First the Kingdom 19, Workers together with God

While everything around us seems to be falling apart, we have hope in Christ! That hope is not only in the promise of a better existence after this life, but also of a chance to have a better life now! Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly! While everything that can be shaken is being shaken, that which cannot be shaken is the Kingdom of God! We have been considering what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God, and what happens when we do just that!

Many people do not believe that there is much hope for a better life now. Others are determined to have a better life for themselves now at all cost. I submit that your best life now is a life of serving and giving of yourself to the benefit of others. I submit that Jesus has a perfect plan for you and a place where you can serve others for the glory of God and the joy of pleasing Him.

Consider the apostle Paul. What an inspiration he was for scores of generations to follow. His was a life of purpose and a passion to fulfill that purpose. He declared himself to be a fellow worker with God!

How would you like that honor? You do not have to be a missionary to foreign lands like Paul, or the leader of a local congregation, but you do have a purpose for which God has saved you. In that purpose you can have the same level of passion and joy in service that was in Paul and many others who were so touched by Jesus Himself.

First of all let’s get something clear. The man behind the pulpit is not “The Minister.” He and other leaders are called to serve other members in the Body of Christ and to equip them for ministry! We are all called to minister which means to serve. Jesus said that the greater one is the servant of all. Those who have a vision of the kingdom of God begin to see a purpose in their serving that is greater than one can imagine. They see the increase of the Kingdom of God in every act of love, kindness, or encouragement. They see the building up of the Body of Christ as a part of building up the Kingdom of God in the earth.

In Romans from chapters eight to eleven, Paul made some fantastic declarations concerning what God was going to do for people, through people and in His creation. At the end of chapter eleven, he becomes overwhelmed by these considerations and breaks out in praise to God!

Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

NASB

Then in chapter 12 he begins to plead with the church by reason of what has been said before. “I beg of you therefore…..”

These opening verses of chapter 12 are well known and often memorized and quoted. But how often are they connected with the great purpose that was stated earlier? Paul is saying, “Because of the wonderful plan of God for His creation, here is what I hope you will do. Why? Because you have a part in that plan!”

In Paul’s letters there is a heavy emphasis on the sovereignty of God and His amazing divine plan of the ages. Because of this some conclude that there is absolutelly nothing for us but to witness the unfolding of that plan. We could assume this to be so if not for the fact that Paul himself labored consistently and passionately in the Kingdom of God. In each of his writings he also gave equal space to encourage others to do the same in their own capacity and sphere of influence.

Human beings were created by God with great potential. They were to rule the earth by His authority and in His image. They were to expand His kingdom by multiplying and filling the earth with people who also reflect His image. That potential was seriously limited after they s[...]