Together # 5
A Together of Relationship with God
A Together of Relationship with God
Serve God Together
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
God's work in the church and in society is too big for individuals. Seek to serve with your Christian friends, your spouse, and your family.
Deut 6:13; Deut 11:13-15; Luke 4:8; Luke 16:13; 1 Cor 4:1; 1 Peter 2:16
Because of the individualistic distortion of our faith, we first think of serving God as individuals. While we surely are to serve God alone, there is biblical evidence to the superiority of serving God together. For one thing, together we have the special presence of Jesus promised to gatherings of 2 or 3 meeting in his name. Plus we can take on bigger projects than we can accomplish by ourselves. And, we know that Jesus sent out his disciples in two’s.
Also consider this. When Moses was faithful to God, his individual service did not bring joy to God when the people of Israel were not serving Him obediently. Individual service only goes so far, and in the business of glorifying God, it goes very little compared to corporate service.
A lot of Christians think what comes to mind in the way of serving God is too difficult or too uncomfortable. However, if we serve God together, most of these same tasks will not be seen as overwhelming. So very much does not get done for God because we do not think of working together as teams with Jesus in our Christian friendships, families and marriages.
Significant service for God will be opposed by the devil. Because we are too weak individually to stand against the enemy Satan, God wants us to serve Him in teams. Together we are more than strong enough to resist the devil and the evils he has sown in the world.
It is not enough for us to sit back and delegate service for God to our churches. An organization, whether a church or a parachurch ministry, can only focus on a few things because of administrative tasks and primary ministry concerns.
But, church leadership can do much more by preparing the saints for the work of ministry in their friendship groups, their families, and their marriages. Christian friends, Christian families, and Christian marriages can serve God and do a wealth of smaller things that when added up dwarf (but should not replace) the larger projects of the church.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors
and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
and teachers, to equip his people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
For example, a church of 200 adult members might have a pantry for distributing food to the poor once a week. Such an effort would likely take from ten to twenty church members. Yet that same church could have twenty 2-member or 3-member friendship groups working with twenty poor people or families around getting jobs, budgeting, child care and other needs the poor face. Then, that church might have fifteen families spending one weekend every other month doing home repair and house cleaning for poor seniors in the church as well as a few non-believers in the community. Add to that 20 married couples who could bring entertainment into the homes of twenty lonely people, both in the church and non-believers in the community. Would such a church be remembered for its food pantry or for its much larger impact because church leadership helped friendship groups, families, and marriages serve God together?
We live for God, or ought to. Everything we do should be considered either service for God or service for self. Instead of wondering if we have time to serve God, we should be thinking when we might have a little time to serve our own needs. A hundred years ago people worked on farms from before the sun came up to after it went down. The human body and mind can put in long hours of responsibility.
We just have to get it in our heads that everyday life is serving God. Raising children is serving God. Working is serving God. Doing chores is serving God. And, many of those things can be done better with a little help from our Christian friends, families, and spouses from time to time. A person looking for a job is serving God if he or she is seeking to glorify Him. But, that job search should really be done together with help from that person’s Christian Inner Circle.
Every interaction with another Christian should be service for God because all of the Togethers are serving God together. Because we are writing about every one of the Togethers, especially how they serve God by helping one another in the church, let’s focus here primarily on serving God outside of the believing community. In such service we will be identified as followers of Jesus Christ and His superior way of living for God’s glory through holiness.
There are thousands of things that God wants done in society. He is undoing the evil in our world that originated through Satan.
We live for God, or ought to. Everything we do should be considered either service for God or service for self. Instead of wondering if we have time to serve God, we should be thinking when we might have a little time to serve our own needs. A hundred years ago people worked on farms from before the sun came up to after it went down. The human body and mind can put in long hours of responsibility.
We just have to get it in our heads that everyday life is serving God. Raising children is serving God. Working is serving God. Doing chores is serving God. And, many of those things can be done better with a little help from our Christian friends, families, and spouses from time to time. A person looking for a job is serving God if he or she is seeking to glorify Him. But, that job search should really be done together with help from that person’s Christian Inner Circle.
Every interaction with another Christian should be service for God because all of the Togethers are serving God together. Because we are writing about every one of the Togethers, especially how they serve God by helping one another in the church, let’s focus here primarily on serving God outside of the believing community. In such service we will be identified as followers of Jesus Christ and His superior way of living for God’s glory through holiness.
There are thousands of things that God wants done in society. He is undoing the evil in our world that originated through Satan.
