Serve

00:01 Amen. Let's do the confessions together. I believe in the Almighty God, our father and creator. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God and my Savior. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He suffered, died, and rose again. He ascended into heaven. He shall soon come again. I believe in God, the Holy Spirit, who is worshiped, and might die. I believe in holy fellowship, faithful giving and service to God in this church. I believe the holy Bible is the perfect word of God. I am what it says I. I have what it says I and I can do what it says I can do. Today as I learn the word of God here in my spiritual family, I [snorts] am blessed, healed, and anointed for a holy and victorious living. I will never again be the same in Jesus name. Amen. The Lord bless us. Please be seated. This

01:05 morning's been unusually cooler and a little wet in some places, but we're going to hear God's warm word. Amen. >> We've been studying from God's word on influence and influence in many ways is leadership. God wants our influence to be positive, blessed and God wants us to come under influences that are blessed that we should not subject ourselves to negative influence. And and talking about influence, last Sunday we started off looking at your character is the bedrock of influence. And today we want to look at activities. It's not just about character. It's about what we speak and what we do and how they have an influence and a lasting influence not only on others but what we make of ourselves. And the scripture talks a lot about our willingness to

02:08 serve. If you and I don't intentionally put our activities to good use, accidentally it will turn out to be of bad use. And God never wants us to be blessed to a point where we are useless. God wants us to be blessed to a point where we are useful so that he can make us a blessing in the life of others. The first thing God did when he called Abraham, the father of faith, is I'll make you a blessing and you will be a blessing to others. >> You see, God's calling is always so that we will live for more than ourselves. We are all saved by the grace of God. >> Hallelujah. >> But why are we saved? There is a purpose. We are saved to serve. >> We are saved to serve. And and those of us who are saved by the grace of God must keep asking ourselves the question, since I'm saved to serve, am I doing the purpose of my calling? Am I involved in

03:11 doing what God wants me to do? Look at the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 58. And the Bible is saying, "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor >> is not vain in the Lord." Three things the Bible is saying there. Number one, be steadfast, which means be unmovable. Don't change with every every situation. All of us, you know, all of us, we go through two extremes. One extreme is there are so many options what to do. The other is no options, don't know what to do. In either case, it brings a paralysis. Finish 12th standard, so many options, don't know which one to take. Finish 12th standard, don't feel like anything, don't know what to do. This happens to everybody. Ready for marriage, so many proposals, don't know which one to take. [laughter] ready for marriage. So many proposals I

04:17 was hoping but not one proposal came. Don't know what to do. [clears throat] The guy I really wanted to marry, the girl I really wanted to marry just found out she's actually married. What to do? This the human life is between two extremes. Don't know what to do. Don't know what to do. Don't know what to do because there are too many options. Don't know which one to pick up. Don't know what to do because nothing feels like it. feeling hopeless. There are no options. Actually, nothing is a valid option. You see, it it is so true that uh we always are the opposite of steadfast. We want to keep changing in in in spiritual life. You know, one month they want to be evangelist, then 3 months they want to be prophet, then 6 months they want to be healing people, healing ministry. Then accidentally they found out that demons do listen. So now they want to cast out demons. Then they want to start a church. Then they are not happy with church. They want to do something else. God is saying, "Be steadfast in what I'm calling you to do."

05:20 >> Hallelujah. You can't be a square today and a circle tomorrow and a triangle the day after. God says, "I've given you a shape. I've given you a purpose. Be steadfast in my grace on your life. Be steadfast. Be steadfast. Be committed. Don't change just because of criticism. People criticize, so I'm going to change. No, don't do that. People appreciate it, so I'm going to change. No, don't change because of good weather or bad weather. Change because you want to grow. Change because it is towards your calling. Number one, be steadfast. Secondly, be immovable. Be immovable. In other words, don't allow people to change your positions based on pressure. Work even when it is hard. Work even when the harvest is slow. work even when recognition is not present. Be unmovable. The Bible is saying three things. Be steadfast. Be immovable. And third, always abounding. Always overflowing. Your Sunday should

06:25 be just like Monday. No, let me say it the other way. Your Monday should be just like Sunday. Pastor, it's easy for you to preach, but Monday, first period is chemistry. Pastor, first period is maths. Pastor, maths, I don't know what to do. First period is history, pastor. As if sleeping on Sunday is not enough. History, pastor. Why? Why should I learn who died 300 years ago? [laughter] Well, the Bible is saying, listen, guys, be abounding in grace. Well, there are a lot of things that make us tired. There are a lot of things that really put off our energy and we feel irritated and that's human. But don't allow your abounding to go down. [clears throat] Amen. Whether you're with your family or you are in your marketplace or you're doing a project or whatever. Put your excellence into it because what you do matters. What you do matters. If you go

