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serving despite ourselves?

 i know that we are saved in order to serve, work, and do God's will in the world by the power of His Holy Spirit. 

i also know that if we try to do these things in our own power, we'll fail utterly and our efforts will be useless. 

i'm so constantly aware of my own weakness and am almost scared to do anything because i'm afraid it will be in the power of my flesh. 

my question is, are we supposed to wait around before starting to serve, work, and do what we believe to be God's will until we're sure that it's being done in His power rather than our own?

thanks

jenny

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Permalink Reply by Carla on March 14, 2013 at 10:39am

Jenny,

 

I believe there are seasons in our lives.  We need to learn from the Lord and be secure in His Love...knowing who we are In Christ, confident in Him... it helps to have this foundation before stepping out to serve. 

When we do step out to serve, it is important to maintain that personal relationship with the Lord or we can quickly become weary..or self righteousness..  If we're not completely abandoned to God when we serve we may begin to get discouraged because consequences of serving may not be pleasant or enjoyable...they may even bring on more trials.  If we serve without having a proper foundation of knowing who God is and believing Him (rather than just believing in Him) we will become worn out..  We may also strive to do too much, doing things that we think God has asked us to. 

We have to be discerning when serving.  We can't say 'yes' to everything... Burnout happens when we step ahead of God doing things for 'good causes' that God has never asked us to do.

 

My most recent experience with serving didn't sit right with me from the beginning.

I was serving at a literacy centre which was run by Christians... However, we were not allowed to speak about our faith.  In our down time (when the literacy centre wasn't busy with people) we were free to read books of our own, but never the bible.  The bible wasn't allowed in the centre because it would be offensive to people.

We weren't allowed to talk about Jesus with people... We were told to be 'nice, gracious, encouraging...'  etc... in HOPES that people would ask why we are so nice..  This merely reduced the gospel to 'niceness'...  I have stepped down completely from serving there.

I understand the importance of engaging with our communities, building relationships etc...  But what is the use of all of that if we are not allowed to talk about Jesus?  I felt like I was being stiffled...it was like I was being asked to deny who I am and why I am that way.

 

Be very discerning where you serve.  Don't step out ahead of God.  When something comes your way pray about it before you say 'yes'. 

To serve is to be bold for Christ...always speaking the truth in Love while putting another persons needs ahead of our own. 

The time may not be right for you..  But maybe it is. 

Jesus never sent His disciples out unprepared...and even when they were prepared they faltered and doubted.

This truth speaks to the importance of staying closely connected to our Lord in prayer and asking Him.

 

Blessings, Carla

 

Permalink Reply by ribbon on March 14, 2013 at 1:40pm

Thats sad and scary Carla to know that a place ran by christians cant even have the bible there.  This reminds me... I have a bible here at home that I know I need to read but it just lays there because of my excuses , one being i would never understand it. It reminds me of the verse "my people parish because of lack of knowledge. Oh i wish i had the hunger for the Word like i once did.

 

Jenny, I remember when i first took notice of who Jesus is. It was from a lady who i used to get crazy with for many years. She had gotten saved and gradually she started to change.  She was always happy and talking about the love of Jesus. Im not sure if that would be serving God or not but I think you can be anywhere to tell people about Jesus.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Carla on March 14, 2013 at 2:38pm

Janie,

I think I remember you telling me you have the King James version.  Is that right?

Permalink Reply by ribbon on March 14, 2013 at 2:54pm

Yes , my bible is King James.... I used to have NIV and some other translation. I have gone to a website to compare scripture in the past.... but Im just not educated to even understand grade school material. I forget things as soon as i read it most of the time. So no matter what bible version i have a hard ime with understanding. I have just been lazy and not tried lately.

Permalink Reply by Carla on March 14, 2013 at 3:11pm

Janie,

 

Having a higher education will not help you understand the bible more.  The Holy Spirit helps us understand the bible.  My dear friend and sister in Christ... you know I love you..  and I have to ask.. how can you say you don't understand the bible if you're not reading it?

If you can get your hands on an NLT version for starting that may help you also.  I understand it may be difficult for you to get into a bible study group where you live, and that's where we come in here at AAG.  When you read a passage of scripture, look at the cross references in the margin.  Read them also, then come here with your questions.

Keep your KJV bible, and read it alongside another version.  Compare the different words..pull out your dictionary if you have to.  Above all else... pray before you start reading it.  The enemy is lying to you by saying that you can't understand it...you can understand it with God's help. :-)

Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 14, 2013 at 7:45pm

thanks Janie, 

that's a good point, serving might be something as simple as telling others about Jesus. 

Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 14, 2013 at 7:44pm

thanks for your reply Carla, 

you said, "I believe there are seasons in our lives.  We need to learn from the Lord and be secure in His Love...knowing who we are In Christ, confident in Him."

i know i'm secure in His love for Christ's sake, but i often don't feel secure in His love, and am afraid of displeasing Him. 

i feel like my days are one failure after another and wonder how i will possibly change. maybe i'm just impatient. i want to get over my issues and be useable for God, and have the joy of knowing His love. 

Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on March 14, 2013 at 8:59pm

Hi Jenny,

 

Don't be too hard on yourself. This is a natural stage you are going through at this time.

Carla has given you some excellent counsel.

Yes, you must establish a foundation to grow from. Lookey here............what's the first thing that is done when building a house or any type of construction? You must put down the FOUNDATION.

 

O.K., How do we do that? Let's check Romans 12:1 & 2, " I beeseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy , acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.".

So Jenny, you are presenting yourself (did it say holy?) oh,oh, I'm not holy!

 

Let's read verse 2, " And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.".

What this verse is saying is - we must get the world (flesh) out of our old system of life. Renovation means to completely tear out the old......and rebuild with the new. That's the path to become holy......and it might take a while.

 You must get into God's Word. That's the blueprint for your renovation and new construction.

I like the NLT Translation (New Living Translation) as Carla suggested. It's very readable and easy to understand. The King James Version is best for memorization.

Alright, you go girl.

 

Grace and Peace.

 

As you then are becoming holy, things will be happening, like you expected.

Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 15, 2013 at 11:25am

thanks for this Richard,

so what you and Carla are both saying is that first a foundation needs to be laid. 

i once heard a woman talk about how the Lord let her just sit at His feet and learn His word for a couple of years after she was converted. is this what He wants of us new converts, to just sit at His feet and be filled with His word? 

that sounds lovely! 

if i could just forget about my "progress" and learn about my Lord and get to know Him at His feet, there would be a load off. 

it's just that i've heard so many sermons about how if we claim to be His, we should be doing all sorts of things to further His kingdom, and if we don't we must not really be His etc. 

Permalink Reply by Carla on March 15, 2013 at 3:54pm

Jenny,

 

Years ago I read a book called 'Having a Mary Spirit' by Joanna Weaver.  I'm rereading it... I would say 'yes'....  The most important thing that we can ever do is learn how to sit at the feet of our Lord and learn from Him...  Bless you, Carla

Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 15, 2013 at 4:56pm

thanks for bringing this up! i didn't remember the story of Mary and Martha and how Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better thing while Martha was all in a kerfluffel to do do do

thanks so much, i will try to find that book at the library too

xo

Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on March 16, 2013 at 12:44pm

 

We learn to serve by serving. Go and make disciples in the name of Jesus - go and do. :)

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