The Gift of Serving Others

 

A person with the motivational Gift of Serving Others has been given by the Holy Spirit the God given desire, ability and power to give practical assistance to the members of Christ’s body specifically and to all people generally. This type of practical assistance can be seen in the story found in Exodus 17:10-13 which says, “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up– one on one side, one on the other– so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”

 

 

 

Aaron and Hur both demonstrated the gift of service when they held up the hands of Moses. The story of their service calls us to take a deeper dive into their motivation. When we look at the word Paul used to describe this gift he used the Greek word diakonos.

 

 

 

The word diakonos directly speaks to someone who executes the commands of another. There are times, like in the Exodus 17 story, when the act of service is neither required, asked for or suggested. This motivational gift moves people to serve. Without thinking about it these wonderfully gifted people see themselves as being a servant, attendant, deacon or minister.

 

 

 

A person motivated by grace to serve others is determined to demonstrate the love and grace of God by meeting practical needs. Sadly, many of these people feel that they are lacking spiritually because of where their attention is drawn to. But the opposite is true. Jesus said that the best thing testimony we can share is revealed in serving others.

 

 

 

Many people who have the motivational gift of serving enjoy doing for others and seeing projects (that benefit others) all the way to the end. To such a person, serving others means serving God. These folks are the example of the statement of Dr. Billy Graham who said, “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service.”

 

 

 

The Christian life is not limited to the vertical dimension of praise, prayer and interaction with the Holy Spirit. It’s not only about lifting your hands up toward heaven. The Christian life (and the Gift of Serving Others) must never stop stretching hands out for the purpose of lifting others up. Being a Christian is not about knowing the words of the Bible but never following what it says. Those with the gift of service want all of us to be doers of the Word. In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren said this about the gift of serving. He said, “the last thing many believers need today is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they are putting into practice. What they need are serving experiences in which they can exercise their spiritual muscles.”

 

 

 

History tells us that in every age there comes a time when God’s people step forward to meet the needs of the hour. In such a moment, it is imperative that those with the Gift of Serving Others step forward from the crowd. Serving others gives everyone an opportunity to better mankind. The opportunity may be larger than your talents or abilities. It may stretch you beyond anything you have walked through before. Because even though the solution may appear as large as the world, the answer begins with one person serving and that person is you!

 

 

 

If you have the Gift of Serving Others I encourage you to try and make these wise words from The Leader of the Future by C. William Pollard yours. Pollard said, “A servant leader’s results will be measured beyond the workplace, and the story will be told in the changed lives of others. There is no scarcity of feet to wash. The towels and water are available. The limitation is our ability to get on our hands and knees and be prepared to do what we ask others to do.”

 

The Fruit that Flows from Love

 

The Holy Spirit flowed through the pen of the apostle. He wanted the Church in Galatia to know that the fruit of the Spirit is love and that from that marvelous, wondrous and everlasting agape flows fruit that testifies of the goodness, grace and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. That testimony begins with unspeakable joy and peace beyond human understanding. Paul had used joy and peace in addition to righteousness in his letter to the Romans (Romans 14). The word translated “joy” is from the Greek word chara (khar-ah’) and literally speaks to the joy and gladness others receive from the Lord or from an occasion of joy. The root word of chara is chairo (khah’-ee-ro) meaning to rejoice, be glad, to rejoice exceedingly or to give one greeting or salute.

Added to such joy, wonderful joy is the peace that passes understanding. Using the Greek word eirene (i-ray’-nay), Paul chooses to such to declare that we who are “in the Spirit” can live in a state of spiritual and emotional tranquility. By using the word eirene Paul wants his readers to know that they have an exemption from the rage and havoc of war and the struggle that comes with it. Such peace comes with the promise of security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous). Thus, the peace experienced out of the Spirit’s love for us is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation in Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.

