“Rendering Reasonable Service”
By
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Psalms 116:12 “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me”.
OPENNING: What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me.
The 1st thing we notice or should notice about this particular passage of scripture is that it is a personal statement. It doesn’t give direction as what you as a corporate body of believers should do, it doesn’t make recommendation as to what the church should do, it’s not even something that is required for salvation, but it is personal. Because it is personal it calls for self examination. 1st Cor. 11;28 says “Let every man examine Himself…”
The 2nd thing we notice or should notice is the selflessness of the author. The writer of this psalm is not thinking about what he can get. He didn’t say how can I get more. He didn’t say what shall be given unto me. He didn’t say how can I become prosperous, drive a new car, live in a big house, become popular, get promoted or anything like that. He simply said “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me”.
Understand that it takes a special kind of person that is able to say what shall I render instead of what can I get. That is a person that is mature. Selflessness is a mark of maturity. If you don’t believe that watch a 6yr old have a toy and a 2yr old cries because they want the toy and the 6yr old gives the toy to the 2yr old you will say Oh that’s a big boy that was such an unselfish thing you did you are such a mature little man. Well the writer of this psalms is mature because he is not asking what he can get from the Lord, but what shall he render. J.F. Kennedy said “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”. Basically he was saying the same thing as the writer of this psalms was saying. The Bible says in Acts 20:35 “..It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The songwriter said “You can’t beat God giving no matter how you try. The more you give the more He gives to you just keep on giving because you know it’s true – you can’t beat God giving no matter how you try”.
If I were to ask the question “What is maturity”? I might receive answers like it means to “act your age and not your shoe size” This is because we have built in us this expectation in life that when you reach a certain age that you begin to act in a so-called appropriate fashion. We don’t expect a man 42 to act like a 2 year old child when they don’t get their way.
It is said and may even be a true statement in most cases that girls mature faster then boys. The thing about maturity is that everyone does not reach the same level of maturity nor do they mature at the same time; therefore, maturity is an individual function of life.
Maturity is different than growth. Growth happens because God ordained growth to take place, but maturity is a choice. A perfect example is Michael Jackson, he grew up physically because that is what God ordained, but he chose not to mature properly that’s is why he feels the way he feels.
There are many different sects of people that have what is called a “Rite of Passage” and at a certain age they perform some kind of ceremonial practice that symbolizes the move from childhood to adulthood. The thing about this ceremonial practice is it is often, more times then not, something that is done in order to impress man and to win the favor of man rather than it is a true show of maturity. For Example: There is a tribe of Africans that when a boy reaches a certain age they perform this ritual where they climb to extraordinary heights, tie a vine around their ankles, and jump to the ground below hoping that before they hit the ground the vine will tighten thus dangling them above the ground. The one that jumps from the highest height is considered the one mature enough to rule or to go to the next level – simply because they have impressed man. The problem is just because man was impressed by the move of an individual does not mean that the person is mature. It simply means that they understand politics – an act or service that moves man is politics. It doesn’t mean that they are responsible or even understand what comes next.
If we bring it over into the spiritual we should understand that spiritual maturity is not a service or act that impresses man, but in a sense is responsibly and understandably learning how to apply what the Bible says and begin to serve the Lord as a powerful witness for His kingdom fulfilling His purpose to bring many sons and daughters into glory. Spiritual Maturity is striving to be like Christ. Spiritual maturity is not based on the age of a person. It has nothing to do with how long you have been in the church or how long you have been saved. Spiritual maturity is not based upon appearance. Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with achievement, what you accomplish, academics, the degrees you hold, the titles you may obtain or the position you have been promoted to. Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with how well you can sing or how well you can quote scripture. Spiritual maturity is not mere knowledge or increase of years. Spiritual maturity is not based on an act that will move man, but the act that will move God.
We find in our text today a Psalm called a “Hallel”. It is the 4th of 6 Hallels. The Hallels are Psalms 113 – 118. They are called Hallel because they contain the word Hallelujah in them. They are not attributed to a certain author but they tell the story of the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt and God’s grace in delivering His people. However, this particular Psalm is about one man’s trouble, not the whole country. This man is called simply the Psalmist.
This man is at a point of spiritual maturity were he begins to look back over his life and he realize all the benefits that God has bestowed upon him. As he is reminiscing over his life he understands that if it had not been for God’s Grace. He remembers when he was at death’s door, for he says The sorrows of death compassed me they compassed him on every side; they arrested him, got hold upon him, so that he could not escape. Without were fightings, within were fears. He was about to loose his mind. Anyone ever felt that way. He says "I found trouble and sorrow; not only they found me, but I found them, but he cried unto the Lord and the Lord heard him and delivered him from death. I believe he said many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivereth them out of them all I sought the Lord and He delivered me.