07:28 to any organization, there'll be an organizational chart there. You know there will be the uh if you if you if you u go to [clears throat] a company usually there will be the uh head of the company listed there and then there will be some of the succession given there about the hierarchy over there and the [clears throat] president the the vice presidents then you have uh the directors the leaders then you have the pros and I mean you have those you know protocols and what is expected in this world is very simple. Those who manage to get to the top are sitting there so that those who are at the bottom will serve him. That's how it works. It works from bottom upwards. Those who are at the bottom of the pyramid have to serve those who are at the top of the pyramid. It's just like cast system. You know that's the whole problem when you believe that all are not equal and and

08:31 that's exactly why the Bible condemns that kind of a thinking the the whole thought process is those who are at the bottom should serve those who are at the top. And this is why the Lord Jesus is so counterculture. He came and he changed the entire thinking. God, the son of God. He being God. H [clears throat] he keeping the position of being God. As God almighty, he only gave up the privileges. He gave up the glory. He said, "You don't have to treat me as God. Treat me as human." And he took a towel and the water in a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples as a slave would do. And that's why Peter said, "Don't wash my feet." I mean, this is so crazy. You I know you're radical, but Lord Jesus, this is too much. The Lord Jesus said, "Unless I wash your feet, you have no

09:34 part with me." and then went on [clears throat] to say look at Mark's gospel 10:42 43 44 45 you know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them but it shall not be so among you whoever would be great among you must be your >> and whoever would be first among you must be >> for even the son of man came not to be served but to serve and to The Lord Jesus flipped the whole organizational chart and said, "Guys, you be on the top. You be whoever, the president, the vice, I mean, be whatever, but use that position to serve the ones at the bottom." >> Hallelujah. >> Use the top to serve the guys at the bottom. And this is this is the Bible thinking. And the Holy Bible says, don't expect someone else to come and clean up the mess. You made the mess, you clean

10:36 it up. Don't expect somebody inferior to you to come and serve you. Have a culture where you are proud of using where God has kept you to serve those who don't have your privileges. And and this is very very important because Christ himself being the divine gave up his privileges, laid down the rights he owed and took up obligations he owed to nobody. No longer insisting that he should be treated like the divine son of God. And this is the mindset that God wants to change in us. He cannot use us unless we understand this effectively. Why? Because many Christians who serve others begin to lose out when they start not getting when they start not getting. There was a better English for that. When they stop getting when they stop getting recognition, when they stop getting favors, when they stop feeling relief

11:38 from guilt. A lot of those times they stopped serving because the motivation to serve was not imitating Christ but the motivation was something else. Today let's correct the motivations. Let's correct the motivate. We are living in a generation where people before getting married are first signing pre-upial uh agreements. I'll not take your money. I will not do that. I they are signing agreement before the marriage on how they will have a divorce. I really don't understand this. The purpose of marriage is permanency in the relationship. And before marriage itself, they're saying this is temporal adjustment for some time. It's a contract. It's serving each other. And when it doesn't work out, we're going to break up. And the and the whole problem is it sounds logical to people today. euthanasia, assisted killing, it sounds normal for people today.

12:40 There's an entire culture shift of thinking in the world today. And in that, God is saying, "My word doesn't change. >> My plan doesn't change. [applause] My gospel doesn't change." Hallelujah. God's word is very clear. We are saved by the grace of God. Look at Ephesians chapter 2 8-10. For by grace you are saved through faith. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained. No, no, no. I think we have to read that again a little more slower. Let's do it again. Let's start with verse. Yeah. Uh for by grace are you saved through faith. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should.

13:42 >> You know what the Bible is saying? Even before you and I were born, God had already planned for us the good works that should be accomplished through us if we are born again. Whatever God planned for us, we are able to touch it only through being born again. Amen. And God is saying when you are born again, you are privileged to access the good works I have planned to do through your life. Every one of us here, God has a plan of good works through your life. Amen. >> If you will just walk in obedience to God, it will keep happening miracle by miracle. Some people say it's called good luck. It's not good luck. It is the plan of God happening at the right time as you walk in the grace of God Almighty. Amen. Go ahead, give him a big hand. This is so true. [applause] Hallelujah. Three fundamental beliefs

