By Pastor Greg ...
Over the years, I’ve met a lot of
people like Hermie. I meet them in
supermarkets and restaurants. I’ve seen
them on the loading docks and in the shopping malls. You’ve seen them as well. Some of you have employees like Hermie, and
they frustrate you. I know. I’ve supervised them as well. These people, like Hermie, are simply not
happy in their work.
Oh. Who is Hermie, you ask? He was an elf that wanted to be a dentist.
Have you ever found yourself in a
job you absolutely hate? If it were not
for the money … It’s one of those jobs
where you live for the weekend; a “T.G.I.F.” job. Sunday night is the worse night of the
week. Ever had a job like that?
This is how Hermie felt as he
labored on Santa’s assembly line. He got
depressed just talking about making toys.
But the moment he started talking about dentistry, he perked up and
became excited. He was anxious
about the idea. And when I say anxious, I don’t mean nervous, I mean anticipated
excitement. Hermie could hardly wait
to put down his paint brush and pick up a Dentist’s Drill.
According to the Apostle Peter,
this is the way a Christian should feel as they begin serving the Lord.
“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain,
you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered
physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t
spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious
to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the
evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting
and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4 Of
course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the
flood of wild and destructive things they do. So, they slander you” [1]
(1 Peter 4:1-4).
Did you notice what Peter said in
today’s text? As a Christian matures,
they step away from the desires of the world, reaching a point where former
friends begin to notice a difference. As
a Christian matures in their faith, even
their own selfish desires pass away; they put them to death. A believer ceases to pursue their sinful desires and instead desires to do the will of
God.
This is passion; that deep desire in
the heart of a Christian to stop living for themselves and instead be the
instrument through which God works. This
is the Christian who comes to God begging
to be used; a Christian who longs to
serve. This is the Christian who wants
to leave the world behind, climb into the boat, and follow Jesus wherever He
may go. They no longer live for
themselves, and have armed themselves with the same attitude seen in Jesus;
they humbly become a servant. They leave
behind selfish desires and vain conceit.
They are no longer stirred and enticed by the seductions of the world.
What is it that transforms a
Christian into a person who is anxious to serve; into a person that can hardly
wait to get involved? Right now, I’m not
sure I can pinpoint it to one particular
discipline, but I do know it involves leaving behind the desires of the
world. This much, Peter has made clear; he wasn’t making a suggestion.
And sometimes our lack of passion
stems from serving in the wrong area.
This happens more often than we may realize. For example, when writing to the church in
Ephesus, Paul mentions 5 different types of leaders God gave the Church. 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles,
the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their
responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church,
the body of Christ [2]
(Ephesians 4:11-12). Each of these leaders
serves the church but in a different capacity.
Their responsibility is the same – to equip God’s people and build up
the church – but the way this happens
is different for each of these individuals.
Apostles are always thinking of the future;
where the church needs to be, and how to get there. They develop new ideas and new approaches. Prophets
are especially attuned to God and His
truth, bringing correction and guidance to the Church; challenging people to
obedience. Evangelists recruit. They
draw the world to Jesus and draw
believers into action. Shepherds nurture and protect. They are the caregivers of the Church. They protect the flock, building a network of
relationships. Teachers understand and explain God’s truth and wisdom. They help others remain biblically grounded and remain faithful to God's Word.
No one person is all these things;
Jesus designed the Church to function as
a group of individuals providing leadership, not just one person.
Since that is true, then to ask an evangelist to function as a shepherd is to place them in an area outside of their
passion. They will not be anxious to serve because they are serving in the wrong area. This is why a church should ask people to serve according to their passion, not just appoint a warm body to an empty position
in the church.
To fully understand Spiritual
Gifts, we must realize these things; a person needs to be saved by Jesus, sent
by Jesus, gifted by God to serve, and finally, stop chasing their own
desires. Instead, they need to develop
within themselves a passion for doing God's will. Find a believer who is passionate about
serving the Lord and who has been called by the Lord, and you will find someone
who serves the local church with joy and enthusiasm.
My friend, do not underestimate
the importance of passion in your life.
Calling and giftedness mean nothing without passion. You could be the most gifted Christian on the
planet, but until you stop chasing your own desires, you will never be anxious
to do God’s will.
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013).
Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Pe 4:1–6). Carol Stream,
IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers.
(2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 4:11–12). Carol
Stream, IL.
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