Service (Click on "Service" for audio access)
"How Shall We Then Live" • 1.26.12 •
Thursday Night Bible Study, Calvary Christian Fellowship
Intro.
- When a person
comes to Christ, for a time, they are infants spiritually, constantly in need
of food and dependant entirely on others to help bring them along. For a time,
that's appropriate.
- Over time, a
supernatural thing begins to occur: The spiritual baby becomes a maturing
believer ready to contribute, hungry for responsibility, looking to exercise
their faith!
- He or she
goes from being a constant consumer to a full blown participant! God's Word is
implanted, the seed has found good ground, and now, the overwhelming concern is
fruitfulness.
- The maturing
believer goes from asking, "I wonder what I'll learn today," and
begins to ask, "I wonder how God will use what I have learned to bless
others today!"
- In this final
part of this set of studies, I want to direct our attention to what the Bible
tells us about service and how that topic might be different than we think.
Text
- First, we
need to recognize that all service is the natural outflow of worship. Turn with
me to Romans 12. This is an
especially famous verse and one that gets us on the right track.
• Romans
12:1 : "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." :
"Beseech" is an old world meaning to "appeal." Paul
is making an impassioned plea to his audience, based on all the riches of their
salvation.
- God has taken
our filth and given us His perfection to wear. He has saved us from our sins,
solely by His sweet grace. With this as the context, Paul appeals to believers.
- In light of
all this mercy, it's right for you to present, to place your bodies at the
disposal of the Lord. The sense is, "Lord, do with me as you wish!"
You have given your all, now I give my all!
- In this way,
the person is a living sacrfice, holy, set apart because of what Jesus has done
for them, and viable in the hands of God. This Paul says is their logical,
sacred service.
- The ESV
translates "reasonable service," as "your spiritual
worship." We worship the Lord, we respond rightly to His mercy by seeking
to serve Him.
- When we
serve, it comes not as a debt that is owed, but as a loving response for what
God has done for us! That makes sense doesn't it?
- In the world,
you hear of people who give to charities that they once found themselves
beneficiaries of.
- In the same
way, having received the grace and mercy of the Lord, you are overjoyed at the
thought of serving Him! When you come to that understanding, you enter a
wonderful fellowship.
- Every great
person of the faith that has ever lived, has simply been a servant of God! You are
a servant of God's right now. Perhaps you are still in training, but you are a
servant nonetheless!
- Paul calls
himself a "bondservant" or "bondslave" of God. (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1)
James, Peter and Jude refer to themselves this way (James 1:1, II Peter 1:1,
Jude 1).
- This was not
false humility on their parts. This was their reality. They considered
themselves willing, voluntary servants of Jesus Christ, carrying out His work
with all of their lives.
- Think of
yourself as an extension of Him. To the person needing wisdom, you are an
extension of His wisdom. To one needing a touch, you are the extension of His
hands.
- Turn over to Philippians 4. In the world, being
someone's servant is considered a lowly or humiliating thing. God shows us that
in His Kingdom, it is the servant who is lifted up!
- Paul, in
seeking an illustration to demonstrate that truth, points to Jesus, who became
the picture, the paradigm of the believer.
• Philippians
2:5-8 : "Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him
the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father." : We examined this
passage in detail recently, but I draw your attention to it again, as being a
servant in God's Kingdom is the highest and greatest occupation that any
Christian person could ever have!
- Jesus became
a servant in every way. Like Jesus, you and I are lifted up by God when we take
ourselves down a notch!
- Turn to Mark 9. The Lord's disciples believed
that they would be the greatest in God's Kingdom AFTER Jesus of course, and
even argued amongst themselves about it.
• Mark
9:33-35 : "Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in
the house He asked them, 'What was it you disputed among yourselves on the
road?' But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves
who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to
them, 'If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of
all.'" : God desires
that we serve Him by serving one another. That is how we serve Him, being a
servant of all.
- God has
always had this planned for you! This was His intention in saving you!
- Turn over to Ephesians 2. Paul speaks in a similar
vein here in Ephesians. First, there is salvation and then there is work to be
done.
• Ephesians
2:8-10 : "For by grace you have been saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest
anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
: You are God's
masterpiece, His poem! He created you in Christ Jesus in order that you might
express good works!
- You did not
do good works to be saved or to earn His grace. Grace is received. Once grace
is received, God opens the door for good works that He always had in mind for
you.
- I have often
put it like this: Faith is the root and works are the fruit!
- As a group,
the church is designed by God to be a "good working" organism. The
first of those works is the declaration of the full counsel of God, in teaching
the Word of God.