14:44 that all of us should carry in our hearts. Number one, God saved me because he loves me. It's not that I earned it. It's not that I deserved it, but he loves me and therefore I am saved. >> You are loved by God. >> Whether you love yourself or not is a different thing. But God loves you. >> Many times we don't like ourselves and we think ah God don't like me. You know we we use our mind to speak in the third person of God to ourselves. We do drama in our mind. We say oh God don't love me. God loves you and that's why he saved you. >> Amen. >> People won't give one rupee unnecessarily. Do you think God would have sent himself to become a human and die on the cross simply? He was serious when he said he loves us >> and he paid for it with his life. >> Hallelujah. Of course he had power on his life to take it back. That's true. But that was a crazy crucifixion death

15:47 he went through because he loves us. God saved us because he loves us. Never forget that you are saved because he loves you. Now you can reject that salvation. That's true. You can say no I don't believe it and reject it. But God made the provision for our salvation not because we are worthy but simply because he loves us. >> Hallelujah. Like parents, parents, you know, they they whatever they have inheritance, they give it to their children. Not because children are very obedient all the time, but simply because of love. Today people catch uh dogs on the road and bring it to the house and give it sofa sitting. You know, I went to one house for prayer and they told me, "Pastor, please don't sit on the chair." I said, "Okay." And they asked me to sit on another chair. And um I said, "All right." And a few minutes later, a cat came and sat there. I I never asked why. I just left it, you know. I just thought they want me to sit on this chair and pray for them. All right. A few minutes later, one cat came and sat on that

16:49 chair. And then that lady told me that chair belongs to the cat. And the funny thing is her husband was standing throughout. That poor man had no chair. Even the cat had a chair. Sometimes human rights are so so so pushed down way below animal rights and even basic dignity. And this is so crazy. We're living in a world that is so confused. And God is saying you are saved because he loves you. >> He loves you. So you are saved. Second, because he purchased you with his precious blood on the cross, you no longer believe belong to yourself. You belong to him. >> Amen. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. >> You belong to him. Why? Because he purchased you. You belong to him. You don't belong to yourself. >> He's bought you up eternally. He picked you up and purchased you.

17:55 >> He paid with his blood for it. You belong to him. >> Let's all say this together. I belong to him. I belong to him. >> In other words, I don't belong to myself. I belong to him. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. >> What a lovely truth this is that we belong to him. I've heard this. This story is coming to my mind again and again and again. So I'll say it many years ago. I heard this story. I don't know how true this is but I guess it came in some newspapers. There was a huge flood some some part of northern India. there was a huge flood and [snorts] uh you know earlier the railway track uh it now they used RCC cement blocks to build it. Uh [snorts] but back in the days they used to have wooden panels uh at the bottom of the railway track and in the huge flood all of these things were dismantled and the wooden planks were floating. [snorts] Villages were floating and young boys you know they were swimming through this

18:57 and trying to grab whatever they can for themselves through the flood. And then they saw something really floating and somebody said go pick up that. And one of the boys volunteered and jumped into that dangerous flood swam all the way and came back without dragging it. And the young boys who were ganging up asked him, "Why didn't you drag that thing? That was huge." And the boy says, "Man, that was a wooden pile. It's a whole set of, you know, wood piled up floating." And they said, "So what? You should have picked it up. We can build a hut or something like that." Then the boy said, "No, it had the seal of Indian railways. You pick up an Indian railway wooden plank. It doesn't matter if floated away in the water. But if you build a house with that, some officer is going to come and find out and you're going to be in trouble for a lifetime because it belongs to Indian railway. Rather let it float. Don't touch it." You know when you have the seal that you belong to God

20:01 on you, >> no powers of vasu, no curses of karma, no curses that are generational, [snorts] no bondages that are coming from zodiac, none of these things have an influence on you. Why? You are sealed by the blood of Jesus that you belong to him. >> [applause] >> Hallelujah. But of course, if you leave your position, if you leave your position into unholiness and and and you walk against the will of God, then then of course you're making yourself available to the enemy. But otherwise, when you stay in his grace, there is no weapon that is formed against you which will ever prosper. >> Hallelujah. Your life is no longer your own. And the third postulate, God saved me not just to serve him, but that everything that I do in my life will

21:03 glorify God. >> Everything that I do in my life will glorify God. Hallelujah. I want to ask you a question. If you are sick and you are always unhealthy, uh does it glorify God? Of course no. If you are uh uh h you know addict to bad habits and and you're living a a wasteful life, does it glorify God? No. If you are in poverty and you have to beg for a living, does it glorify God? No. [snorts] See, the things that many times we accommodate in our life are not the things that God has wanted for us. He wants our life to glorify him. And therefore he wants us to walk in a level of blessings of success of victory so that his name will be glorified. >> And this is simply profound and important. When you look at the life of the Lord Jesus you'll find two times that that today I want to touch he served. One is he took the towel and washed the feet of his disciples. A

