Gleanings: SERVICE
Hi peeps!
Had couple of meetings over the weekend, had to also share on Stewardship with some undergraduates during a Campus Meeting too. It was really enlightening. Just a couple of thoughts I gleaned on Kingdom Service, and I promised to share cos I believe it'll be valuable.
Had couple of meetings over the weekend, had to also share on Stewardship with some undergraduates during a Campus Meeting too. It was really enlightening. Just a couple of thoughts I gleaned on Kingdom Service, and I promised to share cos I believe it'll be valuable.
How available are we in the House of God?
Did you attend yesterday's service and did not participate in the service unto others?
Did the chairs, sound equipment, pulpit serve more than you did?
Are you claiming a busy schedule or the cosmopolitan nature of your residence as an excuse?
Yet we find time to run around to make money and satisfy our desires!
Matthew 20:20-28
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Just like the mother of the two disciples above, we have thought that influence is greatness.
That position is glory and honour.
The other disciples were not any better.
They must have desired same.
Jesus answered all, 'To be GREAT IS TO SERVE.'
Notice, He didn't call service the "way" to greatness.
That’s the manipulative theory of this world.
People serve to acquire positions in future.
They serve under a pastor for positions in Church, for promotion at work!
For God to bless them!
We have missed the mark!
When we serve, in God’s eyes we are great!
We have learnt influence from the world.
We are not from this world.
We are like Jesus.
Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Thus in the House of God, we must be seen available to 'serve' others. For them to ...
To call on us.
To call on us.
To ask and receive from us.
We must serve.
Without humility we cannot serve.
No matter who you are in the corporate world or in government.
In Christ, to be great is to lay all that aside and serve!
1 Corinthians 9: 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
It’s a choice.
You are free.
Yet you make yourself available for others.
Whatever you do in God’s house, do it with the mindset that it’s for Jesus.
If you clean chairs, clean because HE will be sitting on it. If you sing, sing for Him.
If you handle security, take care of His belongings.
It’s for Him.
Mathew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me,
36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me.
37 Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink?
38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You?
39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You?
40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.
41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!
42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care.
44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?
45 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me. (Amplified Bible)
So serve Him!
Everything you do in God's house must be done as unto Him! Get involved in your Church today.
Make yourself available.
Be humble. Serve.
This is greatness.
No more.
2. Service is the proof of Growth
You can’t claim Christian growth without service.
The very foundation of faith is service. God became a man to serve His creation.
If you don’t give up pleasures, glory, pride, and treasures you can’t claim to be serving.
Let us examine the following scriptures:
Let us examine the following scriptures:
Ephesians 4:11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church). (Amplified Bible)
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church). (Amplified Bible)
The work of pastors (Christian leaders generally) is to raise more servants!
More people in the service of serving others- The Body of Christ.
This service isn’t in positions, though positions could be formally defined.
This service is in the work.
This service is in the work.
Matthew 20:25 And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].
26 Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,
27 And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave—
28 Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. (Amplified Bible)
Ministry is to serve others. The Greek word for service and servant (Greek is the original language of the New testament) translates it as synonymous with the waiter at the restaurant.
He takes your orders. Pastors must be seen as raising servants in their teaching and by example.
John 13:4 Got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant’s] towel, He fastened it around His waist.
5 Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the [servant’s] towel with which He was girded.
6 When He came to Simon Peter, [Peter] said to Him, Lord, are my feet to be washed by You? [Is it for You to wash my feet?]
7 Jesus said to him, You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on.
8 Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet! Jesus answered him, Unless I wash you, you have no part with (in) Me [you have no share in companionship with Me].
9 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too!
10 Jesus said to him, Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is clean all over. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.
11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; that was the reason He said, Not all of you are clean.
12 So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you?
13 You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.
16 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him. (Amplified Bible)
This is no mystery.
No mystic beliefs.
It’s an age-long practice of service.
Whom you serve, you honour.
Jesus teaches service here.
He laid aside his garments.
He was naked.
He stripped Himself of all glory.
He laid aside his position in His office.
His fat pay check.
He put down his wealth.
His background.
His pedigree.
He bends.
He is down at the feet of His disciples.
He is showing them He values them just as God does!
He stripped Himself of all glory.
He laid aside his position in His office.
His fat pay check.
He put down his wealth.
His background.
His pedigree.
He bends.
He is down at the feet of His disciples.
He is showing them He values them just as God does!
Paul teaches this too.
Philippians 2:1 So by whatever [appeal to you there is in our mutual dwelling in Christ, by whatever] strengthening and consoling and encouraging [our relationship] in Him [affords], by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever participation in the [Holy] Spirit [we share], and by whatever depth of affection and compassionate sympathy,
2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.
3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].
4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.
5 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.
8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (Amplified Bible)
We are to know to treat others as important.
That is the foundation for service.
Some were "serving" in churches when they were young, weren’t rich, hadn’t gotten lucrative jobs etc., and suddenly stopped when wealth surfaced and worldly positions came. Then they stopped serving.
Truth is...THEY NEVER SERVED!
You can’t be humble when there’s nothing to lose, give up or lay aside.
Humility is the key to Christian service.
Just like Jesus, we are not acting our age, social status, earthly positions, or intelligence.
We lay it aside and become waiters!
Servants!
Servants!
Sometimes in Church we have made heroes out of men of influence and clout.
When they give testimonies of the contracts and their newly-acquired possessions we think such is the Kingdom of God!
They ONLY become our models when they SERVE!
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
We continue from here some other time!
Hope this is clear?
I choose to serve in God’s house.
I choose to be humble!
I choose to serve in God’s house.
I choose to be humble!
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