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ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

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Bond Servants of Jesus

12

What does it mean to be a bond servant of Jesus Christ?

Chapter is partially complete at his time. Please check again at a later date for completed material.

• Myth: Prayer is bending God's Will to fit our desires in life

• Myth:  Content of the message of the Gospel does not matter to God

• Myth: Purity of the life of God's children from sin is not important

• Myth: It does not matter what we choose to do in life as His children

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Jesus as the Son of God exampled the life of abiding in the will of the Father. He loved God with all his heart, soul, spirit and mind in all He did according to the first great commandment that summarized all God's Kingdom law. He also loved others as He would love Himself embodying the second great commandment. As fellow children born of God we are encouraged to follow His example.

Bond Servants of Jesus

Servants Pray God's Wants

Prayer is an important part of being a bond servant of Jesus Christ. It is logical that a good servant must listen to the instructions of His master and communicate with Him about matters of His business. Failure to listen and communicate leads to errant activity in any relationship. So what is prayer? How does one pray? What do we say? How do we know what is said to us by our Father?

Prayer simplified is a time of meditation and reflection in conversation with God the Father. It can be private or in groups. It can be short or long in time. As instructed in Scripture prayer should not be repetitive, to gain self attention or for the desires of self gain. Prayer can be done without ceasing or at all times while active in other activities. It is not restricted to any location with any person. As an adopted child of God we always have access to our loving Father who listens and shares wisdom when we seek Him. We are instructed to pray to the Father in petitions and supplications in the name of Jesus or by His authority.  He never sleeps or slumbers so He is always there for us no matter what the situation.

John 14:12-17

12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. 15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.

NASB

What do we ask of the Father in light of the coming eternal Kingdom? What specifically are in our petitions  for the sick or needy? Why do we request Devine deliverance from conflict or evil? Why do we request needed prosperity, opportunity, wisdom, peace, guidance of authorities, spiritual blessings for others or even forgiveness for ourselves or others? For the Father to answer such prayers in Jesus name what must be the motivating focus of the believer?

The first half of the Lord's Model Prayer recorded in the gospels challenges believers when in prayer to the Father to properly focus on God's purpose of the eternal coming Kingdom. We remind ourselves our Father is separated from us in heaven, we respect His name or authority, we understand His purpose to bring a new Kingdom, and we seek His will done on earth just as it is always in heaven. Having this eternal framework we make our requests for needs in this dark world.

Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. KJV (Emphasis mine)

      Prayer with the Father is an exercise of faith in the coming Kingdom that is not seen and God's ability to reward in answer. The activity of life done without such faith is not pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 11:1
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. NASB

Over and over throughout God's Word one finds answered prayer always has this eternal focus. The many examples of answered prayer in Scripture show forth discernment and requests for intervening action by God that benefited the building of this eternal coming Kingdom. As such proper prayer to God is more listening then telling and talking. It is seeking the heart of God in answers and guidance in solutions to the reasons for which we make our petitions.

James reminds his readers the reason for unanswered prayer is missing this purpose of God. Rather there is emphasis in fulfillment of lusts of the body and mind in a worldly friendship that causes conflicts noted among believers. These double-minded spiritually adorned worldly goals causes the great conflict in the local churches often found.

God is more than a Santa Clause who with worldly gifts rewards requests of those nice and ignores those naughty. He is the eternal Father with a purpose of eventually gathering all in heaven and earth as one through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:10). His answers are always congruent with His purpose.

James 4:1-8
4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. KJV (Emphasis mine)

When we pray  by the authority of Jesus Christ the indwelling Holy Spirit takes the  contents of the heart  to the Father for His consideration. Then the Father searches our heart to determine the reason for our request and then intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Prayer then listens for wisdom and opportunity in action in God's will in Kingdom work. This action is either an opportunity for personal works or for special action by the Father in matters beyond one's control. As James teaches us faith demonstrated is more than the words, "I will pray for you that your needs will be met." Proper faith in the Kingdom actively does what is necessary to make others successful in their needs.

James 2:14-19
14 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  NASB (Emphasis mine)

 

The following chart summarizes the key elements of effective prayer in God's Kingdom.

Consider some of the motivations of our Lord and past believers recorded in Scripture that caused God the Father to grant the petitions on their heart in His will.

• Jesus - prayed and determined His purpose in preaching the gospel rather than fixing all in this world.

The people would have Jesus stay to make their dark world perfect from it's sin and harm. Jesus though performed the miracles that they might believe unto eternal life to come, not trouble free life in this world. Likewise our church prayer meetings must take great care not to get off focus of the gospel in praying for the sick. Jesus purpose was proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom of God as is the local assemblies of believers that follow Him as His ambassadors. Our requests for the sick should be within that purpose. We ask for healing for continued service, or to increase faith - not to keep saints out of heaven for our worldly pleasure.

Mark 1:32-39

32 And when evening had come, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for Him; 37 and they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 And He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, in order that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for." 39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. NASB (Emphasis mine)

 

John 20:30-31
30 Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. NASB (Emphasis mine)

• Jesus - prayed for Peter to grow in Kingdom work from his failure.

Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren. KJV (Emphasis mine)

• Nehemiah - prayed for the opportunity to lead in restoration of the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1-2

Nehemiah knew the messiah of the promised Kingdom would come through Israel. He confessed his and his father's sins asking for restoration. His motivations to further the cause of the coming Kingdom becomes more clear in light that he only had leave from his vocation as the king's cupbearer for the length of the job of rebuilding. There was no earthly kingdom for Nehemiah to enjoy for himself.. Nehemiah's motivation for his prayer request of the preservation of God's purpose of the eternal Kingdom.

• Moses prayed for the Lord to not destroy Israel for disobedience in making the golden calf.

Exodus 32:7-14

 

The Lord changed His mind when Moses pointed out how others would not believe the blessing Israel was to bring from Abraham's covenant (Genesis 12) if the Lord took them out in the desert and destroyed them. Moses' motivation for his prayer request of the preservation of God's purpose of the eternal Kingdom.

• Church at Jerusalem prayed for boldness to proclaim God's Word in the face of opposition. Acts 4:23-31

There was not request of vengeance on the opposition. They understood the purpose of God as an opportunity to proclaim truth of the gospel.

• Paul prayed for doors of opportunity to proclaim the gospel. Colossians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

Colossians 4:3

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; NASB
 

1 Corinthians 16:8-9
8 But I shall remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. NASB

With the above understanding of God's purpose in prayer the following exhortation about prayers in our assemblies together with other believers is seen in better light. Why do we pray, entreat, petition and thank God for "all men" "for kings and all who are in authority"? Paul's motivation was for "a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" so he could do his work as "a preacher and an apostle...as a teacher" for others "to be saved and to come coming to the knowledge of the truth."

1 Timothy 2:1-8
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. 7 And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension NASB

It is a sobering question to ask ourselves what is the real motivation in our heart in our request to God. Is it selfish peace and comfort in greater spiritual adultery with the world or seeking God's will as His ambassador in representation and promotion of His coming Kingdom? The bond servant of Jesus Christ listens well to the instructions of His Master in communication with Him always.

Servants Protect God's Ways

Are We true bond-servants of Jesus Christ if our gospel message of the coming Kingdom is not correct? True bond servants accurately convey the message of the master they serve. Sharing any other message we are unfaithful servants. A model servant God has has given for example is that of Micaiah where in 2 Chronicles 18:13 is recorded, “13 But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak." NASB He was not well liked because when popular religion was leading against the will of God he always stood for only what his Master says.

The following  is a short test of a true bond servant of Jesus Christ for consideration. The answers we arrive in our hearts should help define our message to others from our Master.

Would we encourage Cain telling him how God loved the offering and worship he brought on the altar?

Genesis 4:3-5

3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4 And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. NASB

Would we have praised David for his great plan to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and joined in the singing and dancing in worship to God’s glory?

1 Chronicles 13:8-10

8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. NASB

Would we join with the majority vote with about 400 other ministers to tell Ahab and Jehoshaphat God would give them victory in the battle?

2 Chronicles 18:12-13

12 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, "Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably." 13 But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak." NASB

Would we tell  Israel tolerance and diversity of religious experience was good for the nation telling them acceptance without objection is God's way of true love and oneness?

Jeremiah 29:8-10
8 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 9'For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,' declares the LORD. 10 "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. NASB

Would we tell Nehemiah he was wrong to remove Tobiah a gentile from the House of God?

Would we tell the greatly religious zealots against evil for the Lord how God would bless them with great heavenly reward for their work even though not born again of the Spirit of God?

Matthew 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'  NASB

 

John 3:1-4
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." NASB (Emphasis mine)

Would we commend the brethren respecting their opinion and continue to enlist their fellowship against outward common opposition since they still named Christ even when they decided circumcision was necessary for salvation? Likewise what of those who add other works for salvation?

Acts 15:5

5 But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses." NASB

Would we tell those assembling disciples for worship and study of God’s Word at Ephesus how the Spirit of God was so evident in their gathering?

Acts 19:1-7

19:1 And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, 2 and he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 And there were in all about twelve men. NASB

Would we condemn Stephen and only preach positively encouraging all denominations to seek the Lord in their own way - for God will recognize and bless the sincerity of their hearts?

Acts 7:51-54

51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.“ 54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.” NASB

So why are we so tolerant in our hearts of error in matters of the purity of the gospel?

John 12:42-43

42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. NASB (Emphasis mine)

 

Galatians 1:6-10

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. NASB (Emphasis mine)

We should ask ourselves, if we are truly a bond servant of Christ we have no choice but to defend the gospel against all error. This stand does not include non-salvation issues that do not affect God's message of salvation to the world

For example God knows who are His by the deposit of the Holy Spirit by faith alone apart from any work of righteousness. Man only knows one is saved as James said by works as evidence of the Holy Spirit within him. Both are true from the different perspectives. 