22:05 little later he went to the cross and wiped the sin of the world with his own precious blood. Just as he washed the feet of his disciples, he used his own blood to cleanse the world of its sins. For all who believe in him can receive of that grace, can receive of that provision of salvation. And now that God has given us that grace, now the Bible is saying, you know, God has given all of us gifts with which to serve. Anybody who says, uh, I don't have any gifts. Well, there is no believer who doesn't have gifts in them. I'll say that again. There is no believer who doesn't have gifts in them. >> Amen. There must there may be believers who have not discovered their gifts. There may be believers who have not used their gifts, but there is no believer who doesn't have a gift. Look at Romans chapter 12. I have I've cons I have I have made it concise. Verse 6 to8. having then gifts differing according to

23:08 the grace that is given to us. Then there's a whole list there prophecy ministry you know whatever God has given to you God is saying focus on that don't compare it with others to all of you who say uh I I refuse to serve because I am not qualified. You're not being humble. You're just having too much unbelief. I'll say that again to all who say I'm not qualified. I'm not good enough to serve. You know, church is so big and and and there are smarter people than me and and uh in my house I'm nobody. Well, I'm not qualified. That's not an expression of humility. That's an expression of unbelief. God is saying, "I've given you a gift and you're saying, "No, Lord, I don't believe it. Whom should I believe?" Look at the person in the mirror and ask whom should you believe? The person in the mirror or God. [clears throat] The person in the mirror says I am not qualified. I have nothing. God says I

24:11 have given. You are born again. I put a package in you. [applause] That is a gift in you. Choose to believe God's word. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. Don't keep asking this question to ourselves of consumer mentality. What can this church give me? What can I get in the church? That's a normal question. We would ask that before going to a shop, before taking a job, before uh taking admission in a college. I mean, this is a question we ask ourselves for everything. So, it's very human to ask that question. [snorts] But when you come to church, ask yourself another question. What can I do for the church? What can I do to make God's kingdom better? How is it that I can contribute? What difference can I make so that there is a blessing there? Ask yourself that question. And guess what? It increases your influence. It changes your life. It blesses you. This is so profound and important. The concept of serving, you know, I was thinking on how to put it

25:14 across. So this is something I usually don't do, but today I want to do it because it helps me save time. The word serve in the Bible comes repeatedly. So I made it an acronym. S E R V E I don't preach like that but today I want to do it. S stands for spirit. It doesn't stand for anything. S is an alphabet. But anyway, just just to you know get through this thing. I'm I'm using this method. [clears throat] S stands for spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts. Look at the spiritual gifts God has given you. Some people they they know this this vehicle will have an accident. That's a spiritual gift. Use it for good things. >> [snorts] >> their marriage will not survive. They they they can predict. Use it for good things, brother, sister. Use it for good things. You may be having a spiritual gift. Pray to God. Change the circumstance. Come and prophesy good things. >> Hallelujah.

26:16 Many of us have become news reporters. Weather is bad, looks lousy, condition won't improve, don't know. God is not calling you to give weather report. Many people learn from the book of Ezekiel. God took the prophet Ezekiel into a valley full of dry bones. Dry bones. Generally, people will freak out. I mean, is that okay English? They get scared, you know. They they they they get anxiety in a valley of dry bones. The only place where some people like a bone is in their Sunday lunch in the mouth. But to stand in a valley of skeletons, oo, it's dangerous. It feels wicked. And God took the prophet and put him there and said, "What do you think?" Now imagine he was a Pentecostal fellow from today's prophetic class. I see bones all over. Lord, [laughter] these are demonic. Lord, it's all

27:21 demons. Lord, this must be some part of hell. Lord, learn to keep quiet where God has not opened his mouth. >> You and I when we you know the most successful way of serving silence. >> Keep quiet and serve. >> Keep quiet and serve. Serve with a smile on your face. Amen. >> Amen. >> If at all you want to move your lips, let it be to praise him. >> Amen. >> And [snorts] the prophet said, "Only you know, Lord, what was the prophet saying? I am not one of these news reporters giving my views as news." No, I know. You know, he was actually saying, I know, I don't know. That's exactly what he said. He was giving his limitation. He didn't say, "I'm the prophet Ezekiel. I've already done 35 chapters, you know, I can make a commitment. No, he said, I don't know. You know, and God said, okay, buddy, you're the right one.

