CHRISTIANS SERVING CHRIST    (Part 6)        

 

Bible Passage: Acts 26: 15-23.

Memory Verse:  “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” Deut. 10: 12. (NIV).

 

LESSON OBJECTIVE  

We should, at the end of the Study, have come to understand that faithfulness affects fruitfulness.             

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

Unclean services have never, and will never, be acceptable to God. It is a complete waste of our time, effort and resources.

 

LESSON OUTLINE 1: FEAR, OBEDIENCE AND HOLINESS IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

 

How are we to serve God?

 

i). A true child of God will serve Him with reverence and awe (=”fear” of God), and in holiness. Hebr. 12: 28-29; I Pet. 1: 15-16.

ii). It is more acceptable to God that we serve Him in obedience rather than think we can “confuse” Him, or cover up our misdeeds, by offering sacrifices to Him in disobedience.  King Saul thought he could twist God’s commands to satisfy his greed.  I Sam. 15: 1-3; 20-22.

iii). There are many examples in the Scriptures of people who served God in obedience and holiness.  See Hebr. 11: 4-5 for some of them.

 

What are the benefits of having the fear of God in one’s life?

 

LESSON OUTLINE 2: PURITY OF THE MOTIVE & FAITHFULNESS IN THE LORD’S SERVICE.

i). Services rendered unto God must be with pure motives.

Compare Paul’s obedience and service in Acts 26: 19-20 with King Saul’s idea of obedience in I Sam. 15: 22.

ii). Serving the Lord with ulterior motives will receive damnation as reward.

See II Pet. 2: 15-17.

iii). God’s servants are expected to serve Him faithfully, and to the end. Rev. 2: 10.

 

LESSON OUTLINE 3: FRUITFULNESS AND “PERSONAL REFINING” (=”SACRIFICES”) IN THE LORD’S SERVICE

i). The goal of every servant is to bear fruit that will remain. See John 15: 16.

ii). Fruit bearing depends on the level of “refining” (or personal sacrifice) the person undergoes.

See Isa 48: 10 for the principle, and II Cor. 11: 22-33 for an illustration.

iii). A fruitless servant is like a fruitless tree, and such a tee (or servant) shall be cut down and discarded.  See John 15: 1-2.

 

What are those factors that could hinder a servant from bearing fruits that abide?

 

SUMMARY

Believers who serve the Lord faithfully to the end are crowned with the crown of righteousness on the last day. 2 Tim. 4: 7-8.