Pastor began by explaining to us that the central theme of Jesus’ teaching on earth was the kingdom. He mentioned that Paul also spoke about the kingdom of God.
Romans 14:17.
He was trying to say that the kingdom of God is not a funfair. He mentioned that the church is a place for discipling men. Therefore, learning in the kingdom must be taken seriously.
Pastor emphasised that we are saved and called to serve. We are expected to live by the culture of our kingdom. While Jesus owns our lives, we are to live resting on him. Deriving our existence from him. It then requires us to submit ourselves for his use.
We should view our service to God like a master to a servant relationship..
He said that there is nothing we can give or do that can measure up to what Jesus has sacrificed for us. So, kingdom service is our response to God’s sacrifice.
We should see that we were hitherto aliens to God’s family but with salvation we were adopted as sons. Salvation came as an addition to our lives. We can in no measure pay back what God has done for us through Christ. Many reasons we show our gratitude through kingdom service.
We are called to serve. We are sent to serve. Many serve God for many reasons. It is not scriptural to sweep church for the sake of issues in one’s life. It is an aberration to say that a believer needs deliverance.
The reason why we show that commitment is because of love. There is no kingdom without a king. It demands we follow the modus operandi. .
The book of Exodus says, the Lord shall bless our bread. However we have passed such a stage as believers. This is because all we do for God is stemmed out of love.
Exodus 23:25 And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Acts 21:11-14 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owned this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Then Paul answered, What means ye to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
The disciples were seen begging Paul but he was not moved by their tears. That shows commitment.
Agabus, gave such a word and said he would be tied, yet Paul went.
He exemplified it that we don’t own our life. He gave us everything. He is the author of our life. Jesus said the zeal of the house of the Lord consumes me. The desire for unbelievers to come to the light and be established in the faith should consume us.
We must replicate what others have done to us in preaching the gospel to us. Someone did so. This is why the work of evangelism is a serious work. It demands we understand what it entails snatching the unsaved from the mouth of the lion, the devil, his kingdom of darkness.
The story of David rescuing the bear from the mouth of a lion is typical of salvation. It is not a mild work. It takes a lot of effort. We have to pray to others for salvation.
Believers are expected to be engaged in intercessory prayers. This means praying for the unsaved. We must let the zeal consume us. This is why we must be active in church. We must always abound in the work of ministry. We must endeavour to serve in our local church and we must not be docile about it.
There are a thousand and one things to be done in the house of God. We must not be comfortable in this kingdom. We must be committed. He is our Father. It is a household of faith. We must never push responsibility to anyone. It is our collective responsibility.
Thirdly, kingdom service is a proof of our submission.
Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
In this kingdom every believer is a servant including the Pastors. We are all servants of God. That is the proof of our submission. The older in age should be submitted to the spiritual head. It is demanded of the younger ones to do likewise. We must never bring our position and age to the kingdom.
Matthew 24:45-46 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
They should not be found discouraging others. They must not be found serving as a caterpillar but rather as a pillar. Some are caterpillars seeking to uproot that seed in your heart.
In Ephesians 6:10, we were encouraged to help one another when overtaken in a fault. In this kingdom, it’s a proof of our submission to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 13: 7,17, 24, we are instructed to obey those who rule over us and be submissive even though you may be richer or more knowledgeable than your leader. We need to obey scriptures and when we obey scriptures we are holy. Those who rule over you could be your group leaders, pastors, bosses e.t.c.
It is important to be obedient and submissive to these people. Show care and concern for your leaders. It will go a long way to encourage them.
Ephesians 6:5 we are told to be obedient to our leaders as unto Christ.
Begin to see your leader as Christ instructing you. The way you will obey God when you see him is the way you should obey your Pastors.
Fourthly, Kingdom service is proof of our calling. You cannot be claiming you love Jesus without your heart being sold to him. The direction of your time, money and resources shows where your heart is. It’s proof of the value that we place on the things of God.
That is why all of us should have a missionary mindset, soldiers mindset. We are to be ready in season and out of season.
Kingdom service is God’s given privilege. It is a privilege for you to serve God. The purpose of God cannot be stranded. You are not the only one that God can use. There are people that God can use but he chose you. Those who he calls, he chooses. God has so many children, you serving God is a privilege.
Count it as a privilege that God is using you, your time, your finance and your talent to advance his kingdom. It is a privilege, it is not a right that is why you don’t boast about it.
In whatever capacity you are serving, do it with all your mind. Hebrews 5:4
Kingdom Service serves as a way of exercising the Grace of God for kingdom Advancement.
When you exercise your Grace for kingdom Advancement, you experience the best of God in an usual manner. We need to stand before God and hear him say to us “ Well-done thou faithful servant”.
Your talent and gift is for the advancement of the kingdom. Romans 12:6-11
God is not looking for ability, he is looking for availability. If you are available, he will make you able.