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,
because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
1 John 3:8
because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
1 John 3:8
We should take more seriously that Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two and did not organize larger groups of his followers to do his work while He was present among us. Not that He has not wanted churches and parachurch organizations to form and also do His work in the world. But, we know that He chose to send his disciples out in very small groups, usually in two’s or three’s. This is what He did when He wanted to announce the coming of the kingdom of God in all of the villages. This is what He did when He was transfigured and met with Moses and Elijah. That is what He did to acquire a donkey for his march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And that is what He did when He went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray just before being arrested and crucified. And, that is what He wants to do today.
So, it is likely that Jesus is constantly speaking to small Christian friendship groups, Christian families, and Christian marriages and asking them to do things for Him as He works to undo the evil of the devil. I am afraid that we have not been taught to listen for Jesus to speak to us other than individually. What a tragedy! Jesus asking and hardly any Christian friendships, Christian families and Christian marriages listening!
What would happen if two or three friends together would ask Jesus what He would like them to do in His name? If only these friendship groups would just ask and keep listening for Jesus to speak to them through their thoughts, circumstances and opportunities that arise, consciously seeking His answer, perhaps over months. The world that is becoming more and more hostile to Christians might then find us too valuable to continue their opposition.
When discussing another Together, I gave the example of two Christian women shopping for groceries together each week, listening to Jesus for opportunities to serve God in the food aisles. I raised the question of what would happen if 100 such teams shopped weekly looking for assignments from Jesus in the market. What if 50 such market trips a year yielded only 10 assignments? That would be 1,000 helpful actions by Jesus through His people each and every year. Add to that 100 male friendship groups doing the same when they went to fish or to the lumber yard or hardware store? What about high school friends being with Jesus at school?
A family could ask the Lord more often what He wants them to do for Him. Families go many places. If they realize that they are together in Jesus’ name, He is with them. Most likely God wants to do something through them at the zoo, at school events, on walks in their neighborhood, camping or hiking.
Husbands and wives also go many places together all year long. They, too, can dedicate their relationship to be in Jesus’ name and have Him with them. How often during a year will Jesus ask them to show love in one way or another with the very many people they do things with or with whom they rub shoulders as a couple?
This world desperately needs help from we humans who are no longer truly of this world. Even if the world does not know they need our help or help from God, God knows it. And, He wants us to serve Him by bringing His love and solutions to people and societies.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
So, it is likely that Jesus is constantly speaking to small Christian friendship groups, Christian families, and Christian marriages and asking them to do things for Him as He works to undo the evil of the devil. I am afraid that we have not been taught to listen for Jesus to speak to us other than individually. What a tragedy! Jesus asking and hardly any Christian friendships, Christian families and Christian marriages listening!
What would happen if two or three friends together would ask Jesus what He would like them to do in His name? If only these friendship groups would just ask and keep listening for Jesus to speak to them through their thoughts, circumstances and opportunities that arise, consciously seeking His answer, perhaps over months. The world that is becoming more and more hostile to Christians might then find us too valuable to continue their opposition.
When discussing another Together, I gave the example of two Christian women shopping for groceries together each week, listening to Jesus for opportunities to serve God in the food aisles. I raised the question of what would happen if 100 such teams shopped weekly looking for assignments from Jesus in the market. What if 50 such market trips a year yielded only 10 assignments? That would be 1,000 helpful actions by Jesus through His people each and every year. Add to that 100 male friendship groups doing the same when they went to fish or to the lumber yard or hardware store? What about high school friends being with Jesus at school?
A family could ask the Lord more often what He wants them to do for Him. Families go many places. If they realize that they are together in Jesus’ name, He is with them. Most likely God wants to do something through them at the zoo, at school events, on walks in their neighborhood, camping or hiking.
Husbands and wives also go many places together all year long. They, too, can dedicate their relationship to be in Jesus’ name and have Him with them. How often during a year will Jesus ask them to show love in one way or another with the very many people they do things with or with whom they rub shoulders as a couple?
This world desperately needs help from we humans who are no longer truly of this world. Even if the world does not know they need our help or help from God, God knows it. And, He wants us to serve Him by bringing His love and solutions to people and societies.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
The Moore Family has a family purpose of helping one another serve God, enjoy life and be successful. To do this, they work at obeying the Scriptures that make up the Togethers. In doing so, they are serving God just as Jesus served God when He helped men, women and children enter the kingdom of heaven.
