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| Part 7 Serving |
This message was preached by
Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace church on the 21st of April 2013. You can download the audio mp3 by clicking here
We have been going through our Vision for our own personal lives
and for the church. Our goal as a church for 2013 is 30/13 .
A group is you and
one other person with whom you are sharing about what it means to follow Jesus.
We have already reached that target.
God’s plan for each one of us is to become more and more like
Jesus and be fruitful. If we are not doing this we are missing out. We need to
become more like Jesus in our character. This is to the Father’s glory – that we
bear fruit that will last.
Therefore the job description for every Christian: to become
like Jesus. So how do we do this? The blue print for our lives is given in
Matt28:18-20 i.e be a disciple who will make disciples who in turn will make
disciples.
Who is a disciple of Jesus? There should be 4 essential
foundations i.e faith in Jesus, repentance from sin, baptism in water and
baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit. We see
that there was faith, repentance, then they are baptized in water and filled
with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is not one of the many Gods that people add to their
lives. He is the way, the truth, and the life. The Christian faith needs these
4 elements just like a chair that needs 4 legs to be stable. If one is missing
it will be rocky.
Then we looked at 8 things to build up a disciple. They are:
1 Personal worship: Christianity is about a relationship with
Jesus and not a religion. 1Cor1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.
2. Public worship Heb 10:25 the Bible speaks about meeting
together. Acts 2:42-46 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer.43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by
the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
3. Heart Worship – Giving. Where your treasure is there your
heart will be also. We are only stewards of what we have. God has entrusted us
with resources- we are to use them for His glory.
4. Small Groups – the Sunday celebration is good but the sharing
of life happens in the small group. Acts 2:42. Be part of a group- whether it is
a life group or groups that is reaching out.
5. Love we can do all
of the above but if we do not have love we are nothing and gain nothing.
6. Obedience- Are we building on rock or on sand? Are we a
wise or foolish builder? The difference between the two is obedience – putting into
practice. It’s the hinge on which your Christian life rests. Obedience is more
important than sentimentality.
Today I want to talk about the 7th thing we look
for in a disciple of Jesus i.e Servant hood.
The seventh building block is servant hood. It is important
for us to become like Jesus not in his deity but in his humanity. Matt 20:28 just as
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
There are 6 things about servant hood:
1-
Matt 4:10 For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve him only. We are all serving someone – ourselves, the devil or God. Right from Eden to
heaven it’s about serving. Adam in Gen 1:28 was given a command to be fruitful
and subdue the earth. Adam had to work in the garden. Work is good and was
there before the fall. Work became hard toil after the fall. The echoes Jesus
command to go into the entire world and multiply. In Rev 19:10 the angel refers
to himself as a servant. He referred to John as a servant. Rev 5:10 “to serve
our God” Friends we can’t get away from serving whether its Eden, earth or
heaven.
2-
God gives
grace to serve. We have heard of saving grace. Rom 12 and 1 Cor. 13:7 talk
about the gifts of the Holy Spirit given for the common good. 1 Cor. 12:11 the
Holy Spirit determined what gifts you and I received. Rom 12 has another list –v.6
according to the grace given us. Serving the body of Christians is the highest privilege.
You may work of the best multinational company but one day that will pass way.
We have the privilege to the serve the
body of Christ the church which will last into eternity forever and ever. Today
you have an opportunity to serve.
Many confuse maturity with knowledge. It’s
not what you know but what you do. God’s plan is for each one of us to serve
Christ body.
3-
Family –
The church is not to be confused with a restaurant. At a restaurant you order
the food, you wait to be served; you have a right to complain if things are not
to your taste. Some people treat church like this. They don’t fit in – they want
to be served. They complain a lot. But if you think of it as a family you will
have a different experience. At home you help around; you are expected to chip
in.
So the response is how you can chip in. Servant
hood helps you integrate. This is your family. We have folk who have joined us
since just the past 4 months but because they have thrown themselves into
serving, the life groups the reaching our groups, doing hospitality etc they
are fully integrated in such a short while. Its upto you. Word of Grace is a
very fertile places that provides for plenty of opportunities to grow.
4-
Stewardship Matt25:
Talents were given to three different men.
Jesus has given each one of us gifts. Verse 16 The talents man with 5 talents
reproduced. The man with one talent hid it. Are you multiplying what God has
given you? The master will come back one day. One day Jesus will settle
accounts with us. Jesus acknowledges the man who multiplied the talent – he was
also rewarded. Here is an opportunity to gain infinite rewards by serving in the
local church. The one talent man mis- judged the master and called him harsh.
Jesus calls him wicked and lazy, He was thrown out of his masters presence.
5. Fulfillment and rewards. We are gifted
differently. Eph 2:10 says that there are good works prepared in advance for us
to do. Is it craft, music, cooking, administration. Teaching etc etc. You will
be most fulfilled when you find out what God want you to do and you do it.
Not only that, Jesus promises rewards as well.. Jesus is coming
back. Rev 22:12 “my reward is with me” Salvation is free but you have to do
something about the rewards. Many say we will serve God when we are old. Jesus
says serve me not when you are old but all your life. Think of the rewards
Jesus has for you. Earth is a pale shadow compared to heaven. Paul had but a
glimpse of heaven and he was staggered by what he saw. Now is the time to earn
the rewards
.
6. John13 Jesus knew he was going to die and
this is what he did. He washed the disciple feet. This was a slaved job and
Jesus did it to set an example. V12 “ you also should…”
We don’t wash feet today but there are many
other things that you can do. I want to comment all those who are serving in
different ways in the church. Well done. Some come in at 8:15am to serve and
some stay back to serve. For those who are onto involved, jump in and ask how
you are get involved. When we embrace this we become more and more like Jesus. Phil2
My prayer is that we will grow more in servant
hood and train others to do the same.
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