What does it mean to ‘Serve’ the Lord?
What does it mean to ‘Serve’ the Lord?
In most people’s minds, it involves attendance to services and functions, giving of tithes and offerings, and perhaps giving an overall appearance of being a ‘good’ Christian.
Too many times people feel brow beaten and put on guilt trips if they are not doing the ‘right things’ or ‘going to church’. If they are not at ‘church’ every time the doors are open and put money in the plate, then they get the feeling of not being a good Christian, of not serving the Lord properly, and are on track to backsliding.
Where and how did this mindset come about?
How do we live and/or serve Christ?
I believe we do this simply by allowing Him, by His Spirit, to direct our everyday functions and dealings.
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What are your thoughts?????????
In most people’s minds, it involves attendance to services and functions, giving of tithes and offerings, and perhaps giving an overall appearance of being a ‘good’ Christian.
Too many times people feel brow beaten and put on guilt trips if they are not doing the ‘right things’ or ‘going to church’. If they are not at ‘church’ every time the doors are open and put money in the plate, then they get the feeling of not being a good Christian, of not serving the Lord properly, and are on track to backsliding.
Where and how did this mindset come about?
How do we live and/or serve Christ?
I believe we do this simply by allowing Him, by His Spirit, to direct our everyday functions and dealings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are your thoughts?????????
Views: 492
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on -
Service to G-d is the works we do in His name and we can carry this out by using our giftings. 1 Peter 4:10 says 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
I believe that we are effectively serving if we fill a need according to the gifts we have been given and if we do it out of love.
Ephesians 4 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Kaster on -
I think this mindset comes about because that is what the IC leaders lead us to believe is the way to "serve" the Lord. They get us early, and often, and this mentality of being there every time the doors open is very appealing to folks like me who tend to be "performance" oriented and want to please the Lord. Unfortunately, those same leaders are not as diligent to insure that we become disciples in addition to being "servants" of the Lord.
I agree with you when you say that serving Christ is doing what HE directs, each and every moment of the day. And, I would add, there is absolutely nothing more exciting than to hear His voice through His word, and His Holy Spirit.
The false requirements, as you mention in your initial post, are actually a bondage put upon us for the furtherance of someone's idea or vision of what "church" is. In the N.T. you don't hear anything about this. The disciples (all believers were disciples, not just "attenders") met together, ministered, used the spiritual and material gifts they possessed for the building up and encouragement of the rest of the body...no committee had to approve them, there were no hoops to jump through for them to be able to minister to, exhort, bless others. They were indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God and were FREE for the Holy Spirit to touch, love, heal through them. If we live so that all that we do and speak brings glory to God, the we can, I believe, be confident that we are serving Him, and not our own desire to be "involved."
There was leadership in the N.T. but it wasn't a hierarchial type such as is seen so often today that is super impressed with their education, knowledge and position and lord it over the sheep. Those who do that have gone very far astray from the knowledge of the word of God and especially the part that says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. We had to experience some pretty extreme spiritual abuse for us to wake up and smell the roses about what was going on and how wrong it was. I used to think that we came out of the IC simply as an overreaction to the abuses we saw in more than one church. Now, however, I believe that we are not rebelling against God's will for us but rather are more perfectly in the will of God than we have ever been before and I each day I see His hand in our lives and trust Him more and more that He is leading and will continue to lead by His word and Holy Spirit. We have been set free to love and serve other people and to build disciples as we are commanded. Our accountability remains to God first and also to those others of the Body that He brings us into fellowship with.
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Permalink Reply by David on -
Thanks for the comments.
Here is an example of what prompted me to start this thread.
As I was traveling home this evening, I was listening to KLOVE on the radio. A young woman called in and stated she felt God wanted her to go into the ministry so she is preparing to take out some student loans in order to go to school and study so she will be able to 'serve the Lord' and that she is so grateful to God for this.
???Am I missing something???
Another young woman called with a plea for help. She is in Oregon staying in a motel with her small child, evidently has been in an abusive relationship, she has to leave the motel tomorrow and will be essentially homeless. The d.j. asked if she had checked with any of the churches there and she replied, "yes, but they are unable to assist due to lack of funds because of building repairs."
