SUCCESSFUL SERVICE

Should we pursue success in the Lord’s service?  Let me put it this way, “Do you want to be a failure at such a vital assignment?”  I want to hear above all when I stand before the Judge, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your Lord,” (Matt. 25:23). The question is, “By what metric do we measure success?”  

In the modern church world it is has often been gauged by how many buildings we put up, how many bucks we took up, and how many backsides we sat down. Those are not insignificant, but not the final measurement. Paul lists three standards for successful service in 1 Thessalonians 2:10 that any servant of the Lord can attain.

First, we are to be devoted toward God, “how devoutly…we behaved.”  This is service that is RESPONSIVE. The grace of God was not given in vain to Paul. He was devoted to the Savior who dedicated Himself to the Apostle. His service was not to earn God’s favor, but a response to God’s love. In Rom. 12:1, he set this as our standard, “ “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” The first commandment is to love God with all our being. 

Second, we are to be just toward man, “how…justly…we behaved.”  This is service that is RIGHTEOUS. Our conduct in the world is to be just in how we deal with our fellowman. In the neighborhood, the marketplace, or wherever we go, we are to treat people right!  The second commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. To claim to love God is only credible as we love those who are created in His image. 

Third, we are to be blameless toward believers, “how…blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe.”  This is service that is RIGOROUS. We are called to scrupulously seek sanctification. Holiness is to be the gauge of our service in the fellowship of the saints. It should be more than a claim expressed, but a conduct exhibited. God is our Creator and we are to love Him, humanity is His creation and we are to love them, but the church is His Bride and we are to love her. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another,” (John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬‬). The church is His new creation and Christ calls us to a new love that He demonstrated —a rigorous commitment to the people of God.

Be faithful in pursuing these three spheres of service and God will make you fruitful as He sees fit.

NECESSITY OF MINISTERIAL PROGRESS, Part 3

It is so easy to be consumed with a multitude of good things in ministry that can divert us from the one thing—a passionate pursuit of Christ. Spurgeon reminds us to seek Him. When we do, everything else will fall into its proper place. I thought of how easy it is to be a Martha scurrying about serving—and developing a cranky spirit. Then, there was Mary, seeking—and developing her love for Jesus. What does the Lord say, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Men—preach good sermons, perform good service, but pursue the Savior above all!  As you lead in worship today, be the lead worshipper, whose public exaltation of Christ on the Lord’s Day is rooted in the daily devotion of time spent at Jesus’ feet!

PREACHER, HOW IS YOUR LOVE LIFE?

When I ask, “How is your love life?” I am not referring to the romantic relationship with your wife—important as that is. My question is drawn from our Lord’s accusation against the church at Ephesus, “you have left your first love” (Rev.2:4).   While it was addressed to the church as a whole, the first one to see it and need to apply it was the “angelos,” (Rev.2:1a), the messenger and pastor of that local assembly.  While he would not bear sole responsibility for the degree of the church’s passion for Christ, he would carry a significant role in it.

Jesus is vitally interested in His pastors—the stars He holds in His hand—and vigilantly involved with His churches—the lampstands He walks among (Rev.2:1b).  His focus with Ephesus—beginning with her pastor—was not what they believed in their heads, or did with their hands, but what they lacked in their hearts.  

There was CHRIST’S COMMENDATION. The church—and I would assume the preacher—had many commendable qualities. Jesus acknowledges their dedicated activity and doctrinal fidelity (Rev.2:2-3,6).  We must attend to those.

But, then came CHRIST’S CONFRONTATION. They left their first love. It does not say they lost it, but left it. It was not accidental, but willful. Life is full of choices. Little by little we can immerse ourselves in church business and forget our primary duty, to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourself.  Labor without love leads to haughtiness: “Look what I have done compared to you!”  Doctrine without devotion leads to harshness: “You do not believe like I do!”  It is not a question of either/or but both/and.  Old Vance Havner said, “You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically and empty as one spiritually!”

We conclude with CHRIST’S CALL (Rev.2:5,7).  “Remember,” the first love and recall those early days when the romance of redemption was a fire inside you. “Repent,” and rekindle that flame. Do it, “or else,” Christ will come and turn the lights out in the church house. If but one member of the church will respond, then Christ can bring revival to that church—and the foremost person in need of repentance could be the man in the pulpit!  May God use this text as a spiritual x-ray to disclose our heart condition!  Now, if you will excuse me, I have something to do—to tend to my soul!

“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

ONE HOLY PASSION

 

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  ‎But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

 

It is easy to let the demands of doing ministry overwhelm the delights in being ministers.  Our schedules become dominated by the tyranny of the urgent rather than being directed by the authority of the Lord.  Seeking to please Christ can be supplanted by a desire to please people.  We may do the same things we ever did, but inside we are hollow—just going through the motions.  Many good things have moved us from the one great thing—a heart for God!

 

“We have as much of God as we actually want.”  The late A.W. Tozer said that.  Tozer was a man who practiced what he preached.  He had a great zeal for God.  Tozer wrote one of the Christian classics on this subject called, “The Pursuit of God.”  Honestly, on a scale of one to ten, with one being unconcern and 10 being obsession, where would you rank your heart for God?  In Luke 10:38-42, do you identify more with Martha or Mary? 

 

Martha was DISTRACTED IN SERVICE (v.38-40a)   We recognize that service is a vital part of the Christian life.  The Christian ministry is no place for slackers!  We should commend Martha for her service, and not condemn her.  She saw a need and met it.  But, the danger is that we can easily lose our focus—and become more concerned about what we are doing than why we are doing it—and to God motives matter much.  Martha was distracted from Christ.  It is easy to do.  There are so many demands on us.  Life can be frantic.  Many pastors confess to schedules that crowd out time alone with God.  That is a dangerous place for the pastor to be.

 

Martha was DISGRUNTLED BY SELF-CENTEREDNESS (v.40b-41)   Martha was madder than a wet hen.  She shifted from concern about Jesus to concern about herself.  It is bad enough that she is angry with her sister, but she dares to attack Jesus also.  She says, “Do you not care?”  Nobody seemed to notice the effort she was making—not even Christ.  Do you become disgruntled when you don’t receive recognition for your hard work?  Then you aren’t doing it for Christ anymore—you are doing it for yourself.  Do you ever feel that way? 

 

In contrast, Mary was DEVOTED TO SEEKING (v.42)   Christ must be central in all of life and ministry.  It is about knowing Him so we may make Him known.  The great Bible heroes understood this.  Enoch and Noah, “walked with God.”  Abraham was called, “The friend of God.”  Moses communed with God face to face.  David was a man after God’s own heart.  Paul had one magnificent obsession (see Phil.3:7-14).  Is Christ your one holy passion?

 

Weigh the promise of 2 Chronicles 16:9a, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” Jesus warned that apart from an abiding, intimate connection with Him, we can do nothing (read John 15:5-11).  Our fruitfulness depends on it.  His Word must abide in us.  This will be marked by His joy flowing from us—not the frustration Martha exhibited.  Man of God, sit at the feet of Jesus, and you will have much forcefulness in your messages and much fruitfulness in your ministry!