28:23 Prophesy to the dry Lord. If there's something living, I look for it and prophet. No, no, no, no. Dry bones, prophesy. If God has given you spiritual gifts, learn to use it in the right direction. If God has given you experiences, your story, including your success and your wounds, E stands for that. Your experiences they are very important and valid. R stands for your relationship style. Everybody doesn't have the same relationship style. God has made everyone unique and different. Some people connect differently from how you connect. That's why God needs all kinds of churches so that he can save all kinds of people. It is important. God needs all kinds of leaders so that God can include all kinds of people under such leaderships and we must understand this that all are not the same and and you have a relational style and use that for God's glory. We stands for your vocational skills,

29:26 your job training, your hobbies, your personal skills. These are all sacred resources for the kingdom of God. Please don't think that it's useless. It is very useful. And the last E, it stands for enthusiasm. Now, that's something you manufacture. E is something you manufacture. Enthusiasm, your passion to do what God wants you to do with all of the above. It is so important. And and and one guy I could think from the Bible who who served well was a guy called David. In the Bible, David was a shepherd boy because in his house, his own parents thought he is useless. They not thought they discovered he's useless. And and also there was something wrong about David's family. Something dysfunctional where David was a reason for shame in the family. So [snorts] they preferred to keep him out. So as the culture of the bedins are in the Arabian land you know many times David wouldn't come home

30:28 to sleep at night he would sleep with the sheep on the pastures which was the culture back in those days but this fellow you know most of the shepherds what they do is they play games with each other sheep and they kind of waste time uh they kind of have a happy life but not productive but David along with all the friendships he had he also began to use the little skills that he could 200 0 years ago, sorry, 3,500 years ago, you know, learning to throw stones with accuracy was important. Playing music was extremely important. I mean, it was difficult to get that done. And the guy began to develop it. Hey, excuse me, David. You're a shepherd boy. Why do you want to play music? Do you think you're ever going to be a part of some sonata? Ever going to be a part of some orchestra? You're ever going to produce some kind of a music? David says, "I'm not looking at joining a band. I'm looking at making the best version of myself because when I worship him, I

31:30 want to give him the very best. It's not about who hears me. It's about he hears me." >> And the guy developed his serving to God. He began to develop his skill sets. Not because that he had somebody who was going to employ him. He was not looking forward to building his resume. It was just that I don't want to be this because I can be better. Just because my parents rejected me, I don't have to reject myself. Just because community rejected me, I don't have to reject myself. There is a God who has accepted me and I will honor that God and I will praise him and I will be good to him and I'll thank him and whatever I have to do. Though this sheep belongs to the people who rejected me, I'll not reject their sheep. I'll take it as a responsibility God has given me and I'll serve the sheep to the goodness of God's plan. What an attitude. The guy fulfilled all the acronyms of the word serve. And and this is exactly why the Bible says God

32:34 told Samuel the prophet, I have found myself a king. [clears throat] I have found myself a king according to my heart. He's a king not according to popular vote but someone that I love. Someone according to my heart and God says go and anoint him. Samuel the prophet says God we anointed one fellow who was somewhat capable and look at what that fellow has done. His name is King Saul. Now you want me to go and anoint a shepherd boy who don't even know basic manners. Fellow don't know how to hold a knife and a fork. How will he handle diplomatic engagements? Fellow don't know how to dress up. You know how will we handle board meetings? God when you anointed God says I have selected. I like that fellow. He's teachable. >> I can pick him up. [applause] Don't forget one thing. God is not looking for able people. God is looking for available people. Hallelujah. Are you available in the

33:42 hands of God? You're going to climb up the promotion in your office in the name of Jesus. Nobody can block you. Nobody can stop you. You're going up by the grace of God. It is going to happen. Why? Because it's not by might. It's not by power. It's by the spirit of God that increases your influence. >> Hallelujah. >> God said, I have selected this boy to be a king. Why? Why is it God picked up David? Because Israel needed a warrior. Israel needed someone who could fight. King Saul was not worth a battle. He only played political games. You know, he wanted to be known as the longest serving king of Israel. Most useless King Saul. God's children were being persecuted under this fellow. And it's it's crazy when you study

34:43 Israel. God sometimes allows seasons of purification. God allows sometimes these kind of leaders and the [clears throat] church goes through purification in the process. Somebody was telling me if the kind of persecution happening in in those states comes to our city, what will happen? And I was telling them we are we are Bangalore Christians. If the road is not good we don't go to that church. Nobody has to attack us. Nobody has to threaten us saying if you go to worship God we'll beat you up. Which is what is happening in many states. That doesn't have to happen. The BBMP, BWSB, BCOM or BSNL and all those wonderful brothers if any of them come and cut the road. Oh that road is not good. Watch online today. All of you, the Lord is speaking to you. We don't need, we don't need persecution. Inconvenience affects us. That's the world we live in today.