The doctrines of grace or Calvinism are the same. From God’s perspective, He as Sovereign calls, knowing who will accept unto justification and who will harden in unbelief using all choices unto His own glory and purpose of redemption. This foreknowledge of man’s choices in the act of redemption makes the heavenly work His choice. From man’s limited perspective each must choose to believe or not. Both are true from different perspective.

The same applies to other examples above. The polarized stand taken by believers is true, yet so is the other option from the right perspective.  

In the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Clement attempts to correct the problem of envy at the church of Corinth. Clement as a companion of the Apostle Paul is mentioned in Philippians 4:3, "Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women to have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." NASB Though the First Epistle of Clement written years later is attributed to his name it is not part of the inspired Cannon of Scripture. It does indirectly reflect Paul's teaching learned by another as Paul's disciple. The Corinthian members naturally looked to Paul's disciples for answers to problems after he was gone. Clement tells the Corinthians congregation, "Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit."

As bond servants we should only  contend with zeal about those things "that pertain to salvation." Other issues a matter of taste, tradition or culture should be generally acceptable as James 3:13-18 says in "wisdom from above" that is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." Much division has come of "envy" of brethren. Envy is a sharp acrid resentful zeal that creates strife in rivalry, factions and contention. As James says such is "earthly, natural and demonic"; results in "disorder" and "evil work"; and is actually in our testimony to others a "lie against the truth" whereby it actually works against the spread of the gospel proclaimed.

As a principle of Scripture we are told in Exodus 20:5 the "sins of the Fathers" affect the children "to the third and fourth generation." The bitterness of envy with hardness of hearts on many sides still permeates groups divided over many things that do not pertain to salvation. Revival comes as seen in the days of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29:6 when God's people confess "...our fathers were unfaithful..." in such matters. May we as children of God today find humility to focus only on contention as Scripturally exampled for the pure gospel of Christ.

This stand should  include any corruption of the testimonial symbols God designed to publicly picture the gospel of one’s faith in Christ. A life of faith pictures in life on earth matters of the Father's domain in heaven not now seen. Such faith in living is required for pleasing worship of God as shared in Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval...  6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. NASB

 

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6

1 But faith is being continuously expectant,  confident conviction of events not continuously being seen. 2 For in this the elders testified...6 But it is impossible to please apart from faith for to continuously believe is to bind oneself coming toward God because He exists and to seeking out Him remunerator He becomes.  (Personal translation)

The testimonial stands of believers past were made out of faith in efforts to preserve God given pictures of promises of the gospel of a Redeemer who would come to take away the sins of the world. Cain had the wrong picture whereas Able did not. David forgot the picture of the gospel in the Levites who pictured the Priesthood of the Messiah resulting in the death of one innocently doing the King's business in transporting the Ark of the Covenant. Tobiah living in the House of God corrupted the picture of only spiritual Israel living in God's House in eternity future. The believers in Acts 19 had baptism rejected by the Holy Spirit because their baptism was for the wrong reason corrupting the gospel picture.

 Today God has given believers similar pictures or shadows  to preserve that testify our faith such as baptism, the Lord’s table, and assembly participation in the local Body of Christ. These rituals have no saving power in themselves. they are public pictures or patterns of spiritual realities we cannot literal see but believe by faith.

Our purpose and calling as a bond servant of Jesus Christ is testifying of those unseen realities of fatih.. With every penny and ounce of energy He gives until He calls us home we must  “contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints”  so more may know the only true gospel and stand with us in that day. Any corruption of God's message in the gospel hinders the lost from understanding way to eternal life.

The reality of this purpose of gospel purity is it will anger others often. Paul was roughly treated many times telling the Philippians he was even in prison due to defense of the gospel. Stephen was stoned. Cain murdered Able for talking to him about his error. Ahab hated Micaiah and seldom called on him to prophecy. David was angry when his error was exposed by God’s discipline but later repented and correctly moved the Ark by use of the Levites preserving God's pictures accurately. Some brethren may continue to withdraw so as not to anger men who corrupt the gospel message or its testimonial observances.

We must realize contention for purity of the gospel is a difficult road. We must  pray we will accept God’s grace filled strength in Christ for the task He has given to strive for the purity of the gospel by not endorsing or commending those (even angels) who preach another gospel which is no gospel at all.  This stand is so needed. In a recent survey of Baptist 57% said they believed we are saved by works and living a good life. Baptist are losing the distinctiveness of the gospel in melting into Protestant and ecumenical popular theology not understanding the gospel of God. We fear taking a stand for the purity of the gospel because we will lose the praise of men, or lose our retirement or income. The cost may be great on this earth - yet here we must stand even if we stand alone because the cost is even greater in heaven – souls in hell for eternity who believe their religion will save them because of acceptance and tolerance of a corrupted gospel message. As a true bond servant it is Christ and God we must please.

Servants Proclaim God's Word

Servants Purpose God's Will

What is the life focus of citizens of the kingdom to come?   

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