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Serve by the Spirit
(Eph4:11-12; Php3:3)
God is the Rewarder (Ge15:1; He11:6).
He eternally rewards those who serve Him and
He rewards according to their labor (1Co3:8; Rev22:12).
Faith is believing Him and
The life of this faith is, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward,
Serving as a faithful steward of God’s grace (Php3:14; 1Pe4:9-11).
There are those who consider worship, service or minister as virtue or honor, and
This is because they actually know what honor is.
The history of the Bible is the story of God calling men to serve and rewarding them.
Jacob served his uncle for 20 years and he left not empty-handed (Ge31:41-42).
After 430 years of slavery, Israel left Egypt with its treasures (Ex12:35-36).
While the Law commanded them to serve the LORD (Dt6:13, 13:4) and
Do it joyfully and gladly (Dt28:46-48),
God commanded them to build the sanctuary (Ex25:1)
With the offerings that they willingly gave (Ex25:2, 35:21-29, 36:3-7)
So they serve Jehovah (Nu8:10-11).
On behalf of the children of Israel
The Levites, the priests were set apart to be named ministers of Jehovah (Is61:6).
Instead of the inheritance of land, they were given food offerings as their share due (Dt18:1-3).
The fall of Israel came, however, because of the corruption of the priests who,
Rather than serving honorably, showed contempt for the name of Jehovah (Mal1:6-8, 3:12-14).
Yeshua, said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19-21),
There would be change and He would become the minister of the Father (He7:12):
• Jehovah—the God of Israel by flesh and blood—the Law—the earthly sanctuary/ the Levites/ animal sacrifice—serving in fear and out of formality;
• Yeshua—the God of souls of all nations—the Truth—His body/ His blood/ the eternal high priest—willingly (Jn10:17-18).
But He was resented by the priests at the time (Mt27:1) who passed Him over to death.
However, as He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Gave His life to serve and became the Father’s high priest (He8:1-3);
2) Judged the devil who left His proper position (Eze28:14-18; Jude1:6); and
3) Sprinkled His redeeming blood on souls and served all mankind (Mt20:28),
Fulfilling all three elements of service: the sanctuary, the priest, and the offering.
After He resurrected, He ascended to the heavenly throne (He8:1) and
As the eternal high priest He serves the Father (He6:20).
The Holy Spirit whom He sent is
The pro bono advocate (paraklatos), that is, a volunteer minister.
The man of the Spirit is he who has
The blood of Christ who offered Himself unblemished to God (He9:14) and
He is a minister of the living Yeshua Christ, a holy priesthood (1Pe2:5):
1) A volunteer — not by flesh and blood, or by fate;
2) An unpaid volunteer — no share due;
3) Serves with his own time, money, talent etc — entrusted by grace.
Therefore, he preaches the gospel free of charge (1Co9:4-18),
Performs the service of supplying materials (2Co9:11-12),
Does the work of service (Eph4:12) by willingly giving time and talents,
Building up the earthly sanctuary, that is, the body of Christ, the Church
For he longs to be called up to the heavenly sanctuary some day and
Receive the promised reward (Mt25:21; Rev22:3, 12).
O Lord,
Who am I?
I am a proud volunteer minister of Yeshua Christ!
To build up our pride, the Church of Jesus,
Let us all put our best effort and serve without regrets, no matter how difficult. Yes! Amen!