Do Your Ministry

Do you ever feel disillusioned wondering whether you're fulfilling everything that God wants or God expects from you? Early in our Christian experience, we can often have these moments where we see God more clearly, where we can reflect back on realizing our need to repent, our need to be baptized, our need to serve Him. We see God powerfully working in our lives, but then life stuff happens. There may be specific failures that you really, really regret. Or maybe you're just starting to feel ineffective. All of us face points in life where we can get discouraged. Perhaps today, you deeply need fresh assurance from God concerning His purpose, concerning His belief in you. If you'll please turn to Ephesians 4. We're going to read verses 1-12. Ephesians 4 verses 1-12. Now, we're about to read a very familiar set of verses, but I wonder if there is a section in here that you may never have applied fully to yourself.

Ephesians 4, starting in verse 1.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. Now, I first want you to realize this is written to the entire church in Ephesus.

So therefore, what's being recommended applies equally to all of us as members of God's church. How do we walk worthy? With all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace.

Being God's tool starts with having the right attitude. And for us to be the best tool for God to use, we must never think more of ourselves than we ought. It will never be the right attitude.

It will never be about what we personally can do. God wants us united around something that's much, much greater. Verse 4. So you see, we need to have this singular goal of unity, of oneness, with God and with His will. And we also see that we're each special to God's plan, but only in how we combine to meet His collective plan for us. A single part of the body, a bicep, can't say, I want the glory for myself. I should be the focus of the body. There's no individual part of the body that we can do without. And the same is true spiritually. The great God, our Father, who is above all, is also in all of us who are baptized. Verse 7. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, He says, when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. So we must accept, we must capitalize on the gifts and the purpose that God has for each of us individually. Do we?

I don't think most of us do fully. Probably it's fair to say all of us don't as much as we could.

We often don't identify or maximize all of our unique gifts. Some hold back, waiting to discover them. And we're human. As fearful, self-doubting, lazy people, we can keep our gifts stagnant because of the amount of energy, because of the amount of time, the amount of effort we know it'll take to refine them. Some wait to be asked.

Or maybe we don't use them out of embarrassment. I've heard people mention feeling awkward about if they suddenly started doing something in church, they fear others will hold them as being hypocritical because they hadn't done something for the last 20 years.

Friends, the best way to reveal our natural gifts is to start serving others. Let's move forward to verse 11. And we're now going to find examples of these high-profile roles that God has selected. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. So people were selected by God for these high-profile church roles for a very specific purpose. Why? Why are these positions given to people? We now come to the verse that I want you to reflect on. The purpose that God selected apostles and evangelists and pastors applies directly to you and to me. But we can easily read past it and think it applies to somebody else. Verse 12, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. So the word saints simply refers to those set apart, sanctified, holy. I hope all of you identify with those words. And if so, then we as saints of God are to do the work of ministry. This isn't saying that those anointed to be ministers are to do ministry. This is speaking about each of us. Have you noticed that before?

And as you read this, realize the word the would not be in the Greek. So really what this is saying is for work of ministry. Pastors and elders were called for a purpose. They were called to equip us with our ministry. They're to help us determine it, to be effective as we're doing it, but the doing is up to us. And we can easily miss that. We all have a purpose and a ministry.

The word ministry here is the Greek word diaconia, D-I-A-K-O-N-I-A. And at its core, it means service. Most of us may not be called to a job title in the church, but we all have an obligation to serve. The NIV translates this to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. Now, you've probably talked to friends and acquaintances and other church organizations that describe their ministry in their local church congregation, and they will probably use a title. If you do a simple search online, you will find some very common ones, which can include worship ministry, youth ministry, children's ministry, music ministry, outreach ministry, and you'll find more. Now, at first, those titles can rub us a little wrong, but you know when you apply it to this verse, it really isn't that out of line. All they're doing is formalizing titles for ways for people to serve in the church. The New Living Translation translates this, their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. So, you see, the point is we each have a role to build up the church, the body of Christ. Our ministry is never to be a sound, deadening body. We're not to only come to church and listen. All of us are to find our ministry and to carry it out. We're to bring others into the fullness of what they are able to achieve as part of the body of Christ.

Turn now to Revelation 2, verses 18 through 19. Revelation 2, verses 18 to 19. The purpose of today's message is to help move us out of the mentality that a person can be a church member simply to receive and to pay some staff to do ministry. Our pastors should never have to ask, plead, or beg us to be active Christians. We're called to be willing participants in this process.