 

Paul’s next triad of fruit is patience, kindness and goodness. Wayne Field in his message on The Fruit of the Spirit: Signs of Life – the Marks of Vibrant Living says the key point for all of us today, especially when it comes to patience, kindness and goodness, is to remember this, it takes the power of God to produce the character of God. Whereas human patience, kindness and goodness have their limitations, God’s is unlimited – endless, infinite, boundless, immeasurable. You don’t need to “try harder” to be more patient or kind or good. If you want a higher patience – you need to plug into a higher power.

 

In other words, we need to be filled full of the Holy Spirit and manifesting His patience, kindness and goodness. The word translated patience in the New International Version is translated as “long-suffering” in the KJV and other versions. Long-suffering comes from the Greek word makrothumia (mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah). Makrothumia is a compound of two words (Makro and thumia). When they are put together the word means patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, longsuffering and slowness in avenging wrongs.

 

Kindness (or gentleness in the KJV) is from the word chrestotes (khray-stot’-ace) and means moral goodness or integrity. As a fruit of the Spirit, kindness means to exude the quality of being honest and fair as well as to possess the state of being complete or whole by being full of God. Kindness also speaks to “being of the same kind.” It is a group of people that belong together or have some shared quality (like salvation).

 

Goodness is next. The English name Agatha comes from this Greek word (agathosune). The word means to have uprightness of heart and life and is from the Greek root agathos (ag-ath-os’) which means to be of a good constitution or nature, to be useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, excellent, upright and honorable.

 

Paul’s last triad concerning the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Faithfulness here is the same as faith (KJV). In both instances the Greek word is: pistis (pis’-tis). In the Word of God, faithfulness is the conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with the expectation of reward (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is having the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things; He is the provider and One who bestows eternal salvation through Christ Jesus. With such comes the idea of fidelity and faithfulness or the character of one who can be relied on to follow through.

 

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for (Hebrews 11:1-2). 

 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). 

 

Gentleness (Meekness-KJV) is used twice by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. His use of the word has to do with the correction he tried his best to give to the believers in his letters. In 1 Corinthians 4:21 he wrote, “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” And in 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul said, “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance describes gentleness as mildness and meekness. It means to have a mild disposition and a gentle of spirit.

 

Self-control is sometimes called temperance. Temperance (egkrateia) is an old Greek word from stemming from egkratês. It means to be one who is holding control of one’s self or having self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites. This word is found in the New Testament only twice. It is used in this passage and in 2 Peter 1:6. Paul has a better list than the four cardinal virtues of the Greek Stoics (temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice), though they are included with better notes struck. Temperance is alike, but kindness is better than justice, long-suffering than fortitude, love than prudence.

 

The fruit of the Spirit is the result of agape. A life full of agape results in a person being able to manifest the character and grace of the Holy Spirit in practical ways. It is His fruit being manifested in, through and from our lives as we abide in the Vine (the Lord Jesus Christ) and are cared for and cultivated by the Husbandman (the Heavenly Father–read John 15:1-7).

Let us pray to be filled full and running over with the Spirit so that we might manifest the fruit of the Spirit to everyone around us. In doing so, Jesus will be lifted up and glorified. This will result in the Spirit drawing men to the Savior and enduing them with eternal life.

 

I love you,

 

Robert

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The Altar’ed Life: Filled with Agape Love

In my soon to be released book titled, The Altar of His Presence, I speak about the necessity of one being willing to wholly and completely seek the Lord. This is in keeping with the words of Jesus. He said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

An example of the precept Jesus said that day is found in Psalm 63:1-4. These are the words of King David. He said, “A psalm of David. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

What is the result of such? What should we expect when we completely embrace the full and glorious manifested Presence of God? This may sound simple. But, we should expect the manifestation of the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Before we get into the gifts of the Spirit, let me first speak concerning the fruit.

