Why more Believers should become workers in the church. {sunday 04/11/2012}

Date: 4 Nov. 2012

BIBLE PATTERN CHURCH, NIGERIA
SERMON OUTLINE

WHY MORE BELIEVERS SHOULD BECOME WORKERS IN THE CHURCH

Joh. 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Mt. 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
The work of God needs a lot of people, because the work is very great. There is a great reward awaiting those who work for God both now and in the future. It is therefore necessary for every true child of God to be busy doing something for his Father, not only outside the church but more especially within the church.
The following are major among the reasons why many believers should become workers in the church:

1. The command of God.
God commands every believer to work for Him (Rm. 12:11; Mt. 28:19-20).  It is a very dangerous thing to disobey the commandment of God (Isa. 1:19-20; Lk.12:37, 48; Mt.24:44-51).
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will c0ome forth and serve them.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. [45] Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. [47] Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. [48] But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; [49] And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; [50] The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, [51] And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2. The enablement of God.
God has given every believer an enablement to work for Him (Rm. 12:3-8).  Not to work for Him then, is like burying one’s talents (Mt. 25:14-30).
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. [4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. [6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; [8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

3. What Jesus did for us.
We are to show our appreciation for what Jesus did for us by working for God (Ph.2:5-9; Mt.21:27,28).
Philip. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Matthew 21:27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  [28] But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

4. The examples we have.
To work for God is for us to follow the good examples the believers of old laid for us (Mt.4:23; 9:35; 1:39; Acts.5:42; Mk.16:15-20).  It is also to follow the wonderful example of our Lord Jesus (Jh. 9:4; 1 Pt. 2:21).
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Acts 5:42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel toevery creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

5. The greatness of the harvest.
The harvest is very great and the labourers are very few (Mt.9:37).  For us not to work for God, is to try to render the sufferings of Jesus unproductive and unsuccessful, by making those who would have become genuine believers through us children of hell.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

6. The promises of God.
To work for God is to prepare ourselves for the fulfilment of His promises in our lives (Jh.14:12; Mk.16:15-20).  The power of God will manifest in us and through us, if we work for God.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel toevery creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

7. Our position in the body of Christ.
As members of the body of Christ we all have important roles to play in the body.  Just like every part of human body has important role to play in the human body (I Cor.12:12-23).

8. The uniqueness of each of us.
Every believer is important in the body.  Somebody else may not be able to play the part you ought to play in the body.  Not to work for God is not only to make ourselves useless in the body of Christ, but also to hinder the progress of the work of God (Heb. 6:7, 8).
Hebrews 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: [8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9. The shortage of workers in the church.
Workers are never enough in the Church.  There is always the need for more hands in the vineyard of God (Eph.4:11-16).
Ephes. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

10. The plenteousness of works in the church.
There are various works in the church for believers to do: pastoring, evangelising, preaching, teaching, interpreting, choruses leading, singing, ushering, caring for children, office works, etc.  God has already given the ability to do one or some of these works into the  hands of every believer, so that each will contribute to the growth of  His Church.  Refusal to do it means hindering the growth of the Church of Christ.

11. The rewards to be given.
A lot of rewards are waiting for those who work for God (Dan. 12:3; Mt.25:23, 34; I Cor.9:25; II Tim.4:8; Jam.1:12; I Pt.5:4). One will rob himself of his part in these rewards, if he refuses to work for God.
Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
1 Cor. 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

12. The soon coming of the night.
The Lord says that when the night comes, one will not be able to work (Jh. 9:4; Ecc. 9:10).  Just as there is going to be a general night, when nobody will be able to work, each person also has his personal night, when he will not be able to work.  This may be old age, sickness, death, etc. If a believer will not start to do what he can do for God now, a day is coming when he will like to do it and it will be impossible:
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
This is why we are given the following instruction in the Holy Bible:
Eccles. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

13. The perils of disobedience.
For a true believer not to work for God is disobedience.  And disobedience of the commandment of God always attracts divine punishment (Lk. 12:47, 48; Matt. 24:44-51).  Here is what the Bible says, about what happened to those who disobeyed in the past:
Heb. 2:2 . . . every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
14. The perils of not working for God.
So many evils are associated with a true believer not to be a worker in the church of God:
a.    It is a indirect way of assisting the devil to prevent the growth of the church of God.  The things it will take for each church to grow the way God wants is distributed to the members by God.  For everyone who refuses to contribute his quoter, something will be larking in the church:
1 Cor. 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  14  For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.  24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Rm. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
b.    One will not have access to some of the things that would have been of help to one’s life in general and one’s faith in particular.  These include all of the following: –
–    Knowledge of some of the important occurrence in the church.  Not everything going on in the church (good ones inclusive) is said to the generality of members
–    Specialised teaching and training
–    Monitoring, monitoring, discipline etc.
c.    Some of the graces of God will be missing in one’s life:
Jh. 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
d.    One may not be able to do well in one’s secular employment as one will have to reap whatever he souls:
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
2 Cor. 9:6 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
e.    One may be regarded by God as a waster of divine resources on the day of accountability:
Mt. 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.