Hands: Serving With the Love of Christ

1 Timothy 3:13
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Pastor Colin’s focus moves to the idea of faith as hands that serve with the love of Christ, referencing 1 Timothy 3:13. He explains that those who serve well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus, linking faith and service together as mutually reinforcing.

Pastor Colin explains that a faith which does not serve is useless, citing James 2 as well as Paul and John, to argue that faith without deeds is as useless as empty words. This faith doesn’t save and equates to the devil’s belief in God without love and service to Him. He uses this to challenge the idea that faith without active love and service is genuine. Authentic faith is expressed through love and service because Jesus Christ, who unites us, came to serve, not to be served.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,060 Well we’re continuing our series entitled the Anatomy of Faith in which we were learning 2 00:00:05,060 –> 00:00:12,140 that faith is the bond of a living union between the believer and Jesus Christ in which a man 3 00:00:12,140 –> 00:00:19,340 or a woman comes to trust Christ, to love Christ, and to serve Christ. 4 00:00:19,340 –> 00:00:23,320 We’re remembering that we are not saved by the strength of our trust, or the depth of 5 00:00:23,320 –> 00:00:25,639 our love, or the consistency of our service. 6 00:00:25,639 –> 00:00:27,799 We are saved by Christ. 7 00:00:27,799 –> 00:00:32,560 But Christ is ours and we are his through the bond of faith. 8 00:00:32,560 –> 00:00:38,160 And therefore we are learning to pray this prayer, Lord increase my faith and then together 9 00:00:38,160 –> 00:00:42,500 we’re praying, Lord increase our faith. 10 00:00:42,500 –> 00:00:47,799 And in this series, we are learning how that can happen for us. 11 00:00:47,799 –> 00:00:54,560 We began last time in Romans chapter 10 and verse 17 where God says to us there by the 12 00:00:54,619 –> 00:01:01,400 Holy Spirit, faith comes through hearing. 13 00:01:01,400 –> 00:01:04,900 So we’re praying, Lord increase my faith, Lord increase our faith, how is that going 14 00:01:04,900 –> 00:01:09,760 to happen, and the scripture says to us faith comes through hearing. 15 00:01:09,760 –> 00:01:15,379 So Jesus says be very careful as to how you hear the Word of God because God creates faith 16 00:01:15,379 –> 00:01:18,980 and he sustains faith by his Word. 17 00:01:18,980 –> 00:01:23,559 And so as we think about this image of the anatomy of faith, we began by seeing that 18 00:01:23,559 –> 00:01:29,199 faith has ears, ears hearing the Word of Christ. 19 00:01:29,199 –> 00:01:35,300 Today we’re going to move forward with the anatomy and think of our faith as hands, hands 20 00:01:35,300 –> 00:01:38,180 serving with the love of Christ. 21 00:01:38,180 –> 00:01:42,099 And I’d like to turn please to 1 Timothy in chapter 3 and verse 15. 22 00:01:42,099 –> 00:01:47,180 There are several scriptures here today, but this one is the first. 23 00:01:47,180 –> 00:01:51,660 We’re taking a second step in learning how to grow in faith. 24 00:01:52,639 –> 00:01:57,459 Really praying, Lord increase my faith, Lord increase our faith. 25 00:01:57,459 –> 00:02:00,540 Here’s how it happens. 26 00:02:00,540 –> 00:02:06,860 Those who have served well, I’m sorry it’s verse 13. 27 00:02:06,860 –> 00:02:15,919 Those who have served well gain in excellent standing and great assurance in their faith 28 00:02:15,919 –> 00:02:18,520 in Christ Jesus verse 13. 29 00:02:18,520 –> 00:02:23,860 Those who have served well gain in excellent standing and great assurance in their faith 30 00:02:23,860 –> 00:02:25,059 in Christ Jesus. 31 00:02:25,059 –> 00:02:29,759 I want to draw your attention to the second part of the verse, so let’s put it together 32 00:02:29,759 –> 00:02:31,320 this way. 33 00:02:31,320 –> 00:02:34,559 Those who have served well gain something. 34 00:02:34,559 –> 00:02:35,559 And what do they gain? 35 00:02:35,559 –> 00:02:42,179 They gain great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. 36 00:02:42,179 –> 00:02:48,039 So in the scripture then Paul is putting together two things, faith and serving and he’s saying 37 00:02:48,300 –> 00:02:54,740 connected in this way, that those who serve well gain great assurance in their faith. 38 00:02:54,740 –> 00:02:55,899 There’s a confidence. 39 00:02:55,899 –> 00:02:56,899 There’s a growth. 40 00:02:56,899 –> 00:02:57,899 There’s an assurance. 41 00:02:57,899 –> 00:03:02,580 There’s a joy in regard to faith that comes to those who serve well. 42 00:03:02,580 –> 00:03:04,660 They gain it, that’s what he says. 43 00:03:04,660 –> 00:03:10,660 Now I want us to explore together today from the Bible the connection between faith and 44 00:03:10,660 –> 00:03:11,779 serving. 45 00:03:12,320 –> 00:03:21,440 Why is it that serving well brings great assurance in your faith in Christ Jesus? 46 00:03:21,440 –> 00:03:27,660 And if we are really praying Lord increased my faith, then this will be an important part 47 00:03:27,660 –> 00:03:29,320 of God’s answer to our prayer. 48 00:03:29,320 –> 00:03:34,380 He says to us, well now, those who serve well gain great assurance in their faith. 49 00:03:34,380 –> 00:03:39,899 So this is showing us the path in which faith advances and grows. 50 00:03:39,919 –> 00:03:42,440 So why does serving well give great assurance in our faith? 51 00:03:42,440 –> 00:03:44,080 That’s the question. 52 00:03:44,080 –> 00:03:48,160 I want to take four steps to answer that question. 53 00:03:48,160 –> 00:03:51,839 Here’s the first. 54 00:03:51,839 –> 00:03:58,720 The Scripture makes it clear that a faith that does not serve, is completely useless. 