- Paul calls
the assembly of believers the "church of the living God, the pillar and
ground of the truth!" (I Timothy
3:15) The church is meant to proclaim all of God's counsel for men.
- The second of
those good works is evangelism, declaring God's word of salvation to every
tribe, tongue and people.
- That is the
role of the church in the world, the good works that God prepared in advance
for us as a church to do. This is what we walk or set ourselves in.
- Take a moment
of practical application here. Wherever you go, you represent God, as His
servant, and the church.
- Therefore, in
your neighborhood, at your job, wherever they know your name, you are called to
represent His interests and act as a representative of our church.
- If you are
surrounded by a bunch of heathens, you are called to evangelize. This will take
various forms, all of which we have seen in the book of Acts.
- There will be
long conversations that endure throughout the week, where you will answer
thought for thought. Other times, you will present information, teaching CDs or
DVDs.
- Perhaps, in a
desire to minister the gospel, you do so by looking to practically assist
someone, all with the hope of speaking forth the gospel.
- Ultimately,
you will invite those people to come to church with you, perhaps even picking
them up from their homes!
- Do not
believe for a second that you are not called to evangelize because you are not
an evangelist! Paul told Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist." (II Timothy 4:5)
- We do not
need to be evangelists to do the work of one, namely evangelizing!
- On the other
hand, you may be surrounded by other Christians. At that point, you are one who
adds to the teaching of God's Word, bringing scripture to bear on various
topics.
- Your work
place, neighborhood or local hangout is either a nesting ground for new
believers or a place of encouragement for fellow believers!
- In these
ways, you perform the work of the church microcosmically! By doing this, you begin
to understand what church and the teaching of God's word is for in the first
place!
- It is the
place where you are equipped for every good work that God has you to perform!
These are the works that you are called to perform in the world, but what about
the church?
- God's people
do good works towards those in need within the body, looking around always for
opportunities to serve each other.
• Galatians
6:9,10 : "And let us not grow
weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose
heart. Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of
the household of faith." :
Note the word "especially" is not the word "exclusively!"
- Sometimes
it's a meal for a person who is hurting. Sometimes it's a prayer for a brother
or sister in need. Sometimes it's offering people a job or keeping an ear open
for others who need one.
- We are meant
to serve the Lord by serving one another. Usually, one only needs to open their
eyes and look around, and God will direct you to the nearest need.
- We are to
present our bodies to him and we were created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Beyond these general things, what does God specifically want me to do?
- Here again is
a wonderfully broad topic that every new believer and many old ones tend to
spend their lives working out. Let me assure you now: God will work it out in
your life!
- As much as He
has been sovereign in your salvation, He will be just as gracious and powerful
to move you into the position that He wants you to operate in.
- In speaking
toward what capacity you might be useful to the Lord in, it's of paramount
importance that we discuss the contents of I
Corinthians 12.
- The scripture
asserts that God has given each of His people, the body of Christ, gifts for
service. They are what they sound like: Received operations of grace for
service to the body.
• I
Corinthians 12:4-11 :
"There are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries,
but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same
God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each
one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning
of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one individually as He wills." : Within the church, there exists certain
gifts that God has given to each of us. The Spirit gives them and God is the
Lord of them.
- Let that hold
your heart as you consider this topic. Gifts are a sovereign work and are
nothing apart from the Spirit who gives them and the God who chooses to use
them in you.
- As the
Trinity involves itself in this enterprise, we also understand that there are
diversities of gifts or varieties of graces. There are differences of
ministries or varieties of the works.
- Paul is
saying that these gifts will work out in your life in a unique way as you are
unique! God is woking, Paul asserts in all of His people, for the profit of
all!
- Your gift is
meant to encourage and bless all. It is not meant to be a glory for you. At
this point, Paul gives a few examples of the gifts that he has in mind.
- He begins
with the word of wisdom and related to it, the word of knowledge.
- One speaks to
intelligence given that comes from God's Word, the other an insight that cannot
be known except by God's revealing.
- Paul then
speaks of faith and gifts of healing. Faith being the ability to believe God in
a given situation, for His work and healings for cooperation with Him in
bringing a supernatural touch.
- From there
the working of miracles and prophecy. Miraculous signs were given in the early
church to authenticate their message.
- Prophecy
could be considered forthtelling, or speaking to something yet future and
unknown or it can be speaking of God's Word, the latter being the predominant
case.
- God's spirit
has given His body the discerning of spirits, a check in the spirit to confirm
or deny something. I call it "God's Sensitivity Detector."
- Finally, Paul
talks to the Corinthians about tongues and the interpretation of tongues.
- Today,
tongues are often uttered in prayer meetings and people have interpreted by
praying and agreeing together.