The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit is a result of our constant state of abiding in Christ. The concept of “abiding in Christ” includes two things according to the Apostle Paul. He said in Galatians 5:24-25, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Full fruit manifestation is only possible by dying to the sinful nature and living in the Spirit. Such “abiding” is from a concept formed from an old English word signifying a progressive and permanent attitude of being. The word abide means to “await,” “remain,” “lodge,” “sojourn,” “dwell,” “continue,” and “endure.” The word abide is usually the translation of the Hebrew and Greek words yashabh (Hebrew), meaning “to dwell”; and meno, (Greek) meaning “to remain.”

During the time that Jesus was on the earth, the area around Jerusalem was filled with small vineyards. The cultivation of those vineyards required constant care or the vines, branches and fruit would soon degenerate. Whenever it rained the loosely made walls were required to have breaches repaired; the ground had to be plowed or harrowed and cleared of weeds. When the grapes ripened they had to be watched to keep off jackals and foxes (Song of Solomon 2:15), and in some districts even wild boars (Psalm 80:13) away.

When the grape season came, the whole family of the owner frequently took up their residence in a booth constructed upon one of the larger towers and remained there until the grape harvest was practically finished. Harvest time was a time of special happiness. Even the end of harvest time was filled with joy because the gleanings were left to the poor of the village or town (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:21; Isaiah 17:6; Jeremiah 49:9; and Micah 7:1) to have and enjoy.

The activity of developing the fruit of the Spirit is not limited to the service, ministry or supernatural gifts. The fruit that produces moral and spiritual character is traced to the Spirit’s operations as well. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit are expressions pointing to the ethical quality of the Spirit’s action. The ethical quality of dying to the sinful nature and then living in the Spirit is true holiness.

The word holy is from the Hebrew verb form qadhash, whose root meaning is “to be separated.” From qadhash comes the idea “to be exalted,” and this led to the conception “to be Divine.” And as the Lord is morally good, the conception of “the holy (= Divine) one” came to signify the holy one in the moral sense. Thence the word was applied to the Spirit of the Lord as well as to the Lord Himself.

The Holy Spirit desires to manifest the first of His first triad of fruit, the fruit of agape (love). Agape is superior to other kinds of love. The Greeks described love in the terms of philo (brotherly love) and eros (romantic love). The Bible uses the word agape to describe  God’s love. God’s love is faithful, unconditional and eternal. Paul described agape in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in this way; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

The Easton Bible Dictionary says the word agape must be understood in the light of its use by our Lord in his interview with “Simon, the son of Jonas.” After His resurrection in John 21:16-17, our Lord asked Peter (Simon, the son of Jonas), “Do you love me?” Jesus used the Greek word agape; but when Simon answered the question, he used the Greek word philo, i.e., “brotherly love.”

Jesus used agape in both His first and second questions put to Peter; but in the third our Lord used Simon’s word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench. Agape speaks more to one’s judgment and deliberate choice; whereas, philo has more the idea of emotional attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus, the question, “Do you love” (agapas) from the lips of the Lord no doubt seemed to Peter to be too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the passionate yearning of his heart he desired now to do.

Therefore, Peter substitutes his own word “I love” (philo) in its place. A second time he did the same thing. When the Lord demands a third time whether or not Peter loves him, Jesus does it in the word which alone will satisfy Peter (“Do you love (philo) me, which alone claims from him that personal attachment and affection with which indeed he knows that his heart is full.”

The fruit of the Spirit is agape. In other words, agape loves whether or not there is the feeling of emotional attachment or affection. Agape is love based on a decision and that decision is the decision “to love.” Because God is eternally the same, when He chose “to love” the world He gave. This is because agape can only be witnessed by one’s actions. Agape shines when all other loves fail. Agape remains when brotherly love and romantic love have drifted away.

The Lord Himself…agapas…us and His love never fails!

His love is constant and never ending. So is love born as the fruit of the Spirit. Our first love (agape) must be the Lord. In fact, the Church at Ephesus was exhorted in Revelation 2:4 to return to the Lord because the people had lost their “first love.”

Let us decide to embrace, enjoy and encourage the Lord and then others with agape love.

Choose to do so today! Let the Spirit’s agape blossom and grow in your life! In Jesus’ Name!