55 00:03:58,720 –> 00:04:03,139 A faith that does not serve, is completely useless. 56 00:04:03,139 –> 00:04:09,119 Now, no passage of Scripture puts this more clearly than James in chapter 2 which has 57 00:04:09,240 –> 00:04:10,080 been read to us. 58 00:04:10,080 –> 00:04:12,699 We’re going to come to that in a moment. 59 00:04:12,699 –> 00:04:17,019 But I want to show you that this is not only the emphasis of James as if he was somehow 60 00:04:17,019 –> 00:04:18,839 unique in saying this. 61 00:04:18,839 –> 00:04:24,880 It’s of course the unanimous testimony of the entire New Testament. 62 00:04:24,880 –> 00:04:28,019 And so, let’s begin with the Apostle Paul. 63 00:04:28,019 –> 00:04:34,959 Galatians chapter 5 and verse 6, Paul says, In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision 64 00:04:34,959 –> 00:04:36,760 has any value. 65 00:04:36,760 –> 00:04:44,040 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 66 00:04:44,040 –> 00:04:47,959 Faith expressing itself through love. 67 00:04:47,959 –> 00:04:52,959 Now it was through the Apostle Paul that the Holy Spirit gave us the great statements in 68 00:04:52,959 –> 00:04:56,920 the New Testament about justification by faith. 69 00:04:56,920 –> 00:05:01,119 And you will know that these statements come especially in the letter of Romans and also 70 00:05:01,119 –> 00:05:03,480 Galatians. 71 00:05:03,480 –> 00:05:09,579 So right here in Galatians you might expect Paul to say that the only thing that counts 72 00:05:09,579 –> 00:05:14,579 is faith, but that is not what the Apostle Paul says. 73 00:05:14,579 –> 00:05:20,679 Galatians chapter 5 and verse 6, he says the only thing that counts is faith expressing 74 00:05:20,679 –> 00:05:22,640 itself through love. 75 00:05:22,640 –> 00:05:23,899 Why does he say that? 76 00:05:23,899 –> 00:05:28,000 Because faith that doesn’t express itself through love is not the real deal. 77 00:05:28,519 –> 00:05:35,640 He’s saying the same as is said in James chapter 2. 78 00:05:35,640 –> 00:05:38,920 You get the same thing in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 2. 79 00:05:38,920 –> 00:05:41,000 We know this well. 80 00:05:41,000 –> 00:05:52,700 Paul says if I have faith that can move mountains, but I don’t have love, I am nothing. 81 00:05:52,700 –> 00:05:57,720 In other words, a faith that does not express itself in love, it has no value, it is completely 82 00:05:58,239 –> 00:05:59,600 useless, it amounts to nothing. 83 00:05:59,600 –> 00:06:01,220 That’s his word. 84 00:06:01,220 –> 00:06:06,380 Love is the evidence of being united to Jesus Christ by faith. 85 00:06:06,380 –> 00:06:11,619 If Christ is in us then love is in us. 86 00:06:11,619 –> 00:06:16,940 And that is why moving from Paul to the apostle John, John puts it this way, if anyone has 87 00:06:16,940 –> 00:06:22,500 material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the 88 00:06:22,500 –> 00:06:26,299 love of God be in him? 89 00:06:26,559 –> 00:06:32,540 And so now please turn to James in chapter two. 90 00:06:32,540 –> 00:06:39,200 And James expresses the same truth as Paul and John when he says in verse 14, what good 91 00:06:39,200 –> 00:06:49,299 is it my brothers if a man claims to have faith but he has no deeds? 92 00:06:49,299 –> 00:06:51,799 So try to picture this man with me. 93 00:06:51,799 –> 00:06:55,200 He claims to have faith. 94 00:06:55,220 –> 00:07:01,760 He says he’s a Christian, talks about believing in Christ. 95 00:07:01,760 –> 00:07:07,859 But James says he has no deeds, no deeds. 96 00:07:07,859 –> 00:07:12,959 In other words, there isn’t anything distinctively Christ-like about his behavior. 97 00:07:12,959 –> 00:07:17,040 There is nothing that makes him obviously different from other men in the world, except 98 00:07:17,040 –> 00:07:18,040 what he says. 99 00:07:18,040 –> 00:07:20,040 His faith is only in words. 100 00:07:20,040 –> 00:07:21,040 It is a claim. 101 00:07:21,040 –> 00:07:24,500 It is something that he says. 102 00:07:24,519 –> 00:07:29,899 Now, James is telling us that a faith like that is completely useless, of no value at 103 00:07:29,899 –> 00:07:30,899 all. 104 00:07:30,899 –> 00:07:35,739 He’s saying the same thing as Paul when he says, if I have faith but not love, I am 105 00:07:35,739 –> 00:07:36,739 nothing. 106 00:07:37,540 –> 00:07:39,640 And James gives us an illustration. 107 00:07:39,660 –> 00:07:46,359 He says, let me tell you how useless this faith that is just words but is not deeds 108 00:07:46,359 –> 00:07:47,859 really is. 109 00:07:47,859 –> 00:07:49,079 Suppose there’s a man who is hungry. 110 00:07:49,079 –> 00:07:52,220 Or suppose there’s a man who is cold. 111 00:07:52,779 –> 00:08:00,160 If someone just goes up to him and says, hey, be fed or be warm, what use is that? 112 00:08:00,160 –> 00:08:01,739 It’s obviously completely useless. 113 00:08:01,739 –> 00:08:10,559 Now, James says a faith that is just a claim and has no deeds that flow from it is as useless 114 00:08:10,559 –> 00:08:16,480 as saying to a hungry man be fed or saying to a man who is cold be warm. 115 00:08:16,480 –> 00:08:18,980 And he’s saying a faith like that will not save you. 116 00:08:18,980 –> 00:08:24,100 It is completely useless because, verse 19, it leaves you in precisely the same position 117 00:08:24,100 –> 00:08:26,000 as the devil himself. 118 00:08:26,000 –> 00:08:29,000 Because, the devil knows that Jesus is the Son of God. 119 00:08:29,000 –> 00:08:32,440 The devil believes, and knows that Jesus died on the cross. 120 00:08:32,440 –> 00:08:34,159 He was there at the time. 121 00:08:34,159 –> 00:08:39,880 The devil knows that Jesus rose from the dead to his horror and he shudders because of it. 122 00:08:39,880 –> 00:08:42,200 What the devil does not do is he does not trust Christ. 