That's our calling. Revelation 2, verse 18. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, these things, says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass, I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience, and ask for your works the last or more than the first. The word you just read as service is diaconia, your ministry. I know your works, love, and ministry. It's the same word. Turn now to Acts 6 and verse 1, and we'll look at another use of this word that it's very easy to overlook. Acts 6 and verse 1. Now, in those days, when the numbers of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. The word distribution is the same word we normally read as ministry. Are you starting to see this broader application to this concept of ministry? We don't think of serving daily food as a ministry, but when we go out as a church to a local food kitchen like safe harbor and make a meal, we are doing a ministry. Turn to Luke 10 and verse 40. Now, this next verse is another way to look at this concept of ministry, because just because we're ministering or providing service doesn't necessarily mean we're putting the right things first in God's eyes.

Luke 10 verse 40. But Martha was distracted with much serving, ministering, same word, and she approached him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve others? Serve here is diaconio, difference the last letter, same root, meaning to be a servant.

Therefore, tell her to help me. You know the rest of the story.

Remember, our ministry is to build up the body of Christ, the church. Just being busy in tasks of serving doesn't mean we're ministering in the way God wants at that point in time.

And that's what was being taught to Martha. Turn now to 1 Peter 4 verses 7 through 11. 1 Peter 4 verses 7 through 11. We've each been given grace, which has given our lives meaning far beyond anything we could ever deserve, achieve personally, or do on our own.

And in appreciation, we are called to maximize the body of Christ by using the personal gifts that we've been given. And that's what we'll see described by Peter here. 1 Peter 4 and verse 7. 2 But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayer. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. And as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the Oracle of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies. That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. So each of us has a ministry, has an ability given to us to glorify God. So let's start digging into what this ministry might look like. What might those gifts be? Turn to 1 Corinthians 12. We're going to read the whole chapter, verses 1 through 31.

And a key thing that I think we all should be grateful for is the gifts that God has given to us individually. He's handpicked for each of us. He wants us specifically to use them in ministry to benefit others. 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 1. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. None of us want to be ignorant of the gifts we've been given.

Go to verse 4. There are diversity of gifts, but the same spirit. There are differences of ministries, same word, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it's the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the prophet of all. So the word manifestation is describing how the gifts are intended to be used.

A critical point to understand is that our gifts were given for the edification of all. The Holy Spirit was intended for us to use to benefit others, not just for ourselves. We now find a list of gifts, and it's not meant to be exhaustive.

It's meant to be something that gives ideas. Verse 8. For to one is given the words of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the words of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. See, there are differences of ministries, but all are given as a gift to minister to the body. If it's being used wisely, that's why we have them. The human body, again, is a great analogy because it needs every part to function.

If the liver stops functioning, it affects everything else. It can be cancerous. We have the same spiritually. We have to start our ministry with the unity within his body as our goal. Paul now proceeds to stress that all parts are important for the body to be complete because we're one united body in service of Christ our head. Verse 11, But one in the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as he wills. For as the body is one, and as many members, but all the members of that body of that one body, being many, are one body.

So also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. The word one shows up eight times in those few verses. So once we appreciate the importance of unity, Paul then goes on to stress that none of us can say that our personal gifts are unimportant.

They're all important. Verse 14, For in fact the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as he pleased. See, we've been put here by God for a purpose. Each of us provides value, and that value is for the best interest of the whole body. It isn't only so that we can personally be saved. That's not why we were called. Now Paul is going to highlight that every other part of the body of Christ is also needed.

Start in verse 22. Know much rather those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, and those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we'd be still greater honor. Our presentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. They're window dressing. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it. That there should be no schisms in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. So as you think of all the people you've ever met in the Church of God, realize that all are needed to fulfill the purpose that God has for the body. Interesting way when you look at it, their ministry is all collectively important. We all need to effectively work our parts and do our share for the body to grow the way God intended. Are we? Otherwise, the body is going to be hindered from growing as God intended.

Verse 28, and God has appointed these in the Church. First apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Now let's stop there. You remember those three should sound familiar because we started with those three. Those three roles were called to equip us for the work of ministry, for our work of ministry. After that, miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. I love how that verse ends. Helps. Okay, we can all do that. I remember very often Mr. Armstrong would refer to a long-time member in Pasadena who was a very, very humble, frankly, a limitedly educated gentleman who did menial service roles around the campus, always was there serving and supporting the widows, the elderly, as anybody would need. And he would confide to my dad and other people who knew well. He says, you know what? This person's going to have a higher role in the kingdom than all of us because of how beautifully humble and a servant that person was. Put in the reference to this message, he excelled in his ministry of service and helping. Next word, administrations. Well, there's another way we can all help. Are you good with paperwork? See, some gifts are better suited for certain services, and we can take things we're good at for granted. It's about each of us searching and finding our ministry. And if you don't know what it is, then pray to God and ask those who are close to you and say, what do you see me excelling in? Our natural abilities may suggest how God wants us to serve. Are you gifted in hands? Are you gifted in speech? Are you gifted in heart? The Bible is full of examples of people whose ministry was encouragement or prayer. Whether you were called with skills that are already developed or not, I can assure you this. God is all about our availability rather than our ability. He talked through a donkey for crying out loud. Look for opportunities to help out at fisights, at camps, with the youth, with the elderly, with the needy, with the community, at weekly church services when we get back together. Can you help with a whole setup? Can you help with singing? Running sound? See, maybe that's part of your ministry.

