Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at just one verse this evening - v11
• Initially it seems straight forward
• It follows on from this mornings sermon
• Quote
• Paul gives short bullet points
• Easy to remember
• The temptation can be to quickly go over these statements
• Let us ponder these more slowly
• v11 - Zeal for the Lord
• What Paul wrote he lived
• There is no button that can be pressed to live like this?
• How do we live such a life?
• v9-21 are an outworking of v1-2
• Offer your body as a living sacrifice: be diligent, fervent, serving the Lord
• Hate evil, love others, love your enemies ...
• Overview:
• Not lagging in diligence
• Fervent in Spirit
• Serving the Lord

Not lagging in diligence

• We can get into a state of lethargic and discouragement
• Why should this be?
• We are all different
• When we face discouragements
• The work of satan
  • Examples
• How do we overcome this?
• Remember that we as Christians are children of the living God
  • Explanation
• Remember that God the Holy Spirit dwells in us
• Explanation
• Remember that we are a soldier of Jesus Christ
• Explanation
• Remember that we are a servant of Jesus Christ
• Explanation
• Such thoughts should stir us up
• Look to Jesus Christ

Fervent in Spirit

• Lloyd-Jones: The word spirit should be a capital letter - i.e. The Holy Spirit
• The only way we can be fervent in the spirit is to be filled with the Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ had the Spirit without measure
• John the Baptist had the Spirit without measure
• Paul was fervent in Spirit
• Example of Henry Martin and Gladys Aywood
• Fervour is not someone speaking but seen in acts of love and a life sold out for God
• Quote from Spurgeon
• Col 3:23
• Ecc 9:10
• Take hold of the opportunity and 'do it'
• Example of a fire

Serving the Lord

• 'Serving'
• The word is often translated 'serving' as it comes from the Greek Deaconoss
• v11 - the Greek Dulos meaning slave
• It is about being a slave of the Lord
• x130 - Slave
• Ownership and submission
• Rom 1:1, Phil 1:1
• Paul was happy to be called a slave
• Not so much a servant - but a willing slave
• We are not to think in terms of slavery like the 18th century
• Quote from George Muller
• Are we really dependent on the Lord?
• We are not only slaves but we are treated as sons
• Our will is His will (this is a test of whether you are a Christian)
• We want to do the will of God
• We are accountable to our Father
• God is fair and God is just
• We talked about practical help this morning
• Further examples
• How are we serving the Lord?
• Is there fits and starts?
• Do not be controlled by your feelings
• Not just to be busy activitists but serving the Lord