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South Attleboro Assembly of God

We Were Shaped For Serving God

We Were Shaped For Serving God

Pastor Randal Ackland's message for Sunday, August, 27, 2017

Locations & Times

Crossroads International Church

1052 Newport Ave, Attleboro, MA 02703, USA

Sunday 8:15 AM

General Council Awards

At General Council a few weeks ago I heard the most remarkable story.[1] George Wood, our retiring General Superintendent said that he stood in a field and someone wirelessly transmitted electricity to make it light. Wow! Do you remember Nikola Tesla and his dream to transmit electricity wirelessly? That is now a reality. Technologically, our world is going to radically change in the next few years.The General Superintendent gave four men an award for being excellent laypeople in the Assemblies of God. James F. Corum holds a PhD in physics from Harvard and is named a ‘National Treasure’ by our State Department; his brother, Kenneth L. Corum, also holds advanced degrees in physics; Michael Miller is a retired Air Force general; and David Griffith a businessman. All four men served their various churches faithfully as deacons, treasurers, teachers, and strong supporters of missions.
[1] https://penews.org/News/Four-Honored-with-General-Superintendent-s-Medal-of-Honor
https://penews.org/News/Four-Honored-with-General-Superintendent-s-Medal-of-Honor

Jonathan Zenneck

110 years ago (1907 by Jonathan Zenneck) it was theorized that surface waves could transmit electricity, these are called Zenneck Surface Waves.[1] The physicist-brothers[2] have turned theory into reality. These four men have started a company to help Third World countries develop and transmit electricity. As Christians they hope that the gospel message will go hand-in-hand with the development of electricity in these underdeveloped nations. Further, proceeds from this company will go directly to home and foreign missions. I was impressed with their love for God, their humility, and their heart to serve the Church. Even though they are going to change the world, they exemplified what Paul wrote: ‘We are simply God’s servants … each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do (1Co 3:5 TEV).’ The pastor next to me turned to me and said, ‘I would give my right arm to have any one of those passionate men in my church.’[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenneck_wave[2] By the way, the two brother’s grandmother, was the first person filled with the Holy Spirit in Springfield, Missouri as a direct result of someone from Azusa Street mission revival. She helped found Central Assembly of God, and knew first-hand many of the founders of the Assemblies of God.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenneck_wave
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Today is the fifth week of a six week sermon series that follows Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life:What on Earth Am I Here For?

First, we began with The Reason for Everything. It answered the questions, ‘why did God create,’ and ‘why did God create me?’

Then we looked at worship – You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure - Worship. Loving God back is worship. ‘You [God] created all things, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created (Rev 4:11 NLT).’

Then we looked at fellowship – You Were Formed for God’s Family. ‘[God’s] unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ (Ep 1:5 NLT).

Last week we looked at discipleship - You Were Created to Become Like Christ. ‘You were also taught to become a new person created to be like God (Ep 4:24 GWT).’

Today we examine the fourth reason why we were created: You Were Shaped for Serving God - Service
The Purpose Driven Life
You Were Shaped for Serving God – Service

Okay, I’ve already lost some of you. I know that life is busy and there are only so many hours in a week. You are thinking ‘I do not have a minute to spare.’

· Rick Warren says, ‘You are put on earth to make a contribution. You weren’t created just to consume resources – to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life … God wants you to give something back … it is called your “ministry,” or service.’ [1] Rick Warren.

· This is supported by Scripture: ‘For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ep 2:10 NIV).’

If you examine this verse in Ephesians carefully you will see that God has specific tasks for us to do and that we were actually made to do those tasks - we are shaped for a particular purpose. I grew up playing the three-dimensional board game, ‘Mousetrap.’ It had all these crazy components that over the course of the game assembled a mousetrap; a crank was turned in the mechanism ran to catch your opponents mouse. In the same way, you were created and shaped to fulfill a particular function in the kingdom of God. This means that there is no such thing as a non-serving Christian.[2] Every Christian should serve the church in some way. The call to salvation is a call to service. Chinese Christians say to new believers: ‘Jesus now has a new pair of eyes to see with, new ears to listen with, new hands to help with, and a new heart to love others with.’ [3] Chinese Believers.

Let’s explore how God has shaped you for service in his kingdom.


[1]Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondveran, 2002), p. 227.
[2]Ep 4:4-14’ cf., Ro 1:6-7; 8:28-30; 1Co 1:2, 9, 26; 7:17; Phil 3:14; 1Pe 2:9; 2Pe 1:3.
[3]Warren, Purpose Driven Life, p. 230.
1. SHAPE.

In his book Rick writes, ‘God never wastes anything. He would not give your abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory.’ SHAPE is an acrostic:

S – Spiritual Gifts, 1Co 12:11. The Holy Spirit gives to each one of us spiritual gifts. These are gifts beyond natural abilities and personality, something we cannot do in our own power. ‘It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have (1Co 12:11NLT)’. There are many spiritual gifts in the Bible, and if you do not use your spiritual gift the body suffers. If there is no one to encourage, the body can get discouraged; if there is no one to prophesy, specific words from God for that moment can go unsaid. You have the picture.

H – Heart, Pro 27:19. In the Bible the heart is the seat of the emotions, the motivation of all we do. Another word for heart would be passion. What drives you to do something may not drive the person next to you who does not even see the need at all. ‘As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person (Pro 27:19 NLT).’ There are a great group of men here, for example, who love to do maintenance and work on the facilities together; another group of men love to visit and do nursing home ministry - each one of us has a different heart that motivates us.

A – Abilities, 1Pe 4:10. Each one of us has different abilities, natural talents you were born with. These natural talents are important to the kingdom of God too because they were given to you by God. Peter said, ‘God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings (1Pe 4:10 LB).’