Ask those who give messages in church. Would they like you to share ideas of sermon topics?

Verse 29. Are all apostles, are all prophets, are all teachers, are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gift, and yet I show you a more excellent way. See, the point is that we all need desire to mature and advance the gifts that we've been personally given. And we need to ask when we can do more of things for God and service to others rather than less. How can I be a better servant to improve the body of Christ? And that's the pattern that Jesus set for us.

As you know, 1 Corinthians continues right after this into what we call the love chapter. And I was very tempted to go and start pointing out the connection between love and our ministry.

Instead, though, I'd like us to read another lesson on love that's found in John 21 in verse 15. So please turn to John 21 in verse 15. True, outgoing love, agape love, is the greatest ministry when done in purity, when done in service to Jesus Christ and his body. So let's put a little context in what we're about to read. What we're about to read occurred after Peter had denied Christ three times. It occurred after he had seen Jesus crucified and resurrected. And it occurred after he decided to go back to being a fisherman. Peter may have felt that even though he knew the Lord had forgiven him, he would never be trusted with ministry again. He may have wondered whether he would ever be able to actually fulfill his destiny for God. Would he ever be the vessel of honor that God had hoped for? What Jesus did here is he clarified to Peter, but to us. He taught a ministry lesson about motives that I think we all need to consider, and he did it with one single question. Verse 15. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? If you want to feel the impact of that question, put your own name there and picture Jesus Christ asking you, Bill, do you love me? Jack, do you love me? Christianity, it's all fairly academic until we make it personal. Jesus is asking each of us, do you love me? Now, if you think about it, there are all kinds of questions that Jesus might have asked Peter at that time. Why did you deny me, Peter? What were you thinking? What do you have to say for yourself? Understand also that Jesus isn't implying that Peter didn't love him. Instead, Jesus is helping Peter understand the foundation that will make his ministry tick.

He's bringing Peter's awareness of why he can and why he must serve. And there's frankly no question that's more basic to real ministry than the question, do you love me? Jesus didn't ask if he was a great speaker. Jesus didn't ask about his Bible knowledge.

He didn't analyze his personality to see whether he had the people skills. All those are important.

But they're not foundational. The one foundational question for our ministry is found in the probing question, do you love me? Because that's the only motive for ministry that will endure the test of time. He doesn't even ask, do you love people? Ministry doesn't begin with a love of people. It begins with a love for God, and that love overflows two people. If we minister only out of a humanistic love for people, we will be people pleasers and not God pleasers. We ultimately won't serve the purpose of God in their lives. But when everything begins with a love toward Jesus Christ, then we will love people and we will serve their best interests. Maybe not always satisfying their momentary whims or desires, but always their godly best interest.

Selfless love, it's this beautiful, powerful, strong thing. It's what wakes a mother up in the middle of the night to care for her child. Nothing will carry us through the hard times like a sincere devotion to Jesus Christ. It's stronger than the adversities that will inevitably face us as we serve, as we minister. If you and I can answer this question with a yes, then we have a good foundation on which to minister. But without that love, without that devotion, all the training, all the skills, all the natural talents mean nothing. And in fact, they could actually work against the purpose of God.

Why did Jesus press the question three times?

He was emphasizing the importance of that issue. The question isn't centered on past failures or successes. It was centered specifically on current realities, and it's the same with you and I.

Our qualifications for ministry today are about the love we have for the Lord, and what we hold is first in our hearts. And if we do, we'll serve God's interests with all our heart. Jesus then clearly stated the assignment that we all have with these words, feed my sheep. See, if we love the Lord, it will find expression in some very practical ways.

He didn't say, okay, find a place to hide so that you won't be corrupted by all those half-hearted evil sheep. He didn't say, okay, study every sermon you can get your hands on, learn everything you can so that when you become spirit beings, you can use that knowledge. No, knowledge isn't a bad thing, but at some point we have to get up and we have to feed sheep.

