"A Call to Serve"
MARCH 22, 2009
CENTRAL ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
2 TIMOTHY 2:1-7
SALUTATION
CONGRATULATE WORKERS FOR JOB WELL DONE - FOR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH – LETS CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEM, AND PRAY THAT GOD WILL SEND MORE COMMITTED WORKERS INTO HIS SERVICE.
STUDENTS – ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTINUE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
LET ME SAY RIGHT UP FONT, WE MAY DO A LOT OF THINGS IN CHURCH, BUT IF AS A CHURCH, WE FAIL TO INCORPORATE THE TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD, WE WILL BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN A GROUP OF FOLKS TO GET TOGETHER TWICE A WEEK TO SOCIALIZE, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, WE ARE STILL A PEOPLE MOST MISERABLE AND SPIRITUALLY WEAK BECAUSE OUR SPIRITS ARE LACKING THE WORD OF GOD WHICH IS ABLE TO MAKE US STRONG IN THE TIMES OF TESTING AND TRIBULATIONS. AND SO I AM COMMITTED TO THE TEACHING AND THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE WORD AND IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND YOU WANT A CHURCH WHERE THAT FOCUSES ON JUST EMOTIONS WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE WORD OF GOD, THIS IS NOT THE CURCH FOR YOU. WE ARE SEEKING TO BUILD A CHURCH THAT IS WELL ROUNDED IN THE WORD AND PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO USE THEIR GIFTS AND THE SPIRIT IS FREE TO MOVE, BUT NOTHING WILL EVER GET IN THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEACHING AND THE PREACHING OF THE WORD. I AM REMINDED THAT – THE BIBLE SAYS: THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I MAY NOT SIN AGAINST THEE.. THE WORD IS A BARRIER AGAINST WILFUL AND SINFUL BEHAVIOR.
STUDY TO SHOW YOUR SELF APPROVED A WORKMAN WHO IS NOT ASHAMED BUT RIGHTLY DIVING THE WORD OF TRUTH – THE WORD IS A PROTECTION AGAINST MISLEADING OURSELVES AS WELL AS OTHERS ASTRAY – THE WORD OF GOD KEEPS US ON TRACK.
THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN JESUS WAS BEING EMPTED BY SATAN IN THE WIDERNES, THE FIRST TJING HE DID WAS NOT TO PRAY, NOT TO SING, NO, HE USED THE WORD OF GOD AGAINST THE ENEMY AND HE WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME AND RISE ABOVE THE TEMPTATION BECAUSE HE KNEW THE WORD OF GOD – THE WORD OF GOD IS A SHIELD AGAINST THE FIERY DARTS OF SATAN AND ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING.
LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, IF JESUS WHO WAS THE WORD NEEDED THE WORD TO STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY, WHAT ABOUT US. I SAID ALL THAT I SAID BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH THE TEACHING MINISTRY THAT WE LEARN THE WORD OF GOD SO THAT WE CAN BECOME STRONG AND MATURE IN THE GRACE OF GOD.
MY CENTRAL FAMILY, I AM PROUD OF YOU BECAUSE IN THE LAST YEAR THERE HAS BEEN A RADICAL SHIFT IN YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TEACHING OF THE WOD OF GOD. YOU HAVE BEEN DOING VERY WELL AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT SAYS TO BE THAT WE ARE MATURING IN THE THINGS OF GOD. WHILE OUR WEDNESDAYS ARE FAST BECOMING LIKE SUNDAY MORNINGS, WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE WORK TO DO IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, BUT I AM VERY ENCOURAGED BY WHAT I SEE AND I PRAISE GOD FOR ALL OF YOU.
BUT I AM HEHE WITH THE TIME I HAVE LEFT TO TELL US HOW ARE WE TO SERVE FAITHFULLY. HOW ARE WE EMPOWERED TO SERVE FAITHFULLY, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE TEACHING MINISTRY?
WELL THIS TEXT IS LOADED.
INTRODUCTION
SAY: IT’S VERY FITTING AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE OCCASION.
WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL IS A TAXING ASSIGNMENT. IT’S NOT EASY.
BUT THE TEXT SAYS THAT WE HAVE BEEN EMPOWERED TO SERVE, FAITHFULLY. MY PHILOSOPHY IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE THEN WHY NOT DO IT FAITHFULLY.
