section 9 church service stewardship

8/4/2019 Section 9 Church Service Stewardship

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Monday 22 August 2011


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Service = work performed for thebenefit of another. In this the OT

anticipates the NT - most OT doctrinesare found incomplete until the NT - thisis also seen in many other areas. Inservice we see the OT type and NTantitype (a person/thing that represents

the opposite of someone or somethingelse.).God appointed service is performed bya chosen priesthood - both OT and NT

e.g. 1 Peter 2:5-9. In the NT Jesus isthe great high priest and we are thepriesthood who serve God and man.



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OT service focussed around the tabernacle,temple etc. - for us there is a broader

ministry to all believer-priests and to allpeople.1. OT and NT service of sacrifice is

very similar;

OT - born in the tribe of Levi -ceremonially inducted - served as long ashe lived - ceremonially cleansed at thestart of ministry - EX 29:4NT - believer wholly, once for all cleansed

at salvation - Col 2:13, Titus 3:5 - setapart for God by new birth, of the familyof God - this is done willingly - Rom 12:1- yielding to God, Eph 2:10



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Here consecration to God takes placethrough Christ - and is a fulfillment ofthe OT type seen in the consecration ofthe Levites by the priest.Having been yielded to God the believer-priest gets new power - Rom 12:2

NT priestly sacrificial service has 4aspects:a. Dedication of self - Rom 12:1 -spiritual service

b. Sacrifice of continual praise - Heb13:15c. Sacrifice of substance - Phil 4:18d. Sacrifice of good works - Heb 13:16



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OT priests bathed whenentering service, an actdone by another - Ex 29:4and then repeatedly in thebronze laver before any

service - NT priest iscleansed and forgiven butconfesses sin to remain infellowship with God -

1Jn1:8-9OT priest appointed for life- NT priest to God forever.



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2. The service of worship - is done bybeliever-priests as it was by OT priests.OT worship shown in the furnishing of theHoly Place, which were shadows of Christ- NT worship is by and through Christalone.

Believer offers self to God in worship -Rom 12:1 - giving praise and thanksgivingfrom the heart - Heb 13:15OT priests had 2 restriction - no strange

incense Ex 30:9 - and no strange fire -Lev 10:1 - Chafer says these both havesymbolic meanings of formality in serviceand fleshly emotions



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3. Intercession is an importantbeliever-priest function - prophet is

Gods representative to the people, thepriest is the peoples representative toGod - OT the high priest alone enteredthe Holy of Holies once each year -

now Christ has entered through his ownblood, and intercedes for his own inthe world - when Christ died the veilwas torn in two and the way is nowopen to all who come to God through

him - and we can thus minister inintercession.Heb 9:7, 4:14-16, 9:24, 10:19-22, Rom 8:24,

Heb 7:25, Rom 8:26-27, 1Tim 2:1, Col 4:12



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3. Intercession is an importantbeliever-priest function - prophet is

Gods representative to the people, thepriest is the peoples representative toGod - OT the high priest alone enteredthe Holy of Holies once each year -

now Christ has entered through his ownblood, and intercedes for his own inthe world - when Christ died the veilwas torn in two and the way is nowopen to all who come to God through

him - and we can thus minister inintercession.Heb 9:7, 4:14-16, 9:24, 10:19-22, Rom 8:24,

Heb 7:25, Rom 8:26-27, 1Tim 2:1, Col 4:12



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Romans 12:1-8 has a specificstructure: dedication - consecration -

then gifts given by God, a ministry ofthe indwelling Spirit - the Spiritperforms a service using the believeras an instrument - it is amanifestation of the Spirit 1 Cor 12:7

- like character is a fruit of the Spirit.There are diverse gifts and eachbeliever has some gift - 1 Cor 12:7,Rom 12:6, Eph 4:7 etc.There are some offices which allbelievers perform - sacrifice, worship,intercession etc.



