Called to Serve
August 29, 2020
As I was reading for this message, someone asked what the number 10 to the 2 trillion - 400 billionth power represents? I’m not sure that’s an actual number. But I did like the point they were trying to make, so I’ll go with it. Those are the odds of someone ever being exactly like you. If you were to write that number with each zero being 1 inch wide, you would need 37,000 miles of paper. The point?! You and I are unique. There is nobody anywhere who is like us, unless you’re an identical twin. Generally, nobody has our looks, personality, gifts, talents and perspective on life. NOBODY!
You are the only person on earth who can use your abilities. Maybe you never really thought about tha before. But think about it . . . nobody else in this world can use your gifts and abilities, only you can. No one else can play your role, because they don’t have your unique shape which God has given you.
As the book of Hebrews is coming to an end, the writer states -
20 Now may the God of peace 21 equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
God has equipped us to do exactly what He wants us to do.
As I look back to where we’ve been, so many weeks ago, it’s believing that we were created by God for a purpose. If you were to look back at all of the messages from this year, they are blending together. That’s the purpose of this long series. You cannot have one without the other.
As we’ve looked at our purpose in life. We’ve discovered –
? we’re created by God and for God.
? we’re created to love God, to praise, glorify and passionately adore Him in an action we call WORSHIP.
? we’re created to be in God’s family and to love one another, FELLOWSHIP.
? we’re created to become more like Christ, that’s DISCIPLESHIP. And that’s what we’ve been talking about for the past few weeks. Looking at our calling by God and what we do about it.
When we understand we’ve been created by God, and for God,
? we joyfully and willingly worship God,
? we desire to engage in fellowship, we desire to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether it’s at meals, worship, Bible studies, mission work, wherever, it’s something to look forward to because we love to be together.
? and as we worship and fellowship, we want to grow in Christ. We want to learn, read, pray, and ultimately grow more and more into the people God is calling us to be, which is discipleship.
So, as we grow in Christ - - and experience the joy of fellowship and worship, the fruit, or end result of our growth is to serve others.
God created you to serve Him, to do something with your life that only you can do, to accomplish more than you or anyone thought possible. And when we offer our lives to God, He can make our lives into much more than we think possible!
The crazy thing about this serving God thing - - is that as you serve one another, you are serving God.
It’s not like you look at God and say, “Hey God, what can I do for you today?” Because God doesn’t have needs! But, God’s people have lots of needs . . . so, as Jesus said in Matthew 25 in the parable of the sheep and goats -
40 Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me. - Matthew 25:40
Whoever we serve, it’s as if we are serving God. That’s what is so cool about this. This should encourage us to go into the world to serve others. Even in the simple things, it’s about how we can serve God through people.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10 -
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We are not simply made to sit in the stands and watch life pass by, we are made to get in the game and make a contribution to the team! And a good coach doesn’t just send his players into a game without giving them the tools they need to succeed, in the same way, God will not send us into the game without the tools we need. God has promised to equip us.
We need to trust and believe God is the Creator. The word workmanship literally comes from the Greek word meaning “that which is made.”
What I like about what Paul said and how he said it is this - -
1. It’s a reminder that we were made / created by Jesus Christ. We were created by God - and He has a plan for us.
2. Not only are we created by Jesus, but we are also called to join Him in the work He does. We work together. We’re not thrown on our own. Jesus is always with us as we serve Him and others.
3. The work He does and the work we are called to do is “GOOD WORK.” Paul could have just said we created to work for Jesus. But he is emphasizing the work is good work. It’s work which is to be fruit. AND
4. It is work we are called to do. We are to walk in them. In other words, this is how we are supposed to conduct ourselves in this world. That’s what Paul means when he says to walk in them. What are we doing to serve God? Do you have a plan for how you can serve Him and others?
Peter said -
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: - 1 Peter 4:10
When Peter says we have received a gift - it’s cool that the word gift comes from the word grace! When we talk about God’s grace that’s the word we use. So, the word for gift literally means - - a gift of grace; a favor which one receives without any merit of their own.
You see, we don’t deserve these gifts. We did nothing to earn them. They are free gifts that God has given to each person who is a believer in Jesus. God has shaped each of us with unique gifts, abilities, passions and experiences that make you uniquely qualified to do what only you can do! We need to begin to learn and understand what it is that makes us unique - according to God. We call these gifts that God has given us SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
And we need to learn what these gifts are, so we can put them to use. Have you ever received a gift from someone and you open it, and you’re totally clueless what that gift is? You look at it, you turn it over, you shake it, you throw it against the wall, and it comes right back to you and you’re totally in the dark about what it is until someone tells you.
