I. EXORDIUM:
Are you men's servant?
No. I am GOD's servant
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers/unbelievers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that we work here on earth not for human bosses but for the LORD's Glory and Honor.
IV. TEXT:
Ephesians 6:7 (Amplified Bible)
Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for I render service only to You readily with goodwill (kindness) and not to men.
VI. TITLE:
Serve the LORD with good will
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Apostle Paul
B. Date written: 60 A.D. to 64 A.D.
C. Purpose: To show believers their position in CHRIST and encourage them to walk accordingly
D. To whom written: church at Ephesus
VIII. MAIN BODY:
Ephesians 6:7 (Amplified Bible)
Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,
Ephesians 6:7 (King James Version)
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
A. Render service with good will
"Rendering service readily with goodwill,"
Genesis 31:6 (Amplified Bible)
You know that I have served your father with all my might and power.
Genesis 31:38-40 (Amplified Bible)
These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your she-goats have not lost their young, and the rams of your flock have not been eaten by me.
I did not bring you [the carcasses of the animals] torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss of it; you required of me [to make good] all that was stolen, whether it occurred by day or by night.
This was [my lot]; by day the heat consumed me and by night the cold, and I could not sleep.
One example of service with good will is Jacob who worked that way for Laban, although Laban is considered an unbeliever of the LORD, still promotion of Jacob came from the LORD, no one can stop it.
Good will or "eunoia" in Hebrew language meaning: kindness, conjugal duty, benevolence.
Conjugal [Source: Webster's dictionary] - belonging to marriage; matrimonial; connubial; as conjugal relation; conjugal ties. We're working for the LORD as our Husband so our motivation is love and not fear.
Isaiah 54:5 (Amplified Bible)
For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.
Our LORD JESUS and us are partners like Husband and wives, we are the wives, we are the Church, and we do this duty from human bosses, but our attitude is we're doing it for the LORD as conjugal duty, as partners in life.
ILLUSTRATION: There will come a time that Saturdays and Sundays will be removed from my work as my day-offs, for these are day of practices for me and of course, the LORD'S day. I will do negotiation or be transferred to another shift but when that day and time comes, that I can no longer satisfy the LORD JESUS with conflict schedule, I will choose the LORD.
2 Kings 5:2-3 (Amplified Bible)
The Syrians had gone out in bands and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid, and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.
2 Kings 5:13 (Amplified Bible)
And his servants came near and said to him, My father, if the prophet had bid you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, Wash and be clean?
There's a promise that I'm standing on. I will always eat the good of the land. All the benefits therefore in that work place is mine.
Isaiah 1:19 (Amplified Bible)
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;
B. To the LORD, not to men
"as to the Lord and not to men,"
Ephesians 6:5-6 (Amplified Bible)
Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]—
Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;
1 Corinthians 10:31 (Amplified Bible)
So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God.
Whatever you may do, do ALL for the HONOR and GLORY of GOD. Our eyes are fixed on the LORD JESUS way passing all our human bosses here on earth.
Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for I render service only to You readily with goodwill (kindness) and not to men.