35:52 One one gentleman once told me, [clears throat] I don't want to be a part of this church because I can't be a part of the committee. So I asked him, what do you mean? He said, there are no elections. So I told him thank you for telling me the truth. That's one thing I appreciated about him. I said please go to a church where you'll find a committee and you know elections once in a year so you can stand an election and become a committee member. And then uh one of our uh church people who started a church elsewhere they invited me for their anniversary saying you're our spiritual you know leader you have to come. I didn't know about it. So I was so happy I went there and I found this man there who went from our church and he came he gave me a hug and all that and then I privately asked that pastor who was a former member in our church I said what about this guy he says pastor he's from our church no I said yes biggest headache you know I tell you when you think of serving don't think of position think of function

36:56 >> [applause] >> I'll say that again. When you think of serving, don't think of position. Think of function. God wanted a warrior in Israel as the king because there were surrounding nations that had to be fought with and God was looking for a warrior guy. Second, God wanted to establish worship in the church. Israel had backsliden from worship and now God wanted worship to come back into place. And God was looking for a guy who who wouldn't wait on the Levites and the priests because they had to offer their sacrifices and go through their, you know, roasters or tantrums. God was looking for a guy who knew how to say it. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Hallelujah. If the priests are getting lethargic, it's okay. I can walk up to God and he will answer me. >> David is the first guy in the Bible who set up a worship choir system so

37:59 effective in the Old Testament that it carries on in the New Testament. God was looking for that guy. Amen. You never know why God is teaching you what you are learning in the wilderness with the sheep. One day it's going to lead a whole nation in worship. You have no idea why God is developing what he is developing in your Go ahead. Come on, church. Go ahead. Give him a big thanks. You are investing into your future when you serve. [applause] Hallelujah. David, why did he have to keep running and moving? This guy understood the importance of moving. Some people become so stale in life, they can't grow on the inside. David understood the importance of growing on the inside. moving on the inside. And that's why he was able to move the capital. He knew the heart of God. He moved the capital of Israel from the dead bones of Abraham and Sarah which is in Hebron. That's the politically most uh emotional place. But he said no no no we will

39:02 shift it to Jerusalem because that's the place of worship. And David is the one who moved the capital of Israel from Hebrron to Jerusalem. And even today it remains the eternal capital of Israel. You know what when you learn to serve you learn to connect with the heart of God. And all of us we have we have a parallel the there is a part of us which has to go to work. That's not serving that's work. And then there is the part of serving. And I want to distinguish the two so that there is no confusion. What is the aim of work life? [snorts] What is the aim of work life? It is to make sure you have your provisions that you're fruitful that you're that you're faithful in your stewardship that that that you learn you learn to earn. You learn to earn. Am I making sense to all of us? You learn to earn. That's the aim of work life. What is the aim of serving? So that God's name will be glorified. So that others will be blessed.

40:06 So that others will be blessed. When you work, it's for you to be blessed. But when you serve, it's for others to be blessed. >> Amen. >> Talk of compensation. Work is clearly to earn because the Bible says a laborer is worthy of his time. But what about serving? Serving is not like work. Serving is where you give freely and you look to God for reward. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> This is very important. One one brother in our church. Can I say one joke? One brother in our church, he told me, "Pastor, I want to go to that PG in that prayer group. I want to lead worship. I feel burdened." I said, "But you're staying 20 km away. No problem, pastor. I want to go there. I feel burdened." I was innocent. I said, "Okay." Then somebody asked me, "Why you send that fellow to our prayer group?" I said, "Because he wants to lead worship. He knows to play guitar. He wants to lead worship." and he felt he is having guidance. So I thought no pastor

41:09 he likes a girl she comes there. His entire singing was not to please God. It was to please that girl. So then I said okay no problem. Even she knows to play guitar. So I told her to go to another prayer group. Both prayer groups were blessed. Only thing then this fellow was going late. Earlier he used to go very uh earlier he used to go and he used to encourage everyone to come early fellowship before prayer group fellowship after prayer group all those things. But ever since this uh change happened he goes late sometimes he's absent. Why motivation was wrong? Don't look for compensation and service. Look to God for compensation. When you serve, serve with a clean motive.

