Dear BPCWA worshipper, Last week, I wrote about some fallacies and erroneous mindsets among Christians about service. BPCWA must have a biblical understanding of service so that the service we offer to our Lord is acceptable and pleasing to Him. The topic is indeed so broad that we can only skim over some key points about service. However, outward forms of service and work are not just what counts. As the Son of man is “in the midst of the seven candlesticks” (Re 1:13), everyone who serves must remember that Christ is seeing and examining our works individually and as a church. Remember, God says, “I know thy works” (Re 2:9, 13, 19; 3:8, 15).

Qualified to serve. Obviously, the first qualification must be that of having been redeemed by the blood of Christ in salvation. Thereafter, the Holy Spirit equips every child with spiritual gifts for His work. God gives gifts to those He calls to that specific area of work He wants them to do. Though every Christian must serve God, we cannot decide on our own what areas we want to serve in and expect God to accept and reward that service. We know that there are many areas that God expects all believers to serve in. Examples of these are evangelism and caring for the needs of others. But not all are called to the full-time ministry or to teach Sunday school. To those He gifts specific gifts to, they have the responsibility to use those gifts for His work if so approached by the church. We have also studied in our Bible studies that anyone who is called to be a church elder must have the gift of governing (1Cor 12:28) from God so that he can rule and oversee the church (Ac 20:28). Additionally, the pastor (also known as the teaching elder) must have the gift of both preaching and pastoring (Eph 4:11). This principle of being equipped by the Holy Spirit with the specific spiritual gift applies to every Christian serving in every capacity. Someone with a “heart” for children serving in the Sunday School ministry will not benefit the children spiritually if that heart is not accompanied by an ability to teach the little ones God’s Word. Let us not forget that the qualifications for spiritual service are not merely technical. Simply because someone speaks well doesn’t mean that they can teach well. A person who is a good school academic teacher does not make him suitable for teaching Sunday school. Then there is also the spiritual qualification which we will see next.

Don’t disqualify yourself by disobedience. Even though we have a particular gift from God, we can still disqualify ourselves from serving. God’s acceptance of our service also depends upon how we conduct ourselves. We saw this from our study of 1 Samuel – even for a priest and king of Israel. God told the high priest Eli, “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth” (1Sa 3:13). God did appoint Saul to be king (1Sa 9:16) and even gifted him with abilities (1 Sam 10:6). However, when Saul blatantly and repeatedly disobeyed God in his life and in the way he served, God judged Saul and eventually removed him from being king. This judgement must strike fear in every Christian’s heart. Saul was determined to continue “serving” God and would not let go. In both instances, we saw how disobedience to God’s Word can disqualify one from serving Him, even though God had appointed them earlier to serve Him. So, the church cannot wink at sin and appoint people without careful evaluation. However, it does not mean that when a Christian should no longer serve in a particular capacity, he is surely disqualified from all areas of service. However, the privilege of serving in certain areas may be permanently lost. The account of the lies of Ananias and Sapphira at the inception of the church (Ac 5:1-11) is another stark reminder. Just because someone offers to serve does not mean God accepts their service. This couple readily lied though they brought offerings for the service of the church.We are saved to be obedient. Service is not more important than obedience. Our disobedience can disqualify us from God accepting that service as we have seen in the Scriptures. God does not expect sinless perfection in our state on earth. But He expects true obedience, prompt confession, genuine fruits of repentance, and to be subject to due biblical discipline when He shows us our sin. We also cannot claim that no one is sinless when, for example, we refuse to repent of known commands or bear poor testimony to others. Insubmission to authorities is another important aspect. God commands us to obey the various authorities He puts in our lives – His anointed leaders at church (Ps 105:15), the government (Ro 13:1), and heads of homes (Eph 5:24), for example. A person who is insubmissive to proper authority will not serve in submission to God’s ways either.

Let us always remember that service in God’s church is a spiritual service that we offer to God. Sin is disobedience and we cannot look lightly upon disobedience simply because it is so common. God has gifted many in our midst liberally. Let us fear disqualifying ourselves from the privilege of serving Him.

1Sa 15:22   . . . Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor