SIX REASONS WHY WE SHOULD SERVE THE LORD WITH ZEAL AND NOT WITH LAZINESS: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ABOUT THE CHURCH
Charles e Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher-Expositor of the Word
Read the Text, Give meaning of the Text, Make application of the Text
Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord KJV
Amplified: Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.
Moffatt: “Never let your zeal flag, maintain the spiritual glow, serve the Lord"
NLT: Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Phillips: Let us not allow slackness to spoil our work and let us keep the fires of the spirit burning, as we do our work for God.
Wuest: with respect to zeal, not lazy; fervent in the sphere of the Spirit, serving the Lord
Young's Literal: in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;
Serving (1398) (douleuo from doulos = slave or one who is in bondage or bound to another, in the state of being completely controlled by someone or something) means to be in bondage or in the position of servant and to act accordingly, dutifully obeying the master's commands.
One who lives as a doulos to His Lord, is a bondservant who is surrendered wholly to His Master's will and devoted to Him to the disregard of his own interest. Paul exhibited this mindset and was not his own but understood he had been bought with the price of the blood of the One Whom He lovingly served. He recognized that he was now the property of the Lord Jesus Christ and was to be exclusively His slave. No man can serve two masters (Mt 6:24). We were all once slaves of Sin by our birth into Adam's likeness, but now we are privileged to be slaves of Christ by our new birth. As His slaves we are to allow our will to be swallowed up" in His perfect will.
Lord (2962) (kurios) means lord, master, owner or the one who has absolute ownership power. Jesus is referred to some ten times as Savior and some seven hundred times as Lord. Supreme in Authority. Kurios translates Jehovah (LORD in OT) in Septuagint (LXX) 7000 times.
THE RIGHT ATTTIUDE ABOUT THE LOCAL CHURCH IS:
It's not "my church" it is the Lord's church. Second Chronicles 20:15, 17; Acts 4:24-27, 29.
Serve the Lord, not yourselves, it's not your cause, but Christ
THE ARGUMENT AND MOTIVE FOR SERVING THE LORD ARE:
1. KNOW YOU ARE HIS SLAVE:
First Timothy 1:13, Second Corinthians 6:2, 19-20
2. KNOW THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF SERVING THE LORD
3. KNOW IT IS A WONDERFUL WAY IN WHICH TO SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE TO GOD:
First Corinthians 11:10, Psalms 116:12
4. GOD'S HONOR IS INVOLVED IN ALL THIS.
We are joined with Christ, Christ is involved in our lives.
You cannot act as an individual, or isolate yourself. You are part of a group called the Church.
Know why the world hates the church? Because we are slothful andl make no impact in the world.
First Peter 2:11-12, Matthew 5:16
Remember we are serving the Lord and not ourselves.
5. JESUS CHRIST THE LORD, HIS EYES ARE ALWAYS UPON US.
Hebrews 4:13 and Second Corinthians 5:11.
Being a Christian and a Bond-Slave of Christ is no private matter. You cannot live or get outside the scope of His all seeing eye.
6. FINAL APPEAL: WHY WE MUST GET UP AND NEVER LAG BEHIND IN OUR SERVICE:
Second Corinthians 5:11 tells us why? Read. WE WILL STAND BEFORE THE LORD
Summary
This indolent, slothful, slack, half-hearted way of doing things, vs. using all our energy, and maintaining the glow in the spirit, alive and alert in our service to the Lord.