Our call is to serve, to minister. Love must be expressed.

Turn to 1 John 4, verses 21 through 22. 1 John 4, 21 through 22. How should you and I express our love for God?

We do it by tending to what Jesus loves most, his sheep.

John clarifies the way we express our love to Christ is found in the way we treat people.

1 John 4, verse 20. If someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

In this commandment we have from him that we love God, that he who loves God must love his brother also. So how does our love for God affect our attitude toward people?

Interesting question to ask yourself. Do we grant them the same kind of favor God granted us? Do we care about them because they're valuable to him, so valuable that he gave his life so that they may have salvation?

See, the only way you and I will treat people right is to place the same value on them that Jesus Christ did. When we see people through Jesus' eyes, then we see them as sheep without a shepherd. We see them harassed by the enemy like we were, like we are without his help.

We'll have compassion for them. We'll sacrifice ourselves to shepherd them because that's Jesus' heart toward them. The natural response to loving the Lord is to feed his sheep. Turn now to Matthew 20, verses 25 through 28. Matthew 20, 25 to 28.

As believers, we're supposed to be human representatives for Jesus Christ. We're supposed to be his hands in his feet here on earth at this time. We must be servants of our master first, not our bosses, not our favorite sports team, or our hobbies or our cars.

Matthew 20, verse 25. But Jesus called them to himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant, Diaconius' minister. Same word. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Just as the son of man did not come to be served, minister to, same root, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

See, God gave up his Godhead to serve man. And ultimately, we, you and I, are going to be judged based on our ministry and its impact. Were we selfless?

We must be doing something and not just sitting here. How many opportunities do we give up every week where Christ could have worked through us in the lives of others? That is a scary thing to think about. Pray that God's Spirit would open your eyes to ministry needs daily.

Heighten your sense to things that are undone and people needing support.

Pray that you would be given the courage, like we heard in the first message, needed to step up in the hour of need. The next lesson is this. We must never quit our ministry of service. We must never quit. Turn back to Ephesians 4, and we're going to read verses 11-16. So we're going back to the set of scriptures we just started with, the first key verse we started with. But then we're going to continue reading. We'll start in Ephesians 4 and verse 11.

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, you and me, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Okay, so how long are we to do this? To we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Translated, we must never quit our ministry. We have to do it our whole lives.

We are supposed to always be in service to the body. We can't say, okay, I'm going to work really hard at the feast, but then I've met my quota. I can take the rest of your off. We can't say, I'm getting old. I work really hard serving in the church. For all these years, I'm now a senior citizen. I'm going to relax now. That's not what it says. We aren't to be intermittent Christians. We aren't to be stand-alone islands as Christians. We're to consistently serve among imperfect people, because we're imperfect. And when we do this, we learn it isn't easy to serve others.

We learn to serve other imperfect people as our bodies get weaker and older and break down.

And that's part of the lesson. Don't quit.

Find other gifts and other ways to use your strengths. Now, our calling may not lead to being martyred. I certainly hope it doesn't.

But if we follow Jesus, it will lead to a death of this selfish life.

The call of God means we recognize that we are not our own. We recognize that we're not fancy free to just do anything we want. We're servants of the Lord, and we must ask Him what He wants us to do. Now, this next statement is one I was reflecting on and said, ouch, what I was thinking over this morning. But the question is this. Are you and I submitting our plans to God for His approval, or are we asking Him to show us His plan so we can obey them? It's a struggle. It's a lifelong learning. For our ministry to be successful, our key focus has to be on bettering the body of Christ. Ephesians 4, starting in verse 14, that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effect of working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

See, the body of Christ is held together by what every joint supplies. Every being the key word.

We can feel that what we're doing isn't offering that much, that it's not needed. Maybe it feels like we're doing menial unimportant stuff.

But that's not what this verse says. We can't say, I don't want to do my job.

We can't say, I don't want to do my ministry. We can't hide. We can't be camouflaged Christians.

That is not what God is looking for. The fact is, we all have a role and it's essential. If any part stops their role, then it sickens the body. A bad apple in the church has a major impact. I know you all have seen that over the years. In contrast, the whole body functions well when all parts are working well when they're doing their part. And I'll tell you, I think back to the amazing things that were done by the church in Bloomington and Canton. When Renee came down with Canton, when Renee came down with cancer, throughout that sickness and after, what you were doing is ministering to the body and we thank you. That's what God is talking about.

Ask yourself the kingdom question from time to time about your activities. Is what you're doing furthering the kingdom of God? Or is this activity holding you back from your ministry?

