Life in the Body: The Call To Service

[0:00] Good morning, brothers and sisters. Let's pray before we start.! Thank you, Father, for your goodness to us, for your church, for the body of Christ, for! those redeemed by your blood.

[0:21] We rejoice today, Lord, of having the blessing of in peace, gathering together, and we rejoice together to hear your word, to praise your name for who you are and what you have done for us in Christ Jesus.

[0:39] Be with us, bring your word, apply it to our hearts that she may be medicine to our bodies and our souls to comfort us, to guide us, encourage us, and help us walk in newness of life as we await the coming of our Savior.

[1:02] In Jesus we pray. Amen. Amen. And today we want to continue with the series that Dave started last Sunday about the church, and I put to this sermon the name of a title, A Call to Service.

[1:24] As a matter of introduction, today we'll look at a theme that we see throughout all of the scriptures, since beginning to end, the call to serve.

[1:40] And before we get into the topic, to say that we see two realities in the life of the believer in the way that God works.

[1:55] As we see the kingdom here on earth, as we see our bodies, as we see the material world, and the spiritual things that don't have matter working together.

[2:09] We can see how, for example, God chose the people to serve him. And that service, looking at the nation of Israel back in Exodus, God promised to bless them if they were faithful to him.

[2:30] We see that in Exodus 23 in the Old Testament. We see, too, that the nation of Israel was called the servant of the Lord. But more than that, Christ, when we look at Isaiah 53, was called the servant of God, too.

[2:51] So service is at the heart of the spiritual life. But we see these two realms, a relationship that we have with God at a vertical level and a horizontal one, as we relate to each other and the people around us.

[3:14] We see how Christ came to earth to bring God's kingdom. And that kingdom is here with us today. We are the kingdom of God.

[3:27] In the midst of a fallen humanity, God redeemed a people for him that at present time are living in his kingdom, doing his will, serving him, and living according to his word.

[3:45] But we know that that kingdom still is not realized, hasn't been fulfilled to his fullness. So that's what the theologians call the already but not yet of the kingdom of God.

[4:02] So we see those realities. And as we move as Christians, we see, too, we have this falling nature. And at salvation, we got the Holy Spirit that work in us a new heart, a new life.

[4:18] And we live in that sphere, fighting with our sinful nature, but guided by the Holy Spirit. So we see that dual reality.

[4:31] Even though they are clearly distinct, the Holy Spirit is God. We are fallen creatures, finite. We see that they are woven together.

[4:43] We see how we cannot split them aside. Even our bodies, we have a soul and a body and a physical body, right? And they are together.

[4:54] If our souls leave our body, our body is not alive anymore. And that's what we see in the scripture in different places. Like how when Sarah died, the scripture says that her soul came out of her.

[5:08] So we see those two realities, spiritual realities, earthly realities, but God put them together. And all of these, to get to our topic, serving is the same.

[5:24] We see service to others around us, but at the same time, service is glorifying to the Lord.

[5:35] So we see, again, the dual reality of service as flowing astray from the Spirit of God. So us, that by His grace has been saved, through that Spirit can serve others.

[5:54] And in that way, we can magnify God as we do it. So we see that the call to serve is something that is intertwined in the life of a believer as we try to praise God with what we do, magnify His name, and glorify Him in front of others.

[6:18] And we'll see three points. The foundation of service, God's call to service, and some applications on how to serve others.

[6:34] As we see, the heart of what we do, in that way we get service in the proper way, how scripture shows to us, is not something that we do to earn things we got, something that we do to be saved, something that we do to earn merit, but actually, something that we do because we are saved.

[7:01] So we don't serve to be saved, but because we are saved, we serve. And I think it's important to keep this in mind so that we don't do it out of duty, like God's waiting for us to earn points, to earn salvation of a ranking before Him.

[7:22] But because we've been saved, we have then the supreme example in the scripture in Christ. So the foundation, right, that is our first point.

[7:34] The foundation of service is God Himself shown to us in a supreme way in the person of Christ.

[7:46] So if we see a scripture, there's so many verses, it's hard to know what to pick about service in the life of Christ, that we can say, if we were to zoom it up a little bit, that Christ's life is the embodiment of service.

[8:06] And we see that in so many ways, you know, His humility, His love, His focus on the glory of God. Those traits that Christ showed constantly in His earthly life are the foundation that brought about the way that He lived.

[8:30] So in Him is where we have the supreme example of service. In Him that we are called to imitate.