One day, third-grade Suzanne told the family that she was concerned about her school friend Dorothy who seemed worried about her father serving in a battle zone in Afghanistan. The Moore Family asked God during their mealtime prayer if He wanted them to do more than pray for Dorothy and her father. This led to God-driven discussions about what their family could do to add to Suzanne being a loving, obedient friend. The family wanted to tie into Jesus’ promise that the prayer of two or more has special power. Then they listened for Jesus to tell them through their thoughts and interactions what they could do. Last week the Moore Family had Dorothy and her mother and brothers over for a meal. They prayed for the safety of Dorothy’s father when they prayed for the meal. Then, while eating they committed to continue praying until Dorothy’s father came safely home. Dorothy’s family had no experience with religion or Christianity and were confused by all of this. However, they left with two valuable things: a family who would share in their burden and a perspective that there is a God with the power to protect their loved soldier. |
Jesus served God all of the time.
“My food,” said Jesus,
“is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’?
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life,
so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
John 4:34-36
“is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’?
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life,
so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
John 4:34-36
Jesus served God together with others. Jesus, of all people, could have worked alone. However, we know that He wanted his disciples along almost all of the time. The Bible verses above show that much of the important work of God requires Christians serving God together. Sowers need reapers and reapers need sowers for God’s fields to be harvested. Only the really easy things can be done for God alone. That is why when God created Adam, He also created a helper for him. Adam and Eve were to serve God together. Even from the very start, God had in mind that people would not serve Him independently or autonomously.
Therefore, if we want to become more like Jesus, we will often serve God with other Christians. And, it is most natural to serve God with those with whom we are in regular and frequent contact. These would be our Christian friends, family members and spouse.
Godliness, being like Jesus, is serving God together. Let’s start asking our Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, for jobs we and our Christian friends, families and marriages can do for Him. Let’s allow God to put these powerful teams in action.
Opportunity to Worship God
Therefore, if we want to become more like Jesus, we will often serve God with other Christians. And, it is most natural to serve God with those with whom we are in regular and frequent contact. These would be our Christian friends, family members and spouse.
Godliness, being like Jesus, is serving God together. Let’s start asking our Commander-in-Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, for jobs we and our Christian friends, families and marriages can do for Him. Let’s allow God to put these powerful teams in action.
Opportunity to Worship God
When Brad and Candice clean up litter on the streets surrounding their apartment building in New York City, a job that would overwhelm just one of them alone, they know they are serving God. Such service was completely out of character for these wealthy businesspeople before they asked God how He would like them to serve Him.
Brad and Candice were expecting the Lord to ask them to take on some fantastic project in their large Episcopal church. Instead, God kept whispering to them that they were to clean up the streets they complained so much about. Finally, they listened to Him and began collecting the many pieces of blowing paper and other rubbish on both sides of their block as well as adjacent side streets. God wanted the streets cleared for two reasons. An elderly Christian living on the block asked God to make the streets more attractive for all of the residents as well as people who walked there. And, God wanted to insert Christ’s humility into Brad and Candice who cherished a bit too much the praise of their business associates for their great financial success. |
God has given us the wonderful privilege to serve Him with other Christians. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him the cooperation in the Godhead wherein the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together to serve what has been ordained and decreed.
The three Persons of the one God serve one another. Since God serves Himself, we act like God when we serve Him.
This brings up a distinction between serving God and having Him serve us. It is worship only when we serve Him. It seems that there are two ways to serve God together, and both are worship. But, one way is more personal worship and a bit better. In essence, this is the distinction between serving Jesus by asking Him to back us up and serving Jesus by following His lead.
We can serve God by seeing that something good needs to be done and asking Jesus to come along to help us. It is a whole different thing to follow Jesus when He asks us to come along and help Him. Both seem to be okay, but the latter is definitely superior.
There does not seem to be many situations in the gospels where Jesus showed up to help others while they were doing something good. Obviously, He must have. His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine is an example of Jesus “backing up” his mother who was trying to be helpful at the wedding. Therefore, it seems to be fine to ask Jesus to help out with situations that need our help. And, we should do this often. But, it should not be the only way to serve God.
Similarly, when we do good because we know that God asks us to through what we have learned from Scripture, that is a way of responding to God and serving Him. However, too often when we do this, we are not as conscious that we are being led by Jesus even though we are aware that we are acting as Christians should. And, there is nothing wrong with this, but it is more worshipful and higher spiritual life to see our obedience as being led by Jesus for some service in each particular time and situation. It is more personal. We are more aware of Jesus’s presence.
There is a mental difference between God helping us with what He wants done and us helping Him with what He is doing in the world. In a way, it is about who gets to direct the action and who empowers success. Biblical behavior and doing the good we need to do is very scriptural. But, it is still God at work. It is just more personal, less stressful, and dependently humble to serve God by listening for Jesus to give us work to do. Then, He is out front, not us.