Is anything focusing us to choose between it and God?

When God lays it on our heart to see about a sick brother or sister, to help somebody in need, to be a strength for somebody, hear Jesus say to you, feed my sheep.

We should do it because we love the Lord and His love overflows in our heart toward others. Please turn to Romans 12 verses 6 through 8. Romans 12 verses 6 through 8. See, a genuine love for the Lord will extend itself to love and serving people. And in that way, ministry is about people, meeting their needs and helping them reach their eternal destiny. Romans 12 verse 6.

Having been gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.

If prophecy or reveal truth, then let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. Or ministry, we're all called to it, let us use it in our ministering. He who teaches and teaching, he who exhorts and exhortation, he who gives with liberality, he who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. And again, just another partial list of gifts.

But we can each do all of them. They aren't job titles. We can all teach, we can all encourage, we can all lead, we can all give, and we can all show mercy. And verse 6 is like this super high profile coach saying, let's use them. So how important is this really to our salvation?

Is it just a nice to have thing that we do our ministry?

Turn now to Matthew 25 verses 40 through 46. We're jumping into another very familiar set of scriptures, but there's words that we miss and don't connect. And I think I'm going to bring out the word ministry in a way you may not have noticed. We're entering the parable about the sheep and the goats. Matthew 25 starting in verse 40. And the king will answer and say to them, assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then he will also say to those on the left hand, depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and for his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger and you did not take me in. Naked and you did not clothe me. Sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer him saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick in prison and did not minister to you? Same word. Then he will answer them saying, assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous, those who are doing their ministry, into eternal life. See, friends, whether we fulfill our ministry or not is a critical part of what God will judge us on. There is a judgment to come based on our ministry. God will say, Dan, I gave you these gifts in hope of your calling. What have you done in return for the body?

Take your time. What have you done in the last year, the last five years, 10 years, lifetime? We need to take it seriously. It's our duty to unearth our God-given gifts and then to use them to His glory. Did those things that we did survive? If so, we will be blessed. And if we don't minister or we don't serve others, we just read, we won't be in the kingdom of God. And again, remember, this isn't about a ministerial position. It's not the profession. It's not about a title. It's a call to serve others. It's a call to personal sacrifice. It's a call to a lifestyle, to a maturity. It's about a tug on the heart that says, I must tend to what the Lord cares about most, His sheep. Turn to Luke 22, verses 26 through 27. Luke 22, 26 through 27. There are a thousand and one things every day that divert our attention in life. The cares of life can be so dominant that our time and our energy get absorbed and we don't have time for God. There are all kinds of things that demand us to follow them in life. It can be a controlling person.

It can be a personal ambition that's contrary to God's plan. It may be a neurotic need to be something important, or it may be a pursuit of pleasure or money. It could be all sorts of things.

What are you following? What are you pursuing? The focus of our lives, and especially our ministries, should always be a response to the call of Jesus saying, follow me. Luke 22, verse 26. But not so among you. On the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves, ministers, same word. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves. Is it not he who sits at the table, yet I am among you as the one who serves? Do people see God ministering in your life?

Have we been an encourager? Have we been a positive effect on others for five, 10, 20 years? If it remains, then we will be rewarded.

Or have we been a detractor, a gossiper, and someone who damages the church, the body of Christ? That's what our ministry is about. We'll be judged based on this.

Conclusion. Turn to Hebrews 6, verse 10. Hebrews 6, verse 10. When we minister, are we ministering out of a pure motive of love toward our Savior? Is he the reason for our actions?

And what makes it all worthwhile? Or have we lost our priorities? Have we lost our focus?

Hebrews 6, verse 10. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. Another example. This was written to an entire church group, not people with a job title, not ordained ministry. Every person has some kind of ministry calling in their life, his or her.

My suggestion to you is don't spend a lifetime trying to figure out your gifts and your ministry.

Find something to do and start there. It can change, but your ministry needs to start.

Don't be afraid for God to move through you in miraculous ways.

Have that courage. Look for ways to serve your neighbor, to inject Christ into their lives, be bold, be courageous, and going to pray for your neighbor or your waitress or your co-worker.

Because when you do that, you earn the right to be heard about other things.

Perhaps today, Jesus is reminding you of his call in your life. If the cares of this world or anything else has diverted your focus from him, then hear Jesus' words saying, Follow me. We are all called to be co-laborers with God.

And I encourage you to hear Jesus say, Feed my sheep, because we're all called to this high and this holy privilege of investing our lives in his sheep, those he purchased with his own blood.

Do your ministry.