Understanding Service- What Does Service To Yahweh Entail (5) Series

What does service to YAHWEH entail?

Service to YAHWEH can be looked at in three areas:

The persons involved

The service involved

The results desired

The persons involved

YAHWEH

As said earlier, it’s all about YAHWEH. As the bible says, “ All things were made through HIM, for HIM and in HIM.”  So, it is about YAHWEH if HE is not happy no one will be happy. However, in HIS wonderful love and mercy, HE uses HIS power to work even the worst things for the good of those that love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose. The truth is YAHWEH says HE will give nations for those that love HIM and indeed HE has in times past and is still doing so today. This point cannot be emphasized enough. It is about YAHWEH, for HIS glory and the fulfillment of HIS purposes.

The doer. This is the person entrusted with the service. This has several categories:

S/he may volunteer. YAHWEH asks “Whom shall I send?” and they respond with the classic “Here I am LORD, send me.” Beautiful. Many who respond like this are genuine and certain at that time that they want to serve YAHWEH. However, they must remember that YAHWEH has no pleasure in fools and that it is better not to vow than to vow and be unable to fulfill that vow.

There is an account in the Bible of a conference in heaven where YAHWEH asked who HE will send to go and deceive Ahab so that he (Ahab) can go to his death. A spirit volunteered and said that it would be a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets. This spirit that volunteered was guaranteed success. Clearly, YAHWEH’s ways are not our ways as HE sees the broader picture. After all Ahab was one of the most if not the most wicked man on earth and he was to die wickedly. As a man lives so shall he die.

The doer may also be commanded to do a certain specific thing. Samuel is a good example here. He was commanded to anoint Saul as king and later to communicate the dethronement of Saul. A difficult task seeing that he loved Saul. He was also commanded to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

The prophet Nathan was also charged with communicating a message to David that could have resulted in his (the prophet’s) death. However, he delivered the message and set in motion a beautiful sequence of love, forgiveness, punishment and restoration.

The Israelites were also commanded to serve YAHWEH by keeping HIS commandments. More often than not they did not obey YAHWEH and were grievously punished.

The key thing here is that when YAHWEH commands us to do something, it is imperative that we obey without fail. Like Nathan we can seek wisdom that will determine our survival. As is said, Prophet Nathan and John the Baptist delivered the same message to a king. One lived to tell the tale and another did not.

It is important to note here that in these times, YAHWEH will not deviate from HIS word no matter how irrelevant and backward the Bible may seem to some. The lessons that need to be learnt have been demonstrated by past individuals, families, communities and civilizations. Arguments for and against actions have been made and consequences demonstrated. For our time, YAHWEH will not command someone to act against HIS WORD. YAHWEH has said that HE has set HIS word above HIMSELF. HIS WORD shall not return to HIM void. It shall be fulfilled. This WORD of YAHWEH is YAHSHUA  and HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.

The doer may be born for that specific purpose for which s/he is called. YAHSHUA  was born to save the world from their sins and its wages and to destroy the works of satan. Moses was born to deliver the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. Remember, it is highly unlikely that the Israelites would have grown to the numbers they have if they had been in Canaan. Once again we see YAHWEH’s infinite wisdom and purpose overriding our senses and knowledge. Hence, the need to follow HIS instructions without deviating.

We also see in scripture YAHWEH raising armies against HIS people. These armies become overzealous in their service and they have to be punished.

The example of the young prophet who neglected YAHWEH’s instruction in favor of the old prophet’s instruction is another case. The fact that YAHWEH has called you or the fact that you are serving YAHWEH does not mean that you are immune to punishment if you err. The bible teaches that YAHWEH chastens those whom HE loves.

Whether born or raised in service to YAHWEH, this service must be within YAHWEH’s parameters otherwise the doer then opens himself up to other problems that he may be unable to solve. The fruits and gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT help us in service to YAHWEH and as said earlier these must be stirred up, cultivated and used regularly.