No doubt he was thinking about how when the Children of Israel were coming out of Egypt death was all around them, but because of God’s grace He spared them. He may have been looking back at the Red Sea Pharaoh and his army was behind them, mountains were on the left of them and mountains on the right of them, the Red Sea in front of them, no doubt he felt as if he was about to die, but because of God’s Grace. I like to believe that he said “when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me my soul cries out Hallelujah. He became over-joyed and said I got the love of Jesus deep down in my heart. God has been so good to. He delivered me, He saved me, He kept me, He brought me out, He place my feet on solid ground. If it had not been for grace, I am so unworthy of all His benefits yet He gives them to me. What shall I render?
When you reach a level of spiritual maturity and you begin to look back over your life and realize all the things God has done for you. You understand that you’re not worthy yet He bestows blessings upon blessings on you. You realize that it’s because of God’s Grace. It was grace that brought me from my trials and tribulations. It was God’s Grace that kept me when I didn’t have a mind to be kept. It was His Wonderous Grace, His Glorious Grace, His Extraordinary Grace that changed me. It was His Grace that saved me, His Grace that kept the attack of the enemy from me. It was His Grace that helped me, if it wasn’t for God’s Grace. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I’m found was blind, but now I see. I don’t deserve it, I couldn’t work for it, I couldn’t pay for it, I’m not worthy to have it yet He poured His grace into my broken heart, He poured His grace into my wounded life, He poured His grace into my dysfunctional past.
THINK ABOUT IT: They said you wouldn’t amount to any thing, they said you were a waste of a good night, they said the world would be a better place if you weren’t in it, they said you were no good, useless, an utter shame, and excuse for a human being, but God said I love, I’ll make something out of you, I’ll turn you around, I’ll fix you up, and I’ll place you right where I want you to be.
THINK ABOUT IT: The devil had you in his clutches and was about to come in for the kill, he tried to assassinate the destiny God had for you, but God stepped in and gave you grace. The past tried to ruin your reputation, destroy your name, steal everything God had for your life but God gave you grace. Justice demanded that you should die, but God gave you grace. The doctor said there is not hope, but God gave you grace. The bank manager said no, but God gave you grace. You didn’t have the education, but God gave you grace. You thought you were about to loose your mind, but God gave you grace. Family may have turned their back on you, but because of His Grace. He left you with the kids, the bills, and HIV, but God gave you grace. You know people in jail, you know people in the grave, it should have been you, it could have been you, but because of grace If it had not been for God’s Grace. You are living in grace, you are walking in grace, you are moving in grace, you are resting in grace I thank God for grace. If it wasn’t for grace where would I be; therefore, How can I say thanks for the things you’ve done for me things so undeserved yet you gave your life to prove your love toward me voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude all that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to you. What shall I render – ritualistic worship isn’t good enough, entertainment isn’t going to work anymore I need to be edified WHAT SHALL I RENDER.
Now if I just wanted to make you shout all over the church I would end this message here, but the question is WHAT SHALL I RENDER.
The word “Render” means to make, to cause, to do, to exhibit, to present, to pay.
Paul said in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present (or RENDER) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”
The phrase “acceptable unto God” is key because service that moves man is politics, but service that moves God is reasonable service.
The Bible says in Mark 16:19 “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God”. But in Acts 7:56 the Bible says “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God”
What caused Jesus to move it was reasonable service – reasonable service that was founded in love – because the 60th verse of the same chapter says “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep”.
This is Stephen at his stoning. He was being stoned because he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and he gave service that moved God because it was acceptable unto God, it was reasonable service that was founded in love. It’s reasonable service coupled with love that moves God.
In the Old Testament if someone wanted to worship God they couldn’t do it any way that they wanted because God had prescribed the way to worship Him acceptably and the Israelites had to obey what God said or they would be guilty of breaking the law and – you can’t worship God if you can’t keep His commandments. To worship God they had to go to a prescribed city Jerusalem, to a certain building The Temple. They would have to perform certain rituals, offer up certain sacrifices and hope the priest wasn’t some crooked selfish person that would actually do what they were supposed to do. The task of the priest was to serve the people. Yes he got to go into the Holy of Holies which is where the presence of God was once a year, but his duty was to serve the people. See everyone wants to go into the presence of the Lord, everyone wants to be in the Shekianah glory, but He requires service. He said what you have done unto the least you have also done unto me – that’s service. Worship was a complex undertaking, but this is what God prescribed and what was acceptable unto Him. Understand that this was worship under the Dispensation of the Law.
When we come to the New Testament there is a Dispensational shift that takes place. No longer are we under the Dispensation of the Law, but we are under the Dispensation of Grace. The Gentiles who were once far off, not allowed to enter into the Temple were now saved by Grace. Now we are invited to worship God, not by imitating the Old Testament ways, not by building a temple of stone, marble, and wood, not by going to Jerusalem, but by presenting our bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. God no longer requires us to worship Him in a temple of stone, but in the Dispensation of Grace the temple of God is our bodies. The Bible says in 1st Cor.6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own”.