???Why are buildings more important than people???
Here is an opportunity for those who are supposed followers and representatives of Christ to actually serve the Lord.
I wonder if any of the members of those 'churches' have any clue that Jesus had just given them a wide open door to serve.
I tried to call the station to vocalize my thoughts but kept getting a busy signal so I just kept praying for this woman and her child.
Anyway, more thoughts??????????????
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on
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Good point. What ways do you spread the word about your home churches so people like this can find help?
David said:Thanks for the comments.
Here is an example of what prompted me to start this thread.
As I was traveling home this evening, I was listening to KLOVE on the radio. A young woman called in and stated she felt God wanted her to go into the ministry so she is preparing to take out some student loans in order to go to school and study so she will be able to 'serve the Lord' and that she is so grateful to God for this.
???Am I missing something???
Another young woman called with a plea for help. She is in Oregon staying in a motel with her small child, evidently has been in an abusive relationship, she has to leave the motel tomorrow and will be essentially homeless. The d.j. asked if she had checked with any of the churches there and she replied, "yes, but they are unable to assist due to lack of funds because of building repairs."
???Why are buildings more important than people???
Here is an opportunity for those who are supposed followers and representatives of Christ to actually serve the Lord.
I wonder if any of the members of those 'churches' have any clue that Jesus had just given them a wide open door to serve.
I tried to call the station to vocalize my thoughts but kept getting a busy signal so I just kept praying for this woman and her child.
Anyway, more thoughts??????????????
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Permalink Reply by David on
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That too, is a good point! As for us we do not meet regularly. I am gone on the road for several days or weeks at a time. Perhaps someone has a suggestion regarding this type of service/ministry.
Shaliach said:Good point. What ways do you spread the word about your home churches so people like this can find help?
David said:Thanks for the comments.
Here is an example of what prompted me to start this thread.
As I was traveling home this evening, I was listening to KLOVE on the radio. A young woman called in and stated she felt God wanted her to go into the ministry so she is preparing to take out some student loans in order to go to school and study so she will be able to 'serve the Lord' and that she is so grateful to God for this.
???Am I missing something???
Another young woman called with a plea for help. She is in Oregon staying in a motel with her small child, evidently has been in an abusive relationship, she has to leave the motel tomorrow and will be essentially homeless. The d.j. asked if she had checked with any of the churches there and she replied, "yes, but they are unable to assist due to lack of funds because of building repairs."
???Why are buildings more important than people???
Here is an opportunity for those who are supposed followers and representatives of Christ to actually serve the Lord.
I wonder if any of the members of those 'churches' have any clue that Jesus had just given them a wide open door to serve.
I tried to call the station to vocalize my thoughts but kept getting a busy signal so I just kept praying for this woman and her child.
Anyway, more thoughts??????????????
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on
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If I were in need and I didn't attend a service regularly, I would look up churches or charities in the phone book. Perhaps a phone book ad would be a start. I would recommend a separate phone line rather than giving a personal home phone, of course. We're the "church" whether in a home or park or paid for building so there's no problem adding yourself to the list, right?
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Permalink Reply by acha marvin on -
God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules, or even to imitate Jesus. But here is what it says: It is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. True service to God is following his leading from within. I believe this is what Paul meant in Ro 12:1-2. Do not be conformed to the standard of this age(they go by external doings) but be transformed by renewing of your mind(no more external but in spirit) thats the only way the will of God is seen in the earth(emph mine)
Truth ministry is that which the people are taken up to the mountain(not moses alone) to learn the ways of the Lord from the Lord himself.
thank you
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Permalink Reply by Shaliach on
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Shalom brother Marvin! May we humbly & peacefully reason together? I may not be in full understanding of what you said in your comment. Sometimes that happens due to the format. It's hard at times to interpret what people are trying to say online. There seems to be conflicting statements in your comment and things that appear unsupported in scripture. It seemed as if you were saying we weren't called to obey His rules/commands or even to imitate Him ("God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus." )
In your conclusion you said:
"Truth ministry is that which the people are taken up to the mountain(not moses alone) to learn the ways of the Lord from the Lord himself."