[8:47] In Him that we are called to follow His footsteps, like the Apostle Peter Teros in one of his epistles. And we see how God sees service, not only to help others, but the amazing way is that service helps us grow, helps us conform to the image of Christ.

[9:14] So as we serve others, like Christ did, we are actually growing in the process. So we see that service is in a two-way road.

[9:29] It's not only for the one who receives the blessing of being served, but for the one who does it. Because what happens in service, we are denying ourselves many times.

[9:41] We would like to have maybe time to do something that we correctly like. Watch a program, spend time with somebody talking that we care for.

[9:53] Any entertainment that we can do here and there. And when we serve, we may use that time to assist somebody in need. And in that assistance, we deny ourselves.

[10:08] We don't use that time that we could use for ourselves, but we give that time to others. And in that way, we start growing and we are being conformed in the image of Christ.

[10:21] So service is not just for the person who receives the blessing. And we see that service is the purpose.

[10:34] One of the purposes of Christ's coming. In Matthew 20, 28. You don't have to look at it.

[10:46] I can, for the sake of time, look at it here. In Matthew 20, 28. The scripture tells us, So the highest displays of God's love in Christ, it came in a form ultimately of service.

[11:15] So his love was manifested, expressed, made visible to us in the life of servant of Christ.

[11:27] And we are to imitate that blessing. We see how in the life of the church since the beginning, in the Primitive Church, we see the brothers in the region of Macedonia.

[11:46] We have there the church of Philippi, the church of Berea, Thessalonica, there in that region.

[11:56] And those brethren were poor. They didn't have many resources. But we see how Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, talk about those brethren serving him over and over.

[12:13] For the sake of love. For the sake of his service. And how he praised them for what they are doing. And in Philippians chapter 2, we see how Paul there talks in detail about how these brethren have served him many, many times.

[12:33] Paul is in prison. And they send a brother, Epaphroditus, to go and bring to him an offering of love.

[12:44] In that time, the prisoners didn't have a prison budget. So, if the person in prison didn't have anybody that would help them, they would be in a real, real difficult situation.

[12:58] And this brother went, imagine, in a time when there were no transportation like we have today at all, in a horse. He got to the place.

[13:09] There he got sick. Was about to die. God, in his mercy, healed him. And he brought the love offering to Paul. And Paul, when he left back to the church in Philippi, penned this letter.

[13:27] And he sent the letter to Philippians with this brother back to the church. And that's how we know what was going on there with the visit. And Paul not just said to imitate the church, but to imitate Christ.

[13:45] So, in Philippians chapter 2, we have the picture that Paul presents to us of Christ emptying himself and coming down to earth.

[14:00] And not only that, forgiving all that he had, all that glory, to become a man and walk in this earth in a humble and serving way.

[14:15] And we are to imitate, to follow that example. That serving with selflessness, self-sacrificial serving, is what God calls us, as we have the example in Christ.

[14:32] And this is part of the, should be part of the very life of us as Christians. because we see it at the center of scripture.

[14:43] To the point that when we read Ephesians, talking about salvation, it says that we are saved by grace.

[14:56] And this is not of us, but a gift from God. Not by works, so nobody to boast. But it tells us in verse 10, that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them.

[15:16] So, even that service, those good works, in what we try, pleasing God, helping others, are prepared by God beforehand, that we should walk in them.

[15:31] So, we are again, not served by, saved by those works, but we are saved to work. So, this, represent what is our life, in practical terms.

[15:45] And we see then, as a second point, the call to service itself. We see in scripture, again, many places, that call, to serve by God, to those, that he has saved, and put in his body.

[16:04] In 2nd Corinthians, chapter 8, we see a, a magnificent example, of that. Those churches, again, with no resources, in the region of Macedonia, has asked Paul, to allow them, to have the privilege, to send an offering of love, to the church, in Jerusalem, that was, going through a lot of, difficulty, and financial stress.

[16:33] We know, that the gospel, came out of Jerusalem, with the first disciples, and these, brothers in Macedonia, that has, been, benefit, they have profit, from that gospel, that came out of Jerusalem, when, when the apostles, were together, when the, holy spirit, was put out, by, Christ, now, that church, that was the, beginner, of the gospel, by the grace of God, is in, a lot of affliction, and difficulty, and stress.

[17:13] So, these brothers, being poor, want, to, offer something, want, to cooperate, want, to be present, to show their love, and we see how Paul, rejoice, in seeing, these brothers, and sisters, helping, and being present, in a time, of a lot of difficulty, for the brothers, in Jerusalem.

