PRINCIPLES IN SERVICE TO GOD – Sermons, Outlines and Bible Studies

By: Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria. This sermon was initially published on www.estudiosysermones.com. We invite you to read more sermons by Pastor Gonzalo Zanabria on the aforementioned website.

Introduction: Man from his creation was established by God to serve on earth. Serving is managing, because the Lord gives us gifts, blessings, ministries, abilities, etc. to put at the service of others and seek the extension of his kingdom. The kingdom of God differs from the other kingdoms in service for love, because power and personal benefit are sought in the other kingdoms, we must ensure that Christ is glorified…

PRINCIPLES IN THE SERVICE TO GOD

1) Jeremiah struggled with his calling: Jeremiah 20:8-9.

Comment 1: The prophet had to declare messages from God to the people of Israel, and they were not well received. Because the Lord would allow Babylon to oppress Israel, because of her idolatry. They would be taken captive for seventy years to Babylonian land. Jerusalem would be destroyed and looted. Then he was rejected and that is why at some point he thought: “I will not remember him anymore or speak in his name anymore.” At some point we can think the same due to the difficulties of serving God.

Comment 2: Jeremiah acknowledges that although he thought of leaving that service to God, there was a fire within him in his heart that burned deep within him. He says “Stuck in my bones”, it is in the marrow of the bones and the spinal column where the red blood cells, our blood, are born and formed. What ran through his body was the fervent desire to serve God, that deep yearning that he himself could not silence or stop. It is the beautiful struggle of God’s call to man.

Comment 3: Just as red blood cells live 120 days approx. and are replaced by new ones, our fire for God must be continually renewed. The prophet tried to resist it, tried to endure it, but God was stronger and helped him to continue and overcome all opposition: Jeremiah 20:11. The divine call is irrevocable, that is why it is so important to know the principles in the service of God.

2) God’s call to serve him is a privilege and a responsibility (1 Corinthians 9:16-17).

Comment: The Lord Jesus said: “You shall worship the Lord your God and you shall only serve him”. Paul in this passage teaches us several things:

a) He was aware that he served God for his mercy and grace, not for human virtues.

b) He also knew that serving the Lord was a personal responsibility (Tomorrow he would give an account to God for his service).

c) There is a reward for those who do it with joy and diligence.

3) Delusions of grandeur prevent service to God (Nehemiah 3:1-5).

Comment 1: It is very interesting to see that throughout this chapter all the Jewish families were involved in the restoration of the walls and the rebuilding of the gates of the city of Jerusalem. The Tecoítes were the inhabitants of the city of Tecoa (name that means to arm, raise, sound trumpet). This meaning allows us to see that they had a divine design to assemble, build, convene so that all together they would rebuild the city of God. In the same way we are all called by God to serve him and be instruments in the establishment of his kingdom on earth.

Comment 2: However, verse 5 tells us that “the great ones did not lend themselves to help in the work of the Lord.” They were indifferent to the work of God. They didn’t want to help. His reasons are not clear, but the biblical text tells us:

a) “Their great ones”: Surely they had wealth, or perhaps they came from influential families in Israel, or they were the ones who governed the city of Tekoa, etc.

b) “They did not lend themselves”: they decided not to get involved in the work of their Lord. They acknowledge “their Lord” but do not get involved in his work.

Perhaps they thought: “We are too important to do such lowly tasks” – “I will dirty my hands and clothes” – “What will people say when they see me there” – etc.

Comment 3: Nehemiah 3:27, teaches us that the Thecoites restored another section, that is, they went one more mile (but not their “greats”). The true greatness in the words of Jesus is in the service to others: “whoever wants to be the greatest of you, will be your servant”.

Comment 4: In this verse 27 of Nehemiah 3, we are told that the Thecoites restored even the wall of Ophel, a word that means: fruitful region (meaning that reminds us of the reward that God has for those who serve him). Ophel is also translated in the Bible as “fortress” which reminds us that God protects his servants. Serving God not only generates reward, it also implies protection.

4) The best motivation in serving God is love (and not fear). 2 Timothy 2:10.

Comment 1: Our service to God is developed by his grace and mercy. Out of gratitude and love we must serve the Lord, and we do it in different ways from the gifts that he has given us. It should not be out of fear, but out of love and gratitude.

Comment 2: When the Roman empire arrested Polycarp, a disciple of John and pastor of the church in Smyrna, they told him: “Declare that Caesar is lord. Renounce your Christ and you will save your life” and he replied: “I have served Jesus Christ for 86 years, and my God has only done me good, how can I deny my king and Lord?” and he was sentenced to die at the stake. His strength was his love for God. That is why the Scripture says: “now faith, hope and love remain; But the greatest of these is love”. Serve God because you love him, serve God out of gratitude for having rescued you with his precious blood.

Conclusion: Being a child of God is the greatest privilege that can exist. Serving God by his grace is an honor that allows us to flow in the gifts that he has delegated to us is a great blessing. Serving the Lord on earth is preparing ourselves for what he will give us in heaven.

(Note: We cordially invite you to acquire our book on inner healing. We generally focus our attention on our body, neglecting the other parts of our being. One reality is that the soul has been hurt or affected throughout life with a series of of traumatic experiences. Ignoring or not considering this truth makes many diseases, fears and complexes deeply affect the life of the human being. Healing for the wounded soul is a tool or help in this process of healing or restoration, this book can be purchased here at : “HEALING FOR THE WOUNDED SOUL”).

(Written by Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria. This sermon was initially published on www.estudiosysermones.com. We invite you to read more of Pastor Gonzalo Zanabria’s sermons on the aforementioned website.)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.