For example, the Bible says even the ability to make money comes from God: ‘Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth (Dt 8:18 NIV).’ I have a friend who doesn’t know how to use a hammer nor would you want him to lead a nursing home team, but he knows how to make money. So, he makes money and generously funds the work of God beyond his tithe - his ability is being by God. At times, he gives out of his natural abilities, at other times he is challenged with the spiritual gift of giving.

Micro-teaching on abilities:
· Every ability can be used for God’s glory.
· You are the only one that can use your ability.
· God will never ask you to do o a task you have no talent for.
· Whatever you are good at, you should be doing for the church.

P – Personality, 1Co 12:6. God made us all with different personalities. There are introverts and extroverts; those who love routine and those who love variety; thinkers and feelers. At General Council I noticed my former youth pastor’s wife in the meeting, I had to go to an appointment and ran into her just a few minutes later. I said, ‘I thought you’re in the big meeting.’ She responded, ‘I was. But you know me, I can only sit for so long and then I had to come out and spill some words.’ Rick Warren says, ‘There is no “right” or “wrong” temperament for ministry … (however) your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities.’[1] At my prior church, I had a state trooper as an usher. Eventually I had a conversation with him because he frightened people at the door with his personality. He never smiled and was an imposing figure. ‘God works through different people in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all (1Co 12:6 Ph).’

E – Experiences, 2Co 1:4. Each one of us has been changed by our life experiences. The experiences with our family, education, vocation, spiritual experiences, ministry experiences, and painful experiences have made us who we are today. God never wastes anything, especially a wound. Those painful life experiences are your greatest ministry experience. Paul wrote, ‘He comforts us in all her troubles so that we can comfort others. For when others are troubled, will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2Co 1:4 NLT).’ I am a far better pastor today because of my failures and wounds then because of successes and education.

That was just a very quick overview. Paul advised, ‘Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that (Ga 6:4b MSG).’

Think about how you can serve God. Ask yourself, ‘What service did God create me for?’


[1]Warren, Purpose Driven Life, p. 245.
2. How Jesus Served.

There are three items about serving the Lord to break this pastor’s heart.

Three Warnings.

· Consumerism. Americans have a consumer mentality that searches out the best for themselves. People hop from church to church seeking what meets their needs. They view the church like a salad bar. They go through looking for just the right items to fit their taste at the moment. However, more people are more naturally drawn to a chocolate fountain than a salad bar.

· Immaturity. Related to consumerism is immaturity. Consumerism - feeding on sugary preaching rather than on meaty preaching - has caused many Christians today to remain immature. Rick Warren wrote, ‘The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, “who is going to meet my needs?” and starts asking, “whose needs can I meet?”’[1] Rick Warren. Consumerism and immaturity go hand in hand.

· Pride. Because of the consumer mentality, there is more and more pressure on those who are on stage. The audience demands the best, and like moths to a flame, many are attracted to be in the spotlight. Perhaps the most delicate thing I do is try to get people to serve in the way they were shaped by God for. We covet other gifts.

The solution is to serve like Jesus. ‘Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve (Mt 20:28 LB).’

How Jesus Served.

1. He was available, Mt 20:30-32. If you’re going to be used by God, you have to be willing to be interrupted. ‘Two blind men shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us.” … Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you (Mt 20:30-32 NIV)?”’ Imagine that, Jesus stopped and ignored the crowds that wanted to hear him. Rick worn claims that most of Jesus’ miracles occurred when he was interrupted. Ministry opportunities rarely fit into our free time, they come when we are most busy. We have to make time to be used by God.

2. He was thankful, Jn 11:41-42. The attitude of a servant should be complete gratitude that he or she is being allowed to be the hands and feet of God himself. When Jesus was ready to raise Lazarus from the dead he prayed, ‘Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here (Jn 11:41-42 NIV).”’

3. He was full of joy, He 12:2. In Hebrews it says, ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (He 12:2 NIV).’ Imagine that! Jesus looked forward with joy to the cross? He wasn’t mentally unstable but he knew he was serving his father. Some of the best volunteers I have had over the years served with gratitude and joy in their hearts. Dave would come on Saturdays to clean the buses, all six of them. He would smile and was so thrilled to be able to clean the buses for Jesus. The psalmist says we are to, ‘serve the Lord with gladness (Ps 100:2a KJV).’ It does not say, ‘serve with gladness when you get to do big things for God.’ No. all service to God should be a joy.

4. He was faithful, Jn 17:4. When Jesus was nearing his death he prayed, ‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do (Jn 17:4 NIV).’ Jesus was faithful to the end. Faithful means not only completing the task, but honoring God and those you are to serve by showing up a few minutes early please to get things ready.

5. He was generous, 2Co 8:9. Finally, Jesus so loved the world that he gave. Paul put it this way, ‘You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich (2Co 8:9 MSG).’ Just as Jesus was generous, so too serving God means being generous with our time and talents.

Ultimately, service takes us from being consumers or spectators to being part of the living body of Christ.


[1]Warren, Purpose Driven Life, p. 231.
Conclusion.

Rick Warren told the story that one day he went into the sanctuary in the middle of the day. He was looking for something on the stage and he kept hearing this buzzing noise. He went to find out what the buzzing was and found a man on his hands and knees with a battery-powered pencil sharpener. He was crawling on his hands and knees from chair to chair down every row sharpening pencils. The sanctuary seats 3,500 people. Friends, not everyone can figure out how to transmit electricity wirelessly and change their world for the better in Jesus’ name, but each one of us is called to serve – at the very least – by sharpening pencils. Each one of us is to play our part in the kingdom of God. If the one part is missing, the whole does not work.

You Were Shaped for Serving God – find your place and serve joyfully. ‘For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ep 2:10 NIV).’