MY TASK TODAY IS TO SHOW US FROM THE WORD OF GOD WHAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER FOR YOU AND ME OR ANY OTHER BELIEVER TO SERVE GOD FAITHFULLY.
LET’S LOOK AT OUR TEXT - TRANSITION INTO THE TEXT.
SAY: ANYTIME A TEXT BEGINS WITH THE WORD THEREFORE – YOU NEED TO ASK WHAT IS IT THERE FOR? WE CANNOT IGNORE THE THEREFORES IN THE TEXT. INSTEAD, WE HAVE TO LOOK BACKWARDS BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL SENSE OF WHAT THE APOSTLE IS TRYING TO SAY TO US.
EVERYTHING IN CH. 2 IS TIED BACK TO CH. 1 WHERE PAUL IS ENCOURAGING YOUNG TIMOTHY TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIS CALLING AND THE TASK AT HAND.
AND SO IF WE ARE GOING TO BE EMPOWERED O SERVE FAITHFULY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS IT COMES FROM A
1. SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST – 1:5-6. B&S, NO ONE SHOULD ATTEMPT ANYTHING SPIRITUAL UNTIL HE OR SHE HAS BEEN TO THE CROSS AND HAVE EXPERIENCE THE CHANGE THAT COMES FROM A GENUINE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. YOU SEE MY B&S, WITHOUT FAITH, IT IS NOT ONLY HARD TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WITHOUT FAILT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. WE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG RUN UNTIL WE HAVE FIRST PLACED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, SEVEN YOUNG BOYS – SCEVA SONS, WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, BUT THEY WEREN’T SAVED AND SPIRITUALLY EQUIPPED FOR THE TASK AT HAND AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE DEMONS THEY WERE TRYING TO CAST OUT BEAT THEM AND STRIPPED THEM NAKED AND HALF KILLED THEM. B&S, DONOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD UNTIL YOU HAVE BEN TO THE CROSS AND HAVE PLACE A SINCERE AND GENUINE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST . SAINTS OF GOD, ALL THE EDUCATION, ALL THE TRAINING, ALL THE TALENTS AND ALL THE SKILLS IN THE WORLD CANNOT MAKE UP FOR THE ABSENCE OF A SINCERE SAVING FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. OH, BUT WHEN WE HAVE TALENTS, AND GIFTS AND SKILSS THAT WE CAN SUBMIT UNDERTHE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST, THEN WE ARE AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YOU WANT TO BE EFFECTIVE IN MINISTRY, GET SAVED. AND SO THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROCESS OF BEING EMPOWERED TO SERVE FAITHFULLY IS A SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
2. STIR UP THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY PLACED IN YOU.
SENSE OF CALLING TO THE MINISTRY OF PEOPLE V-6. MY FAMILY IN CHRIST, GOD HAS GIFTED YOU IN WAYS MANY OF YOU CAN’T EVEN IMAGINED. BUT BECAUSE OF FEAR AND SHYNESS, THOSE GIFTS ARE LYING DOMANT AND IDLE AND THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SAYING TO ME AND OTHERS, STIR IT UP SO THAT THE POWER OF GOD CAN BEGIN TO COME FORTH IN AND THOUGHT HIS PEOPLE FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH AND THE GLORY OF GOD. AS LEADERS IT IS OUR JOB TO LOOK FOR THE CONGREGATION AND HELP TO IDENTIFY THE GIFTSIN PEOPLE AND STIR IT UP THE WAY AN EAGLE WILL STIR ITS NEST AND FORCE THE YOUNG ONES OUT SO THAT THEY CAN FLY ON THEIR OWN – WITHOUT THE STIRRING UP OF THE GIFTS IN SOME OF US, WE WILL GET COME OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONES AND BECOME ALL THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO. THERE ARE SOME OF YOU SITTING DOWN RIGH IN THE FRONT OF ME TODAY WHO HAVE THE GIFT OF TEACHING, BUT YOU ARE A LITTLE TIMIID – A LITTLE AFRAID -BUT HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD – GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND A STRONG MIND – RISE UP PEOPLE OF GOD AND BEGING USING THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHURCH. NIV SAYS FAN INTO FLAMES – MEANS ALLOW YOUR GIFTS TO FIRE YOU UP AS YOU BEGIN TO ACOMPLISH THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CREATED AND SAVED YOU TO DO. IF YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF TEACHING – THEN STIR IT UP… SINGING…THEN STIR IT UP… PLAYING AND INSTRUMENT… STIR IT UP… GIFT OF DANCING…STIR IT UP… STIR IT UP MEANS TO PUT IN ON FIRE FOR THE GOOD OF THIS CHURCH AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD (P&G). SO I SAID THAT OUR EMPOWERMENT FOR SERVING FAITHFULLY
1ST. COMES FROM A SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
2ND. IT COMES WHEN WE STIR UP THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH.
