When there is a strong vision, there is always a decision to be made. Our vision as a church is to know Christ and to make him known. This means being intimate with him, not in terms of intellect or theology, but in a spiritual intimacy and relationship with him. Vision is objective, but Mission is subjective. We outwork the Mission by changing perceptions about Jesus and his church, creating a new mindset through the Gospel, contributing to the wellbeing of society.
Ephesians 4:1 NCV
I, Paul, am in confinement at the moment because I am serving our Lord Jesus. Therefore, I appeal to you who have been chosen by God to live up to the life to which God called you.
PAUL’S OPENING PRAYER
Ephesians 1:15-20 ERV
That is why I always remember you in my prayers and thank God for you. I have done this ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better. I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places.
7 THINGS IN PAUL’S PRAYER
1. That we know the Spirit
2. That we will know God better
3. That we will know the Truth
4. That we know the Hope we have
5. That we will know that we are called by God
6. That we will know the Blessings that God has promised
7. That we will know God’s power for our lives
Acts 13:36-37 NIV: David SERVED God’s purpose in his own generation; he fell asleep, he was buried with his ancestors, and his body saw decay. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
Mark 10:45 NLT: Jesus said I did not come to be served but to SERVE others and to give my life as a ransom for many.
Joshua 24:15 NIV: As for me and my household, we will SERVE the Lord
Philippians 2:5-8 NIV
In your relationships with one another, follow the example and mindset of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a SERVANT, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
7 WAYS TO SERVE THE LORD
1. SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS
Psalm 100:1-3 MEV
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
2. SERVE THE LORD WITH ENTHUSIASM
Romans 12:10-12 J.B. Phillips
As brothers \& sisters in Christ, let us have genuine affection for one another, and a willingness to let the other person have the credit. Let us not allow slackness to spoil our SERVING and let us keep the fires of the spirit burning, as we DO OUR WORK ENTHUSIASTICALLY FOR OUR LORD. Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come, endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.
3. SERVE THE LORD WITH YOUR GIFTS
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 CEV
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways to SERVE the same Lord, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do. EACH PERSON IS GIVEN THEIR GIFT BY THE SPIRIT that they may make the most of it.
4. SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Colossians 3:22-23 NLV
You, who are employees, obey your employer. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Work for them as you would for the Lord because you honour God. Whatever work you do, DO IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART. Do it for the Lord and not for men.
5. SERVING THE LORD IS BETTER THAN SERVING MYSELF
Psalm 84:10 NLT
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather SERVE AS A GATEKEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
6. SERVING IN GOD’S HOUSE PREPARES YOU FOR LIFE
Psalm 27:4 NLT
The one thing I ask of the LORD, the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, BEING STRENGTHED BY HIS PRESENCE AND GUIDED BY HIS WISDOM, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
7. SERVING THE LORD TAKES A DIFFERENT SPIRIT
Numbers 14:24 NIV
But because my servant Caleb has a DIFFERENT SPIRIT and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
A faith generation is a serving generation. We are invited to serve God’s purpose in our generation. Like Jesus, we have been called to serve. When we serve with gladness, enthusiasm, our gifts, our whole hearts, and a different spirit, we demonstrate the mindset of Christ. Serving is crucial for us to fulfil our Mission.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
- Write down the “One Thing” that stood out to you from today’s message. How can you see this in your day-to-day life and apply it this week? Who can you share it with?
- What practical decisions can you make this week to serve wholeheartedly in the Community, your workplace, your university and family?
- Why don’t you take a moment this week and reflect on this: Am I intentional about building a personal and intimate relationship with God in my daily life?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the vision You have given us—to know Christ and to make Him known. I want to follow your example, Jesus, becoming a part of a serving generation. Help me to outwork the mission as part of this Faith – Community. Amen.