We are Happy to Serve You

Who do we serve? If we work, we serve our boss. If we are married or have a family, many times we serve them. Who do you serve?

We have a serving problem. Only about 20% of the people who attend serve in some fashion in our church. The rest of you just fill a pew.

If you are serving the church out of necessity, out of motivation to please others, or because you know that supposedly you need to be serving people. Eventually you will quit serving because some day somebody is going make you mad or upset you, or you don’t feel like you are appreciated or needed so you’ll quit and just fill a pew.

Many of you are here today and you use to serve. Maybe you were a deacon or a Sunday School teacher, sung in the choir, or you served somewhere in the church and now you just fill the pew. Some of you may think well I’ve done my part, it is time for the younger ones to step up and fill that role.

If that describes you, than I want you to hear a word from God. Thank you. Thank you for quitting. Pastor, that’s harsh.

If you only served the church out of necessity, out of motivation to please others, or because you know that supposedly you need to be serving people and you have quit thank you. If you are serving at Bethel today but you have that attitude, please quit or repent and change your ways.

Today in God’s Word you will learn who you are to serve, you will gain motivation to serve, and some of you who have been filling a pew will be touched by the power of God and will be rejuvenated and renewed with a heartbeat to serve.

We need to change whom we are serving!

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB) 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Serve Jesus Christ, not People!

Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB) 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Serve Jesus Christ, not Yourself!

Luke 16:13 (NASB) 13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

The affects of Serving Christ results in Love and Service to others!

Galatians 5:13 (NASB) 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

In Closing

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ results in a changed life. A life where you see people through the eyes of God, a renewed sense of love for people, and passion to serve others.

Obama to End Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy

This article is from January 15, 2009 just a few days before his inaguragtion. As Christians, we should be very concerned about this decision. How should we respond?

WASHINGTON. President-elect Barack Obama will allow gays to serve openly in the military by overturning the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy that marred President Clinton's first days in office, according to incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

The startling pronouncement, which could re-open a dormant battle in the culture wars and distract from other elements of Obama's agenda, came during a Gibbs exchange with members of the public who sent in questions that were answered on YouTube.

"Thadeus of Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of the "don't ask, don't tell policy?'" said Gibbs, looking into the camera. "Thadeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's, 'Yes.'"

The Obama transition team declined to elaborate on that one-word answer when asked by FOX News on Wednesday about a timetable for repealing the policy, which was enacted by Clinton after a protracted public debate. Obama officials also would not explain which lawmakers or Pentagon officials would attempt to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Clinton, who initially sought to overturn the longstanding ban on gays in the military, ended up enacting the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as a compromise that made it illegal for commanders to ask about the sexual orientation of service members, who were also barred from announcing they were homosexual. If a service member's homosexuality becomes known anyway, he or she is expelled.

Clinton is widely viewed as having stumbled during his first days in office by getting caught up in the raging controversy, which detracted from the rest of his agenda. It is not yet clear whether Obama would face a similar debacle.

For years, Obama has said he generally opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Last summer, he told a gay magazine he can "reasonably" see it being repealed. But that was a far cry from Gibbs' unequivocal promise that the policy will indeed be ended.

The gay community is eager for a quick repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," but fears it could be months before the new administration reaches a consensus with lawmakers and the military. Others think Obama could do it quickly, but is leery of the kind of fallout Bill Clinton faced when he tackled the divisive issue.

FOX News' Carl Cameron contributed to this report.

Barbara Arthur: LifeChange Event

Barbara Arthur’s Bio

“God, You show me the truth.” This was Barbara’s prayer after she read the Scripture, Deuteronomy 18: 9 -14 “… There shall not be found among you anyone …, who practices witchcraft, …, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead…”

While still in the womb, Barbara was dedicated to the occult by her mother who was a practicing medium. Barbara lived under a dark cloud of spiritual struggle and turmoil. Born in communist Cuba, she came to the United States with her father and two siblings at the age of four. They left her mother and three other siblings behind. It would be 23 very long years before they would see one another again.

Barbara’s life was difficult. She did not know that her medium/divination involvement only opened the door to the deep things of the occult. Pursued by a woman involved in witchcraft who was seeking to kill her, she desperately sought God’s help.

While sitting alone on the last pew of a church, Barbara cried out to the Lord – and He heard her prayer. Through the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, she was led in the sinner’s prayer. At that moment, the Lord delivered her from the kingdom of darkness and transferred her into the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. Today, the one cry of Barbara’s heart is: “I want to know you Lord.”

Barbara is married to Warren Arthur. They reside in Hartsville, South Carolina with their two children, Chloe and Benjamin. She also has a daughter from a previous marriage, Isabel, who is a graduate of Winthrop University.

Serving

Part One:

Do you have a SERVANT’S HEART? Where are you SERVING? I would love to hear where you are serving in your community? Is it at church or something non-religious? What is your motivation to serve?

I want you to think about what you can do to be a better servant.