What is the right way to serve God? How can you excel in your service to God? What attitude does God want His ministers to have towards the work of God, and your apostle?
In this post, I will be sharing the critical path to serving God in His church.
[1 Samuel 18:5 KJV] “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”
[1 Samuel 18:13-16 KJV] “Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.”
“Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”
[John 21:15-17 KJV] “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”
“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”
“Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep”
There are so many problems in the church and the kingdom of God today because there are many who are serving but serving without love. Many of the people serving even in the pulpit are hirelings; they are serving for a wage and other reasons but not love. The proper flow chart and critical path for service must be;
- Encounter
- Believe, Connect, and Continue
- Follow and Love before you take up the delegation to serve and feed His sheep
Firstly every man desiring to serve the Lord must have had an encounter with His truth and power
In 1 Peter 2:1ff, we are told to separate ourselves from evil speaking and guile if we have rated and seen that God is good. You must have a life-transforming encounter with love, truth and power.
I am sure Paul served better because he had an encounter that beats all reasoning. He had experienced too much than to deny it. The early apostle stated clearly that they were testifying of things they had seen, tasted and handled. They were not doing guesswork.
[1 John 1:1-3 KJV] “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
“(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
Moses saw and witnessed the burning bush; he was not in to tell stories; he was speaking of real encounters with the God of their fathers!
[2 Peter 1:12-16 KJV] “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;”
“knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
Peter was preaching because he was an eyewitness. Many of you are joking in the pulpit and with the work of God, you are not a witness. You have not experienced anything. The more you experience and encounter, the greater your conviction.
Secondly, every man desiring to serve must believe, connect and continue:
The Bible says those who believed were baptised and added to the church. They believed and connected. God wants us to continue in folds. He wants us to be a people that are connected to the fellowship of believers. We are sheep and not snakes to walk alone.
[Acts 2:41-47 KJV] “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
“And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.“
Thirdly, any man desiring to serve must learn to follow until he falls deeply in love with the Lord and his apostle:
You must follow to become but love enough to turn others into his mould. When you follow, you become like him; but when you love him, you groom others into his mould.
When Jesus wanted to make Peter, He asked him to follow Him; when Jesus wanted to assign Peter, he asked whether he loved him. Many of you are creating a mess in the church and kingdom because you don’t love Him.
[Matthew 4:19 KJV] “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Only those who learn to follow can lead others with love and grace. The first instruction after encounter is to follow me as I follow Christ!
Just your first instruction to serve is do you love me? When we learn to love God, serving Him and His church will not be a burden; we will serve with love and goodwill and smiles.
Many of us are getting discouraged because we have not fallen in God with God and His apostle. When you love, nobody will beg you to do anything. You will serve and do things even beyond your strength. Let us learn to fall in love all over again!
Many of the people trying to lead others to Jesus have not learnt to follow Him. Many have never followed the Lord, yet they are trying to lead others to Him; how?
Stay blessed