THE THIRD THING I WISHE TO LEAVE WITH YOU TODAY IS – IN ORDER TO SERVE FAITHFULLY, THEN YOU MUST BECOME A…
3. STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD – V-2.
NO ONE CAN TEACH SOMEONE ELSE UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS BEEN TAUGHT THEMSELVES. LOOK AT THE TEXT, THERE IS A SEQUENCE AND A PROCESS TO EFFECTIVE MINISTRY. WE MUST FIRST SIT UNDER THE TEACHING AND MENTORSHIP OF A MORE EXPEREINCED MORE SKILLED MORE MATURE PERSON WHO IS ABLE TO POUR INTO US AND INSTRUCT US IN THE WORD SO THAT WE CAN GROW AND MATURE IN THE THINGS OF GOD AS WE OURSELVES PREPARE FOR THE MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO. PEOPLE OF GOD, NEVER REJECT EDUCATION AND TRAINING BECAUSE IT IS OUR TICKET FROM IGNORANCE AND TALKING AND DOING FOOLISHINESS. LOOK IN V-15, THE APOSTLE PAULD HAVING SIAD ALL THAT E AHS SAID TO TIMOTHY, HE SAYS AGAIN, YOUNG MAN CONTINUE TO STUDY TO SHOE YOUSELF APPROVED, A WORKMAN WHO NEED NOT BE ASHAMED BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR READING AND STUDYING – YOU MUST TAKE TIME AND PREPARE SO THAT YOU CAN RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH AS YOU SATAND BEFORE THOSE WHOM GOD HAS SENT YOUR WAY TO BE INSTRUCTED IN THE WORD OF GOD. PAULL SAYS BE TAUGHT THEN GO AD TEACH. THAT’S THE SEQUENCE – THAT’S THE PROCESS. I AM AFRAID THAT THERE IS A PREVAILING PHILODOPHY THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS OPEN OUR MOUTH AND THE SPIRIT WILL SPEAK FOR US – THE SPIRIT’S ROLE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT A SUBSITTUE FOR LAZYNESS OR LACK OF PLANNING OR STUDYING, THE SPIRITS ROLE IS TO USE OUR GIFTS AND PREPARATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE CHURCH AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. YES THE SPIRIT EMPOWERS US FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY, BUT WE MUST BE READY FOR THE SPIRIT’S EMPOWERING BY BEING DILIGENT IN THE STUDY OF THE WORD OF God (P&G).
SO IF WE WANT TO SERVE FAITHFULLY, THEN WE HAVE TO BECOME STUDENTS OF THE WORD OF GOD..
I SAID SO FAR - IN ORDER TO SERVE FAITHFULLY, ONE MUST HAVE A...
SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST..
STIR UP THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY DEPOSITED IN US
STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD…
LASTLY, TO SERVE FAITHFULLY, WE HAVE TO BE..
4. SERIOUS ABOUT PURSUING THE MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.
AND YOU WILL SUFFER HARDSHIP ALONG THE WAY- 2:1;3 READ.