This is very true, we are to study & show ourselves approved and not rely solely on others to instruct us. All of His ways were made manifest for us to walk in. Prior to the new covenant, we were attempting to follow the letter in stone without His enabling and indwelling Spirit which brought sin to light and the penalty of death. In the New Covenant we are able to follow His perfect Law, which He placed in our hearts & minds (Jer 31:31-33)which is Spirit and Life. Under the old Covenant the Law was pitifully walked out through our weak flesh as we didn't have His Spirit within us. It was merely the exposition of sin with the penalty of death (Romans 8:2). where now it is Spirit & life. His Law, which He gave to Israel via Moses is far higher than the words of Solomon in Proverbs 4 21 when he instructed his son,
" Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
So you maintain that we are to have a personal experience(s) with YHVH where we learn from Him. Yet prior to this you said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,"
These two statements seem to conflict. Scripturally we are called to follow all of His commands ("rules" if you will). Perhaps you did not mean that He hasn't called us to obey His set of rules. Following His rules/commands is the mark of a believer. Without that He said we do not belong to Him. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
This is how we walk with Him (Micah 6:8). How can two walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3:3)? To walk in agreement with Him is to agree to His ways and His statutes/rules. How can we walk with Him and fulfill our calling unless we follow His ways/rules? We need both Spirit and truth.
His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). We have His Spirit within us as part of the new covenant Ez 36 so that we are able to follow His ways. This new covenant life, where His Law is written on our hearts (Jer 31:31-33) makes us able to "...both to will and to do His good pleasure" Phil 2:13
This doesn't mean that we aren't called to obey His rules. Only through the following of them are we able to fulfill our calling. His aw that has been placed in our minds and hearts shows us how to walk this love out.
It's essential to obey His rules. He said that obedience to his commands shows our love or lack thereof, for Him. So I was a little confused as to why you mentioned that we weren't called to follow His rules & ways.
You said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus."
To get the scripture's take on this, let's look at 1 John 2 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
To walk as another has walked is to imitate.
In John 14:12 Yeshua said, 12"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father
From Paul we hear this instruction - 1 Corinthians 11 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ
1 Peter 2 says 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We can see here that not only are we called to follow His commands/rules, but we are also called to imitate Him by living a life of holiness - dead to sin, alive to righteousness. If the conclusion that we aren't called to imitatie Him is correct, then we wouldn not find the verses above which instruct us to imitate Him.
You said:
"But here is what it says: It is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. True service to God is following his leading from within."
The Spirit will always guide you to follow His commands/rules written in His Word and to imitate Him according to the verses above. We must worship Him in both Spirit & truth (Jn 4:24)
You said:
"I believe this is what Paul meant in Ro 12:1-2. Do not be conformed to the standard of this age(they go by external doings) but be transformed by renewing of your mind(no more external but in spirit) thats the only way the will of God is seen in the earth(emph mine)
It is correct to say that we are not to follow or be conformed to the standard of this age - or the carnal world. However, His ways and rules are not the standard of this age. They are Holy and far above the standards of this or any age. We must worship Him in Spirit & in truth, we must obey His commands/rules found in His entire Word and be imitators of Him. Following His rules/commands is the essential outward sign of an inward, Spiritual experience and scripturally the two can't be separated
.
John 14 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
How are we able to renew our minds without His instructions in the Word? In Ephesians it tells us to "find out how to please the Lord". Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b]is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. We do this by finding it in the Word, which the Spirit confirms,leads us to understanding and helps us carry out. I don't believe that we can separate our calling from obeying His rules and imitating Him as it appeared to come across in your comment.
We know we must have faith, as we're instructed that He did, we must obey His commands and therefore we must imitate Him in order to fulfill our calling. Only in this way will we love Him and love others (John 14)
Thank you for your time and may your day be blessed. Shalom!
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McCoy- Foust on -
Hello All!
just gonna add a couple of scriptures to think about!