That can be the way we are when it comes to our spiritual gifts. If we don’t know what gifts we have, then we can’t use these gifts that God has freely and graciously given to us so we can better serve Him and others.
God has shaped each of us for serving Him by serving others. We’re not just here by accident to float through life with no purpose. We’re made to serve God by serving others. Each of you is a minister; you are all made to minister to each other! And God has given each one of you a ministry that only you can do.
Anytime you serve someone with your gifts and abilities you’re "doing ministry!" Even if it doesn’t feel like it. Listen to what Peter says to us -
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
Think about what Peter’s saying. Hold onto those words in your heart and spirit. Peter is saying YOU have been chosen. Isn’t it great to be wanted? God chose you because He wants you! You are royalty. The only time this word is used in the Bible is from Peter. It’s a sign you are regal, royalty. You are a holy nation.
You are a minister. That’s what priesthood means. You are considered a minister for Jesus. And you’ve gotta love what Peter says - - -
Here’s part of your purpose . . . so that you may proclaim the excellencies / the greatness / the majesty / the power / the beauty / the hope of Jesus. Because He’s the One who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous / extraordinary / awe inspiring light. So now you can be the light of the world and proclaim the works of God through your good works.
It’s what Paul said in Colossians 3:17 - -
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Every believer, every disciple, every follower of Jesus is a minister and there is no better time than to live that out than in our world today.
I don’t think I need to talk about how divided our country is, how poorly people view Christ followers, how up in the air we are over so many crucial life changing issues, that our world, our country, and down to our communities have lost sight of who Jesus is . . . . and the hope we can experience, even in loss, when we have Him in our lives.
But it doesn’t just happen mysteriously and magically. Occasionally, yes, it does, but that’s not the norm. It takes you and I working together to determine what God is calling us to do and be . . . so that we can be difference makers in this world.
There are too many lost and hurting people for us to sit in the stands. NOW is the time to get in the game!! We’ve talked about becoming more and more like Jesus, are you ready to live that out, Jesus said, in Matthew 20:28 and John 13 -
28 The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve - Matthew 20:28
After washing the disciples feet, Jesus told them -
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. - John 13:14
We often see people with needs all around us, and I get it that we can’t get to every person. Yet, so many times, God is giving us an opportunity to serve Him by serving someone else.
Often times we feel inadequate for the job. We don’t know enough about the Bible, we don’t know how to pray well, we have bills to pay, we have work to do, kids to run after. We can come up with lots of ways to deflect God to the side. It’s simply finding the small ways to serve. Most aren’t called to go to Africa and serve.
Sometimes it’s helping the person you work with, the fellow classmate, your neighbor. It’s having a heart and spirit which has been opened, so that our eyes and ears are open to their needs.
More than anything, we’re not going to be asked to do something so wild and crazy. And the best part is that if God calls you to do something, He’s not going to have you do something which is outside of your realm of understanding. You may be stretched a bit.
For example, I don’t believe God would ask me to come up to you and say, “Hey let me change your brakes for you.” I wouldn’t drive the car afterwards. I’d be clueless. God isn’t going to ask me to give you singing lessons. I believe God will ask you to do something which you are capable of doing. Something you are gifted to do.
We will talk more about this next week.
Lastly, listen to what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 11 -
4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
I know, you’re thinking - what does that mean? Let me give you the NLT version
4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest - Ecclesiastes 11:4
In other words, if you wait for perfect conditions, the farmer will never plant, and if they watch the clouds for the right moment, they will not have a harvest.
The same is true for us when it comes to accepting the call from God to serve Him and others. If we right for the perfect moment, the perfect time, the perfect conditions, our growing to perfection . . . it won’t happen. The only perfect time is now!
We’re sinners in need of grace, so we’ll never hit perfection in this lifetime. God will give you what it takes to succeed in serving Him, but it takes us jumping in even when the water is too cold for our liking!
God made you to serve Him and to serve His people. He’s calling you to do that right now. And if you do, even if you never receive the praise and recognition of people, God will see and He will be pleased. We all look forward with hope to God proclaiming - - “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