If we are in line paying for purchases in a store, we know that we are following Jesus and biblical teachings to be friendly, perhaps even letting someone in a hurry go ahead of us in line. That is certainly serving God, and it should be done. In such a case we rely on the Lord to help us know what to say. He backs us up. But, if we were to let Jesus lead, we would be listening in our spirits for additional assignments, something more specific than that which would be dictated by scriptural principle. Perhaps He might ask us to compliment a person where only He would know that person had been discounted hurtfully just hours before.
Perhaps this seems like splitting hairs. However, it has to do with whose shoulders the weight of leadership falls on. If we are doing something we know needs done without a sense that Jesus is saying, “I am doing this through you. Follow me into action.”, the pressure of performing is more on our shoulders. But, if we hear Jesus tell us to do that same thing, then the weight of making it happen is on Him.
Let’s say the good work is repairing the dangerous porch steps of an elderly person. If we ask if Jesus wants us to do the repairs, do we envision Him backing us up or taking the lead and responsibility? We will have to do the same repair work, but recognizing that Jesus is going to do it can take away the fear of failure and increase confidence that He will be telling us how He wants problems solved that come up.
Another example might make this even clearer. Let’s say that a clear witness to the saving work of Christ needs to be given to a neighbor. If we see it that we have to come up with a plan and then Jesus will back us up, there is a lot more pressure. But, if Jesus puts it on our heart to witness and we are aware that He is taking the responsibility to make it happen, we can relax a bit and let Him pave the way.
The issue is whether Jesus is with us or we are with Jesus. Of course, both are true. But, where is the emphasis? Think of going down a path with Jesus. If He is with us, then He is at our side and we tend to think that we are deciding to take this or that direction at an intersection. If, however, we are with Him, it is easier to think of Him as being in the lead and follow Him.
The three Persons of the one God serve one another. Since God serves Himself, we act like God when we serve Him.
This brings up a distinction between serving God and having Him serve us. It is worship only when we serve Him. It seems that there are two ways to serve God together, and both are worship. But, one way is more personal worship and a bit better. In essence, this is the distinction between serving Jesus by asking Him to back us up and serving Jesus by following His lead.
We can serve God by seeing that something good needs to be done and asking Jesus to come along to help us. It is a whole different thing to follow Jesus when He asks us to come along and help Him. Both seem to be okay, but the latter is definitely superior.
There does not seem to be many situations in the gospels where Jesus showed up to help others while they were doing something good. Obviously, He must have. His first recorded miracle of turning water into wine is an example of Jesus “backing up” his mother who was trying to be helpful at the wedding. Therefore, it seems to be fine to ask Jesus to help out with situations that need our help. And, we should do this often. But, it should not be the only way to serve God.
Similarly, when we do good because we know that God asks us to through what we have learned from Scripture, that is a way of responding to God and serving Him. However, too often when we do this, we are not as conscious that we are being led by Jesus even though we are aware that we are acting as Christians should. And, there is nothing wrong with this, but it is more worshipful and higher spiritual life to see our obedience as being led by Jesus for some service in each particular time and situation. It is more personal. We are more aware of Jesus’s presence.
There is a mental difference between God helping us with what He wants done and us helping Him with what He is doing in the world. In a way, it is about who gets to direct the action and who empowers success. Biblical behavior and doing the good we need to do is very scriptural. But, it is still God at work. It is just more personal, less stressful, and dependently humble to serve God by listening for Jesus to give us work to do. Then, He is out front, not us.
If we are in line paying for purchases in a store, we know that we are following Jesus and biblical teachings to be friendly, perhaps even letting someone in a hurry go ahead of us in line. That is certainly serving God, and it should be done. In such a case we rely on the Lord to help us know what to say. He backs us up. But, if we were to let Jesus lead, we would be listening in our spirits for additional assignments, something more specific than that which would be dictated by scriptural principle. Perhaps He might ask us to compliment a person where only He would know that person had been discounted hurtfully just hours before.
Perhaps this seems like splitting hairs. However, it has to do with whose shoulders the weight of leadership falls on. If we are doing something we know needs done without a sense that Jesus is saying, “I am doing this through you. Follow me into action.”, the pressure of performing is more on our shoulders. But, if we hear Jesus tell us to do that same thing, then the weight of making it happen is on Him.
Let’s say the good work is repairing the dangerous porch steps of an elderly person. If we ask if Jesus wants us to do the repairs, do we envision Him backing us up or taking the lead and responsibility? We will have to do the same repair work, but recognizing that Jesus is going to do it can take away the fear of failure and increase confidence that He will be telling us how He wants problems solved that come up.
