What A Privilege!
Ephesians 3:7-8

Barclay points out that Paul's greatest glory was the call of God to minister to the people of God. Today, if we took a poll, there would be those who gloried in their accomplishments, their jobs, their popularity and their material possessions. My question to you is, "What do you glory in?" It is so easy to place our worth in the things of this world, or the opinions of others. However, the things of this world will all pass away. The opinions of others will change. The same people that put you up today will, no doubt, put you down tomorrow!

Psalms 118:8 is so true, "It is better to put your trust in God than your confidence in men"! Paul considered it a privilege to be in the service of the Lord. It is so important that we understand this wonderful privilege. It is so often taken for granted. In order to get some people to work in the Church, you almost have to corner them to get them to accept—and even then, they do it with reluctance. Paul did not have to be coerced. He considered it a privilege.

The work that we do, regardless of how big or small it may appear, ought to be done out of love for our Lord! 2 Corinthians 6:1 explains, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” We are working together with Christ! We are not all called to be ministers of the gospel, but whatever our call might be, we are to abide by our calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 reminds us that the Lord “Hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”.

Paul said in Ephesians 3:7, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power." When Paul was saved, he was given the gift of grace to be a minister of Christ. Your salvation ought to be the chief motivator which causes you to do the work of the Lord. No one should ever have to be coerced to work for the Lord. You may not be able to preach like Paul or sing like an angel; but whatever you are able to do, you ought to do it!1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

I visited a beautiful church in Barrington, IL. What a beautiful building! I thought of how exciting it would be to minister at such a church. Not only did they have the manpower, but they also had this beautiful building to worship in. I drooled as I looked at the beautiful building.

I thought to myself, "Wow, think about all the exciting things that you can do for the Lord having such resources available!" But as I began to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to me while preparing this message, I had to confess that, if we didn't have anything more than a one-room closet, as long as we have been chosen by God to do a work for Him there, we ought to do it to His glory!

Church, this is where the power in ministry is! Little becomes much when placed in the Master's hands. Paul said in 1 Tim. 1:12, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” We want more, under the guise that we can do more with more, when what we really need is to do the best we can with what we have!

You may not be able to engage in ministry on a full time basis. Nevertheless, rather than get discouraged, minister to those that you come in contact with on the job. It doesn't mean you take your six-foot Bible to work and instead of working, you are cornering other employees and witnessing to them in the hallways. What it means is that you are doing your job to God's glory so that He is honored on your job. You are doing what Christ called you to do when He said in Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

In return, when God sends someone to you on the job, at the grocery store, at the mall, or wherever you find yourself, you've got a wonderful testimony going so that you have earned the right to tell them about your Power Source— a Power Source that enables you to have joy despite work conditions, one that enables you to have peace that surpasses their understanding! It's all about Jesus!

If you are not working, let your job be reaching people in the malls or your neighborhood with the message of Christ. Sometimes, there are people who we know are hurting in the congregation. Adopt them and agree to pray for them daily until the Lord moves in their life. The ability to minister is a gift of the grace of God that is given to us by the effectual working of God's power. It’s not all preaching! It is not all teaching! It is not all singing!

Ephesians 4:11-12 said, “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers: for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” Paul possessed a trait which, sometimes as our churches grow, we often forget—even as pastors. He had a humility that was deep and intense when he thought about his unworthiness before God. He was humbled at the thought that God loved him enough to bestow the privilege to minister to His people! Paul's relationship with Christ caused him to become a dynamic witness and evangelist for Christ. In a like manner, our relationship with Christ ought to have the same impact in our lives.

Maybe you’re saying, “But Pastor, why isn’t it happening for me?” Well, there are two things that can prevent the outpouring of God’s grace upon us. First of all, it is a struggle for us to understand the importance of being a servant. Ever since The Fall in the Garden of Eden, we have become self-centered and have frowned on the idea of being a servant. Our society has taught us the importance of being Number One. As a result, no one wants to be a servant. We fail to understand that the ability to be a servant is a gift from God.

The second thing that makes it difficult is that we need to take action as soon as we realize the magnitude of God’s investment in us. Paul became a servant of the gospel instantly when the revelation came to him. He said, “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.” (Ephesians 3:2-3)

The “administration of God’s grace” was the outpouring of grace to Paul when the mystery of the Church was given to Paul! Some people are like the man in Matthew 25:18. Instead of using his talent, he buried it. If you know the Lord and have been blessed with a gift, use it! When you use what God has blessed you with for His glory, there is a connection with the power of God so much so that your gift is blessed and He multiplies your gift! What a privilege!

God’s invitation to receive the grace to become a servant of the gospel is met sometimes with great struggle—just like the travail experienced during childbirth. John 16:21 reminds us: “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembered no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”

Even though I didn’t experience the physical pain, men, I love my wife, and there was pain in seeing her go through the agony of childbirth, while realizing there was nothing that I could do but be there! But after birth took place, if you asked us if we would do it again, there would be no hesitation, because we’re both proud of the son God has blessed us with!

Sometimes, there is a struggle as our old sin nature tries to resurface as we grow stronger in the Lord; but after each struggle, we can focus only on the wonderful privilege He has blessed us with to become a part of the family of God!

When you see the glory of serving the Lord and you understand His power to save, you don’t care if it hurts sometimes—when we’re let down, or face heartaches that occur sometimes from dealing with people. For it’s worth it all, knowing that we’ve been chosen to be His servants! What a marvelous privilege!

If I can throw a single ray of light across the darkened pathway of another; if I can aid some soul to clearer sight of life and duty, and thus bless my brother; if I can wipe from any human cheek a tear, I shall not have lived my life in vain while here.

If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty; if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty; if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.

If from my mind I banish doubt and fear, and keep my life attuned to love and kindness; if I can scatter light and hope and cheer, and help remove the curse of mental blindness; if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.

If by life's roadside I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest, though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blest—though no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.


Sunday, April 15, 2007
Bibleway Ministries