Saved to Serve

Many Christians when they are first saved want to run from the cross of salvation, (Brazen Altar) straight into service. Understandably, a true ‘born again’ experience, will cause you to be excited and you will want to ‘save the world’ but there is a process that will not only produce true servanthood but also protect the servant. It is the process of sanctification for service. Sanctification The Outer Court is a place where Sin is atoned for and Sanctification takes place where the Priests can be washed clean before entering The Holy Place, a place of Service. Exodus 40:11-15 Sanctification for a believer takes many forms but especially through God’s Word. ‘Sanctify them by your truth Your Word is Truth’ John 17:17 What is our modern-day laver our sanctification process? Jesus said: ‘unless a man is Born Again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ John chapter 3:3. In Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children…” We need to be honest and ask ourselves. Am I really baptised in The Holy Spirit? If we are then we have the power within us that will change our lives and the lives of others in service and the building of God’s Kingdom. Resurrection Sunday John 19-20. The first day of the week, Mary ran to the tomb to find that Jesus was not there and later that night she went to the disciples who were

hiding away in an upper room. They did not believe she had seen Him. Suddenly Jesus appears among them and their fear turns to joy as He proclaims peace upon them and tells them to receive The Holy Spirit.

After this encounter with the Resurrected Jesus, NOTHING CHANGED, they stayed in that room another week. Jerusalem was not changed; there was no effect upon the people. Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-4 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, upon each of them. And they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

All Jerusalem knew what had happened now, there was mayhem, no-one had ever seen anything like this and even though some did see with their own eyes they said ‘these men are drunk’. No! They had now received the power of God, fire from God to establish His church. From Peter in the upper room having seen Jesus and knowing He was alive, apart from receiving Joy and Peace there was no power. Now having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, He is no longer afraid of anything; he not only has Resurrection Life but Power!

There are many of us with natural gifts and talents who strive to please and serve God and yet have never received the power of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He is a GIFT FROM GOD to enable us to serve Jesus in the building of His Kingdom.

In 1 Corinthians’ chapter 12-14, there are many gifts given to believers from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and yet there is such a lack of them in today’s church.

I think many have had an encounter with Jesus, received His peace and joy but have never had a true baptism in the Holy Spirit and are quite content to stay in the Upper Room’ waiting until Jesus returns. However, there is a multitude awaiting outside that it will take the power of God to convict, convince and convert. All we have to do is Be thirsty and ask and by faith. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11-13

It’s the same Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost. He has not diminished over the years nor has He grown weaker. Just like God, the Father and Jesus He is the same yesterday today and forever.

The prophet Samuel began his service sleeping near the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple serving God and the Priesthood before he knew God. There are many serving God and the church today but they don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced Resurrection Sunday, Pentecost Sunday or both? We need the baptism in the Holy Spirit to serve God and His people otherwise we settle for joy and peace. Jesus said: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 We are Saved to Serve. We need to be washed in the Laver of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit before we are anywhere near serving in the Kingdom. In these last days, there is no man for the hour only the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We need both to be effective and bring glory to God. We can strive to serve God in the power of our souls with all sincerity but only the gifts of the Holy Spirit breaks bondages, heals and brings eternal results.

The Holy Spirit is an amazing person to study that I am unable to do Him justice in an article but I have written quite a simple book you can obtain from Amazon UK.

Other readings Acts 8:14-17, For as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptised in the name of Jesus. Acts 10:44 Peter at Cornelius house. Paul at Ephesus Acts 19:1-6. p

By Barbara Payne intercessor, evangelist, minister, holds Women Unite events in the UK