123 00:08:42,200 –> 00:08:43,200 He does not love Christ. 124 00:08:43,200 –> 00:08:44,460 He does not serve Christ. 125 00:08:44,919 –> 00:08:48,919 So, if your faith is only words, if it is only a claim to say I’m a Christian, but it 126 00:08:48,919 –> 00:08:53,020 is not evidenced in loving Christ, and serving Christ, and trusting Christ, you are in the 127 00:08:53,020 –> 00:08:54,479 same position as the devil. 128 00:08:54,479 –> 00:08:55,739 It’s completely hopeless. 129 00:08:55,739 –> 00:08:59,900 That is the argument of James and chapter two. 130 00:08:59,900 –> 00:09:06,719 Now let me try give you a picture that will help us, I hope, here. 131 00:09:06,719 –> 00:09:12,979 For those of us who are artistically gifted and inclined, which is definitely not me. 132 00:09:12,979 –> 00:09:17,419 I was never any use at drawing, but some of you are great at it. 133 00:09:17,419 –> 00:09:26,200 If I was to ask you to draw a picture that represents sin, I wonder what you would draw. 134 00:09:26,200 –> 00:09:29,820 Now of course, you have a lot of options. 135 00:09:29,820 –> 00:09:36,580 You could draw a target and an arrow falling short of it because sin is falling short of 136 00:09:36,580 –> 00:09:39,179 the glory of God. 137 00:09:39,200 –> 00:09:46,500 You could draw a clenched fist because sin is rebellion against God. 138 00:09:46,500 –> 00:09:50,840 But I want to suggest to you another picture that you could draw that gets to the heart 139 00:09:50,840 –> 00:09:57,700 of what sin does in the human condition, and Augustine, the great Christian teacher, developed 140 00:09:57,700 –> 00:10:05,599 this showing how in the Scriptures sin has this effect on us. 141 00:10:05,599 –> 00:10:14,739 You could draw the picture of a man or a woman bent over so that they are looking inwards 142 00:10:14,739 –> 00:10:15,919 to themselves. 143 00:10:15,919 –> 00:10:21,039 Let me explain that picture to you. 144 00:10:21,039 –> 00:10:25,780 When Adam and Eve were created by God and wonderfully placed in the Garden of Eden, 145 00:10:25,780 –> 00:10:34,000 they walked upright and were able face-to-face to have fellowship with Almighty God. 146 00:10:34,000 –> 00:10:39,039 He made Himself visible so that they walked with Him in the Garden in the cool of the 147 00:10:39,039 –> 00:10:40,760 day. 148 00:10:40,760 –> 00:10:43,679 They looked to God. 149 00:10:43,679 –> 00:10:49,219 But you remember that Satan came into the Garden and he said to the man and to the woman, 150 00:10:49,219 –> 00:10:52,280 You can be as god. 151 00:10:52,280 –> 00:10:56,119 You don’t need to be looking to God, he said to tell you what is good and what is evil. 152 00:10:56,119 –> 00:11:00,619 You don’t need to be a worshiper of God, you don’t need to be trusting Him and loving Him 153 00:11:00,619 –> 00:11:01,880 and serving Him. 154 00:11:01,880 –> 00:11:03,299 You can be your own God. 155 00:11:03,400 –> 00:11:04,940 And you can trust yourself. 156 00:11:04,940 –> 00:11:06,559 You can love yourself. 157 00:11:06,559 –> 00:11:08,239 You can serve yourself. 158 00:11:08,239 –> 00:11:12,419 And in their disobedience in the Garden, that is exactly 159 00:11:12,419 –> 00:11:13,520 what happened. 160 00:11:13,520 –> 00:11:19,340 So that the human condition has moved from being one that is upright in which we look 161 00:11:19,340 –> 00:11:24,460 into the face of God loving and trusting and serving Him to a condition in which we are 162 00:11:24,460 –> 00:11:27,719 bent over on ourselves. 163 00:11:27,719 –> 00:11:29,520 Loving ourselves. 164 00:11:29,520 –> 00:11:30,979 Trusting ourselves. 165 00:11:30,979 –> 00:11:31,979 Serving ourselves. 166 00:11:31,979 –> 00:11:32,979 Living on my impulse. 167 00:11:32,979 –> 00:11:37,919 Doing what I think and doing my thing. 168 00:11:37,919 –> 00:11:41,559 That is what sin does to us. 169 00:11:41,559 –> 00:11:46,020 Which is why James is describing this man who says he has faith, 170 00:11:46,020 –> 00:11:49,840 but when there is someone who is hungry, and someone who is cold over here, this man doesn’t 171 00:11:49,840 –> 00:11:50,840 want to get involved. 172 00:11:50,840 –> 00:11:53,719 He says, well be fed and keep yourself warm. 173 00:11:53,719 –> 00:11:54,760 Why does he say that? 174 00:11:54,760 –> 00:11:55,880 He doesn’t want to get involved. 175 00:11:55,880 –> 00:11:56,880 Why? 176 00:11:56,880 –> 00:11:59,039 Because he is bent in on himself. 177 00:11:59,739 –> 00:12:03,780 He is consumed with his own life, his own problems, his own deal. 178 00:12:03,780 –> 00:12:09,520 And James says, can a faith like that save a man? 179 00:12:09,520 –> 00:12:10,679 No. 180 00:12:10,679 –> 00:12:14,840 The Spirit of Christ is not in this man. 181 00:12:14,840 –> 00:12:18,119 For whatever he says about himself, he is not a Christian. 182 00:12:18,119 –> 00:12:19,219 He is still in his sins. 183 00:12:19,219 –> 00:12:21,440 He is bent over on himself. 184 00:12:21,440 –> 00:12:25,919 He does not care about his brother. 185 00:12:25,960 –> 00:12:29,760 So James is challenging, as the whole New Testament challenges, 186 00:12:29,760 –> 00:12:38,099 the easy Believism that is rampant in the church today, 187 00:12:38,099 –> 00:12:41,979 by which many people have come to think that they are Christians 188 00:12:41,979 –> 00:12:43,039 when they really are not. 189 00:12:43,039 –> 00:12:48,859 And this has happened through an emaciated Gospel that offers 190 00:12:48,859 –> 00:12:53,500 Christ as Savior but not Lord, invites people to receive him by 191 00:12:54,280 –> 00:12:57,799 turning to him in repentance in order to be saved 192 00:12:57,799 –> 00:13:00,039 from hell without being saved from sin. 193 00:13:00,039 –> 00:13:06,200 And James says that a faith like that is completely useless. 