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Chafer suggests some representativelists of gifts are seen in scripture -Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:8-11, Eph 4:11 -and that some gifts have ceased - 1Cor 13:8 - he states the gifts are likelyto be as varied as the circumstances inwhich believers are called to serve.

1 Cor 12:7, Jn 7:37-39, Eph 2:10Spirit filled believers are continuallyactive in their gifts - this is done by alife of confessing sin, yielding our lives,

depending on the indwelling Spirit - theresult of which is a desire to do Godsordained work in Gods way. You areactive in service because you are Spiritfilled.



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Stewardship, says Chafer, relates toearning, possessing and giving of

money. Rom 14:10-12 says we shallall stand and be judged beforeChrist.1. Earning money must be done

in a way worthy of a relationship

with God.

1 Cor 10:31 - whatever you do...Gen 3:19, 2 Thess 3:10 - all willtoil - but for a believer this is doing

the will of God, not just earning aliving - it is an appointment for, and,to God.



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God cares for his people at all

times - he is committed to themregardless of their earning power -Phil 4:19, Heb 13:5 - for all abeliever has is from him 1 Sam 2:7

We might agree with a boss upona salary - Lk 10:27 - but for theChristian doing the will of hisFather is the primary focus, an actof devotion - in this way we

sanctify all we do for the glory ofGod and rejoice forever more - 1Thess 5:16



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2. Possessing money is a greatresponsibility for any sincere

Christian - there is great need andgreat good that can be done - so wehave to ask seriously about our moneyand property. All property should be

held / used at the control and leadingof the HSp.Beware of the ways of men:Desire to get rich - 1 Tim 6:8-9, 17-18,James 1:11, Phil 4:11

Desire to provide for a day of need -Matt 6:25-34

The desire to provide for othersAll must done at HSp leading.



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3. The giving of earned moneybecomes an important aspect of

serving God - giving must stand onyour grace filled relationship with God -give yourself and all you have to God -2 Cor 8:5, 1 Cor 5:20, 7:23, 1 Pet1:18-19

Tithing (and Sabbath day observance)is never imposed on the believer - itwas part of OT law (which has nowbeen done away with) - so giving nowis based on grace, which is based on

gods sovereignty over all a believer isand has.Chafer summarises Christian giving from2 Cor 8:1-9:15



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a. Christ was their pattern - he gave all not atenth - 2 Cor 8:9

b. Giving took place out of great poverty -verse 2 - In the midst of a very severe trial,their overflowing joy and their extreme povertywelled up in rich generosity.

Remember Luke 21:1-4c. Giving was not by command or necessity -Law commanded giving and payment of suchwas a necessity - God is looking at giving interms of the devotion of the giver - no % but

a yielded heart, Phil 2:13, 2 Cor 9:7 -Each ofyou should give what you have decided inyour heart to give, not reluctantly or undercompulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.



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If a % is stipulated then somewould give to fulfill that, in abegrudging way - not out of adesire in their heartChafer suggests that Christ blessed5 loaves etc. And fed 5,000 - so

when we have given then God willmake it abound - 2 Cor 9:8d. The first believers gavethemselves before they gave money

- yield your life to Gode. The first Christians gavesystematically - 1 Cor 16:2 - giveregularly!



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f. God sustains the giverwith resources here on

earth - 2 Cor 9:8-10,Luke 6:38

Chafer suggestsblessings for giving arenot based on the % buton the heart conditionof the giver - Godgraciously acknowledgesall gifts given from the

heart, but the blessingmight be spiritual ortemporal as Godchooses.



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g. True riches are from God;You can be rich on earth andnot towards God, Lk 12:21,We are urged to buy from Christgold which is tried in the fire,Rev 3:18

Through the poverty of Christ inhis death we can be made rich 2Cor 8:9

We can be rich in faith, James

2:5 - in good works, 1 Tm 6:18,in the riches of his grace Eph1:7 and in the riches of his gloryEph 3:16

M d 22 A t 2011

section 9 church service stewardship

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