Another example might make this even clearer. Let’s say that a clear witness to the saving work of Christ needs to be given to a neighbor. If we see it that we have to come up with a plan and then Jesus will back us up, there is a lot more pressure. But, if Jesus puts it on our heart to witness and we are aware that He is taking the responsibility to make it happen, we can relax a bit and let Him pave the way.
The issue is whether Jesus is with us or we are with Jesus. Of course, both are true. But, where is the emphasis? Think of going down a path with Jesus. If He is with us, then He is at our side and we tend to think that we are deciding to take this or that direction at an intersection. If, however, we are with Him, it is easier to think of Him as being in the lead and follow Him.
Then he said to them all:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
We can follow Jesus and serve God through applying scriptural teachings to life, and we can also serve God by listening for Jesus to lead us into some service that we would not so naturally think of and do. This will probably be some act of goodness and faith that serves God’s important, perhaps unknowable, purposes. In this case, Jesus through the Holy Spirit will speak to our spirits.
It can be more effective to serve God by following Jesus with another Christian or two. We often think of being obedient to Scripture as individuals, even when we are with others. However, to do something for the service of God that requires two or three to decide to do it requires everyone hearing Jesus give the direction and say, “Follow me.” Such a call to action should be more credible.
Going back to our example of two Christian women shopping for groceries. It would be natural for each of them to individually be friendly to others in the store. But, if a situation arose that might need the involvement of Jesus, they would look at each other to confirm that Jesus was asking them to get involved and help Him. Situations that would require joint action might not be automatically recognized out of simple Bible obedience.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
It can be more effective to serve God by following Jesus with another Christian or two. We often think of being obedient to Scripture as individuals, even when we are with others. However, to do something for the service of God that requires two or three to decide to do it requires everyone hearing Jesus give the direction and say, “Follow me.” Such a call to action should be more credible.
Going back to our example of two Christian women shopping for groceries. It would be natural for each of them to individually be friendly to others in the store. But, if a situation arose that might need the involvement of Jesus, they would look at each other to confirm that Jesus was asking them to get involved and help Him. Situations that would require joint action might not be automatically recognized out of simple Bible obedience.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Central Baptist Church is in a small midwestern town of about 40,000 people. It has 200 members. When church leadership began asking the Lord what He wanted the church to do, they were surprised that they all became troubled about mass murders elsewhere in the country by solitary individuals as well as the first terrorist cells of radical and militant Islam. Then they asked in prayer if God wanted their small little congregation to do anything to prevent murders in their own small town.
As a result, Central Baptist has urged its small congregation to be on the lookout wherever they are for individuals who seem always to be alone and befriend them. The primary assignment is to bring them to faith, but they are also to be aware that someone might be struggling with a mental illness and need friendly help. Families have been instructed to meet and build relationships with other families, and while they show loving concern, to keep an eye out for kids who seem emotionally distant. This might, church leaders thought, just prevent a theater shooting like happened in Aurora, Colorado or a school massacre as happened in Colorado and Sandy Hook. As far as helping prevent terrorist attacks, all church members have been encouraged to spot tight-knit groups and approach them with the friendliness and love of Jesus Christ. Any alarming concerns that arise in Central Baptist’s community relationships are shared with an Outreach Committee that prays for lonely as well as suspicious people. This committee has an adviser assigned from the Police Department with whom to discuss serious concerns about possible violence. Following Central Baptist’s example, a megachurch in a nearby large city has adopted the same strategy for its 3,000 member congregation. It seems that God wants His people to serve Him in protecting the lives of innocent people. |
We know that we serve God by defeating Satan and the evil he has sown in the world. But, we also know that the devil is too strong for us working alone and will impede what we are trying to do for God. Therefore, we must serve God together. That way we are stronger than the evil one.
Imagine that we have a person at work we really like. But, that person is not heading for heaven and faces an eternal destiny without God in hell. One of us talks to her about God’s gift of salvation in Christ. Then Satan counters when an unbelieving friend of hers criticizes Christians and reminds her of how much she enjoys sexual encounters with different men. The possible success of an effective witness for Christ returns when the other one of us speaks to her of the peace and joy of knowing God personally. Two of us can get the message of salvation across to our unbelieving friend and stand up to the devil so that he will flee.
Since battling Satan must be done together, then we need to amp up our serving God in our Christian friendships as well as our Christian families and Christian marriages. God is waiting for us to ask Him for marching orders. He has much He wants to do through us in this world.
It is doubtful that church leadership will ever believe in church members enough to expect them to join together so that each person is on at least one team for the Lord’s use. Therefore, it is necessary for friendship groups, families, and marriages to hear that God commands that they serve Him as teams. Then they can go about listening to Jesus in prayer and circumstances to identify something to do for the glory of God and the help of others.
