, power and signs, through serving, giving, and sacrifice
without loosing faith, hope, and love.
Be LARGE for God, but please “Don't Hurt Yourself!”
Love In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