194 00:13:06,200 –> 00:13:08,440 Can bring any change in a person’s life, 195 00:13:08,440 –> 00:13:10,200 it’s merely a belief. 196 00:13:10,200 –> 00:13:15,179 And what use is that when even the devil 197 00:13:15,179 –> 00:13:17,880 knows these things to be true. 198 00:13:17,880 –> 00:13:21,179 So that’s the first thing for us to establish, 199 00:13:21,179 –> 00:13:22,979 we’ve gotta be clear about what faith is. 200 00:13:23,000 –> 00:13:25,719 And it goes to the heart of our whole series. 201 00:13:25,719 –> 00:13:27,960 A faith that does not serve, 202 00:13:27,960 –> 00:13:29,200 a faith that does not have deeds, 203 00:13:29,200 –> 00:13:31,000 a faith that does not issue in love 204 00:13:31,000 –> 00:13:36,919 is absolutely, completely and utterly useless. 205 00:13:36,919 –> 00:13:40,340 Now that’s the first step, here’s the second. 206 00:13:40,340 –> 00:13:42,200 Jesus Christ came into the world 207 00:13:42,200 –> 00:13:46,080 not to be served but to serve. 208 00:13:46,080 –> 00:13:47,940 And our Lord states this beautifully 209 00:13:47,940 –> 00:13:51,099 in Mark 10 in verse 45. 210 00:13:51,099 –> 00:13:54,200 The Son of Man did not come to be served 211 00:13:54,200 –> 00:13:59,400 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 212 00:13:59,400 –> 00:14:00,900 The Lord Jesus Christ did not come 213 00:14:00,900 –> 00:14:02,640 into the world to be served. 214 00:14:02,640 –> 00:14:05,000 He did not come in order to get other people 215 00:14:05,000 –> 00:14:07,099 to do things for him. 216 00:14:07,099 –> 00:14:08,419 You said I’ve come into the world 217 00:14:08,419 –> 00:14:10,299 so that I can do something for you 218 00:14:10,299 –> 00:14:12,059 that you cannot do for yourself. 219 00:14:12,059 –> 00:14:14,679 I’ve come to minister for you. 220 00:14:16,520 –> 00:14:20,599 And service was not something that Jesus added to his life. 221 00:14:22,099 –> 00:14:24,119 Service was his life. 222 00:14:25,359 –> 00:14:28,380 He says to the Father, my food is to do your will. 223 00:14:28,380 –> 00:14:30,640 That’s what I am, that’s what I’m about. 224 00:14:30,640 –> 00:14:32,059 That is my life. 225 00:14:34,260 –> 00:14:37,599 Jesus Christ was not bent in on himself. 226 00:14:39,140 –> 00:14:41,080 He looks up into the face of the Father 227 00:14:41,080 –> 00:14:44,539 and he says my food is to do your will. 228 00:14:44,539 –> 00:14:47,260 And so you read in the Gospels how he spent his days, 229 00:14:47,260 –> 00:14:49,440 how he poured out his life, 230 00:14:49,500 –> 00:14:51,080 giving himself to the disciples, 231 00:14:51,080 –> 00:14:52,940 giving himself to the crowds. 232 00:14:53,880 –> 00:14:56,080 How when he was confronted with human need, 233 00:14:56,080 –> 00:14:57,760 he was not bent in on himself 234 00:14:57,760 –> 00:15:01,039 so that he just said something trite and walked away, 235 00:15:01,039 –> 00:15:04,140 he moved towards it, he ministered 236 00:15:04,140 –> 00:15:07,799 to those who were sorrowing in bereavement. 237 00:15:08,539 –> 00:15:11,599 He served children. 238 00:15:12,900 –> 00:15:13,739 Think of this. 239 00:15:13,739 –> 00:15:15,619 When the disciples said the children should go away 240 00:15:15,619 –> 00:15:17,200 because other things were more important, 241 00:15:17,239 –> 00:15:19,419 Jesus said no, let the children come to me. 242 00:15:19,419 –> 00:15:21,039 And can you picture this in your mind? 243 00:15:21,039 –> 00:15:22,679 The Lord Jesus Christ 244 00:15:23,960 –> 00:15:26,940 connecting with these children, 245 00:15:26,940 –> 00:15:28,640 loving these children, 246 00:15:29,679 –> 00:15:31,380 ministering to these children, 247 00:15:31,380 –> 00:15:35,239 teaching these children as an army of you 248 00:15:35,239 –> 00:15:39,159 here in this congregation do week in and week out. 249 00:15:39,159 –> 00:15:41,780 So that’s a reflection of Jesus. 250 00:15:42,919 –> 00:15:44,940 Think of how the Lord Jesus Christ 251 00:15:44,940 –> 00:15:46,739 in the extremity of his own suffering 252 00:15:46,739 –> 00:15:48,219 is still caring for his mother, 253 00:15:48,219 –> 00:15:50,359 providing for her to be cared for, 254 00:15:51,559 –> 00:15:53,140 appointing John to the task. 255 00:15:53,140 –> 00:15:54,460 Think of how wherever he goes, 256 00:15:54,460 –> 00:15:56,659 he proclaims good news, and he brings hope, 257 00:15:56,659 –> 00:15:58,400 and he speaks the word of life. 258 00:15:58,400 –> 00:16:03,020 And this Jesus says I come among you as one who serves. 259 00:16:03,020 –> 00:16:04,659 It’s who I am. 260 00:16:04,659 –> 00:16:06,219 That’s what I’m about. 261 00:16:06,219 –> 00:16:09,479 That’s my life, not something added to me. 262 00:16:09,479 –> 00:16:12,419 It’s the very nature of the way that I live. 263 00:16:12,419 –> 00:16:15,539 It is my life, I did not come to be served. 264 00:16:15,539 –> 00:16:17,320 I am not sitting back saying 265 00:16:17,320 –> 00:16:19,179 what are people going to do for me? 266 00:16:19,179 –> 00:16:24,119 I am stepping forward, and I spend my life serving 267 00:16:24,119 –> 00:16:26,940 and giving my life as a ransom for many. 268 00:16:27,840 –> 00:16:32,659 So this is the wonderful truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. 269 00:16:32,659 –> 00:16:36,119 He came into the world, not for himself, but for us. 270 00:16:36,119 –> 00:16:37,039 He lived his life. 271 00:16:37,039 –> 00:16:38,020 He died his death. 