Messages

Saved to Serve

Scripture: Eph 2:10

                 1. WE ARE CREATED TO SERVE GOD Eph 2:10

We don’t serve God because of guilt or duty or fear but with joy and deep gratitude for what has been done for us.

Rom 12:1 Because of God’s great mercy – we need to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifice. If we have no desire to serve others, concerned about our own needs then we need to question whether Christ is in our life.

A saved heart is one that wants to serve!

Every member of church is a minister. Ministry is not just for pastors or priests or the clergy.

Eg: When Peter’s mother-in-law is healed, she stood up and began to serve Jesus.

We are healed to help others

We are Blessed to be a Blessing

We are Saved to Serve

Why doesn’t God take us to heaven the moment we die

Purpose to accomplish

John 17:4 Finish the work he gave me to do.

Anytime you use your God given talents to serve others – fulfill your calling.

One reason why we need to be connected to local church is to help in practical ways.

• Each of us have a role to play and every role is important
• There is no small service, it all matters to God
• There are no insignificant ministries
• Small or hidden ministries make the biggest difference
• Every ministry matters because we are dependent on each other

What happens when one part of the body fails to function? Body would die. Today many local churches are dying because there is nobody to serve. They sit on sidelines as spectators and the body suffers.

2. COMMANDED TO SERVE  Mark 10:45

 

Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Jesus came to serve and to give.

For Christians, serving is not an option to be done in spare time. It is the heart of Christian life. Two verbs should define your life on earth – serve and give.

Mother Teresa said “ Holy living consists in doing God’s work with a smile”

Maturity is not an end in itself. Maturity is ministry.

We grow up in order to give out. It’s not enough to keep learning – we need to practice.

IMPRESSION WIHTOUT EXPRESSION CAUSES DEPRESSION

Study without service – spiritual stagnation. Just like how Sea of Galilee and Dead Sea differ from each other.  Sea of Galilee is full of life but Dead Sea is stagnant.

Serving is opposite ot natural inclination. Col 3:23-24

Most of the time people expect ‘serve us’ instead of ‘serve’

As we mature, our focus should be on living the life of Christ, that is to serve.

Shift focus from ‘Who’s going to meet my needs’ to ‘Whose needs can I serve’

3. SERVING GOD WILL BE REWARDED FOR ETERNITY  John 12:26

At the end of our lives, God is going to evaluate how well we served others in our life. Each of us need to give a personal account to God. One day God will measure how much time you spent in serving others.

We may give excuses but then God will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves. Rom 2:8

For Christians – it means loss of eternal rewards.

If you insist on saving your life, you will loose it.

Only those who throw away their lives for the sake of others will know what it means to live. Mark 8:35, Luke 17:33

God wants us to learn to love and to serve others selflessly.

4. SERVING MAKES OUR LIFE SIGNIFICANT Rom 12:4-6

Career/wealth/sport/hobby/fame – None of these will have lasting significance.

Service – pathway to real significance

It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. Rom 12:4-6

Each of us find our meaning and function as a part of his body. God wants us to make a difference in this world. Is is not the DURATIO of your life but your DONATION of it. It’s not how long you lived but how you lived.

If you are not involved in ministry think of excuses you make.

• Abraham was old
• Leah was unattractive
• Joseph was abused
• Moses suffered
• Gideon was poor
• Rahab was immoral

                  They all seemed misfits but God used them for His service. He will use you too if you stop making excuses.

                  Service is the pathway to Real Significance!