HOLY SPIRIT BLESS US
Ephesians 6: 5-9
“WORK ETHIC: YOU’RE NOT WORKING FOR PEOPLE”
We as Christians believed in our hearts that we are special in the sight of God. His only begotten Son Jesus Christ died for us, He love us so much and we are so thankful about the reality that He willingly gave up Himself for our salvation and that we may live in eternity with Him forever.
In 1 Peter 2: 9,10 said, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,
Who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
Apostle Peter is speaking about the reality of being a people with and in the Lord. These statements were addressed to God’s chosen people - the Israelites, but they are also true in our personal lives as Christians and Believers nowadays.
We know that we are also special because when God sent His Son Jesus Christ, He sent Him for the benefit of the entire humanity.
In that sense, we always focus on the highest level of status when God called us out from “darkness into His marvelous light.” We know that we… the Called by God are above anyone else especially from among the non-Christians. God has placed us in a very important position that everyone must imagine to be.
It’s funny because, while it is true that we were declared to be in a position of “a royal priesthood,” we are also called to enjoy the position of being God’s servants through being the servant of all for the sake of Jesus Christ..
At our Wednesday church bible study, one member mentioned about being servants of God or becoming slaves for the sake of Jesus Christ. As servants, we are just to follow orders without any objections at all. The Master has the power and authority of doing and saying anything because we are his/ her servant.
Verse 5. Slaves (RSV) Bondservants (NKJV) be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
What do you think was Apostle Paul thinking at that time when he wrote this letter? He was telling us that even though the Israelites are a “royal priesthood and a chosen generation” they also are considered “Slaves”…
“Servants” of God. It sounds extreme but that’s the way God designed it to be.
As Servants of God, our obedience will be determined by these actions:
a. With fear and trembling. For most Christians, they defined obedience to God in a very simple way as saying, “Lord, Sunday is yours and the rest of the week is mine.” Or Lord, I just need a small portion of you and I give you a portion of my time because of my need at this time.
We never thought about obeying God with all our heart as in… with fear and trembling. What does this mean? God requires our obedience based on who we are…our total being… with reverence to God.
b. In sincerity of heart. Obeying Him means with complete sincerity of our hearts. We cannot glorify Him by mere outspoken words but more so with what’s in our hearts. We say and do things based on what’s in our hearts.
Apostle Paul, continued and said, “as to Christ.” And from (RSV) “as you obey Christ.”
Our text shows that it evolves around who Jesus Christ really is and it’s all about our obedience and service to Him as His servants.
Verse 6. “Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Here is the thing, as servants or slaves or followers of God in Christ, we have things to do… as task is given to us…according to the will of God which is coming from the heart.
You and me are here today because we want to be His servants.(I pray that that is our motivation and for the past few Sundays, I always emphasized for us to search our hearts on what our intentions are to be in this church.)
If our reason to be here is to become God’s Servants… therefore, we need to give and perform our very best effort to please our Master-Jesus Christ.
One hymn goes like this, “Give of your best to the Master.”
Apostle Paul clearly pointed out the reality even during him times that many servants are doing their responsibilities because they know that someone is looking at them, so they do it for the sake of “eye service” or “men-pleasers.” This is also true in our situation nowadays as people in the church.
I myself have gone through some stages in my Christian life…
I have been telling you so many times that my Grandmother Maria was God’s instrument why I was raised in the faith and why I entered the Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ to become a Pastor.
During our early visit to the church, our only motivation is we want to please my Grandmother and we don’t want her to get angry because she has heart problem at that time.
My Tatang who was a Roman Catholic had the same motivation why he allowed us to go to church with Apu Maria in the Methodist Church. He was afraid that my Apu’s condition might get worse if he will not give in to her request to take us to church every Sunday.
We are forced to go to church because we don’t want to be put in the “hot seat” after she comes back from the church. If you are absent from the church, for sure, you will need to explain in detail why you didn’t come, what you did and you have to make sure it is valid or else you will stay forever with her long and never ending sermons….
Most of us in our family and relatives at that time are “men-pleasers” …
We were attending and doing things for the church because of grandma Maria and not because of Jesus Christ.
But, the good news is… we did not remain that way… during the process, our motivation changed… our intention of going to church became deeper and later became rooted to the fact that we are in the church because we want to serve our Master and Redeemer- Jesus Christ.
Our obedience now depends on God and not with our Apu Maria.
We are to render service as though we are working for God, who watches at all times 6:7
Verse 7. with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.
We are so blessed and grateful that the Lord used my Grandmother and other people at church for us to be with Him and become members of God’s family.
I should say, all of us have different stories why we are here in this Fellowship. And I believed God, appointed some of us to invite these people and brought them into the fold.
I don’t blame you if at first, you’re only motivation to come here is because you are ashamed because Sis. Or Bro. So and so have been inviting me so many times…. Some of you enjoys the warm fellowship and the mean together… that’s okey at the beginning…
But, as you go on and as days go by…Sunday after Sunday… that motivation must change …
After a while, you need to move to the next level of service to God…
From a mere churchgoer… we need to grow and mature in our faith…
We need to re-focus our eyes from men to the ONE who sacrificed His all for us…for our salvation… for life abundant here on earth and for life eternity.
We must be here today based on our pure intention to serve God and God alone… not because of your dad or mom, nor because of grandma nor because of sister Madel or Sis. Carrie.
At this time, we need to experience the true meaning and essence of serving the Lord with all our heart focused on Him alone.
I tell you, that is the most rewarding service you can ever extend in your whole entire life… I have never regret giving my life to serve Jesus…my Master… My Lord and Savior.
George Muller once said, “A servant of God has but one Master.”
While Oswald Chambers pointed out that, “We are not built for ourselves, but for God. Not for service for God, but for God.”
Everything is about God, everything is about Jesus…”it’s all about Jesus.”
Listen to this…
Not only does God watch, but He rewards anything good we do. 6:8
Verse 8 “knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”
Now we are talking about the rewards of our labors from God Himself. This is true because the Bible said so…
Reward is a reality and is sure to come because of our Service to God.
Listen carefully, The virtue of the faithful servants are working because they knew their responsibilities not just a people pleasers.
Moreover, we are working because God is watching us all the times.
Here is the thing, in order for us to receive God’s amazing grace we need to focus on Him alone, we need to please Him alone, we need to prioritize Him alone in every detail of our lives.
I know it’s hard nowadays because we are living in this fast-paced materialistic world but we need to show the difference. “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” I believe that… because if we want things to happen, we’ll surely find time and ways to make it happen. No excuses accepted to avoid serving the Lord.
Remember my dear brothers and sisters…We are not of this world…do not invest all your energy for the things of this world. We are bound to eternity that is why we have to make our investments in heaven. That’s where we belong… that’s where our hearts should be focused on… and surely, the Lord’s reward is available for us.
By human standard, we maybe we lacking in some ways, we may need more in our day to day life but the truth is…. we have everything in Jesus Christ.
The promised reward is true but it’s up to us how if we want to receive it and enjoy it.
My brethren, I encourage you to consider these thoughts that:
We are not to be people pleasers. We aren’t to work while others watch.
We are to render service as though we are working for God, who watches us at all times. Not only does God watch, but He rewards anything good we do.
People may forget how fast you did your last job, but they will always remember how well you did it.
Ultimately, we all work for ourselves and for God. Amen.
