EXHORTATION
To work means: To Labour, To Offer Service, To Toil, To Perform, To Operate
(1) WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD 1 Tim. 1 v 12
NKJV
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,”
GNB
“I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,”
NirV
“I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength. I thank him that he considered me faithful. I thank him for appointing me to serve him.”
NLT
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him”
- 1 Peter 4 v 10 & 11
NKJV
v.10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
- 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
GNB
v.10 “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.”
v.11 “Those who preach must preach God’s messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”
NirV
v.10 “God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully.”
v.11 “If anyone speaks, they should do it as one speaking God’s words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength God provides. Then in all things God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him for ever and ever. Amen.”
(1) God has called each one of us to serve in different capacities.
(2) Serving God is not something that we should do out of OBLIGATION.
(3) We need to serve God OUT OF LOVE.
(4) When we serve God, we take the focus off ourselves and put our focus on GOD and HIS PEOPLE.
(2) THIS IS THE ORDAINED SEASON TO WORK FOR GOD
- John 9 v 4
NKJV
“must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work”
NLT
“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.The night is coming, and then no one can work”
MSG
“We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines.When night falls, the workday is over.”
(3) GOD IS WORKING, JESUS IS WORKING, YOU MUST ALSO BE WORKING FOR GOD
- John 5 v 17
NKJV
“But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
GNB
“Jesus answered them, “My Father is always working, and I too must work.”
NLT
“But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”
(4) GOD IS LOOKING FOR LABOURERS IN HIS VINEYARD
- Isaiah 6 v 8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:”Whom shall I send,And who will go for Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
- Matthew 20 v 26
“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”
(5) ATTRIBUTES OF WORK
- John 6 v 28
“Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Commitment, Diligence, Consistency, Doggedness, Zeal, Motivation, Desire, Faith, Determination, Focus
(6) BENEFITS OF SERVING GOD
For us to serve God effectively, we must know the BENEFITS OF SERVING GOD.
(1) GOD WILL HONOUR YOU
- John 12 v 26
NLT
“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
NirV
“Anyone who serves me must follow me. And where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
(2) GOD WILL REWARD YOU
- Col. 3 v 23 – 24
NirV
v.23″Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
v.24 “Work because you know that you will finally receive as a reward what the Lord wants you to have. You are slaves of the Lord Christ.”
GNB
v.23″Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”
v.24 “Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.”
- Galatians 6 v 9
NKJV
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
NLT
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
TPT
“And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming”
(3) SERVING GOD WILL ENABLE YOU TO HAVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
- John 5 v 30
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
- You have intimacy with God.
- You have Relationship with God.
- You have Communion with God.
- You have Rapport with God.
- You have Reward.
- You have Access to His PRIVACY.
- You will understand the character of God.
- You will die to self.
(4) GOD WILL TAKE UP YOUR PROJECTS
- Galatian 6 v 7
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
- What you sow, you reap
- Luke 6 v 38
NirV
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you.”
GNB
“Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands—all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.”
NLT
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
- Give and it will be given to you.
(5) YOU WILL DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND FULFIL IT
- Eph. 2 v 10
NirV
“We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God prepared these works for us to do.”
NLT
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
- When you serve God, you worship Him.
- He will unfold his purpose for you by and by.
- He will enable you to make right decisions and choices.
- He will empower you to fulfil purpose.
(6 YOU WILL HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONAL BOND WITH OTHERS SERVING TOGETHER
- John 17 v 21
“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
- You will connect with like – minded believers.
- You will make personal connections and lifelong friends.
- Your efforts could result in someone’s life being changed for eternity.
- You will feel better about yourself when your life matters and makes a difference.
(7) YOU WILL BE MORE GENEROUS
- Proverbs 11 v 25
“The generous soul will be made rich,And he who waters will also be watered himself.”
- You will be more generous with your TIME, TALENT SKILL and TREASURE.
- Remember that serving in the house of God means sacrificial giving of your time, talent and treasure which will be richly rewarded by God.
(8) YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
- Phil. 4 v 8MSG
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse”
- Preparation to serve in the house of God enables you to make wise decisions in spending your time.
- Service in the Church makes you sane, smarter and sound.
- Your spiritual growth will be enhanced.
(9) DIVINE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION
- Psalm 91 v 1 – 2
v.1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
v.2 “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
- As you work in His vineyard, He will be mindful of you.
- You can be sure that as long as you serve Him, He will keep you safe from all harm.
- No matter what happens, God will be in control and will work everything out for our good.
(10) YOU CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
- Matthew 6 v 33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
- Serving God enlists you among those advancing God’s kingdom on Earth.
- The truth is there is no greater honour than contributing to the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
- Use your gifts, talents, skills, resources to serve God today in your local assembly God is mindful of you. Join a service group today.
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