The foundation of our faith as Christians is not only about receiving blessings from God but also serving Him wholeheartedly. True service to God goes beyond attending church or participating in religious activities. It involves offering yourself to God through purposeful acts within His church and His divine plans. In this article, we will explore the depth of Christian service through scriptural teachings, emphasizing why service is a central aspect of faith and the blessings it brings.
The Call to Serve God
In Exodus 5:1, we read, "And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness." God’s command to Pharaoh was not only for the Israelites’ freedom but for them to serve God. God did not save them from oppression to live without purpose; He saved them so they could serve Him.
As Christians, our pre-born-again experience can be likened to slavery under sin. Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt, He has delivered us from the darkness of sin. And the reason for this deliverance is that we may serve Him. Many Christians seek only to receive from God, but we must realize that we are designed to serve Him, and that is where we find the fullness of His blessings.
Choosing Whom You Will Serve
Joshua 24:15 challenges us to make a conscious decision about whom we will serve: "And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve..." The question is, are you willing to serve God, or will you serve the false gods of this world? Joshua boldly declared, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
True service begins with a decision—a commitment to serving God with all your heart. Serving God is not a passive act; it is intentional, deliberate, and driven by love and reverence for Him.
The Blessings of Serving God
When we serve God, we open ourselves to a multitude of blessings. Deuteronomy 11:13 says, "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Serving God brings both natural and spiritual blessings. It opens doors for divine health, joy, provision, and answered prayers. It also deepens our relationship with God and aligns us with His purpose.
How to Serve God in His Church
Serving God is not about simply showing up at church. It involves engaging with the different offices and responsibilities within the church that contribute to the growth of the church community. Here are some scriptural roles that demonstrate how you can serve God’s house:
Doorkeeper
Testimony reader
Offering collector
Pastoral Assistant
Choir leader
Church security
Church cleaning department
Church kitchen department
Church evangelism department
Church receptionist
Opening prayer leader
Office of a priest
These roles are essential in building the body of Christ. When you take on these responsibilities, you are contributing to the overall mission of God’s church.
The Danger of Misunderstanding Service
One of the biggest misconceptions among Christians today is that any act of charity or kindness is equivalent to serving God. While acts such as running a soup kitchen or writing Christian books are important, they are acts of service to humanity rather than direct service to God. To truly serve God, your actions must align with serving within His church.
Exodus 3:12 makes this clear: "Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." The service to God takes place within the gates of assembly—His church.
Scriptural Blessings from Serving God
There are numerous scriptural promises tied to serving God. Some of the blessings you can expect include:
Divine health: "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." (Exodus 23:25)(Peter 2:24) “Who his self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Divine joy: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)(Isaiah 12:3) “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Divine provision: "If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures." (Job 36:11) (Corinthians 8:9) “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Answered prayer: "Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)
Serving God within His church not only brings spiritual fulfillment but also tangible blessings in your life.
The Importance of Serving with the Right Heart
It is not enough to serve God; you must serve with certain virtues that make your service acceptable to Him. These include honor, obedience, humility, faithfulness, Consciousness, Intent, Awareness, and Assurance.
Serve in honor: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." (Psalm 2:11) Understanding God’s greatness should lead us to serve Him with deep respect and reverence. Hebrews 12:28 emphasizes this by stating, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." You must see serving the Lord as a privilege, not a perdition. Seeing it as a privilege will accumulate honor within the heart of man while seeing it as perdition will accumulate dishonor. Deuteronomy 10:20 affirms, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name." Just as deputies and officials in national palaces carry great honor for proximity to heads of state, serving God the head of the world requires a similar recognition of His infinite power.
Serve in obedience: Obedience to God’s commands is crucial for effective service. "Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." (1 Samuel 12:24) In serving God inside the gates of assembly, strive for a higher level of obedience. The greater the level of spiritual maturity, the more powerful kingdom service manifests within the spiritual realm. (Samuel 12:14 emphasizes), "If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God." As you walk after the Lord, you shall serve Him and cleave unto Him (Deuteronomy 13:4). Job 36:11 adds, "If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures."