What if we knew it was no longer us that liveth but Christ who lives in us.(Gal.2:20) and that it is God who is at work in us both to will and do His great pleasure? (Phil.2:13)
What if we woke up every day excited about what God was going to do in and through and around this body instead of what this body can do for God; so that the life we are living we live by faith in the Son of God not faith in ourselves?(Gal.2:20)
I have been out of the IC for 2 years now....and do meet ...but like David...not regularly... Still trying to figure this whole journey out!....but loving God and Loving people...wherever the Spirit leads! and enjoying the life He gave us "Abundantly"!!
Walking by Faith and Trusting His Word...has helped me to Rest in His Arms and experience His Love for us in a whole New Light!
I like what you said here David..
It is God that works in you, both, to will and to do of his good pleasure. True service to God is following his leading from within.
Blessings!
Sandy :)
Shaliach said:Shalom brother Marvin! May we humbly & peacefully reason together? I may not be in full understanding of what you said in your comment. Sometimes that happens due to the format. It's hard at times to interpret what people are trying to say online. There seems to be conflicting statements in your comment and things that appear unsupported in scripture. It seemed as if you were saying we weren't called to obey His rules/commands or even to imitate Him ("God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus." )
In your conclusion you said:
"Truth ministry is that which the people are taken up to the mountain(not moses alone) to learn the ways of the Lord from the Lord himself."
This is very true, we are to study & show ourselves approved and not rely solely on others to instruct us. All of His ways were made manifest for us to walk in. Prior to the new covenant, we were attempting to follow the letter in stone without His enabling and indwelling Spirit which brought sin to light and the penalty of death. In the New Covenant we are able to follow His perfect Law, which He placed in our hearts & minds (Jer 31:31-33)which is Spirit and Life. Under the old Covenant the Law was pitifully walked out through our weak flesh as we didn't have His Spirit within us. It was merely the exposition of sin with the penalty of death (Romans 8:2). where now it is Spirit & life. His Law, which He gave to Israel via Moses is far higher than the words of Solomon in Proverbs 4 21 when he instructed his son,
" Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
So you maintain that we are to have a personal experience(s) with YHVH where we learn from Him. Yet prior to this you said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,"
These two statements seem to conflict. Scripturally we are called to follow all of His commands ("rules" if you will). Perhaps you did not mean that He hasn't called us to obey His set of rules. Following His rules/commands is the mark of a believer. Without that He said we do not belong to Him. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
This is how we walk with Him (Micah 6:8). How can two walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3:3)? To walk in agreement with Him is to agree to His ways and His statutes/rules. How can we walk with Him and fulfill our calling unless we follow His ways/rules? We need both Spirit and truth.
His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). We have His Spirit within us as part of the new covenant Ez 36 so that we are able to follow His ways. This new covenant life, where His Law is written on our hearts (Jer 31:31-33) makes us able to "...both to will and to do His good pleasure" Phil 2:13
This doesn't mean that we aren't called to obey His rules. Only through the following of them are we able to fulfill our calling. His aw that has been placed in our minds and hearts shows us how to walk this love out.
It's essential to obey His rules. He said that obedience to his commands shows our love or lack thereof, for Him. So I was a little confused as to why you mentioned that we weren't called to follow His rules & ways.
You said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus."
To get the scripture's take on this, let's look at 1 John 2 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
To walk as another has walked is to imitate.
In John 14:12 Yeshua said, 12"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father
From Paul we hear this instruction - 1 Corinthians 11 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ
1 Peter 2 says 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We can see here that not only are we called to follow His commands/rules, but we are also called to imitate Him by living a life of holiness - dead to sin, alive to righteousness. If the conclusion that we aren't called to imitatie Him is correct, then we wouldn not find the verses above which instruct us to imitate Him.
You said:
"But here is what it says: It is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. True service to God is following his leading from within."
