SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3

Transcription

1 Matthew 28:19 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 ROMANS 12:11-12 Romans 12:9-10 THE MESSAGE 9 Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 10 Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Romans 12:11 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; not lagging in diligence, - LIT. in BUSINESS, not lagging, not tardy or timid Matthew 25:26 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. Matthew 25:21 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 2 of 9 Ed Silvoso is an author, documentarian, and founder of both Harvest Evangelism and the International Transformation. In his book, ANOINTED FOR BUSINESS, he identifies four types of Christians in the workplace. He cites the following four categories: 1. Christian who is simply trying to survive. 2. Christian who is living by Christian principles. 3. Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit. 4. Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ. The Christian who is simply trying to survive. Our first category is best described as a person who has no purpose or zeal for their work or life. They have not seen the power or presence of God in their work life. Solomon describes this person: Ecclesiastes 2: So I became sad about all the hard work I had done here on earth. 21 People can work hard using all their wisdom, knowledge, and skill, but they will die, and other people will get the things for which they worked. They did not do the work, but they will get everything. This is also unfair and useless. 22 What do people get for all their work and struggling here on earth? 23 All of their lives their work is full of pain and sorrow, and even at night their minds don't rest. This is also useless. NCV

3 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 3 of 9 They go to church, but they see church as another place to do something for God. In the final analysis, this person is a defeated Christian simply trying to survive. In fact, George Barna says that in America we have 35-40% of the population who claim to be born again. However, if you had forty percent of market share of your industry how much influence would you have over that industry? Coca-Cola has a 40% market share in the soft drink industry. Do you think they carry a lot of clout? You bet they do. In a survey done by the Gallup organization in 1983 they measured the work habits of church going people compared to non-church going people. What they found was no significant difference between the morality and ethics of non-believers and Christians. Christians were as likely to steel company supplies, cheat on taxes and call in sick, and be late for work or meetings as the non- Christian. 2. The Christian who is living by Christian principles. (workssweat & toil) Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law WE LIKE - guaranteed formulas to achieve our goals. 12-step programs. 7 steps to lose weight 10 Ways to a Better For Marriage BOOKS: 7 WAYS TO TRAMATIZE YOUR CHILD 10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR SISTER DISAPPEAR 12 WAYS TO BE A BLESSING TO YOUR CHURCH These Christians work the system instead of allowing God s Spiritual system work in them in that it is a works based relationship toward God.

4 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 4 of 9 Ephesians 2: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Level 2 Christians tend to be ethical and many times legalistic people. They like to follow clearly defined tasks. The need here is to be led by and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 3. The Christian who is living by the power of the Holy Spirit Romans 8: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, This type of Christian is one who has a heart toward God that hears the voice of God in every aspect of their life. HEART FOR GOD and LIVING FOR HIM ON A DAILY BASIS. DAILY prayer, the DAILY study of the Word of God and DAILY obedience. These are the three core ingredients to experiencing the power of God in their lives. STORY: A Christian lawyer was going to present his case before the Supreme Court and had spent years in the preparation. He and his team arrived and they always met together and prayed, which

5 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 5 of 9 they did this day. As the lawyer got up to pray, he felt he should only present 1 of the 5 points he had prepared, the 5 th point. So, he used his total time on only the 5 th. As the other lawyer got up, he used his time rambling on as if unprepared. Of course the prepared lawyer won the case. Later, winning lawyer found out the opposing lawyer had prepared to argue against only the first 4 points. DIVINE APPOINTMENTS 4. The Christian who is transforming their workplace for Christ. This is a byproduct or fruit of Level 3. You can only have a GODLY transformation of your workplace if you are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Jesus mentioned the Kingdom of God 70 times in the New Testament. Matthew 6:9-10 This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven". When we talk of transformation we are talking about bringing the Kingdom of God upon the workplace and society. Matthew 28:19-20 THE MESSAGE 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

6 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 6 of 9 Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in New York City who asked God to do something significant in his life in In a small darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome" that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, The meetings began slowly, but within a few months, 20 noonday meetings were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia, the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting. Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun. This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin. R.G. LeTourneau R.G. LeTourneau, a businessman from the United States, wrestled with the secular versus full-time Christian work idea. LeTourneau was a successful businessman in the early 1900s that recounts the turning point in his understanding of how God desires to use business for His glory. His pastor one day said to him, "You know, brother LeTourneau, God needs businessmen as well as preachers and missionaries." "Those were the words that guided my life ever since," said LeTourneau. "I repeat them in public at every opportunity because I have discovered that many men have the

7 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 7 of 9 same mistaken idea I had of what it means to serve the Lord. My idea was if a man was going all out for God, he would have to be a preacher, or evangelist, or a missionary, or what we call a full-time Christian worker. I didn't realize that a layman could serve the Lord as well as a preacher. I left the parsonage in sort of a daze. If God needed businessmen, he could certainly find a lot better material than a dirt-mover with a lot of debts piled up in the garage business. But I said, 'All right, if that is what God wants me to be, I'll try to be His businessman.'" LeTourneau later became known for his generosity for giving 90% of his income to Christian causes. Hotel Owner Transforms His Workplace A Philipino business man who owned a hotel chain. God saved this man and began an amazing transformation that led to a major transformation in his large scale hotel. This man owned a 1600 room hotel in three buildings. The hotel had become a haven for prostitution with the rooms being used as many as five times a day. The 2,000 employees had a primary clientele of prostitutes. There were more than 3,000 prostitutes. One of Silvoso's associates shared with the owner a formula for winning the lost. So, the owner of the hotel went out and hired 40 pastors and told them to follow these instructions. a. Speak peace to the wolves. Bless those who curse you. b. Eat and drink with the sinners. Become their friends. c. Pray for them and their needs. These were the strict orders. They were not to share the gospel until these three requirements were met for two years. The net result of following these three rules was that all 2,000 employees got saved and the hotel was upgraded to executive level which removed the prostitution because the rates became too high. A prayer chapel was added with 24/7 prayer for anyone by dialing 7

8 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 8 of 9 on the telephone. Two years later 10,000 guests had received the Lord on this property. Now that is transformation! Start asking God to help you see how to transform your workplace today. Matthew 16:27 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Hebrews 10:24 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, fervent in spirit fervent This participle has such an unusual meaning that we substitute the translation "fervent To be hot; boiling liquids; or glowing of solids Here - "to boil or seethe." Steam engine serving the Lord serving - douleuo (dool-yoo'-o); to be a slave to Romans 7:6 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 6:6

9 SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY PART 3 Page 9 of 9 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Ephesians 6:5-8 5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Revelation 3: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Colossians 1:10 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Romans 12:11 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. FILE:SERMONS/VISIONARY CHURCH FAMILY/SERVING CHRIST ENTHUSIASTICALLY/