42:14 Serve with a clean motive. What is your posture in work? In work, your posture is obligation. I am I am obligated to my employer. I'm obligated to my family, society. I have to work. But when you serve, you're not obligated. It's your freedom. You're not under any compulsion. You serve because inside you, you want to do something more for God. Hallelujah. [clears throat] Work is measured by excellence, productivity, etc. But service is measured by your love, by your humility, by your internal faithfulness. Those things matter. What corrupts work life? If [snorts] you're dishonest in your work life, it spoils your work life. If you're involved in exploitation, if you make money the idol of your life, if you don't take rest in your work, these things spoil your career and work life. When it comes to serving, what corrupts serving? Looking for self- glory,

43:18 looking to manipulate through serving, doing things without love are things that spoil the concept of serving. God wants serving to be clean in our hearts. [clears throat] Amen. And when we serve, look, look if it is required. This is very important. Don't become a doormat for others when you serve where they can stamp on you. Serve meaningfully. The Bible says don't throw your pearls in front of pigs because they will insult your service and destroy and come to attack you. it there's a it seems there was a very compassionate monkey must have heard one Sunday message and it was sitting on the branch looking into the water and it saw one fish drowning and the monkey jumped into the water and caught that fish and brought it to the land and said brother I'm here to help you the monkey had no idea what it was doing monkey thought now it's finally sleeping Don't become a monkey in the society.

44:22 Understand what others want. Understand what others want. Okay, leave that. [laughter] Some people don't want to be baptized. Don't push it into them. Leave it. God will touch them at the right time. Amen. >> Amen. >> Look where you serve and what is required. Praise God. Okay. I want to close with three simple points on how to serve to avoid getting negative. Number one, serve from fullness, not for getting full. What's the difference? Go to the Lord. Experience that touch of God. Come out and serve from that strength. You're serving in addition to your working. You're working somewhere but you're serving in addition with the extra time you have. Second, serve from your calling, not from comparison. Serve based on the inner strength God put in

45:26 you, not based on what others are doing. What others are doing can motivate you, but look for where God has given you grace and strength. Third, build a Sabbath system. Build a rest system, a rhythm into [clears throat] your serving and working. This is very important. Why? Because if you don't do that, you're violating a fundamental principle. The Lord Jesus repeatedly, Mark 16, the Bible says in verse 31, the Lord told his disciples, "Come and rest with me." These fellows got so excited because of the anointing. Demons are being cast out. People are being healed. They are like, "Whoop! Let's do it." God said, "Shut up and take rest." You are human. Take rest. Rest is important. Now, some people don't do anything. You're resting from 3 years in Jesus name. Get up. Do something in life. [laughter] This is for people who are overwork. You need seasons of rest. [snorts] God has called all of us to impact the world through serving. All learn

46:29 something today. Close our eyes and say, "Father, I commit my life to bless more than myself. I want to be a blessing in the world. you have planted me and I want to be immovable. I want to be steadfast and I want to be abounding in the grace of God. Lord Jesus, how have you served from being on the top? You not only washed the feet of the others with water, but you wash the world of their sins with your blood. Help me to be a person that with all my success I will learn to sit at the top and still serve in a meaningful way. In a way that is respectful, those that are underprivileged, those that may need help, those may be of my own level or inferior to me or sometimes superior to me. I'm ready to serve Lord along with my work along with my business which I will be successful in which I will focus

47:31 on but I also want to serve. Hallelujah. Today's generation is so blessed with so many resources but make a commitment to the Lord as a young person and say God I will use my freedoms. I will use my freedom in a meaningful way. [music] I'll use my resources in a meaningful way not to push my agenda but to be a blessing to others [music] along with my studies along with my responsibilities. Yes, I'll be faithful there but I'll take out time [music] I'll take out resources so that I can be a blessing to people who can't return anything in a meaningful way [music] in a blessed manner. Help me Lord Jesus. Hallelujah. Help me Lord Jesus. Take off my pride. Take off my fear. [music] Take off the negativity in me so that I can be more Christlike [music] that we as a church can be faithful and

48:37 effective in all what God has called us to do. [music] Dear Lord, yes I need a position in my work but in serving I just need to function. I don't need to look for position. [music] I just have to function. Thank you Holy Spirit in the family in the neighborhood [music] in the joint family irrespective of how people may be good or bad. Help me Lord to be effective in serving [music] in the small things, in the big things, in the disciplines. Hallelujah. Help me to develop my skills. It may not look necessary today, [music] but I know if you've put it in my heart, it's something you require me to have for a future use. Heavenly Father, this beautiful morning, I speak your blessing on your people. [music] As we heard about serving, may your anointing be on us that we will serve the gospel to the world. [music] That we will serve the message of your