The Spirit will always guide you to follow His commands/rules written in His Word and to imitate Him according to the verses above. We must worship Him in both Spirit & truth (Jn 4:24)
You said:
"I believe this is what Paul meant in Ro 12:1-2. Do not be conformed to the standard of this age(they go by external doings) but be transformed by renewing of your mind(no more external but in spirit) thats the only way the will of God is seen in the earth(emph mine)
It is correct to say that we are not to follow or be conformed to the standard of this age - or the carnal world. However, His ways and rules are not the standard of this age. They are Holy and far above the standards of this or any age. We must worship Him in Spirit & in truth, we must obey His commands/rules found in His entire Word and be imitators of Him. Following His rules/commands is the essential outward sign of an inward, Spiritual experience and scripturally the two can't be separated
.
John 14 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
How are we able to renew our minds without His instructions in the Word? In Ephesians it tells us to "find out how to please the Lord". Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b]is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. We do this by finding it in the Word, which the Spirit confirms,leads us to understanding and helps us carry out. I don't believe that we can separate our calling from obeying His rules and imitating Him as it appeared to come across in your comment.
We know we must have faith, as we're instructed that He did, we must obey His commands and therefore we must imitate Him in order to fulfill our calling. Only in this way will we love Him and love others (John 14)
Thank you for your time and may your day be blessed. Shalom!
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Permalink Reply by acha marvin on
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Dear Shaliah,
kingdom greetings. I would start by appreciating you for speaking the truth in love and maturity. That shows that this site is indeed organic
Everything thing I said, if you truly followed was in context. keeping Gods commands comes because you love him not the other way round. If christ is your life, then you will not need to imitate him. You only imitate what you are not. Jesus lived the life He did because Christ indwelled him. If christ indwells us, the that our natural life.
My concluding statement can be paraphrased in this way. You do not do the things you know because its a requirement for righteouness, but htis time not that the love of God contrains you but it compels you.
I dont know if this brings some clarity? I am however open to any further comments you have.
You are a wonderful brother
love
Marvin
Shaliach said:Shalom brother Marvin! May we humbly & peacefully reason together? I may not be in full understanding of what you said in your comment. Sometimes that happens due to the format. It's hard at times to interpret what people are trying to say online. There seems to be conflicting statements in your comment and things that appear unsupported in scripture. It seemed as if you were saying we weren't called to obey His rules/commands or even to imitate Him ("God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus." )
In your conclusion you said:
"Truth ministry is that which the people are taken up to the mountain(not moses alone) to learn the ways of the Lord from the Lord himself."
This is very true, we are to study & show ourselves approved and not rely solely on others to instruct us. All of His ways were made manifest for us to walk in. Prior to the new covenant, we were attempting to follow the letter in stone without His enabling and indwelling Spirit which brought sin to light and the penalty of death. In the New Covenant we are able to follow His perfect Law, which He placed in our hearts & minds (Jer 31:31-33)which is Spirit and Life. Under the old Covenant the Law was pitifully walked out through our weak flesh as we didn't have His Spirit within us. It was merely the exposition of sin with the penalty of death (Romans 8:2). where now it is Spirit & life. His Law, which He gave to Israel via Moses is far higher than the words of Solomon in Proverbs 4 21 when he instructed his son,
" Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
So you maintain that we are to have a personal experience(s) with YHVH where we learn from Him. Yet prior to this you said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,"
These two statements seem to conflict. Scripturally we are called to follow all of His commands ("rules" if you will). Perhaps you did not mean that He hasn't called us to obey His set of rules. Following His rules/commands is the mark of a believer. Without that He said we do not belong to Him. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
This is how we walk with Him (Micah 6:8). How can two walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3:3)? To walk in agreement with Him is to agree to His ways and His statutes/rules. How can we walk with Him and fulfill our calling unless we follow His ways/rules? We need both Spirit and truth.
His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). We have His Spirit within us as part of the new covenant Ez 36 so that we are able to follow His ways. This new covenant life, where His Law is written on our hearts (Jer 31:31-33) makes us able to "...both to will and to do His good pleasure" Phil 2:13
This doesn't mean that we aren't called to obey His rules. Only through the following of them are we able to fulfill our calling. His aw that has been placed in our minds and hearts shows us how to walk this love out.
