Our Service in the Church - I

Our Service in the Church - I

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• A large number of Christians give little consideration to their service in the church.
• It weakens the Christian, as he fails to appropriate God’s grace that is made available to him to serve God in His church.
• It also weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.
• Paul has already told us in the previous verses that we should not to think and act as we deem best, but according to God’s plan and decrees (vv. 2-3).

We are exhorted

• “ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (v.2)
• “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (v.3)

Church’s Body Functionality (vv.4-5)

Body Metaphor (v.4)

In verse 4 Paul introduces human body as a simile or an image to teach us the divine plan for the functionality of His church.

• “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office” (v.4).
• The conjunction “for” introduces this verse as the reason why we should not think individualistically, an admonition he mentioned in verse 3. The reason for not thinking individualistically is that we are called to be joined to one body as its members.
• The term “as” tells us that Paul is using the concept of body functionality as a metaphor to teach the function of the church and its members ought to function.
  1 Corinthians 10:17 – “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
  1 Corinthians 12:12 – “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
  1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
  Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  Ephesians 2:16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
  Ephesians 3:6 - “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
  (cf. Ephesians 4:4,12,16; 5:23)
  Ephesians 5:30 – “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
  Colossians 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church . . .”
  (cf. Colossians 1:24; 2:17,19; 3:15)

Two major points of comparison

• The church is made up of believers, like the body that is made up of many members - “For as we have many members in one body”
• Believers in the church functions like members of the body – “and all members have not the same office.”

Church’s Functionality Explained (v.5)

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

• Diversity: “So we, being many”
• Unity: “are one body in Christ”
• Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

Diversity: “So we, being many”

• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• v.4b - “and all members have not the same office.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many.”
• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• Church is not a “one man show.”
• The church has leaders, but it functions the best when all the members serve with their different abilities.
• 1 Corinthians 12:15-19

Unity: “are one body in Christ”

• Diversity does not mean that we stand disunited.
• In Christ, we function as one body.
• Members work out their diverse gifts as they like, but as Christ, the Head, would direct. Thus they function as members of one body
• 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

• Mutual care and support are emphasised by these words.
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 - That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
• Ephesians 4:11-13

Conclusion

• As a Christian, have you joined the church to be a functioning member by baptism (or transfer of membership)?
• As a member of the church, have you been actively serving other members according to the will your Saviour?
• Let us rise up to serve the Lord like one united body of Christ, as He instructed us this day.

Christ’s Lessons on Worship

Jesus’ actions and words recorded in John 2:12-17 are instructive of how one should regard the worship of God.

John 2:12-17
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

After attending the marriage in Cana, where He performed His first miracle, Jesus travelled through Capernaum and arrived in Jerusalem to participate in the Passover feast. While He was in Jerusalem, He came to the Temple. As Jesus entered the Temple, He was greatly displeased with the unholy activities and improper worship of God that were going on there. So He acted swiftly to dispel the evil doers out of the place of worship.

This record of Christ’s cleansing of the Temple is very instructive of how we ought to prepare to render acceptable worship of God.

Christ’s High Regard for the Worship of God

According to verse 13, it was time for the Jewish Passover. During this season, people would normally go up to Jerusalem to worship God Almighty in the Temple.

The Passover was celebrated to commemorate God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians and their emperor, Pharaoh. It was commanded by God through Moses that Israel must observe the Passover. It was also known as the feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 23:14-17; Numbers 9:1-5). The Passover thus became one of the greatest celebrations of worship among the Jews.

Jesus showed great respect for this festival as it was commanded in the Old Testament. Having great regard for this season of worship, He went up to Jerusalem from Capernaum, though it was a very long journey.

The Lord Jesus is our supreme example in all aspects of life, even in the matter of worship and service of God. Like our Lord, we must worship God on the appointed day (the Lord’s day) and be zealous in the activities of the Church.

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Christians must not neglect worship and church activities, but must regard them as essential activities.

Christ’s High Expectation of the Worship of God

When Jesus entered the Temple, it was filled with animals and birds on sale. In verse 14, we read, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” Those were to be sold to the worshippers who came from distant lands without animals for sacrifice.

