Who are we Series (3)
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We serve
We serve
Here we are, at the end of the month. We have covered some ground this month about Who we are as Christians, as believers, disciples of Christ, haven’t we?
Today we come to the place to see ourselves as servants. Ones who serve.
When we look in scripture to see what this looks like, we find some very interesting verses.
IF we want to be the greatest in the Kingdom? We serve all.
33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
IF we think serving is all about serving Christ, well, it is and it isn’t. what do I mean.
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
this verse is at the end of a discussion about when the Son of Man comes in His glory, there will be a separation, the sheep and the goats, and the sheep are found serving people that were downcast,
hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, or in prison.
Then Jesus says these words.
This is implying that when we serve others, especially when we serve the needy, we are serving Christ.
What is the message here? Is it that we can go serve the less fortunate to earn our way to heaven?
Or, is the real message that when we as believers, we are going to look to share the Kingdoms currency with whoever needs it?
the beattitudes describes a person well that needs to be served from God.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A person who sees themselves not as rich in spirit, but as poor in spirit, (which we all truly are, since we are not perfect) They know they need from the Lord, so they look to the Lord and He provides for them.... He provides them the Kingdom of Heaven.
So service, or serving God.... can it only be done in the church building?
It can be done here, but it can be done out there as well.
If we only served in this building, we would be missing out on so much ministry!
yet, inside the building, there are places to serve, needed places.
One is the Pastor. He is a servant of God. Who is he serving? Us? right?
What is his main role?
the 5 fold ministry
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Pastors are a part of a ministry team that is here to equip the saints for ministry..... to help the saints, to guide the saints...for the saints living their calling and doing the work of the ministry where God has called them, in the church and outside the church building!
Who are the saints?
We are.
and what are you called to do?
ministry, serve.
you are ministers!
you are here to serve the Lord!
Do you know your part? do you know what you are meant to do? What you are called to do?
Jesus gives gifts to each of us to do ministry work.
What are your giftings?
lets get personal here. Remember the Johari window? we are going to be blessed to get to know each other better right this very moment. Lets get the microphone and pass the mic....
Does each and every one of us know our gifting? So, its great if you know your gifting, yet if you don’t know, its OK, we can try to help you find it over the next weeks and months.
What an honor for each and every one of us to get to know each other deeper in the service? you agree?
(go around the room)
Facebook world, do you know your gifts? if so, drop them in the chat.
now, for those that didn’t know their gifts, yet.... the ones in here gifted to teach, you see a service you can provide!
those who know their gifts in here, where does it fit into the big picture of the ministry? Pastor helps to guide that along. Admin giftings helps to guide that as well.
what are the gifts?
Corinthians tells us some.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
I hope we caught why these gifts are given. Verse 7 tells us they are not for us to use for ourselves, but for the common good.... in other words, they are for others. to bless others, to help others, to strengthen others.
the teaching gift that Colette has, it is blessing every person in the Sunday school class!
There are lots of gifts, all to grow the Kingdom of God. All for Gods glory!
Listen to this list.
the utterance of Wisdom.
utterance of Knowledge.
Faith ( this is different than saving faith)
Healing
Working of Miracles
Prophecy
ability to distinguish between spirits
various kinds of tongues
interpretation of tongues
God gives these gifts, we don’t conjure them up, and God gives for His reasons and His timing.
this right here is 3 months worth of sermons and teaching!
Paul goes on to say this....
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
And right after this focus on gifts, Paul takes them to the “still more excellent way” when he opens up the love chapter..... laying the foundation for us to know that gifts are good, but it all must be done in Love!
It must all be done in Love
We serve, because we love God. And we know we love God because He first loved us.
this is the motivation and drive behind why we do it. no other motive.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Peter separates the gifts into two categories, speaking and physically serving one another.
but verse 8 brings us back to the “HOW”
how do we serve? with love.
And this is how we continue to serve, even in the midst of others sinning against us.....
we cover the sin, the multitudes of sin, with Love.
Church, I know this is hard. this is actually impossible unless we know the depth of the Love of God. how wide, how deep, how far does the love of God reach???
The gifts given to us by God for His glory, lets know each others gifts. part of the Johari window expanding with each other, seeing each other, encouraging each other, fanning the flame, or the hot coals within each other, to press on, to seek the gifts for the building up of the body, until we all obtain the unity of faith! this is our path, our vision as a entire church on earth. And this we can do because God has said so.
So, Lets go! Let’s do it Church. Unashamed, walking in the power of the Spirit, changing the world with the Love of God! With His Kingdom currency, lets be good disciples, completely surrendered to Him who loves us. Lets be wise, prepared for the attacks and temptations, lets win the battle!
As we do all this, with a heart of worship, giving Him the glory, it all goes back to Him because He is our provider and the only One that deserves all the glory of what He does through us!
Who are we Church?
We are His!
Let us serve!
Just two more things I must mention from the Lord
the first.... to destroy any image that you could make of me bringing this message. I am nothing, and you need to think of me that way. this is why I had to humble myself and share those unsightly things about me. My failures are many.... so don't ever hold me up in any position that I don't belong. Don't do it church!
2nd, this is what breaks my heart.
Someone could go to church their entire life, and still never put Jesus in His rightful place in their heart. they could have idols above God and still be a part of a church, functioning in a church in every position..... You might ask, how do you know Kelley? That was me.
I don't want that for anyone, and that means you.
If He will be first in your heart, right now, and continue to keep that place in you.....
you will be worthy to be His disciple.
you will have access to the currency of the Kingdom and freely using it
you will fight and win over temptations with His strength and word
and you will truly worship and serve the Holy One of God.
13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
Lets fear NOT having the Lord first so much that He stays in His rightful place in our hearts and lives.
Let's serve Him with everything we have within us, and that means serving everyone.
and swearing an oath in those days was to a deity to show allegiance to and to give credit for power. the other nations swore by other gods, yet the Israelites are told to swear, or give oath to the Lord only. Single mindedness and unswerving devotion.
that is for us today as well church. swearing by His name is claiming that He is the most powerful..... that He has the Highest place.
Let's do it, now and every step from here on out till eternity!
Amen?