Serve in humility: Pride can taint even the most diligent service. Lucifer’s desire for God’s position led to his downfall, showing the importance of serving with humility. The Bible states that Moses was the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3), exemplifying true kingdom service. "Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:1). Serving God should not be for self-recognition or the notice of others; it is about recognition from the Almighty. A cautionary tale involves a gifted singer who, seeking attention from the congregation, had her pride revealed and was demoted from her position. Pride seeks the recognition of man, while humility seeks the attention of God alone.
Serve with faithfulness: God values those who are faithful in their service. Psalm 101:6 says, "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me..." When we serve with consistency and commitment, we gain favor in God’s eyes.
Serve with Blessing Consciousness"Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times." (Genesis 31:41)Understanding the significance of expectations in service is crucial. Jacob’s commitment and shifting wages reflect the importance of being desirous of God’s blessings while serving in His house.
"Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?" (Genesis 29:15)This scripture emphasizes that serving God should come with the anticipation of rewards. When we serve within the assembly, we must maintain a mindset that expects blessings.
Serve with Assurance: "And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread." (Exodus 23:25)Serving God comes with the promise of blessings. This assurance is echoed in the New Testament: "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." (Luke 12:37)This verse reminds us that our vigilance and service will be rewarded by the Lord Himself.
"If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures; the blessing of God maketh rich and addeth no sorrow." (Job 36:11)The connection between obedience, service, and divine blessing is clear. When we serve God, we should expect prosperity and joy as part of our service.
Serve with Awareness: It is indeed an insult to God to serve without the expectation of His rewards. Maintaining a blessing-conscious mindset is essential for pleasing God.
"For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward." (1 Timothy 5:18)This verse reiterates the importance of recognizing and honoring those who serve faithfully.
Serve with Intent: "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" (Matthew 24:45)Faithful service leads to greater responsibilities and blessings. King David, who served as a doorkeeper in God's house, became the king of Israel, demonstrating that devoted service brings prosperity.
"And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after." (Hebrews 3:5)Moses's faithfulness serves as a testament to the rewards of diligent service, reinforcing the idea that our service will be recognized and blessed.
Serve with JoyDeuteronomy 28:47"Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things."
Deuteronomy 28:48 (KJV)"Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he has destroyed thee."
Isaiah 65:14"Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart."
It is very wrong to serve in God‘s house with a sense of complaint and murmuring, whether through your mouth or through your heart; you must serve Him with the joy of heart.
Psalm 100:2"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing."When you see serving God as a great privilege, the joy within your heart shall transpire. God desires to see you serve in the gates of the assembly with joy radiating from within your soul.
Psalm 35:27"Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
The "God is using me" mentality or "the church is using me" mentality will suffocate the joy within your heart when you serve. God has allowed you to serve His church so He can bless you both spiritually and naturally; it is a privilege and not a perdition.
Serve with the Love of GodDeuteronomy 10:12"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?"Deuteronomy 11:13"And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all thy soul."
You must serve within the gates of the assembly with the love of God radiating in your heart. God wants to see that you serve Him because you love Him.Joshua 22:5"But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
The Bible says to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind, and it also says to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind. The love of God and the service of God are interconnected in nature.Isaiah 56:6"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant."Not all Christians love God; only some Christians love God. However, the love of God, in accordance with your kingdom service, is an extremely strong catalyst for the service itself. God loves to see His spiritual son or daughter serving Him while the love of God is radiating to their hearts. This makes the heart of God boastful in nature.
Conclusion: The Heart of True Christian Service
Serving God is more than just attending church or performing charitable acts. It is about committing your life to serve within His church and doing so with the right heart. When we serve God faithfully, humbly, and with obedience, we align ourselves with His divine purpose, and His blessings flow into our lives.
We are called to be servants of the Most High and it is through this service that we truly experience the fullness of His grace, provision, and joy. So, today, choose to serve God with all your heart and watch as He begins to work mightily in your life.
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