This might inspire church leaders to recruit friendship groups to take on the works of ministry inside and outside the church. An individual might see a request for a Sunday school teacher and consider it too much to bite off, but if approached within a friendship that person might consider doing it together with a friend because it would be easier and a lot of fun.
As said before, the list of things that can be done together in service to God are limitless. Any church should be able to come up with a number of “wish list” ministries that friendship groups, families, and marriages within the church could easily handle. Instead, the call for volunteers goes out for individuals and those opportunities for service seem too much to handle.
How often does a church leader see a need and not have a team of people to pass it off to? What if a family signed up to clean the home of a shut-in once a month? Or, better yet, two families who are close friends sign up to do that? What if the church asked every friendship group, every family and every marriage to sign up to serve the Lord in just one way?
If we can get church leadership to listen, let’s make the case for our organized church to equip the saints for works of service (Eph 4:12) in friendships, families and marriages.
If we cannot, let’s at least make sure our own Christian friendships, families and marriages ask God how He wants to be served.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Imagine that we have a person at work we really like. But, that person is not heading for heaven and faces an eternal destiny without God in hell. One of us talks to her about God’s gift of salvation in Christ. Then Satan counters when an unbelieving friend of hers criticizes Christians and reminds her of how much she enjoys sexual encounters with different men. The possible success of an effective witness for Christ returns when the other one of us speaks to her of the peace and joy of knowing God personally. Two of us can get the message of salvation across to our unbelieving friend and stand up to the devil so that he will flee.
Since battling Satan must be done together, then we need to amp up our serving God in our Christian friendships as well as our Christian families and Christian marriages. God is waiting for us to ask Him for marching orders. He has much He wants to do through us in this world.
It is doubtful that church leadership will ever believe in church members enough to expect them to join together so that each person is on at least one team for the Lord’s use. Therefore, it is necessary for friendship groups, families, and marriages to hear that God commands that they serve Him as teams. Then they can go about listening to Jesus in prayer and circumstances to identify something to do for the glory of God and the help of others.
This might inspire church leaders to recruit friendship groups to take on the works of ministry inside and outside the church. An individual might see a request for a Sunday school teacher and consider it too much to bite off, but if approached within a friendship that person might consider doing it together with a friend because it would be easier and a lot of fun.
As said before, the list of things that can be done together in service to God are limitless. Any church should be able to come up with a number of “wish list” ministries that friendship groups, families, and marriages within the church could easily handle. Instead, the call for volunteers goes out for individuals and those opportunities for service seem too much to handle.
How often does a church leader see a need and not have a team of people to pass it off to? What if a family signed up to clean the home of a shut-in once a month? Or, better yet, two families who are close friends sign up to do that? What if the church asked every friendship group, every family and every marriage to sign up to serve the Lord in just one way?
If we can get church leadership to listen, let’s make the case for our organized church to equip the saints for works of service (Eph 4:12) in friendships, families and marriages.
If we cannot, let’s at least make sure our own Christian friendships, families and marriages ask God how He wants to be served.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Alex, Theo, and Dominic eat lunch together most days at work. One day they share with one another what they each would like to do in heaven to serve God. Since all of them hire people for positions in their large corporation, they naturally think what their resumes need to look like when God assigns them their rewards of service in heaven. And, they realize that they better get busy if they want to be worthy of serving in heaven in the ways they each prefer.
Alex wants to build worship structures in heaven. He heads the Architectural Department at MJS, Incorporated. Theo wants to help people grow in their teamwork skills in heaven. He heads the Human Resources Department at MJS. Dominic would like to manage whatever complex project God assigns in heaven. He is a top project manager and on the fast track to become Chief Operations Officer at the company. Therefore, the three friends commit to keep one another on track in serving God, especially in letting God decide the service and listening for “orders from on high”. To take this up one level they decide to serve God together and begin listening for God to give the three of them a task to begin with. |
We might as well get good at serving God together because we will be doing so for all eternity in heaven. We don’t want to go to heaven and have to take a beginning course in “Serving God Together for His Glory”.
It is simple to know how to do things our way. But, it is two or three that have the promise that Jesus will be with them in a special way and show them corporately how to proceed. We need to learn this side of heaven how to work together with believers who have complimentary contributions to the service of God.
If it was normal for Jesus to assign tasks to groups of two or three disciples when He was here, it is more than likely that it will also be that way in heaven. Now is the time to escape the small thinking of individual service and let God tell us the larger things to do in our Christian friendships, families, and marriages. When this becomes natural and we are continually serving God together in this way with no expectation of ever stopping, not even retiring in our latter years, than we have prepared ourselves for heaven.
