Serving in the Army of Light
2 Timothy 2:1–7 (NKJV)
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV)
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
The mission of Reveal Fellowship is to bring glory to God by raising up an Army of Light to displace darkness and rescue saints who are spiritually stuck by calling them back to a first love flame with the Savior
Romans 13:11–14 (ESV)
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
MOS - Military Occupational Specialty
Mark 10:35–45 (ESV)
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 9:33–37 (ESV)
33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Philippians 2:3–4 (CSB)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
American culture – culture of equality – you are no better than me, I can do anything you can.
Jesus said the opposite “but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”
Jesus washed feet – he got down BELOW our level.
Philippians 2:5–8 (CSB)
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
EXPLAIN – God the Son, “grasped” = prized/celebrated/flaunted
Bond-servant – slave
At Church – deacons – slaves, Pastor – head slave
REVEAL doesn’t have volunteers – we have servants
A volunteer is an unpaid position
A servant/slave is an employed possession (owned by the Master)
A volunteer gives time toward the cause
A servant/slave gives out of love for Christ
A volunteer serves when convenient
A servant/slave serves out of commitment
A volunteer gives to feel good.
A servant/slave gives for God’s glory.
My attitude as a volunteer is I’m giving of myself to help you out, I’m not obligated, I’m just being nice.
My attitude as a servant/slave is “I have a responsibility, a calling, a purpose and mission. I’m here to love and serve my Savior.”
NOT A SLAVE OF THE CHURCH!
Serve with our Time -
Some people easier to write a check – go do what I want, just don’t ask me to do anything
I’m too busy with my world to enter yours.
Would a slave ever say that to His Master?
Time – so valuable to me, because it is scarce. I don’t have time to do everything I want to do.
Yet all my time is God’s
God owns my stuff
God owns my life
God owns my time.
“borrowed time”
Ephesians 5:15–17 (NLT)
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
“Make the most” = “redeem”
Ephesians 5: 17 (NLT)
17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
A lot of thoughtless Christians - we are too busy with life, sports, news, we don’t take time to think, meditate and ponder God’s will, His purpose for our lives
How do you know what the Lord wants you to do?
Pray
Step out!
Look for confirmation – Spirit witness, believer’s blessing
Possibilities once you step out:
What happens when you step out to serve?
Right place and immediate fruit
Right place but need more time, tools, and training
Right place and the Lord is teaching you to trust Him (for identity and fruit)
Right place, wrong time (not now)
Wrong place, fruit but no peace (need to try related area)
Wrong place, no fruit, try something else
WHEN YOU PLANT A TREE, HOW LONG BEFORE YOU GET FRUIT? 7 YEARS?
1 Peter 4:10–11 (ESV)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
SERVING IN THE ARMY OF LIGHT
1. Each person has a gift
HAS RECEIVED A GIFT! – everyone has a gift!
Speaking
Serving (
2. Use your gift to serve one another
3. God supplies the strength
Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
If you don’t have the desire or the power – you must have spent God-given power in other places.
If we serve in our own strength, we burn out
Serving God should not be a burden but a blessing.
If not a blessing – what is wrong? Using God-given energy in wrong places?
Sin hardening your heart so the power of God won’t flow through you.
WHY DON’T PEOPLE SERVE?
A. Wrong timing
B. Wrong priorities
C. Wrong vision (consumer mentality)
Depression and lethargy in the church – because we have lost focused, we are consumed with lesser things.
If you snack on lots of junk food, when time for the real meal, no longer hungry.
We have amused ourselves – with media, movies/youtube, etc. – no longer have time or passion for anything else.
Same with our time and energy – we have spent it on lesser things.
DO YOU COME TO CHURCH TO GET SOMETHING?
Consumer world, consumer mentality
Good to come be filled, challenged, grow
But what is your expectation – you will learn something? That we will play one of your favorite songs? That we will make you feel good?
D. Wrong training
Hebrews 3:12–14 (NLT)
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
1 Peter 4:10–11 (ESV)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
4. The purpose is God’s glory
Bottom Line:
YOU HAVE A MISSION! WILL YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT?
Do you know what it is?
What is God’s call on your life?
How has He gifted you?
Are you using those gifts for His glory?
Application
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