272 00:16:38,020 –> 00:16:40,900 He rose again, not for himself, but for us. 273 00:16:40,900 –> 00:16:43,580 He ascended into heaven, not for himself, but for us. 274 00:16:43,659 –> 00:16:45,640 And when he comes again in power and glory, 275 00:16:45,640 –> 00:16:50,640 he will not be coming for himself, but for us. 276 00:16:50,739 –> 00:16:52,559 So we’ve put two steps together. 277 00:16:54,260 –> 00:16:57,320 Why is it that serving well gives us great confidence 278 00:16:57,320 –> 00:16:59,340 in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? 279 00:16:59,340 –> 00:17:02,419 Well, step one of faith that 280 00:17:02,419 –> 00:17:05,500 does not serve is completely useless. 281 00:17:05,500 –> 00:17:09,500 Don’t be deceived about this, it is just useless. 282 00:17:09,500 –> 00:17:14,500 Second, Jesus Christ came not to be served, but to serve. 283 00:17:16,420 –> 00:17:19,119 Now here’s the third step, and the most important one. 284 00:17:19,939 –> 00:17:24,839 Faith that unites us to Christ will show itself in serving. 285 00:17:25,719 –> 00:17:26,560 You see this. 286 00:17:26,560 –> 00:17:29,020 If it was really true that faith is a bond of living union 287 00:17:29,020 –> 00:17:32,420 with Jesus Christ, in which, like the vine and the branches, 288 00:17:32,420 –> 00:17:33,540 his life is in us. 289 00:17:33,540 –> 00:17:35,900 If it’s really true that Christ is in me. 290 00:17:36,640 –> 00:17:41,380 If faith unites me to the Christ who serves 291 00:17:41,380 –> 00:17:44,479 and His life is in me, the way that I will see evidence 292 00:17:44,479 –> 00:17:46,099 of that life is by my serving. 293 00:17:48,099 –> 00:17:51,199 That is, of course, precisely why it is the case 294 00:17:51,199 –> 00:17:53,819 that faith that does not serve is completely useless 295 00:17:53,819 –> 00:17:56,219 because it is evidently not a living bond 296 00:17:56,219 –> 00:17:57,780 with the Christ who does serve. 297 00:17:59,699 –> 00:18:00,819 It’s just words. 298 00:18:01,979 –> 00:18:04,579 But a living faith that bonds me to Jesus Christ 299 00:18:04,579 –> 00:18:06,619 and came into the world to serve 300 00:18:06,619 –> 00:18:08,420 is going to manifest itself, 301 00:18:08,420 –> 00:18:11,800 it’s going to give evidence of itself in serving. 302 00:18:13,619 –> 00:18:16,180 So think of that picture of sin one more time 303 00:18:16,180 –> 00:18:18,660 and think of what it is that Jesus Christ does for us 304 00:18:18,660 –> 00:18:21,300 when we come to living faith in Him. 305 00:18:21,300 –> 00:18:22,119 What is sin? 306 00:18:22,119 –> 00:18:25,939 It is to be bent in on myself. 307 00:18:25,939 –> 00:18:27,819 It’s to be going through life consumed 308 00:18:27,819 –> 00:18:30,319 with my own problems, my own needs. 309 00:18:31,459 –> 00:18:34,119 There’s this man, he’s bent in on himself 310 00:18:34,119 –> 00:18:36,780 and he’s consumed with how people have let him down 311 00:18:36,780 –> 00:18:39,239 and how he’s going to make his mark in the world 312 00:18:39,239 –> 00:18:40,520 and when he’s going to get the break 313 00:18:40,520 –> 00:18:42,280 that he thinks he deserves and so forth. 314 00:18:42,280 –> 00:18:45,119 Sin has us bent in on ourselves. 315 00:18:45,119 –> 00:18:48,520 But when Jesus Christ, who is not bent in on himself, 316 00:18:48,520 –> 00:18:49,900 comes into a human life, 317 00:18:49,900 –> 00:18:51,800 what is the effect of the Spirit of Christ 318 00:18:51,800 –> 00:18:53,020 coming into human life? 319 00:18:53,020 –> 00:18:55,280 It straightens us up. 320 00:18:55,280 –> 00:18:57,079 It gets us away from loving self, 321 00:18:57,079 –> 00:18:59,339 and trusting self, and serving self, 322 00:18:59,339 –> 00:19:00,680 and brings us to the position 323 00:19:00,680 –> 00:19:03,560 of looking up with faith into the face of Almighty God 324 00:19:03,579 –> 00:19:05,920 and saying, I love you. 325 00:19:05,920 –> 00:19:09,500 I serve you, I trust you. 326 00:19:09,500 –> 00:19:12,939 You’ve delivered me and saved me from being my own God. 327 00:19:12,939 –> 00:19:16,239 And now that my eyes are open to live upright 328 00:19:16,239 –> 00:19:20,199 in relation to you, I see a world of need around me. 329 00:19:21,040 –> 00:19:24,439 And because the Spirit of the one who serves is in me, 330 00:19:24,439 –> 00:19:27,680 I have a new desire to move in that direction. 331 00:19:27,680 –> 00:19:29,800 One of the most beautiful descriptions 332 00:19:29,800 –> 00:19:32,319 of the life change Jesus Christ brings 333 00:19:32,319 –> 00:19:34,719 is in Psalm three and verse three. 334 00:19:34,719 –> 00:19:37,959 David is consumed with his own problems 335 00:19:37,959 –> 00:19:42,760 and then he says of God, you are the lifter up of my head. 336 00:19:42,760 –> 00:19:43,920 Isn’t that beautiful? 337 00:19:43,920 –> 00:19:45,420 That’s what God does. 338 00:19:45,420 –> 00:19:47,880 He gets us away from navel gazing. 339 00:19:47,880 –> 00:19:49,420 You know what I mean by that? 340 00:19:49,420 –> 00:19:54,420 You’re the lifter up of my head. 341 00:19:56,619 –> 00:19:58,800 And when we are joined to Christ 342 00:19:58,880 –> 00:20:02,699 in this living union of faith, 343 00:20:02,699 –> 00:20:05,239 faith unites us to Christ who serves 344 00:20:05,239 –> 00:20:10,040 so true faith will show itself in serving. 345 00:20:10,040 –> 00:20:12,540 And that principle is all over the New Testament. 346 00:20:13,760 –> 00:20:15,479 Christ died for all that those who live 347 00:20:15,479 –> 00:20:16,920 should no longer live for themselves 348 00:20:16,920 –> 00:20:20,280 but for him who died for them and was raised to life. 349 00:20:21,239 –> 00:20:23,880 If you have any encouragement from being united to Christ, 350 00:20:23,880 –> 00:20:25,979 if you have any fellowship in the spirit, 351 00:20:26,839 –> 00:20:29,099 then live not for your own interests 352 00:20:29,099 –> 00:20:30,739 but also for the interests of others. 