[17:41] And, we see how, he, tell us, in 2 Corinthians, say how, their effort, to bless, those brothers, and help them, in that time, of need, came out of a heart, that was completely, surrendered, to God.

[17:57] So, Paul, is not seeing the offering, as just, a mechanical action, devoid, or detached, of God. Exactly, he see it, exactly the opposite.

[18:09] As he see their heart, surrendered to God, he sees that, that offering, in sacrifice, because they were, poor, they didn't have, resources, financially. They got the money together, the offering together, because of the love, that God has put, in their hearts, with the Holy Spirit.

[18:27] And again, Paul, doesn't stop there, just praising them. He goes back, to the root, of that generosity. He goes back, to the root, of that love.

[18:39] He goes back, to the root, of that service, that is, Christ, himself. And in verses, of, eight and nine, we can see, how, Paul, challenged, the Corinthians.

[18:54] And I guess, I should give the context, of that verse, because it's going to help us, understand that, better. In second Corinthians, right, Paul is, praising these brethren, for their love, by giving the offering, to the church, of Jerusalem.

[19:11] But the Corinthians, themselves, has told Paul, a year ago, that they wanted, to participate, in offering, you know, some help, to the church, in Jerusalem.

[19:25] But they haven't done it. So Paul now, in a lovely way, is challenging them, with the generosity, of their brethren, in the churches, in Macedonia.

[19:39] Let me read to you, how he says, in verse, eight and nine, of second Corinthians, chapter eight. I say this, not, as a command, but to prove, by the earnestness, of others, that your love, also, is genuine.

[19:59] For you know, the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that though, he was rich, yet, for your sake, he became poor, so that you, by his poverty, might become, rich.

[20:13] So, Paul is, telling to the Corinthians, I love you, but I want to see, your love, in a practical manner, visible to others, by, sacrificing yourself, and sending the offering.

[20:27] So, in a lovely way. And, he says this clearly, not as a command. An offering, that is going to praise God, has to come, from our hearts, right?

[20:38] That's how we, pray when we are, giving the offering, right? We are not doing it, out of duty. Paul says, I am not giving you, a command. I want to see, your love, expressed, in a tangible way.

[20:52] So, we need, that's key, to, see service, as an offering, as, a way, that we want to serve God, serving others.

[21:05] And, we need to see it that way, if we are to do it, in a way, that is a blessing to them, and is good to us. Because, otherwise, it's not going to have, value, before God.

[21:18] So, Christ, being rich, that's why he's saying, in verse 9, rich, is another statement, there's no other word, to say, because there's no way, to describe, what God, had, in all eternity, as being the second person, of the Trinity.

[21:35] There's no word, rich is an understatement. But, to, give them an idea, Christ being rich, he left, everything, again, the same example, in different words, that we see, in Philippians 2.

[21:50] He became poor, came to this earth, so that, in that poverty, as he walked this life, in obedience, in righteousness, and died, carrying our sins, on the cross, we become rich, by having, endless, blessings, in his life, applied to us, in the gospel.

[22:14] So, again, we see the, same circle, around, how service, flow, from the heart, of God. And, that's the way, that we are told, in scripture, over and over, to see it.

[22:27] So, Paul, is telling the Corinthians, you know the love of Christ, now, just do it. And, we see that in, the epistles, over and over, how Paul writes, what, Christ has done for us, the, indicative, and now, the imperative, what we are to do.

[22:48] But, we are not to see it, as a command, as just, do it just because, of what it means, and what that caused, and how, we are being transformed, as we serve God, by serving others.

[23:05] And, the application of this service, is, is very important, because, again, right, we, in the beginning, we're talking about, seeing, this dual reality, that we are living in, but that is woven together.

[23:23] As we serve somebody, we are serving, in the body, the children of God. We are serving, the members, of that body.

[23:34] And that's, the amazing illustration, that we see, in 1 Corinthians 12, right, of the church, as the body of Christ. Different members, right, legs, ears, you name it, the foot, the neck, everything, but only one body.

[23:54] And as the body works, properly, in health, everything is going okay. But one member of the body, is in a, painful situation, in a difficult situation, that ought to touch us, all of us.

[24:12] It's going to be, in different ways, not exactly, we're going to be closer, to one brother, than another. But it has, to touch us, because, in the example, the analogy, that we have in scripture, of the body of Christ, we get a toothache, and we get a headache, we get an earache, we cannot chew okay, because it's a whole thing.

[24:33] Huh? And if you don't believe it, just get a hammer, and hit your nail. And you will see, how that's going to affect everything. Because, it's part of the body. So that means that, all of us, are to pitch together.