There were also money changers. We understand from Jewish history books, like the "Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, that every adult Jew was required to pay a Temple tax of half a shekel. The Jews in Palestine were allowed to pay in their own villages. But the Jews who came from outside Palestine had to make their payment in the Temple. Their Roman or other coins had to be exchanged at the Temple for the shekel, the Jewish coin.

Though there seems to be a legitimate reason for such a transaction, they were doing it with no regard for God’s house. They were making the Temple grounds a place of merchandise. Their motive and attitude were not of an acceptable spirit before the Lord. That’s why Jesus said, "Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise." In fact, during another similar Temple purification towards the end of Christ’s ministry, Jesus said to them that they "have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).

The so-called ‘services’ had become a means of exploitation. The worshippers had to put up with exorbitant charges. Furthermore, the profits that were supposed to go to the Temple treasury ended up in the pockets of priests, officers and merchants.

John Calvin commenting on this event wrote, "The priests misused the merchandise for their own gain and avarice, and such a mockery of God was unendurable. Again whatever excuse men may plead, so soon as they depart, however slightly, from God’s command they are blameworthy and need correcting."

The covetous spirit existed in the Temple has compelled Jesus to drive away the animals, birds and the merchants with a ‘scourge’ that He made out of small cords that would have been used to bind the animals.

Here are some Scripture portions to show how we should worship the Lord:

1 Chronicles 16:29 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 96:9 - O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Psalm 5:7 - But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Jesus’ action of forcefully driving them away was an act of His divine authority. How could He have done it alone against so many of the merchants and officers of the Temple if He was not a divine Person? In a normal case, no man could have achieved it alone. The fact that no one could resist Him speaks aloud of the greatness of His holy zeal and power. The Lord Jesus by His act of purging the Temple not only established His divine authority but also proved the righteousness of His person.

He also referred to God as "My Father" to authenticate His right to cleanse the Temple. The Jews knew only the Messiah (the Second Person of the Trinity) can make such a claim (see John 5:17-18). Claiming the Temple as His Father’s house was a declaration of His deity and His authority over the officers and priests of the Temple who allowed the merchandise to be brought into the Temple.

Being the holy God, the Lord Jesus expects great devotion and purity of heart from all those who worship Him. Our Lord is not interested in extravagant and glamorous ways of worship that leave the principles, purity and truth of His Word. When we come before the Lord, we must come with a sincere desire to serve Him out of a pure heart. Without true repentance and commitment to holiness, we cannot please Him. We may bring big gifts, we may sing melodiously, we may exhibit a form of piety, but if our hearts are covetous, dishonest and lustful, then all appearances of worship will be counted unworthy by the Lord.

Jesus once told the Jews why He refused their worship. Mark 7:6-9 – “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Jesus identified their worship as ‘vain’ or useless.

In Jesus’ action of the cleansing of the Temple, we see His fiery zeal for the preservation of the holy worship. The disciples remembered the Old Testament passage that says, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." These words are from David’s prediction of Christ in Psalm 69. It is part of verse 9 of that psalm where the zeal of the Messiah in the things of God is described - "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." When we approach the Lord’s presence in an unholy and careless manner, it is viewed by the Lord as a reproach against God. It is a great sin to worship the Lord with unclean hearts and impure motives.

Let us be watchful of the reasons why we go to church. What motivates you to join in an area of service in the church? If it is any reason other than serving the Lord with a holy heart, then we reproach His holy name. Thus it will become an occasion for God’s fiery purification to begin in us. So let us go before Him with fear and holy devotion.

Walking with God

Genesis 5:24 tells us that “Enoch walked with God.” Many Christians today find it so difficult to walk consistently with God, even for a single day. But Enoch walked with God for 300 years! A Biblical study of the term “walk” tells us that it is expressive of something more intimate than just taking a walk with God.

Firstly, walking with God suggests that there is no enmity between God and Enoch.