353 00:20:30,739 –> 00:20:33,060 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ 354 00:20:33,060 –> 00:20:35,060 who took the nature of a servant. 355 00:20:35,060 –> 00:20:36,339 You see Paul’s argument. 356 00:20:36,339 –> 00:20:39,900 If his spirit’s in you, then the one who became a servant, 357 00:20:39,900 –> 00:20:42,680 his life is going to be manifest through you. 358 00:20:44,459 –> 00:20:48,140 So, Martin Luther puts this very, very beautifully. 359 00:20:48,140 –> 00:20:50,380 He says each one of us should become, as it were, 360 00:20:50,380 –> 00:20:52,140 a Christ to the other. 361 00:20:53,119 –> 00:20:55,280 That we may be truly Christians. 362 00:20:55,859 –> 00:20:57,699 Now, one more scripture reference here. 363 00:20:57,699 –> 00:21:01,699 Would you turn with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter one. 364 00:21:01,699 –> 00:21:03,459 1 Thessalonians chapter one. 365 00:21:04,479 –> 00:21:07,819 Here’s a beautiful description of the transformation 366 00:21:07,819 –> 00:21:09,819 that Christ brings in a human life. 367 00:21:11,579 –> 00:21:15,260 These folks in Thessalonica were idolaters. 368 00:21:15,260 –> 00:21:16,760 It says that in verse nine, 369 00:21:18,219 –> 00:21:20,280 Why? 370 00:21:20,280 –> 00:21:22,859 For their looks alone are significant. 371 00:21:23,800 –> 00:21:26,040 Verse nine. 372 00:21:26,040 –> 00:21:28,400 That means that they were basically loving themselves 373 00:21:28,400 –> 00:21:30,839 and trusting themselves and serving themselves 374 00:21:31,680 –> 00:21:34,319 but Paul came and brought the gospel 375 00:21:34,319 –> 00:21:37,479 and by God’s grace, their lives were changed. 376 00:21:37,479 –> 00:21:40,099 They were wonderful converted to faith in Jesus Christ. 377 00:21:40,099 –> 00:21:43,359 Paul says 1 Thessalonians one and I’ll read from verse two. 378 00:21:43,359 –> 00:21:45,239 We always thank God for all of you 379 00:21:45,239 –> 00:21:47,680 mentioning you in our prayers. 380 00:21:47,680 –> 00:21:51,000 We continually remember before our God and Father 381 00:21:51,060 –> 00:21:56,060 your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love 382 00:21:57,000 –> 00:22:00,380 and your endurance inspired by hope 383 00:22:00,380 –> 00:22:04,199 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 384 00:22:05,219 –> 00:22:07,619 You see, the faith that united these people 385 00:22:07,619 –> 00:22:10,099 who only a short time before were loving themselves, 386 00:22:10,099 –> 00:22:13,260 trusting themselves, and serving themselves 387 00:22:13,260 –> 00:22:16,319 brought them to an entirely new position 388 00:22:16,319 –> 00:22:18,560 in which they were now venturing in faith, 389 00:22:18,560 –> 00:22:21,439 the work of faith, they were laboring with love 390 00:22:21,439 –> 00:22:23,599 and they were persevering, they were continuing, 391 00:22:23,599 –> 00:22:26,599 enduring because of hope that they had found 392 00:22:26,599 –> 00:22:30,000 by this living union with the Lord Jesus Christ. 393 00:22:30,880 –> 00:22:34,099 And notice how when the spirit of Christ lives in a person, 394 00:22:34,099 –> 00:22:35,979 when you’re made one with Christ 395 00:22:35,979 –> 00:22:38,739 in this wonderful union of faith, 396 00:22:38,739 –> 00:22:41,160 serving isn’t something that you add to your life. 397 00:22:41,160 –> 00:22:43,479 It becomes your life because Christ is your life 398 00:22:43,479 –> 00:22:45,900 and he came not to be served, but to serve. 399 00:22:46,900 –> 00:22:51,199 And notice that right here, there’s a desire, 400 00:22:51,199 –> 00:22:52,359 the work that they do. 401 00:22:52,359 –> 00:22:53,260 Where does it come from? 402 00:22:53,260 –> 00:22:56,099 It’s produced by faith. 403 00:22:56,099 –> 00:22:58,640 This labor, this hard work that continues, 404 00:22:58,640 –> 00:22:59,520 where does it come from? 405 00:22:59,520 –> 00:23:01,959 It’s prompted by love. 406 00:23:01,959 –> 00:23:04,439 And this endurance, this going on, another year, 407 00:23:04,439 –> 00:23:07,060 another year and continuing and persevering 408 00:23:07,060 –> 00:23:09,119 in the long-term, where does it come from? 409 00:23:09,119 –> 00:23:11,900 It’s inside by hope. 410 00:23:14,099 –> 00:23:15,680 So, this is not the Apostle Paul 411 00:23:16,560 –> 00:23:19,619 trying to lay it on the people to say, 412 00:23:19,619 –> 00:23:20,699 hey, we’ve all got to serve. 413 00:23:20,699 –> 00:23:23,119 We’ve all gotta try and add something to our lives. 414 00:23:23,119 –> 00:23:24,020 What he’s saying is, 415 00:23:24,020 –> 00:23:25,479 because you’ve joined to Christ, 416 00:23:25,479 –> 00:23:28,079 who came not to be served, but to serve, 417 00:23:28,079 –> 00:23:29,780 because His spirit lives within you, 418 00:23:29,780 –> 00:23:31,819 it’s become your life also. 419 00:23:33,280 –> 00:23:34,900 And thank God, for the way in which 420 00:23:34,900 –> 00:23:37,239 that is manifest among us. 421 00:23:38,280 –> 00:23:40,060 A faith that is not word only, 422 00:23:40,060 –> 00:23:41,959 not just saying, I’m a Christian, 423 00:23:41,959 –> 00:23:45,280 not just saying that I believe certain things, 424 00:23:45,300 –> 00:23:48,040 but the evidence of a real, living union with Christ 425 00:23:48,040 –> 00:23:50,959 who came not to be served, but to serve, 426 00:23:52,599 –> 00:23:56,500 evidencing itself in a life of love. 427 00:23:57,760 –> 00:23:59,319 So, now you’re beginning to see 428 00:23:59,319 –> 00:24:02,739 the connection between serving and faith. 429 00:24:04,119 –> 00:24:06,839 A faith that does not serve is completely useless. 