B& S, IF YOU OR I ARE GOING TO SUCCEED IN MINISTRY TODAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE UP IN OUR MINDS COME HELL OR HIGH WATERS I AM GOING TO DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO. IF GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO A MINISTRY, YOU CAN’T GIVE UP BECAUSE SOMEONE GOT ON YOUR LAST NERVE OR SOMEONE RUBBED YOU THE WRONG WAY – WE ARE AN IMPERFECT GROUP, AND IN CHURCH WE ARE GOING TO RUB EACH OTHER THE WRONG WAY AT TIMES, SOME FEATHERS ARE GOING TO GET RUFELED AT TIMES, BUT IF THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS ABIDING IN US AND WE ARE GROWING AND MATURING IN THE THINGS OF GOD, AND WE KNOW BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT GOD HAS CALLED US INTO MINISTRY, WE CANNOT QUIT. I AM SO EXCITED THAT GOD HAS SAVED ME AND GIVEN ME A SECOND CHANCE TO WORK ALONGSIDE OTHERS WHO TO HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD – IT’S EXCITING. YES IT GETS HARD AT TIMES, YES YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING A TIMES, YES YOU WISH AT TIMES YOU HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER CAREER, BUT WHEN YOU THINK OF ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, THAT MOTIVATES ME TO GET UP AND STIR UP THE GIFTS IN ME AND GET BUZY FOR MY LORD. AND SO NO WONDER THE APOSTLE PAUL USES THE ANALOGY OF A SOLDIER IN BATTLE – HE SAYS THAT WE ARE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP – MEANING THAT WE ARE TO STICK IT OUT. FRONT LINE MINISTRY IS NO PLACE FOR FOLKS WITH ONION SKIN – YOU NEED SKIN LIKE SHARK OR TURTLE - A SOLDIER DOESN’T PACK UP HIS GEAR AND GO HOME WHEN THINGS DON’T GO HIS WAY ON THE BATTLE FIELD. OH NO, A GOOD SOLDIER THINKS OF WHAT IS AT STAKE AND OF WHOM HE IS SEEKING TO PLEASE AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF HE THROWS THE TOWEL IN, AND WHEN HE THINKS OF ALL OF THAT, HE BEGINS TO SING, I CAN’T GIVE UP NOW, COME TO FAR FROM WHERE I HAVE STARTED FROM, NO BODY TOLD ME THAT THE ROAD WOULDN’T BE EASY, I CAN’T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME… I CAN’T GIVE UP NOW….COME TO FAR FROM WHERE I HAVE STARTED FROM… B&S, WE CAN’T GIVE UP BECASE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE – IN THE TEACHING MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH THERE IS A BATTLE FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR CHILDREN AND IF WE ARE ILL-PREPARED OR NOT WILLING TO SUFFER HARSHIP FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, WE ARE SURRENDING TO THE ENEMY WHO WANTS TO KILL STEAL AND DESTROY. PAUL SAYS THAT WE ARE TO SUFFER HARDSHIP LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER. THERE ARE SOME GOOD SOLDIERS IN THIS CHURCH AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO NEVER GIVE UP BECAUSE THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YES, THERE ARE GOING TO MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT DON’T GET DISCOURAGED, YES THERE ARE GOING TO BE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT DON’T GET DISAPPOINTED, YES, THERE ARE GOING TO BE MISINTERPRETATION OF MOTIVES AND ATTITUDES, BUT DON’T GET DISILLUSIONED, THERE IS NEVER A REASON FOR US TO GIVE UP WHEN WE KNOW BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT IT IS GOD WHO HAS CALLED US, HE WHO HAS GIFTED US AND EMPOWERED FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY.
SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST..
STIR UP THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY DEPOSITED IN US
STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD…
SERIOUS ABOUT PURSUING THE MINSITRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU INTO.
NOW HE CONCLUDES BY SAYING….
5. SERVE FAITHFULLY, YOUR REWARD IS AT HAND. B&S, REMAIN FAITHFUL, YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IF YOU FAINT NOT. JESUS SAID IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY AND MY REWARD IS WITH TO GIVE UNTO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORK. SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPT. THERE IS A REWARD IN STORE FOR YOU.
SS TEACHER, WHEN HE COMES AGAIN, ONE OF HIS REWARDS HAS YOUR NAME WRITTEN ON IT..
SS WORKER, HE IS COMING AGAIN AND ONE OF THE PACKAGES IS ADDRESSED TO YOU. YOU SERVE FAITHFULLY BECAUSE HE WHO HAS CALLED YOU IS FAITHFUL, HE IS JUST, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR JUST REWARD.
B&S, YOU ARE SERVING GOD IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH.
AND YOU HAVE BEN EMPOWERED TO SERVE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE EFECTIVE, THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
SINCERE FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
STIR UP THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS ALREADY DEPOSITED IN US
STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD…
SERIOUS ABOUT PURSUING THE MINSITRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU INTO.
SERVE FAITHFULLY.
GOD BLESS YOU
PRAY FOR WORKERS
