Disclaimer: Source material for this sermon has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources whenever possible.
His Workmen
Ephesians 2:8-10; 4
Introduction: The very minute that a person attempts to add works or self effort in any form to the salvation equation the whole is corrupted and is unacceptable to God. While it is true that we are saved by faith alone and not by works; it is true that God has saved us for the purpose of perform acceptable works or service to God. Ephesians reveals the mandate, the method, and the means of serving the Lord.
I. The Mandate – Go, Work, Witness, Win
A. Mandate – literally "to give into one’s hand", means commission or order. A mandate is that which is obligatory because commanded.
B. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
C. Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
D. Service to Christ is not optional for the believer. Listen to what Paul tells the church at Corinth: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1 – 2), For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
E. You are a tool in the hands of God. He demands your service, not your rest. Yet, how fortunate you are that he lets you take part in his work. – Ulrich Zwingli, in "Zwingli: Father of the Swiss Reformation," Christian History, no. 4.
F. The Possessor of heaven and earth placed you here, not as a proprietor, but as a steward. – John Wesley, in The Use of Money
G. Some are more dedicated to serving their clubs than Christ, the scouts than the Savior, their jobs more than Jesus.
H. "Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bondslave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master’s purchased property. Bought to serve his master’s needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave’s sole business is to do as he is told. Christian service therefore means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one’s Savior (1 Corinthians. 6:19-20). – J Packer
II. The Method – The local Church
A. Ephesians 4:4 - 12 (NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He ascended" — what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
B. When the New Testament speaks of ministering to the saints, it means not primarily preaching to them but devoting time, trouble, and substance to giving them all the practical help possible. The essence of Christian service is loyalty to the king expressing itself in care for his servants (Matthew 25: 31-46) – James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986
C. 1 Timothy 3:14 - 15 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (support) of the truth.
D. The local church has three functions: (1) the salvation of sinners, (2) the edification of saints, and (3) the glorification of the Savior.
E. Just as a soldier belongs in the military service, a Christian belongs in a Bible-believing church. It is your Christian duty to be an active member of a local New Testament church. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." God expects Christians to assemble together on a regular basis to worship Him and to exhort one another. He further expects us to be involved in a local church. - copied
F. Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat-infestation problems. "I got so mad," said one, "I took a shotgun and fired at them. It made holes in the ceiling, but did nothing to the bats." "I tried trapping them alive," said the second. "Then I drove 50 miles before releasing them, but they beat me back to the church." "I haven’t had any more problems," said the third. "What did you do?" asked the others, amazed. "I simply baptized them," he replied. "I haven’t seen them since." - Readers Digest
G. Accept the fact that God works through His church; it is the agency He chose to use in this world.
III. The Means – His Power and Might
A. Ephesians 4:7 - 8 (NASB) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men."
B. Ephesians 3:20 - 21 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
C. One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas. Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.
D. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
E. John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
F. Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
G. FOR SALE - One Cross, - almost new. Top heavy. Cramps my style keeping up with the world - One Talent, - slightly shelf-worn. Unused for several years. - One Bundle of Seldom Used Opportunities, - Among these, church attendance, personal witnessing. - One Badly Used Influence, - Buyer needs to repair it and use it more carefully. - These items may be seen anytime in the basement of my home. Corner of Careless Avenue and Neglect Street. - Signed, Careless Christian