430 00:24:07,839 –> 00:24:09,359 Christ did not come into the world 431 00:24:09,359 –> 00:24:11,079 to be served, but to serve, 432 00:24:11,079 –> 00:24:13,000 and faith that unites us to the Christ 433 00:24:13,119 –> 00:24:15,800 who came to serve is going to show itself in serving. 434 00:24:15,800 –> 00:24:17,699 Therefore, where serving abounds, 435 00:24:19,119 –> 00:24:23,119 this is the evidence of the reality of faith, 436 00:24:23,119 –> 00:24:24,780 and therefore, where it abounds, 437 00:24:24,780 –> 00:24:28,079 assurance and joy increases. 438 00:24:28,079 –> 00:24:30,540 Because it’s evident that this is the real thing, 439 00:24:31,839 –> 00:24:34,020 and not words only. 440 00:24:34,020 –> 00:24:36,359 So, it says Paul in 1 Timothy 3, in verse 13, 441 00:24:36,359 –> 00:24:41,000 those who serve well gain great assurance 442 00:24:41,900 –> 00:24:44,140 in their faith in Christ, Jesus. 443 00:24:45,880 –> 00:24:46,959 Folks, as a church, 444 00:24:46,959 –> 00:24:51,959 we are now being stretched in service as never before, 445 00:24:52,839 –> 00:24:55,680 as God opens up wonderful, wonderful 446 00:24:55,680 –> 00:24:58,180 new opportunities of ministry. 447 00:24:59,680 –> 00:25:03,380 And as we are stretched in serving, 448 00:25:03,380 –> 00:25:07,739 so we will grow in faith. 449 00:25:09,239 –> 00:25:10,939 So someone said to me last night, 450 00:25:11,300 –> 00:25:13,000 and then someone else said to me this morning 451 00:25:13,000 –> 00:25:14,020 after the first service, 452 00:25:14,020 –> 00:25:15,219 I presume there are a few others 453 00:25:15,219 –> 00:25:16,859 are thinking it is well. 454 00:25:16,859 –> 00:25:20,380 I’m just realizing this Lord increase my faith 455 00:25:20,380 –> 00:25:22,339 is quite a dangerous prayer to pray. 456 00:25:23,699 –> 00:25:27,500 Should have told us before the third message in the series. 457 00:25:27,500 –> 00:25:29,500 But oh what a wonderful prayer to pray. 458 00:25:30,380 –> 00:25:32,540 And oh how wonderful to be part of a body 459 00:25:32,540 –> 00:25:35,079 where serving like this that is the evidence 460 00:25:35,079 –> 00:25:37,699 of the reality of union with Christ 461 00:25:38,619 –> 00:25:40,699 is happening in such wonderful ways. 462 00:25:41,979 –> 00:25:43,859 Let me just share one testimony with you 463 00:25:43,859 –> 00:25:45,939 and then we’re through. 464 00:25:45,939 –> 00:25:50,060 Just last night after the Saturday night service 465 00:25:50,060 –> 00:25:52,380 a number of conversations 466 00:25:52,380 –> 00:25:54,300 I spoke at length with one lady 467 00:25:54,300 –> 00:25:55,380 who’d been greatly moved. 468 00:25:55,380 –> 00:25:57,920 She said I cannot tell you how much it means 469 00:25:57,920 –> 00:26:00,099 to me and to my family 470 00:26:00,099 –> 00:26:02,680 the way in which folks within the Orchard 471 00:26:02,680 –> 00:26:05,260 have ministered to us, 472 00:26:05,300 –> 00:26:08,060 particularly over the last year. 473 00:26:08,060 –> 00:26:09,339 She began to pour out, 474 00:26:09,339 –> 00:26:11,640 I know this lady’s circumstances well. 475 00:26:11,640 –> 00:26:13,180 I’m not going to detail either her name 476 00:26:13,180 –> 00:26:15,579 or her circumstances to you, 477 00:26:15,579 –> 00:26:19,699 but she poured out one way after another 478 00:26:19,699 –> 00:26:21,839 in which really practically 479 00:26:21,839 –> 00:26:23,459 members of the congregation here 480 00:26:23,459 –> 00:26:26,260 had served her and her six children 481 00:26:26,260 –> 00:26:30,020 from teenage years down to quite young. 482 00:26:31,579 –> 00:26:33,459 What she said was so rich 483 00:26:33,459 –> 00:26:36,339 and I wished I could just have captured it for you. 484 00:26:36,339 –> 00:26:37,180 So I said to her, 485 00:26:37,180 –> 00:26:39,579 would you be willing just to write down 486 00:26:39,579 –> 00:26:41,660 some of the things you just said to me 487 00:26:41,660 –> 00:26:43,260 so that I could share that with the people? 488 00:26:43,260 –> 00:26:44,500 She said I’d love to do that. 489 00:26:44,500 –> 00:26:45,800 So she wrote it down last night, 490 00:26:45,800 –> 00:26:47,459 sent it to me on the email. 491 00:26:47,459 –> 00:26:49,920 Can I just read you a few paragraphs for your encouragement 492 00:26:49,920 –> 00:26:52,400 because here’s just a little snapshot 493 00:26:52,400 –> 00:26:57,300 of the life of Christ manifest in the church. 494 00:26:57,300 –> 00:26:59,459 This last year, she writes, 495 00:26:59,959 –> 00:27:02,479 that has been absolutely earth-shattering 496 00:27:02,479 –> 00:27:03,500 for our family. 497 00:27:05,099 –> 00:27:07,060 We have experienced not one, 498 00:27:07,060 –> 00:27:09,579 but many calamities that have now shaken 499 00:27:09,579 –> 00:27:11,540 our once strong marriage, 500 00:27:11,540 –> 00:27:15,280 our children and each of our personal beliefs 501 00:27:15,280 –> 00:27:18,739 in the sovereignty of God and His love for us. 502 00:27:18,739 –> 00:27:20,819 A few of these events have included 503 00:27:20,819 –> 00:27:24,920 extreme and sudden financial loss, 504 00:27:24,920 –> 00:27:28,800 separation, then unemployment, 505 00:27:28,800 –> 00:27:31,979 underemployment, and now foreclosure 506 00:27:31,979 –> 00:27:33,880 in this volatile economy. 507 00:27:35,040 –> 00:27:38,660 The only hope we have clung to is Christ alone, 508 00:27:38,660 –> 00:27:42,439 each other and the body of Christ. 