A HEART OF SERVICE - PART 3

 A HEART OF SERVICE - PART 3

First, I want to congratulate everyone who has stayed with us since the beginning of the series. I believe God has indeed blessed us with His word and will once again do so today.

Hallelujah! In the course of these series, we have come to realize that certain things are necessary to be put in place before out service can be accepted. I want us to quickly understand that for every seed sown, there are certain determinants for its growth - whether it be inherent in the seed, the sower or the land where it was sowed. The same way, it is with our service; the one who serves, the form of service and the one to whom the service is rendered. Going through the series, we have touched certain of these areas, but we will look at something different.

Today, we will consider the characteristics or attributes of our service unto God.

✓ Service is as commanded and not as convenient: From the scriptures, we see in Genesis, where God called Abraham and told him all that He was supposed to do, though it was not be convenient; but He obeyed. Our service to God will never always be convenient. He said "get thee out of thy country to a land which I will show you". Even though, Abraham had no understanding of where he was going, but he still followed obediently. Until we obey to do as commanded, we can never get the blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-13)

✓ Service is a covenant: A covenant is a form of agreement between two persons based on well defined terms and conditions and binding to both parties. God's Word says, "serve me and I will bless your bread and water". It is a covenant. Once you do your own side of the bargain, He is committed to performing His. King Solomon also entered into this covenant of service and we saw how blessed his rule was: King David also. Psalm 89:34 " my covenant will I not break, nor alter the words that have gone out of my mouth". God is committed when we are committed.

✓ Our service must be offered in righteousness: Malachi 3:3 "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness". Who were the sons of Levi? They were servants of the most high God. Our service unto God must be done according in all righteousness. When sin is found in us, it only hinders the rewards.(Isaiah 59:1-2). We can't receive from a God who isn't pleased with us.

✓ Service must be done willingly and cheerfully: An ungrateful heart can never merry; and a heart that is not merry, is an abomination before God. The Bible says in his presence, there is all fullness of Joy. Whatever must then be done to receive from His presence must be done with Joy and gladness.

2 Corinthians 9:7 " Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

✓ Service must be done in the fear of Him to whom it is rendered: Without fear of the one to whom the service is rendered, such service can be done without understanding. Fear here is not being afraid or frightened of the person. But it is respect unto Him; respect unto God. Genesis 4 (about Cain and Abel). God had respect unto Abel's offering and not to Cain's because he had not the understanding nor the fear of Him to which he was serving. If you have the fear of the Lord in you, then you will not offer an unpleasant offering unto Him; the same way it is in the natural world. And without this, your service can never be rewarded. Proverbs 25:14 "the secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant".

What then are the BENEFITS of our SERVICE?

√ It procures wealth;  (Job as a case study). Job 29:1-25

Job 36;11 "if they obey and serve me, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures ". Psalm 112:1-3

√ Service procures rest: 2Chronicles 15:10-15.

Verse 12: "and they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul:"Verse 15b 'and the LORD gave them rest round about".

√ It engenders posterity:  Psalm 22:30 "A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation". Abraham as a case study (Genesis)

√ It guarantee access to open doors; Mordecai (Esther 6), Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1Kings 17:7-24).

√ Service procures and preserves our blessings: Exodus 23:25-26: 2Timothy 2:6 " the husbandman that laboureth MUST be the first partaker of the fruits thereof"

√ Service commits the integrity of God to perform: Malachi 3:10-11 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts." Matthew 6:33

Hindrances to our Service?

• Sin Isaiah 59:2

• Doubt: Mark 9:23

• Fear (being afraid)

• Murmur/Complaint

• Hatred

• Disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:14-68)

•  Absence of Joy (Joel 1:12)

Forms of Service:

¶ Kingdom stewardship: Matthew 6:33, 1Samuel 1:28, Exodus 23:25-26

¶ Service unto humanity: Job 29:1-25,

Thank you for following through the articles🙏🏻. You can also use the comment box. We will be so glad to hear from you. God bless you. Amen

THE MEN THAT LEAD

Building manhood...