It's essential to obey His rules. He said that obedience to his commands shows our love or lack thereof, for Him. So I was a little confused as to why you mentioned that we weren't called to follow His rules & ways.
You said:
"God has not called us for some rituals or to obey a set of rules,or even to imitate Jesus."
To get the scripture's take on this, let's look at 1 John 2 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
To walk as another has walked is to imitate.
In John 14:12 Yeshua said, 12"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father
From Paul we hear this instruction - 1 Corinthians 11 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ
1 Peter 2 says 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We can see here that not only are we called to follow His commands/rules, but we are also called to imitate Him by living a life of holiness - dead to sin, alive to righteousness. If the conclusion that we aren't called to imitatie Him is correct, then we wouldn not find the verses above which instruct us to imitate Him.
You said:
"But here is what it says: It is God that works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. True service to God is following his leading from within."
The Spirit will always guide you to follow His commands/rules written in His Word and to imitate Him according to the verses above. We must worship Him in both Spirit & truth (Jn 4:24)
You said:
"I believe this is what Paul meant in Ro 12:1-2. Do not be conformed to the standard of this age(they go by external doings) but be transformed by renewing of your mind(no more external but in spirit) thats the only way the will of God is seen in the earth(emph mine)
It is correct to say that we are not to follow or be conformed to the standard of this age - or the carnal world. However, His ways and rules are not the standard of this age. They are Holy and far above the standards of this or any age. We must worship Him in Spirit & in truth, we must obey His commands/rules found in His entire Word and be imitators of Him. Following His rules/commands is the essential outward sign of an inward, Spiritual experience and scripturally the two can't be separated
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John 14 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
How are we able to renew our minds without His instructions in the Word? In Ephesians it tells us to "find out how to please the Lord". Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[b]is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. We do this by finding it in the Word, which the Spirit confirms,leads us to understanding and helps us carry out. I don't believe that we can separate our calling from obeying His rules and imitating Him as it appeared to come across in your comment.
We know we must have faith, as we're instructed that He did, we must obey His commands and therefore we must imitate Him in order to fulfill our calling. Only in this way will we love Him and love others (John 14)
Thank you for your time and may your day be blessed. Shalom!
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Permalink Reply by Bill Wood on -
howdy living stones,
Perhaps we should change the phrase from serving the Lord to serving the Lord's purposes. We have been called according to His purposes.
First of all we need to come to the understanding that we don't have anything to offer when it comes to righteousness, redemption, or sanctification(holiness). God has provided all these in His Beloved Son, His Wisdom. 1Cor.1:30. Therefore we can't boast in anything except the Lord. To serve the Lord's purposes we gotta be clear on this. We offer nothing. This can be quite offensive some, but so be it. Jesus Himself is a stone of offense. He's the first thing rejected by those who aspire to build.
I see that Phil.2:13 has been referred to a couple of times and it too adds to the proof that we can't do a thing.
What is our part? Yielding. And at least for me I have to ask the Lord to give me a yielding heart. He's the One that gives ear that are willing to hear.
gotta go
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McCoy- Foust on
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Hey Bill....how you been?...havent heard from you in awhile....Carolyn has been gone too...hope you are well! :)
Blessings!
Sandy
Bill Wood said:howdy living stones,
Perhaps we should change the phrase from serving the Lord to serving the Lord's purposes. We have been called according to His purposes.
First of all we need to come to the understanding that we don't have anything to offer when it comes to righteousness, redemption, or sanctification(holiness). God has provided all these in His Beloved Son, His Wisdom. 1Cor.1:30. Therefore we can't boast in anything except the Lord. To serve the Lord's purposes we gotta be clear on this. We offer nothing. This can be quite offensive some, but so be it. Jesus Himself is a stone of offense. He's the first thing rejected by those who aspire to build.
I see that Phil.2:13 has been referred to a couple of times and it too adds to the proof that we can't do a thing.
What is our part? Yielding. And at least for me I have to ask the Lord to give me a yielding heart. He's the One that gives ear that are willing to hear.
gotta go
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