- These are
gifts that we employ in serving one another. They come from the Lord and are
for the benefit of His body, God giving them to His believers as He desires.
- God looks at
us and says, "This person is in the position to use this gift and it won't
puff them up! They'll use it in the right way and when they do it will bring
joy to them and glory to me!"
- Through the
rest of I Corinthians 12, Paul
illustrates how necessary the use of these gifts are for the church. It's akin
to a part of the body not cooperating with the rest of the body.
- You not using
your gifting, Paul says, is like your arm refusing to work because it doesn't
get to see, or your eyes refusing to see because it can't throw!
- Without you
employing the gifts that you have or living as the gift that you are the church
becomes a place of dysfunction. Paul closes things up in verse 27 and following, when he says:
• I
Corinthians 12:27-31 : "Now you are the body of Christ, and members
individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are
all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do
all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts.
And yet I show you a more excellent way."
: Turn now to Romans 12. Paul
includes another list of gifts.
• Romans
12:3-8 : "For I say, through the grace given to me, to
everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For
as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members
of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our
faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in
teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who
leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." : Note again that Paul is reminding us that
gifting is to be received humbly and used with humility so as to bless the
body.
- Our gifts are
not hammers, they're chisels, to be used for gentle work among each other.
- Additionally,
Paul let's us know that it's our responsibility to allow them to function
within the church for the body of Christ, because we are in Christ together.
- Because each
individual is different and each individual group of believers is different,
God places gifts within the body that minister appropriately there in that
local church expression.
- Paul repeats
the gift of prophecy, which here is the teaching of God's Word, bringing forth
it's meaning for the congregation.
- He adds the
term "ministry," meaning service. Teaching, which means instruction
in the things of God. Exhortation being encouragement to live in what has been
taught.
- Giving from
the spirit refers to resource, either financially or with wisdom. It's from the
spirit when it is is given with liberality.
- Leading
refers to adminisration and getting things done logistically for the meeting of
the body and mercy refers to those with an eye toward those who are suffering
within the body.
- Now, with
this quick summary as our background, think of these scenarios that may give
you a sense of what gift you may possess.
- When you walk
into a group of people, what is it that you perceive? What are your first
thoughts? Perhaps you see one who is alone and you want them to feel included.
That's mercy.
- Perhaps you
feel that there is time that is wasting and you have the urge to gather people
for prayer, knowing that God is about to do something. That is leading.
- By the end of
the service, you have heard that someone is struggling with something personal
and you want to encourage them in the word. That is exhortation and prophecy.
- At the same
time, you see a bunch of work that needs to be done at the end of the service,
so you jump right in and ask, "How can I help?" That's the gift
of...HELPS!!
- As we close,
you might be wondering what gifts you have and how they might begin to
manifest. You might ask, do I just start doing something?
- The answer is
yes! Be involved. Church is where you practice for the mission field that is
your job, your neighborhood, your family! Think of it as a launching point, but
not the only point.
- One of the
major mistakes that people make and I am wanting desperately to avoid this, is
to consider ministry, service or serving as something to compartmentalize.
- I serve God
at church, but that's all. Or, just as bad, I serve God at home. Either way, we
have missed the point. We are full time, full life servants!
- For each
person, your service to God will be made clear to you by the priorities that
you already have. For example, you belong to Christ and your first ministry is
to Him.
- if you are
married, your second ministry priority is your spouse. If you have children,
that is your next priority. Then comes the job that God has placed you in.
- Because each
of these is God given, ministering and serving these ministries is of the
greatest importance. When all of that is in balance, find how you can minister
within the church!
- The
healthiest person is the one who has learned how to minister to the Lord. The
healthiest couple are the couples that learn to minister together.
- The
healthiest family is the family devoted to God! The healthiest churches are
those filled with people who live their priorities rightly.
- The church
will always have need, but will also always have God's provision! It's His
church you know! For those with those right priorities consider these thoughts.
- Whatever God
is going to make you, you won't see the end at the beginning! Let me give you
two examples. Stephen and Phillip were both men of great renown in the
scripture.
- Stephen was a
mighty preacher and Phillip was a great evangelist. That's how they ended up.
Where did they start? They were busboys in the early church!
- Think of
Gideon in the Old Testament, who defeated the Midianite army with 300 men in a
mighty route. Before he could be that, God got his feet wet by having him
destroy his Father's idol.
- God gave him
a baby step and he took it. Wherever you are, look around and whatever takes
all your faith to do, do that first!
Conclusion
- Service is
not something that is confined to the walls of the church. Service is a
lifetime commitment to Christ, to express Him to every person you come into
contact with!
- Start where
you are and watch what God makes you!