|
About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman Energized
To Serve Recently I commented on
Ephesians 2:8 to 10. Verse 8
is widely preached where Paul wrote that we are saved by faith in God's
grace and not by any good work we do.
Verse 10, however, is widely missed where Paul wrote that once
saved we are to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to
do. In 1 Corinthians 12:4 to 6
Paul elaborated on how the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God our Father gives us
gifts, ministries and energizing abilities to do good works on their
behalf. "There are
different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are
different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds
of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at
work." Paul wrote that there
are different kinds of gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes or gives us.
Our English word "gifts" is translated from the Greek
word "charisma" that is rooted in the Greek word
"charis," translated as grace in English.
God's grace is His unmerited love directed to us so He can give us
His divine ability to accomplish His work in and through us.
Paul listed nine gifts of grace given to us by God's Spirit.
Whether this is a complete or partial list is a matter of debate. Paul then wrote that
there are different kinds of service provided by the Lord Jesus.
Our English noun "service" here is translated from the
Greek plural noun "diakonia" that implies Jesus-anointed
services or ministries to serve the church.
They are apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors/teachers
(Ephesians 4:11). Lastly, Paul wrote that
there are different kinds of workings from God who works within us.
Our English noun "workings" is translated from the Greek
noun "energema" that is rooted in the Greek noun
"energeia" where we derive our English word "energy."
Our English verb "works" here is translated from the
Greek verb "energeo." All
this means that how we define energy will help us understand what Paul was
saying. Energy can be defined by
the capacity of work that is performed by a certain force.
Examples of energy are thermal energy, electrical energy, chemical
energy, wind energy, and as Paul added, spiritual energy. Paul
was saying that there are different kinds, or sub-categories of spiritual
energy that God works or energizes within us to do His will. You
might say God energizes our inherent, God-given talents to accomplish His
work within and through us. He
can do this because I suggest that in His essence, God is pure energy,
that spiritual force with the capacity to work, energize and sustain all
things material and all things spiritual, including you and I. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
states that God's word works (energeo) or energizes us.
"And we also thank
God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is,
the word of God, which is indeed at work (energeo) in you who
believe." Ephesians 3:20 states
that God's power works (energeo) or energizes us. "Now to him who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his
power that is at work (energeo) within
us,"
Colossians 1:29 states
that Paul's endurance to serve in ministry was due to God's energizing
energy within him. "To this end I
strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works
(energeo) in me." I conclude that God our
Father energizes us to serve, Jesus appoints us to service ministries, and
the Holy Spirit gives us gifts of grace, all of which are needed to do
good works. We are energized
to serve. Scripture
Reference Ephesians 4:11 "So Christ himself
gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers,"
|