[24:48] In different ways. In the same way, that the body don't have, the same function. Otherwise, it will not function at all. Every, body have a function, that is a blessing, and a help, to the body of Christ, and overall, magnify his name.

[25:06] So, that body functions properly, as the member together, work together, joined by the head, that is Christ. So that illustration, show that, each one of us, in the body, has, something to do, and to give, of worth, and, deserving to be, in the body, present, with our gift, whatever God, gave us to do.

[25:35] And, we see that, we are called, many times, to that love, sacrificial, that is difficult. Sometimes, it will be easy, to serve.

[25:49] Sometimes, it will be harder. But again, the blessing, is, worth, the service, and much, much more.

[26:02] In, first, John, 3, 16, the apostle, gives the example, again, of Christ, that gave his life, for us.

[26:13] And, he tells us, that we are to give, our life in service, for the brother. Spend our time, our resources, our talents, in whatever way, God can help us, to serve his body.

[26:28] God, in Matthew, 6, 2, that's what we are called, like, God called us, to seek first, the kingdom of God, and all the other things, are going to come, to us.

[26:44] So, we are called, in so, so many places, Jesus, to take this, many, many times, at the center, of our life.

[26:56] Because, in that life of service, we show, Christ, himself. And, the apostle Paul, talking to the brethren, in the book of Acts, when, looks right there, he tells us, in chapter, 20, that he has worked, with his hands, with his own hands, to help those in needs.

[27:20] And, in verse 35, he says, he tells us, to remember the work, the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, it is more blessed, to give, than to receive.

[27:34] And, that is, apparently, it's a paradox to us. In our flesh, we think, oh, I'm doing all of this, I'm sacrificing, I'm taking this time, I should be doing other things.

[27:46] We are the one, receiving the greater blessing. The one who gives, is more blessed. Because, that give, is taken into account, by God. God, is being served, by that.

[27:59] And, that service, since the beginning, of the church, has been, at the center. That's why we see, today, so many hospitals. We, Christian names.

[28:10] But, we go to the hospital, and there's no, nothing Christian there. But, we see St. Luke's, hospital. We see St. Catherine's, hospital. Columbia Presbyterian, you know, Mount Sinai Medical Center.

[28:20] We go to the place, there's nothing there, that has to do with that. But, we, we go back, in history, huh, we can see, the Christians, helping people, started, nursing homes, orphanages, hospitals, because Christians, wanted to serve, more and more people.

[28:40] And, that's how, those institutions, started, out of Christian service. And, now, is what we have today. But, the beginning, was those people, serving Christ.

[28:54] Serving those in the body, and those out of the body. With love, and sacrifice, and selflessness, that originated, these institutions, that we have today.

[29:05] But, to keep, again, the spirit, of service, in mind, over and over, we see the, Matthew, in Matthew chapter 25, in the judgment of the nations.

[29:20] When Christ is coming, to judge the earth, those who serve, those Christians in need, those that were, in prison, sick, that they visited them, in poverty, hungry, they fed them.

[29:42] At the day of judgment, Christ will say, come, you know, with me, for being faithful, along those lines. And, they say, because when you saw me naked, you, clothed me, when you saw me, saw me hungry, you fed me, when you, I was in prison, you visited me, and the righteous would say, Lord, when did I see you sick, or in prison, or hungry?

[30:09] And Christ tell them, when you did it, to one of these, little ones, you did it to me, to me. Because, the church is the body of Christ.

[30:20] Then we see all the connection, there together. Serving a member, is serving Christ, because it is his body. Huh? If you go to a clinic, and a doctor, he'll, treat your arm, the doctor is treating you, the person.

[30:35] It's your arm, but it's part of your body. It's who you are. In the same way, serving each other, we are serving Christ, because we are, by his grace, his body.

[30:46] Um, the Lord, something that, he don't have to, we get so many, on the self blessings, and the greatest one, the salvation, and Christ.

[30:59] Now we can never, pay or repay that. We will never, to better never try, attempting doing that, to dishonor God. But God says, that he keep that, in mind.

[31:12] And he don't forget that. And to the brothers, in, brethren, in Hebrews, when he writes to them, says in, the writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews chapter 6, verse 10, for God is not unjust, so as to overlook, your work, and the love, that you have shown, for his name, in serving the saints, as you still do.

[31:40] Again, that, inseparable connection, between his body, and God himself. So that we don't see service, as something, secondary, as something, detached, something that we do, at the sight.

