GOD CALLED US TO SERVE THE LORD FAITHFULLY.

GOD CALLED US TO SERVE THE LORD FAITHFULLY. 
Pastor Lewis Cushman. St Cloud Church of God.


Paul's Suffering for the Church:
“ …Now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”  Colossians 1:24-29
 
Our walk with God is a walk were we are expected to please him.
Christians are not called to be self serving or self centered.
There are practical steps towards spiritual maturity. If we are not taking steps then we are not growing as Christians. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2
 
GOD CALLS US TO SERVE OTHERS.
Everyone has a place and way to serve. Our service to the Lord is not the same as others the church. We all have different gifts and different ways that God can use us. We all have things to do in the body. Every day we are around people who need Jesus. It is up to us to share Jesus with them. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”  Ephesians 4:11-13
 
We did not get saved to pick each other apart. God saved us from sin so that we might edifying one another. We as Christians are supposed to mature and serve. Not sit and complain. Our service must continue till the Lord calls us home. It is a 24 hour call.
 
Q: What spiritual gift are you exercising?
Q: Have you asked God to use you?
Q: Have you received a gift?
 
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:1-4
 
 
GOD CALLS US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS and TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  1 Peter 4:10 The Bible also says,  “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48
 
THE GOAL OF OUR SERVICE:
Our goal needs to be to glorify God in everything we do.
There are lost people just outside the doors of church, what are we doing for them?
We are not called just to sit in our pews each Sunday, but to serve him every day.
 
THE COST OF SERVICE.
It involves suffering. We may not understand this, but if we look at those in other countries we can see what saints are going through. There are those who are in jail because of their faith. There are those who are put to death because they are Christians.
 
Q: If you were arrested for being a Christian, and to that you would be put on death row would you still stand for Jesus? Would there even be proof?
 
Don't be a lazy Christian.  When the church sits back and does nothing then the world takes over a community, when the church tries to be like the world it will not have the power it used to. We must work to please God, it will not come easy. Jesus said, “Then said to  his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38
 
When God calls you to do something you will either follow that call, or disobey the call.
Q: What do you think the outcome of each would be?
Q: God is calling us to service, will you answer?