God has already spoken regarding all of the Togethers through the Scriptures that identify them. They are not just good ideas from God. In almost every case they are commands. Clearly, they are the way to love one another in our Christian Inner Circles and obey Jesus’ commandment.
It is simple to know how to do things our way. But, it is two or three that have the promise that Jesus will be with them in a special way and show them corporately how to proceed. We need to learn this side of heaven how to work together with believers who have complimentary contributions to the service of God.
If it was normal for Jesus to assign tasks to groups of two or three disciples when He was here, it is more than likely that it will also be that way in heaven. Now is the time to escape the small thinking of individual service and let God tell us the larger things to do in our Christian friendships, families, and marriages. When this becomes natural and we are continually serving God together in this way with no expectation of ever stopping, not even retiring in our latter years, than we have prepared ourselves for heaven.
God has already spoken regarding all of the Togethers through the Scriptures that identify them. They are not just good ideas from God. In almost every case they are commands. Clearly, they are the way to love one another in our Christian Inner Circles and obey Jesus’ commandment.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
John 15:12
Since God has already spoken about these 65 ways He wants us to love one another in our closest Christian relationships, this is the way to begin constant service of God together. Some of the Togethers will spur Christian friendships, families and marriages to take on good works God wants done outside of these close relationships. There will likely be good works assigned for the benefit of nonbelievers and secular society.
Almost all of the Togethers instruct how to do good things for God. Studying the Togethers will help us serve God His way. Serving God His way is all that will be done in heaven, so learning to do so before we die is great preparation for serving God in heaven.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Almost all of the Togethers instruct how to do good things for God. Studying the Togethers will help us serve God His way. Serving God His way is all that will be done in heaven, so learning to do so before we die is great preparation for serving God in heaven.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Mila noticed one thing right away as she entered heaven. There was no sin-static. She brought to heaven her automatic service to God which she had allowed the Holy Spirit to perfect in her back before death. But, now it was so wonderful to not feel any pull toward anything but the service of God. It was like that one trip to the deep desert at night when no sounds distracted her from just seeing the stars and Milky Way. What a joy now in heaven to just have unchallenged joy in serving God.
Then Mila received her reward. As she had delighted in the Lord so faithfully before, He was now giving her an assignment to serve Him in heaven that was the greatest desire of her heart. It was a place of service in the New Jerusalem that required a history of prior dedication to serving God in spite of everything else. And, it was no surprise to Mila that her place of service was with a team of others to produce glory to God greater than possible by individual service. That is the way it was before dementia took her out of such service her last few years before death. But, now! Mila’s joy is unmeasurable, and her smile shines most brightly from her service group at their wonderful task that pleases God seated on His throne. |
If we only know the joy of individual accomplishment for God’s glory, then we have really missed the boat. Serving God with other Christians, especially looking for ways to serve by asking, will qualify us for many great service opportunities in heaven. If we show God now that we can only serve Him independent of other believers, we let Him know that we are not qualified for most jobs in heaven.
Jesus trained a group rather than a collection of individuals to serve Him and carry on His work. We need to let Him train us similarly. There is a joy in working together for God’s glory that surpasses individual accomplishments. That is a major joy in heaven.
Whenever we have worked joyfully with others to plan a special birthday party for a loved family member or friend, we have come near to the joy in heaven of working together to glorify God. Even though God will be our greatest joy in heaven, the joy of working together for God’s enjoyment will be like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
Let’s learn now to serve God with our Christian friends, Christian families, and Christian spouses.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Jesus trained a group rather than a collection of individuals to serve Him and carry on His work. We need to let Him train us similarly. There is a joy in working together for God’s glory that surpasses individual accomplishments. That is a major joy in heaven.
Whenever we have worked joyfully with others to plan a special birthday party for a loved family member or friend, we have come near to the joy in heaven of working together to glorify God. Even though God will be our greatest joy in heaven, the joy of working together for God’s enjoyment will be like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
Let’s learn now to serve God with our Christian friends, Christian families, and Christian spouses.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
“Jesus came to us and spent hours just remembering times that my friends and I had served God after asking what Jesus wanted us to do back on earth. We were thrilled that He commended us for seeking assignments beyond mere biblical obedience.” (Question from journalist from the New Jerusalem Journal.) “Yes, it was wonderful to have our Lord spend so much time with us. At times, He just sat back and seemed to enjoy just being with us.”