Acceptable worship – Your worship – the worship from the Gentiles – the members of the Body of Christ – Your worship is to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Your worship is not just for an hour or two on Sunday morning, but it is a life of worship, a 7 day a week, 24 hour a day, 365 days a year of acceptable worship unto God. It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a church building, walking down the street, driving in your car, getting ready for bed, every time and every place we can worship God.
See it’s easy to go to church and so-called worship God for an hour or two a week, but the worship that God says is acceptable today requires nothing less than a total commitment for that is the meaning of the word sacrifice. Our worship today – true worship means to put our all on the altar and leave it there. However in order to do that requires that you become spiritual mature.
When you become satisfied with coming to church on Sunday morning only, when you become satisfied with rendering service that moves man and not God, when you become satisfied with being spiritually entertained and not edified, when you become satisfied with it doesn’t matter if I get there at 12:00 or 1:00 or if I even show up at all, when you are satisfied with staying in the same old place day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year thinking that you are giving God reasonable service then you have not become spiritually mature, you are not rendering reasonable service, you are a spiritual midget that has become spiritually dysfunctional.
But when you become spiritually mature then you understand that church doesn’t come together for worship perse’, but it comes together for edification. When you become spiritually mature you understand that we don’t come together on Sunday morning to worship only because our worship which should be acceptable worship which is to do what Romans 12:1 says.
When become spiritually mature emotional entertainment on Sunday morning is not going to do me any good.
When you become spiritually mature you don’t want a sermon that will cause you to lay out on the floor.
When you become spiritually mature you don’t need a prophet to speak into life because you got the word.
When you become spiritually mature you don’t want another show.
When you become spiritually mature you understand it’s not the amount of your seed, but according to your faith.
When you become spiritually mature you just want to know what shall I render. How can I show the love of Jesus deep down in my heart.
When you become spiritually mature it’s not what can I get from God, but what can I do for God.
So many times you hear people say I can’t get anything from that church any more and I use to say well maybe it’s time to move, but as I get into the Word of God and I begin to grow more and more mature spiritually I find out that it’s not about what I can get, but what I can give. WHAT SHALL I RENDER?
When I think about how good God has been to me. When I was standing on the corner taking sleeping pills, drinking Nyquil trying to take my life, but because of God’s Grace and I’m still here.
When I look and see some of my friends I grew up with and they are either in jail or in the grave and I’m still here.
When I go on a mission trip and I see people that have nothing yet I have food to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to stay.
When I think how the doctors said he should have brain damage yet I’m clothed in my right mind.
When I think that if it had not been for His grace where would I be.
All I can say is like the Psalmist said “What shall I render because of His Grace”.
I will present my body a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is my reasonable service. Romans 6:13 says “Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God”. Lord I am yours whatever you ask of me it shall be done. Faithful and true Lord I’ll do what you want me to do till my breath is gone Lord I’m yours. I’m presenting my body a living sacrifice.
A living sacrifice is not merely our mortal, human life, but the life which is alive from the dead. It is resurrection life.
A living sacrifice is one that has been to the cross, found forgiveness for sins, baptizes in Christ and has been raised with Christ into newness of life.
A living sacrifice understands that it’s not I, but Christ who liveth in me.
A living sacrifice says when I’m forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, I don’t get upset or hurt with the oversight, but my heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
A living sacrifice says when my good is evil spoken of, when my wishes are crossed, my advice disregarded, my opinion ridiculed, yet not I, but the Christ that liveth in me refuses to let anger rise in my heart or even defend myself, but take it all in with patience, love, and silence.
A living sacrifice forgoes their comfort for someone else.
A living sacrifice knows building each other up is an obligation that has been placed upon all children of God.
A living sacrifice is always ready to comfort another.
A living sacrifice is affectionate to one another, and honors one another.
A living sacrifice chooses to read the Word of God instead of watch T.V.
A living sacrifice chooses to love everybody even though that may not be what they feel.
A living sacrifice surrenders all to Jesus.
A living sacrifice says all my appointed time I’m going to wait on the Lord.
A living sacrifice says I will look to the hills from which cometh my help for my help cometh from the Lord.
A living sacrifice says I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ.
A living sacrifice understand not my will but thine will be done.
A living sacrifice will cause people to abandon you.
A living sacrifice will cause people to mock you.
A living sacrifice will cause people to talk about you.
A living sacrifice will tear down barriers.
A living sacrifice will RAZE hell.
A living sacrifice will bring life to the dead things.
A living sacrifice will turn the world upside down.
A living sacrifice says to God be the Glory.
Do you have the form of godliness and deny the power thereof?
Are you a living sacrifice?
Are you rendering reasonable service?
WHAT SHALL I RENDER UNTO THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS TOWARD ME.
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr
Assistant Pastor
O.G.C.O.G.I.C.