49:41 salvation to our own family, [music] to our friends in a meaningful way where they can be blessed and understand. [music] And we pray that you will take away every inhibition that all of us will become more effective in sharing your word, in sharing your gospel. that all of us will become more effective in praying for others. That we'll become effective in understanding [music] the needs of the world we live in. Thank you that you are with us. [music] Thank you that your anointing works through us. In Jesus mighty name we pray. And the people said, "Amen." Shall we stand? We'll sing a [music] song and we'll pray and close. Maybe be a shining light to the nations, a shining light to the peoples [music] of the earth, till the whole world will cease. The glory of your name. May your pure light shine through

50:47 [music and singing] us. Maybe you bring a word of hope to the nations, [singing] a word of life to the peoples of the earth, till the [music] whole [singing] world knows the salvation through your name. May your mercy. [music] Maybe be a healing power to the nations. A healing B to the peoples of the earth. Till the whole [music] world knows the power of your name. May your healing. [music] We sing a song of joy to [singing] the nations. A song of praise to the [music] peoples of the earth. Till the whole world reigns [music] with the praises of your

51:50 name. May your song be. Come on church. May your kingom come to [music] the nations. Your will be done to the [music] peoples of the earth. Oh yes, [music] Lord you are. May your king. Let's sing that one more time. In may your [music] kingom come to [singing] the nations. Your will [music] be done to the peoples of the earth. till the whole world [music] knows that Jesus Christ is Lord. May your kingom come in [music] a fresh anointing. A fresh anointing,

52:54 Lord. A fresh anointing. [music] Holy Spirit this morning to serve this morning to leave an influence and influence [music] through our service along with our work along with our studies along with our responsibilities to serve effectively [music] in the mighty name of Jesus. Hallelujah. Come on everybody open your mouth and thank [music] him. Thank him. Thank him. Thank him. There is some gift somewhere. Hallelujah. There is some gift somewhere. Commit yourself to shine it. [music] Hallelujah. In your serving, [music] there is healing. In your serving, there is a bondage breaking anointing. In your serving, there is a miracle. Yes. [music] Even if people did not acknowledge you, God will not forget. He is a rewarder of your labor. [music] Hallelujah. Don't worry, he is a rewarder of your labor. Your labor will

53:58 not go in vain. The Lord is your rewarder. Hallelujah. [music] Hallelujah. Come on, let's give the Lord a mighty hand, everybody. [music] Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Lord, we thank you for your beautiful presence today [music] and your beautiful word that encouraged us that each one of us, Lord, who are born again in Christ surely have a spiritual gift from you, oh God, Father. So help us, oh God, Lord, this coming weeks, oh God, Father, Lord, to be able to serve you and to serve others, oh God, Lord, [music] through our spiritual gift, through our experiences, through our vocation, oh God, Father, Lord. Uh, help us serve you enthusiastically, oh God, Father, Lord. Thank you once again for your presence and your calling upon each one of our lives, oh God, Lord. and we surrender ourselves to your calling oh God. Lord as a church we pray for everyone who has come here for the very first time. We pray that Lord you will bless them. You will touch their lives oh God and you will lead them ahead oh God. [music] Lord in your grace oh God

55:00 in your abounding grace. We also pray for those who are traveling this week for the journey. Mercy shall be with them. We also pray for those who are Lord celebrating [music] the birth race for the wedding anniversaries this week. We pray father for your favor upon them about the years ahead oh God [music] lord. And we also remember if there's anyone amongst us oh God who has lost their loved ones beloved ones this week. We pray father for your strength, [music] for your comfort and your presence oh God lord and your word and your hope to lift them up oh god father lord thank you father for everyone lord lord we pray for the tithes and offerings [music] oh god lord even as the privilege you have given to us oh god lord to sew into your kingdom oh god from what you have given to us oh god lord we pray you will bless those tithes and offerings oh god if anyone is lacking [music] amongst us lord we know that you are Jehovah you will open up the doors of heavens oh God and lord you will bless your children none will lack oh god lord because you are their shepherd oh god lord thank Thank you for your beautiful presence. Let us [music] back with your blessings. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of our heavenly father, the sweet and abiding fellowship of the holy spirit. [music] May it rest and abide each one of us now

56:02 and forever more. Amen. Amen. [music] God bless you all. Church, we would like to welcome them. Those who are here for the very first time, put your hands together and welcome them into the house of God. If you're in Bethl for the very first time, as you go outside, there's a guest launch out there. Please do visit the place. There's a team waiting to meet with you and pray with you. And if you need prayers, pastors are here in the front in the overflow. Please come forward and you may get prayed. God bless you all. Have a blessed week. Thank you. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

57:40 Heat. Heat. >> [music]