[31:58] But it's at the heart, of the call, that God has, saved us for. We can, as I was thinking, about all these things, we can call service, sort of a language, of love.

[32:14] You know? When we see, in John 3, right? For God so loved the world. How? How is he so loved it? That he gave, his, begotten, his only son.

[32:26] So, the way that God manifested, his unique, incompatible love, was in the coming of Christ. So, we show that love, in a tangible, visible manner, as we serve, others.

[32:43] You know, on the lecture today, the reading of the, scripture today, in Hebrew chapter 13. Well, Seth was reading it there, and I said, well, Seth, is taking my sermon away.

[32:57] So, brotherly love, again, right? Chapter, Hebrews 13, verse 1 and 2. Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.

[33:11] For thereby, some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those, verse 3, who are in prison, as though in prison with them.

[33:26] Those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. So, we know, because we have a body in our flesh, what is to suffer. And when somebody suffers, we should identify, in the body, as if that is happening to ourself.

[33:44] That's how God wants, we to see the need, and affliction, and the suffering in his body. That we can, serve, in whatever way or manner, he made it possible, for us, to do.

[33:59] We can send a note today, send a text to somebody, that we're praying for them. We can help with transportation, can accompany a brother or sister, to the hospital, in a time of need.

[34:15] And so many, many, many ways, that we can serve, as our calling for that. The brothers, in that time, got to, the point, of visiting others, that were imprisoned.

[34:33] And they lost, they lost, their, their goods. In the text, it's not clear, in Hebrews chapter 10, verse, 34.

[34:46] Now I realize, that when I was putting, that verse, it came out in Spanish, because I added that, at the end. So, I'll try to paraphrase it, in English.

[34:57] But you know, the scripture, tell us there, Hebrews 10, 34, the writer, is, praising the brothers, because they were, sensitive, to the needs, of, other brothers, that were in prison.

[35:14] What happened is, some brothers, were in prison, they were, they went to visit them, they identified with them, and I don't think, that is clear, the context, of the situation.

[35:25] They lost, their goods. Or it is, as they were going, to visit those brothers, in prison, their houses, were plundered, or, they got, by the authorities, confiscated, their goods, that they have.

[35:41] But it says, that they, rejoice, even in the lost, knowing, that they have, a, they have a heritage, they have something, that is, eternal, that cannot be, plundered, or confiscated, that is the salvation, in God.

[36:03] So these, brethren, serve, those brethren, but even going, in a time, where it cost them, so much, but this is, to see how, service is, at the center, of everything, that we should do.

[36:20] And discipling others, discipleship, is a way of serving too. That will be briefly, the third thing, that we will touch on.

[36:31] And discipling, is a way of showing Christ, to others, as we see others, that can benefit from, studying scripture, praying together, serving together, going to preach together, in that way, we model Christ.

[36:49] So service, is not only, for, the person, that received the mercy, for us, that we grow, as we do it, almost help us, grow in holiness, because we deny, ourselves, we are denying, ourselves, to do God's will.

[37:10] But more than that, it magnified, God, because we are, imitating Christ, whom we are, to follow, and serve, in everything, that we do.

[37:24] Christ told, the disciples, that he gave them, a commandment, that in loving, themselves, one, to each other, they will show, the world, that they are, coming from him.

[37:39] In John 13, 34, read, a new commandment, I give to you, that you love, one another. Just as I have, loved you, you also are, to love, one another.

[37:54] By this, all people, will know, that you are, my disciples, if you have love, from one, for one another.

[38:08] So, in conclusion, we have seen, the foundation, of that service, the call to service, and some applications, that we, spoke about, that service.

[38:25] So, brothers and sisters, let us pray, and, encourage one another, to serve, and, because in that way, we show, the love of Christ, and above all, magnify his name, as his people.

[38:38] So, let us pray, that God bless us. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness, for your mercy, because you, give us the honor, and the privilege, to serve.

[38:55] This is not a duty, it's not a command, alone. It's more than that, is, the essence, of, what you are calling us, to be, as the people of God.

[39:12] We praise you, Lord, because we cannot do this, in our own strength. We only can do this, of your Holy Spirit, that dwell, in us, enable us, to do this service.

[39:26] Not for boasting, not for, self-righteousness, or pride, but in home, in humble service, to you, Lord, for what you did, in Christ, in our behalf.

[39:48] Be with us, Father, help us meditate, and think of these things, that we may pray, and put them in practice, for the glory of your kingdom. In Jesus we pray.

[39:59] Amen.