Robert

 

Rise and Shine!

When an old pair of jeans becomes really worn around the knees, holes develop in the material exposing the skin beneath. The holes cause the skin to “show through.” In a similar way, as we are filled continually with the Holy Spirit, bring our lives into alignment with God’s Word and become like Jesus, His life becomes our way of life. What follows is both dynamic and exciting. The inward life given to us by the Holy Spirit will begin to show out. What things begin to shine? The fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit being manifested in, through and from our lives is the way the Lord Jesus Christ has chosen to reveal the grace, the goodness and the glory of God to others. He doesn’t write a big fiery sign in the sky with His finger. He doesn’t dispatch a host of angelic beings to evangelize the lost and dying. He simply reveals Himself by shining His light through us.

There are two instances of the actual light of God shining out and through in the Scriptures. The first happened with Moses. Exodus 34:28-30 says, “Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.”

This is an amazing story. For the light was not shining “on” Moses, but rather, the light was shining “from” him. His body and clothes were irradiated as like a proverbial light bulb. Dim light would not have caused the Israelites to be amazed and frightened. I believe the light of God’s manifested Presence was brighter than the sun and illuminated everything and everyone around him.

There is an even greater manifestation in Matthew 17. The ministry of Jesus had reached critical mass. Jesus and His disciples had spent almost three years traveling throughout the countryside. His glorious power manifested by healing the sick, raising the dead and setting the captive free. But as Jesus climbed the mountain with His three confidants a change was in the air. His eyes were focused and His jaw set. He knew the time had come for Him to focus on His destiny. 

The coming months would move Him to alter the direction of the human race. A faceoff was coming. Darkness and light. Good and evil. Sin and righteousness. Offering Himself on the cross would pay the price for sin. His resurrection would enable those who would come to believe in His Name to be free from the penalty, power and presence of sin and be enabled to live in respect to righteousness.

As He took His last steps to the top of the mountain, Jesus became fully and completely given to prayer. Suddenly, a cloud (similar to the one in Exodus) manifested filling the atmosphere with glorious light. Holy gladness and celestial radiance exploded from Him and then blazed in every direction around Jesus and His disciples. At that moment, Moses and Elijah appeared and began speaking with Him about the coming events.

According to the Gospel writers, the manifestation of the cloud of glory caused His countenance to be altered and His clothes to both shine as bright as the noon day sun and glisten as freshly fallen snow. The light was not being shone upon Him, but from Him. The glorious light of God exploded out of Him from within. He was completely irradiated. His Person blazed in celestial glory. What a contrast to that which would come in a few months. Isaiah had seen what was coming and declared prophetically that at the Cross, “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14).”

I believe the Lord’s transfiguration was an expansion of Moses’ experience on Mt. Sinai and a precursor to His own resurrection. It was also a forerunner to what happens to us spiritual when we come to the saving knowledge of His grace, repent and confess Jesus as our Lord. Paul told the Corinthians that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory, transitory though it was. He tells us that the glory, which Moses and Israel experienced, has no comparison with the surpassing glory that we experience. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

The glory of which Paul and I speak was spoken by Jesus in John 15.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5) 

What was Jesus saying? He said that as we abide, dwell and live in His Presence we are constantly being filled fully (controlled and changed from glory to glory) with the Holy Spirit. Fruit, His fruit, the fruit of the Spirit will  then be manifested in, through and from our lives.  In other words, if we could “see” into the realm of the Spirit, we would “see” God’s light shining out from us just as the skin is shows out from a tear in a pair of jeans.

This same light is shining in a literal manifestation for others to see. It is being manifested as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  We who live and walk in the Spirit have been given a manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty to produce His fruit. It is then up to us as to whether we will open our lives to the Spirit’s manifestation of His fruit.

If we do…a glorious shining begins to take place…in, through and from our lives. In the coming weeks my blog will explain how the fruit of the Spirit is manifested and how His fruit will change our lives as well as the lives of those around us. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

I love you!

Robert