509 00:27:42,439 –> 00:27:45,39 The love, support and sacrifice we have received 510 00:27:45,319 –> 00:27:48,959 from the church body in the most unexpected ways 511 00:27:48,959 –> 00:27:53,099 have shown us that He truly is walking with us 512 00:27:53,099 –> 00:27:56,239 during these dark days. 513 00:27:56,239 –> 00:27:58,560 She then writes, expressing her thanks 514 00:27:58,599 –> 00:28:00,760 for the middle school and the high school ministry 515 00:28:00,760 –> 00:28:03,439 and particularly Pastor Tom and Pastor Bing. 516 00:28:04,479 –> 00:28:08,540 Then says, our toddlers absolutely love 517 00:28:08,540 –> 00:28:12,099 going to Sunday school and Awana each week. 518 00:28:12,099 –> 00:28:16,359 In fact, they continually ask if today is church day 519 00:28:16,359 –> 00:28:18,920 because they look forward to it so much. 520 00:28:18,920 –> 00:28:21,239 Not only do they have fun, 521 00:28:21,239 –> 00:28:25,300 but they are really learning God’s amazing truths each week, 522 00:28:25,300 –> 00:28:27,819 which they enthusiastically share with our family. 523 00:28:27,819 –> 00:28:30,920 It is so encouraging to know that they are in a safe 524 00:28:30,920 –> 00:28:34,160 and well run program which allows me 525 00:28:34,160 –> 00:28:37,239 to focus on the Sunday service and Bible study. 526 00:28:37,239 –> 00:28:40,359 The volunteers are amazing. 527 00:28:40,359 –> 00:28:45,000 They make each child feel so loved when they are there. 528 00:28:45,000 –> 00:28:47,959 The kids all know and experience Christ’s love 529 00:28:47,959 –> 00:28:51,560 in a very real way each week. 530 00:28:51,560 –> 00:28:54,859 She continues, God seems to answer our spiritual 531 00:28:55,040 –> 00:28:58,420 and practical needs through the many friends 532 00:28:58,420 –> 00:29:00,900 we have made at the orchard. 533 00:29:00,900 –> 00:29:05,619 Only a few know about our personal difficulties, 534 00:29:05,619 –> 00:29:09,819 but regardless, God still seems to mysteriously 535 00:29:09,819 –> 00:29:13,260 lay our needs upon their hearts. 536 00:29:13,260 –> 00:29:16,459 Blessings of childcare, hand me downs, 537 00:29:16,459 –> 00:29:19,800 cookies, and even birthday cakes for each of our kids 538 00:29:19,800 –> 00:29:22,619 have overwhelmed us with His love. 539 00:29:23,599 –> 00:29:27,939 Then she says, this season is teaching us 540 00:29:27,939 –> 00:29:30,239 to be more humble and sensitive 541 00:29:30,239 –> 00:29:32,979 to those who are hurting around us. 542 00:29:33,920 –> 00:29:37,079 And showing our family how to live out the Gospel 543 00:29:37,079 –> 00:29:40,359 with each other and invest in what is eternal, 544 00:29:40,359 –> 00:29:42,579 God’s word and other people, 545 00:29:42,579 –> 00:29:45,400 for we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. 546 00:29:47,160 –> 00:29:50,239 We just wanted to encourage and thank everyone 547 00:29:50,300 –> 00:29:52,839 at the orchard for their service 548 00:29:52,839 –> 00:29:57,140 and love to our family for being an arrow 549 00:29:57,140 –> 00:29:59,959 that points us to Christ. 550 00:30:01,079 –> 00:30:05,300 So glad to be planted at the orchard. 551 00:30:06,339 –> 00:30:09,880 And she signs it on behalf of all of the family. 552 00:30:12,020 –> 00:30:14,060 I read a letter like that and I say, 553 00:30:14,979 –> 00:30:19,439 Christ is here, that’s Christ at work. 554 00:30:20,359 –> 00:30:24,920 The life of Christ manifests in the body of Christ 555 00:30:24,920 –> 00:30:28,079 because of this union with Christ by faith. 556 00:30:30,339 –> 00:30:32,400 What greater assurance could you have 557 00:30:32,400 –> 00:30:35,359 of the presence and the work of Jesus Christ 558 00:30:35,359 –> 00:30:37,280 than the testimony of serving. 559 00:30:37,280 –> 00:30:41,359 Those who serve well gain great assurance 560 00:30:41,359 –> 00:30:45,479 of their faith in Christ Jesus and as we see serving 561 00:30:45,479 –> 00:30:48,040 multiplied in the body of Christ, 562 00:30:48,040 –> 00:30:49,959 it gives us great confidence 563 00:30:49,959 –> 00:30:52,640 that Christ is at work among us? 564 00:30:54,260 –> 00:30:58,719 So my simple question to you is how are you going to serve? 565 00:31:00,239 –> 00:31:04,760 Because faith not only has ears, faith has hands. 566 00:31:06,719 –> 00:31:07,760 Let’s pray together. 567 00:31:09,800 –> 00:31:11,959 Father in Heaven, we are so grateful 568 00:31:11,959 –> 00:31:14,560 for the privilege of serving you. 569 00:31:15,359 –> 00:31:17,680 Being united in the bond of faith 570 00:31:17,680 –> 00:31:20,859 to the one who came not to be served, 571 00:31:21,800 –> 00:31:24,099 not to say what are others gonna do for me, 572 00:31:26,160 –> 00:31:29,339 or the one who came saying I have come to serve others. 573 00:31:31,599 –> 00:31:34,239 We are asking you to increase our faith, 574 00:31:35,939 –> 00:31:39,079 and today we hear you saying that those who serve well 575 00:31:39,079 –> 00:31:43,199 gain great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. 576 00:31:43,479 –> 00:31:46,780 In Christ Jesus, so we want to serve you well. 577 00:31:48,640 –> 00:31:51,479 We want to be filled with the Spirit of Jesus. 578 00:31:53,079 –> 00:31:55,339 So Lord, take my hands, 579 00:31:57,520 –> 00:32:01,000 and as Christ lives in me, let me be as Christ 580 00:32:02,719 –> 00:32:04,520 to those who you place around me. 581 00:32:05,959 –> 00:32:10,300 So that he may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 582 00:32:10,300 –> 00:32:12,239 our Lord, we pray, and everyone said. 583 00:32:13,199 –> 00:32:14,040 Amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Biblical faith is more than using your head. It involves your ears, your hands, your mouth, your voice, and your knees—all of you. Using the analogy of the human body, you’ll discover not only what faith is, but what faith does. This very practical look at Christian faith is simple enough for a child to

Colin Smith

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