Ministry and Service
God Has Gifted Us for Ministry and Service
Created to Serve
We were created to serve God. The Bible says, “[God] has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10b (TEV). These “good deeds” are our service or ministry. Whenever we serve others in any way, we are actually serving God and fulfilling one of our purposes.
“Whenever, you did it for the least of these, you did if for me.” Matthew 25:40
“It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan.” 2 Timothy 1:9 (LB). God redeemed us so we could do his “holy work.”
“Now you belong to Him…in order that we might be useful in the service of God.” Romans 7:4 (TEV)
One reason we need to be connected to a church family is to fulfill our calling to serve other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) Our service is needed in the Body of Christ.
“Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.” Mathew 20:28 (LB)
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Spiritual Gifts
God had gifted us for ministry and service. There are many gifts that God has given His people. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27-28; Ephesians 4:11-12. They have been given to us for our common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7. We are all part of one body – toe or eye or ear, weak or strong, honorable or unpresentable. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. We don’t function well without each other. All of us are needed. Each one of us has been given at least one special gift from God 1 Corinthians 7:7 that is to be used in Kingdom work.
“So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8
God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry. These are special God-empowered abilities for serving Him, given only to believers. The Bible says, “Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (TEV)
We can’t earn your spiritual gifts or deserve them – that’s why they are called gifts! They are an expression of God’s grace to us. “Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.” Ephesians 4:7 (CEV). Neither do we choose which gifts we’d like; God determines that. Paul explained, “It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” 1 Corinthians 12:11 (NLT).
Because God loves variety and He wants us to be special, no one gift is given to everyone. Also, no individual receives all the gifts. If we had them all, we’d have no need of anyone else, and that would defeat one of God’s purposes – to teach us to love and to depend on each other.
Our spiritual gifts are not given for our own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people are given gifts for your benefit. The Bible says, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT) God planned it this way so we would need each other. When we use our gifts together, we all benefit. If others don’t use their gifts, we get cheated, and if we don’t use our gifts, they get cheated. We are commanded to discover and develop our spiritual gifts. Have we discovered your spiritual gifts? An unopened gift is worthless.
Thinking Like a Servant
Attitudes are more important than achievements. King Amaziah lost God’s favor because “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart.” 2 Chronicles 25:2 (NRSV). Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes.
1. Servants think more about others than about themselves. Servants focus on others, not themselves. They are self-forgetful. Paul said, “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:4 (Msg) This is what if means to “lose your life” – forgetting yourself in service to others. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around us.
Jesus “emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant.” When was the last time we emptied ourselves for someone else’s benefit? We can’t be a servants if we’re full of ourselves. It’s only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
2. Servants think like stewards, not owners. Servants remember that God owns it all. In the Bible, a steward was a servant entrusted to manage an estate. Joseph was this kind of servant as a prisoner in Egypt. Potiphar entrusted Joseph with his home. Then the jailer entrusted Joseph with his jail. Eventually Pharaoh entrusted the entire nation to Joseph. Servanthood and stewardship go together, since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. The Bible says, “The one thing required of such servants is that they be faithful to their master.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 (TEV). How are we handling the resources God entrusted to us?
To become a real servant we are going to have to settle the issue of money in our life. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13 (NIV). He didn’t say, “You should not,” but “You cannot.” It is impossible. Living for ministry and living for money are mutually exclusive goals. Which will we choose? If we’re servants of God, we can’t moonlight for ourselves. All our time belongs to God. He insists on exclusive allegiance, no part-time faithfulness.
3. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing. Servants don’t compare, criticize, or compete with other servants or ministries. They’re too busy doing the work God has given them.
Competition between God’s servants is illogical for many reasons: We’re all on the same team; our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves; we’ve been given different assignment; and we’re all uniquely shaped. Paul said, “we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”
There’s no place for petty jealousy between servants. When we’re busy serving, we don’t have time to be critical. Any time spent criticizing or judging others is time that could be spent ministering. When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping with the work (Luke 10:40), she lost her servant’s heart. Real servants don’t complain of unfairness, don’t have pity-parties, and don’t resent those not serving. They just trust God and keep serving.
4. Servants base their identity in Christ. Because servants remember they are loved and accepted by grace, servants don’t have to prove their worth. They willingly accept jobs that insecure people would consider “beneath” them. One of the most profound examples of serving from a secure self-image is Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples (John 13). Jesus knew who he was, so the task didn’t threaten His self-image. The Bible says, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that He had come from God…so He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.” John 13:3-4.
5. Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. Servants enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry. They “serve the Lord with gladness.” Psalms 100:2 (KJV) Why do they serve with gladness? Because they love the Lord, they’re grateful for his grace, they know serving is the highest use of life, and they know God has promised a reward. Jesus promised, “The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.” John 12:26 (Msg) Paul said, “He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians.” Hebrews 6:10 (NLT).
God’s Power in Our Weakness
“We are weak…yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
“My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak”
2 Corinthians 12:9a
Usually we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them. This prevents God from using our weaknesses the way He desires.
God has a different perspective on our weaknesses. He says, “My thoughts and my ways are higher than yours,” Isaiah 55:9 so he often acts in ways that are the exact opposite of what we expect. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory.
The Bible says, “God purposely chose…what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.” 1 Corinthians 1:27 (TEV). Our weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in our life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through us.
When we think of the limitations in our life, we may be tempted to conclude, “God could never use me.” But God is never limited by our limitations. In fact, he enjoys putting his great power into ordinary containers. The Bible says, “We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (CEV). Like common pottery, we are fragile and flawed and break easily. But God will use us if we allow him to work through our weaknesses. For that to happen, we must follow the model of Paul.
The Bible teaches us to be content with our weaknesses. Paul said, “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10a (NLT). At first this doesn’t make sense. We want to be freed from our weaknesses, not be content with them! But contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. It says, “God, I believe you love me and know what’s best for me.”
Our weaknesses also prevent arrogance. Our weaknesses keep us humble. Paul said, “So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 (Msg). God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check. A limitation can act as a safety governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God.
We should honestly share our weaknesses. Ministry begins with vulnerability. The more we let down our guard, take off our mask, and share our struggles, the more God will be able to use us in serving others. Paul modeled vulnerability in his letters. He openly shared:
• His failures: “When I want to do good, I don’t, and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway.” Romans 7:19 (NLT)
• His feelings: “I have told you all my feelings.” 2 Corinthians 6:11 (LB)
• His frustrations: “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.” 2 Corinthians 1:8 (NLT)
• His fears: “When I came to you, I was weak and fearful and trembling.”
1 Corinthians 2:3 (NCV)
We have already seen that God “gives grace to the humble,” but many misunderstand humility. Humility is not putting ourselves down or denying our strengths; rather, it is being honest about our weaknesses. The more honest we are, the more of God’s grace we receive. We also receive grace from others. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we are naturally drawn to humble people. Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy.
Conclusion
Much more could be said about how God gifts us for ministry and service. This is an exciting and empowering kingdom principle. In the Old Testament, people were given gifts and abilities to complete the place of worship in the wilderness Exodus 31. In the New Testament, believers are given gifts for ministry and service. A primary purpose of each Christian is ministry. God through the gift of the Holy Spirit has gifted each Christian for ministry and service. God calls us into ministry as a servant God demonstrates his strength in our weakness. Paul told Timothy, “keep alive the gift that God gave you…the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead the Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7
May we each discover our gifts and use them to the glory of God and for the building up of Christ’s church.
“When each separate part works as is should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.” Ephesians 4:16
May God be glorified
Church of the Holy Spirit
June 2005