Enemies do not walk together. Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The Scriptures in many places assert that the mind of the unconverted is carnal, sinful, and therefore at enmity with God. Romans 8:7 says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Thus, walking with God implies that the converted man who walks with God is no longer an enemy of God, but has been reconciled to God through the all-sufficient righteousness and atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is our peace as well as peacemaker. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Colossians 1:20 says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” If you have believed on Him, you are justified and you are reconciled to God; and consequently you can walk with God. Jesus Christ brings us to God and helps us to walk with Him.

Secondly, walking with God implies an abiding communion or fellowship with God.

1 John 1:6-7 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” So walking with God or in His light would mean having fellowship with God. Such a person would not allow anything to distract him from his communion with God. He keeps his life in tune with God all the time.

We all know that when friends walk together, they would engage in close and interesting conversation. They derive strength and encouragement from their close communication. And this idea is clearly intended in the figure of speech “walk with God”. Every child of God must keep on communing with God. A Christian must draw his pleasure and comforts not from his worldly friends but from his God. He must have constant fellowship with God.
The child of God must have fellowship with God in prayer. He must view the daily seasons of prayer as sweet and wonderful. So the man who walks with God speaks with God – telling Him all his doubts and fears, struggles and sufferings, all his desires and needs. The prayerful Christian will receive God’s kind exhortations and comforting answers in return.

I remember a story told by Charles Spurgeon about a sickly Christian in Scotland who was on his death bed, and visited by a friend who felt very distressed for him. This Christian told his friend, “Could these curtains, or could these walls speak, they would tell you what sweet communion I have had with my God here.” O prayer! Prayer! It brings and keeps God and man together. It raises man up to God, and brings God down to man. If you have been there, you would like to be there again. O believers, keep up your walk with God; pray, and pray without ceasing.

Believers must also maintain their walk with God by reading His Holy Word. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). We meet our Saviour in this Holy Book, the Bible. There we hear His voice, gentle and sure, guiding and strengthening, comforting and emboldening us for each day’s task.

How can we maintain a Christian walk without having God to speak to us? So God preserved His inspired Word for His people. It shall not pass away for the sake of His people’s blessing. And the royal Psalmist tells us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Walking in the light of God’s Word is to walk in His presence.

Thirdly, walking with God is a description of the renewed life of a believer.

The word “walk” is descriptive of the manner in which God’s people ought to walk. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” A man who is united with Christ should not walk like a worldly person. Anyone who desires to walk with God cannot walk with those who have no fellowship with God.

Ephesians 2:2 tells us, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

Ephesians 4:17 – “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.”

Those who walk with the Lord will be characterised by godliness. Consider what the Scripture says about the manner in which Christians ought to walk:

(1) Walk by faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight).”

(2) Walk according to the Holy Spirit and not according to carnal feelings: Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

(3) Walk honestly, without hypocrisy: Romans 13:13, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” Ephesians 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

(4) Walk in Christ’s love: Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

(5) Walk circumspectly: In Ephesians 5:15, believers are exhorted to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

A believer who walks with God will be wise to always please Him. One ought to walk with God in the same direction and to the same destination. The man who walks with God must conform to God’s moral character and will. His feelings and aspirations ought to be in accordance with the holy law. He ought to love righteousness and hate iniquity.

The New Testament names Enoch as a man of faith, and comments on his life as one that pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch was certainly a remarkable man of faith. When the time came for this extraordinary man of piety to leave the world, God took him suddenly and supernaturally. He was the first of two in the Old Testament who did not see death.

Fourthly, walking with God implies that one is advancing or making progress in his spiritual life.

Walking, in the very first idea of the word, seems to suppose a progressive action or motion. A person who walks, moves and goes forward. So it is with those who walk with God. They will go on “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7); they are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In the epistle of Jude, we are told that Enoch prophesied about the last days: Jude 14, 15 – “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” What a blessing Enoch received from God to be given a glimpse of the glorious return of Christ with His saints in the end-times!

It certainly pays to walk with God. And only those who walk with Him below will walk with Him above. The Lord took Enoch into His presence without letting him see death. That is a very great honour indeed!