Int’l Training for Elders and Responsible Ones (Spring 2016)

SERVICE FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH

Message Two

Serving with a Vision, according to Revelation,
and in the Body for the Building Up of the House of God

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-6, 15, 20-22; 22:6-10, 14-15; 26:16, 18-19; Gal.1:13-14; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 2:21-22 (Hymns 913)

Outline

Day 1

I. Our service to God must be with a vision and according to revelation—Acts 9:1-6, 15, 20-22; 22:6-10, 14-15; 26:16,18-19:

A. Before the Lord appeared to Paul and a light from heaven shined upon him, his zealous service to God was actually in opposition to God and according to Satan’s instigation—9:1; Gal. 1:13-14:

1. It is possible for us to repeat Paul’s mistakes, for our service to God can be used as an instrument of Satan to destroy God’s move—John 16:2.

2. Before Paul encountered the great light on the road to Damascus, he had tradition, knowledge of religion, and zeal but no vision or revelation—Gal. 1:13-14.

Day 2

3. Paul asked the Lord two questions: the first—“Who are You, Lord?”—relates to knowing the Lord; the second—“What shall I do, Lord?”—relates to receiving the Lord’s vision—Acts 22:8, 10.

4. In Acts 22:10 Paul began to have a vision that cut him off from his previous service and brought him into the New Testament service.

5. Paul’s way of serving God came from a heavenly vision; when he saw this vision, the things of the Old Testament came to an end, and he began to take the New Testament way—26:18-19.

B. Our service to God may be according to revelation, or it may be natural—Gal. 2:1-2; Eph. 1:17; 3:3, 5:

1. Service according to revelation involves meeting God, being shined on by God, receiving revelation from God, and being burdened in spirit by God—Acts 26:16, 18-19; 22:14-15.

2. Natural service is according to our own ideas, views, traditions, or regulations; it may also come from imitating others, and it is often initiated simply to meet the need of a certain situation—1 Cor. 2:14.

3. We should not have outward acts of service to the Lord without inward revelation; our inward revelation must govern our outward acts—Gal.1:13-14; 2:1-2.

Day 3

C. Vision and revelation are the way and the life of service—Acts 26:19; Eph. 3:3, 5, 9:

1. We need a vision for the way of service and a revelation for the life of service; the way to serve God comes from the vision, and the life to serve God comes from revelation.

2. It was necessary for Paul to change both his outward way and his inner life; his old way was unacceptable, and his old life had to be terminated—Phil. 3:4-8.

3. The way of Paul’s preaching came from the heavenly vision, and the content of his preaching came from revelation; his way was heavenly, and his content was the living Christ Himself—Acts 22:14-15; 26:16, 18-19.

II. As believers in Christ, we are members of the Body of Christ, and we serve God in the Body—Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor.12:14-27:

A. When we come to the matter of serving the Lord, we need to be clear that we need the Body; it is crucial for us to realize that we cannot serve without the Body or have spiritual life outside the Body—Rom. 12:4-5; Phil. 1:19.

B. The entire Christian living is a living in the Body, and the entire Christian serving is a service carried out in the Body—1 Cor.12:12-13.

Day 4

C. In the New Testament the service is not touched clearly and definitely until Romans 12; it is here that the matter of service is revealed, and it is presented as a matter of the Body and in the Body—vv. 4-11.

D. With respect to serving in the church, the emphasis is on the setting for service, but with respect to serving in the Body, the emphasis is on the coordination in service.

E. According to the New Testament, the believers are members one of another and are coordinated in one Body—vv. 4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12, 14; Eph. 5:30:

1. To know the Body of Christ is to realize that we are only members and that we cannot do anything without others.

2. A Christian is not a complete entity; he is merely a member of the Body,a part.

3. When we serve the Lord, we should serve in the position of a member, in coordination with others—1 Cor. 12:18.

F. If we have seen the Body, we will no longer be divisive, we will not be individualistic or independent, and we will be willing to be blended, without any complaining, murmuring, or criticism but with love, forgiveness, sympathy, forbearance, and longsuffering;it is with such a Body life that there is a real impact in our service—Eph. 1:17-23; 5:23, 30.

Day 5

III. Our service is for the building up of the house of God—2:21-22; John 2:14-17; 14:2; Hag. 1:2-11:

A. God wants saved and edified believers to be coordinated and built together as His dwelling place—Eph. 2:21-22:

1. Leading people to be saved and leading believers to grow in life are merely procedures; God’s ultimate goal is the building up of His house.

2. God’s built-up house reveals and expresses God, gives Him the glory He deserves, and accomplishes His will so that He can have rest—John 14:2.

3. God wants the gospel to be preached fervently, and He also wants the believers to pursue spirituality so that His house, the church, the Body of Christ, may be built up.

Day 6

B. We need to care for the building up of God’s house—2:14-17; 2 Cor. 11:28:

1. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the center of His work was to build a house for God; hence, He was devoured by the zeal of God’s house—John 2:17.

2. The apostles labored for the building up of the house of God—2 Cor.11:28.

3. Most believers take care of their personal needs and consider themselves to be the center and the starting point—Phil. 2:20-21:

a. Concerning both the material realm and the spiritual realm, human beings are selfish and always want to gain something for themselves instead of considering what God desires—Matt. 6:8-13, 19-34.

b. If we want to be Christians who match God’s desire and meet His need in this age, we cannot be trapped in ourselves; we must come out of ourselves to care for God’s need—Hag. 1:2-11:

(1) God desires that we come out of ourselves and be delivered from our selfishness in order to care for the building up of His house—Phil. 2:21;Hag. 1:2-11.

(2) Instead of focusing on ourselves, we must care for the house of God.

4. We must not focus on anything other than the work of God to build His house—Eph. 2:21-22.

5. We serve God with a vision, according to revelation, and in the Body for the building up of the church as the house of God—John 14:2; 1 Tim. 3:15.