741 - Ministering to the Lord

“Ministering to the Lord”

Intro: Over the past few weeks Pastor has been speaking on hearing the voice of God, and the many ways that God speaks to His people. We must understand the importance of hearing from and getting direction from God. Hearing the voice of God can change everything in your life.

Text: Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Definition of To minister: To serve, to attend to, wait upon, to administer at one’s own expense.

I. AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD (attended to)

A. THEY FOCOUSED EVERYTHING ON HIM.

Ex. The first time I saw Lona, I have got to minister to her. I wanted spend every waking moment w/ her

B. THEY MINISTERED AND FASTED

1. It took some time.

2. Fasting their thoughts, wearies, concerns

3. Worship in Spirit and Truth

C. THEY RECIVED INSTRUCTIONS (MARY)

1. They turned the world upside down.

2. Many search for answers, purpose, directions

3. Search for His presence,& find all that you need.

D. SOME DON’T WANT HIS PRESENCE, THEY WANT HIM AT A DISTANCE.

1. We cannot serve him from a distance

2. We cannot minister to him from a distance

3. That’s why we want you closer.

II. MINISTERING UNTO THE LORD PLEASES HIM

Hebrews 13:15 - 16 through him, then, we may(continually) offer up a sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name; ¹⁶and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

A. SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

1. There is a price.

2. We have train our flesh.

3. Not let our mind wonder.

B. THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS.

1. Not just think about Him.

2. Something has to come out.

Ex. If I just think about Lona, &

Never said, “I Love You.

C. GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME

2 Chronicles 5:11 - 14 (NKJV) ¹¹And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), ¹²and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— ¹³indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,”^£ that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

D. WHAT IS MINISTERING UNTO THE LORD?

1. They gave sacrificially of their time, their talent, their riches and their worship.

2. The Lord was so pleased that His presence filled the house of the Lord, as a

cloud.

III. WHAT DO WE COME TO CHURCH FOR?

A. Many come to be ministered to:

1. We need something,

2. What can I get?

3. We want a touch from God

4. Minister to Me, My needs, Me, Me, Me,

B. To be entertained

C. For social status-social club

D. Feel obligated

E. Tradition

IV. WE COME TO MINISTER UNTO THE LORD

John 4:23 - 24 (NKJV) ²³But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

1. What is the opposite of Spirit and truth?

Flesh & false, phony

2. How can the difference?

Out of body.

Romans 8:5 - 9 (NKJV) ⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Ex. If I am worshiping God and my mind is some where else,

you are in the flesh.

Thinking about the ball game, ext.

Just going through the motion

1. Not just come to socialize in the outer courts

2. But go into the Holy of Holies and worship God.

3. This is what pleases Him. Not just showing up.

4. As they ministerd to the Lord…their needs were met.

5. Don’t seek your need, seek to worship God.

6. Your heart is not in what your mind isn’t on.

* Sometimes we have to reign our mind and draw it back

7. If you’re not enjoying it what makes you think that he’s enjoying it?

hay your great, wonderful, great, great, great.

8. It is impossible to stand far off and minister to God.

CLOSURE: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.