The Big “5”
5.4 – Serving God gives Life
5.4 – Serving God gives Life
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Serving God give us life. Serving self always takes it away.
Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
We are wired to find fulfillment in serving one another.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Service Show Stoppers:
1. The Belief that God is holding out on us.
John 10:10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
2. The Belief that what we are doing is not noticed.
Matthew 6:3-6 (NIV)
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
3. Over Spiritualizing Selfishness
James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
4. Trying to do things for God and doing too little with God.Matthew 19:26-27 (NIV)
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
5. Making choices because of fear.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 10:39 (NIV)
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Some Questions to ask this week:
1. Am I serving in the Kingdom?
2. Am I fulfilled in my service?
3. Am I getting life or getting the life sucked out of me by doing what I am doing?
4. What would I change about what I am doing in the Kingdom right now?
5. What am I avoiding doing in the Kingdom that God is asking me to do?
6. What am I holding onto that God wants me to let go of so that I can live by faith, not fear?
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