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Imagine a child who does his or her chores without having to be asked or prodded. That is like a Christian who serves God by obeying Scripture. Now, imagine a child who comes to his or her parent and says he or she has time to do something beyond normal chores and asks what the parent would like done. That is like a Christian who serves God by asking Jesus to tell her or him whenever He wants something done.
That parent will find joy in relating to either child, but there will be additional appreciation for the child who asks how he or she can serve beyond normal. It will most likely be the same in heaven.
But, let’s not stop there. Now, imagine two siblings going to the parent asking what extra could be done to serve the parent and aid the family. Maybe even three siblings. That would take loving concern for the workload of the parent. Think about how good that would feel if you were the parent. Think about how good God feels when we ask Him what we can do to serve Him in our friendship groups, families and marriages, when we are concerned about His workload.
When Jesus was on earth, as recorded in the gospels, He seldom met with one disciple alone. So, it is quite likely that it will be the same in heaven. It is quite likely that He will more often seek out those friendship groups, families, and marriages that made themselves available to serve God in the sinful world before death?
Let’s make ourselves available for out-of-the-ordinary service now when there are many distractions so that we can enjoy Jesus more often in heaven.
That parent will find joy in relating to either child, but there will be additional appreciation for the child who asks how he or she can serve beyond normal. It will most likely be the same in heaven.
But, let’s not stop there. Now, imagine two siblings going to the parent asking what extra could be done to serve the parent and aid the family. Maybe even three siblings. That would take loving concern for the workload of the parent. Think about how good that would feel if you were the parent. Think about how good God feels when we ask Him what we can do to serve Him in our friendship groups, families and marriages, when we are concerned about His workload.
When Jesus was on earth, as recorded in the gospels, He seldom met with one disciple alone. So, it is quite likely that it will be the same in heaven. It is quite likely that He will more often seek out those friendship groups, families, and marriages that made themselves available to serve God in the sinful world before death?
Let’s make ourselves available for out-of-the-ordinary service now when there are many distractions so that we can enjoy Jesus more often in heaven.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matt 25:21
You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matt 25:21
“Come and share your master’s happiness!” Did you notice that in the above verse. Doesn’t that sound like an invitation to a special moment? Don’t we want that in heaven? Sure we do. Therefore, to be invited to share in our Lord’s happiness, let’s work together in being faithful in service together now.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Holy Father in heaven, the only One worth serving, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to serve You individually and together through the many Togethers of Scripture in such a way that we honor You and not to get something back from You. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we serve You and be fully satisfied by the joy that brings.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and contentedly serve You all of the time. As You did, Lord Jesus, bring us to serve the Father in more ways together with other Christians. Assign and equip us to do the harder things for Your glory that require more than one of us.
May our lives worship You more because our service is not done out of duty, but out of love with the full desire that it brings You honor and joy. May the joy of the Lord be our strength in that bringing You joy gives us desire, obedience, energy and determination. Thank You for the opportunity to make even the most mundane things of our lives a service to You for Your glory.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by remembering that he is too strong to resist independent of other Christians. In Your service, remind us to bring others into Your war with Satan to act with us or, at least, to pray for us as we march against the gates of hell. Lord, my Christian friendships, my family, and my marriage need help from You to listen for Your larger assignments that require more than individual effort. Let us be willing to serve You in the power of “together service”. Make us brave in battle for Your glory.
Serving You to give you honor, glory and worship is the life of heaven that will fill us with so much joy. Therefore, help me and everyone in my Christian Inner Circle to develop spirits that experience pure joy when we serve You.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Holy Father in heaven, the only One worth serving, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to serve You individually and together through the many Togethers of Scripture in such a way that we honor You and not to get something back from You. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we serve You and be fully satisfied by the joy that brings.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and contentedly serve You all of the time. As You did, Lord Jesus, bring us to serve the Father in more ways together with other Christians. Assign and equip us to do the harder things for Your glory that require more than one of us.
May our lives worship You more because our service is not done out of duty, but out of love with the full desire that it brings You honor and joy. May the joy of the Lord be our strength in that bringing You joy gives us desire, obedience, energy and determination. Thank You for the opportunity to make even the most mundane things of our lives a service to You for Your glory.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by remembering that he is too strong to resist independent of other Christians. In Your service, remind us to bring others into Your war with Satan to act with us or, at least, to pray for us as we march against the gates of hell. Lord, my Christian friendships, my family, and my marriage need help from You to listen for Your larger assignments that require more than individual effort. Let us be willing to serve You in the power of “together service”. Make us brave in battle for Your glory.
Serving You to give you honor, glory and worship is the life of heaven that will fill us with so much joy. Therefore, help me and everyone in my Christian Inner Circle to develop spirits that experience pure joy when we serve You.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.