Are you serving God or is God serving you’?

When we attend church services on Sundays, Are we going to serve or be served?Sometimes we just want to go, sit down and just listen to the word without doing anything else.This is not a bad thing. However one thing the Holy Spirit reminded me is that this is our year of double honour.
Who receives honour? In the world no one is honoured for nothing. There has to have been a level of service provided to receive honour. In fact , on the day that they are being  honoured, there will be reason provided to the crowd expressing why this honour is being bestowed. Honour follows an act of service.
Yes, it is true that God’s gifts to us are free, unconditional and unmerited. The blood of Jesus has made us accessible to all we need for liveliness and Godliness. But I want you to understand that there are exclusive blessings available to the Jacobs, Josephs, Esthers, Deborahs, David, Solomon, Joshua, Caleb, Daniel etc. These blessings can only be accessed from a place of service to God.
It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will powerfully unleash every potential in you to serve to the best of your ability. It is my prayer that the double honour prepared for you will be possessed this year. It is my prayer that on the last day, you will receive the crown of life and a ‘well done’ from your creator in Jesus name..

The very first act of service is by making yourself available. Presenting yourself, Showing up,and then ‘doing’
Dr Paul Enenche said something that caught my attention: ‘Answered prayers await the committed at the point of duty’.
There are some prayers that will only be answered at the place of service.
Let’s take a look at the story of a man called Zacharias, a priest who had been waiting on God for a child.
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:5-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
He was present at the place of service. And he was doing too (working) burning incense When the angel of God located him. The angels of God are strategic about where they meet people. Zacharias presented himself . I pray for you tonight that the same God that located Zacharias and rewarded him at the place of service will locate you at a place of service and deliver you from any long standing issue in Jesus name.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭AMP‬‬New King James Version calls it your ‘reasonable service’ meaning, it’s the least that we can do.
The songwriter says, I am the sacrifice, I am your worship. Make a declaration today

• I PRESENT MYSELF TO YOU MY FATHER AS A LIVING SACRIFICE.
• I MAKE A DECISION TO GIVE MYSELF TO YOU WHOLLY, NOT PARTLY IN JESUS NAME.
• I MAKE A DECISION TO BE PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY AVAILABLE TO YOU IJN
• WHENEVER THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, I WILL TURN UP AND DO IT IJN
• I REJECT EVERY IDLE SPIRIT WITHHOLDING ME FROM SERVING IJN

The second verse, says, do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. There is a state of mind required at the place of service.

• TRANSFORM MY LIFE INTO A LIFE OF SERVICE TO YOU.
• I REJECT THE URGE TO CONFORM TO THE WORLD AND ITS NORMS IJN.

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭3:5-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Another way to serve is by being a witness. Not all of us will be pastors. Preachers, evangelists, ushers, not all of us can sing etc. But one thing is true. We have all been called to verbalise our faith in specific capacities. Some will plant, others will water. We have been called to carry the presence of God into our day to day activities and all spheres of life we may find ourselves. We have all been called to make God’s kingdom visible on earth.
One thing about the word witness is to see, to experience and then to admit/ confess It to a group of people. Sometimes at work, the atmosphere may not be right and that’s ok, you don’t need to carry the bible and ring bells, you can display God’s kingdom, though acts of kindness, love, truthfulness, serving others etc.

• EVERY SPIRITUAL CONSTRAINT INTIMIDATING ME FROM VERBALISING MY FAITH BE DESTROYED IJN.
• EVERY VICE FROM HELL, OBSTRUCTING ME FROM BEING A WITNESS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, BE DESTROYED IJN.
• OH LORD, LET MY FAITH OVER SHADOW EVERY ACTION I TAKE ANYWHERE YOU TAKE ME IJN

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We see from this scripture that being a witness gives you kingdom influence and relevance.

• I RECEIVE THE POWER TO BECOME A WITNESS
• HOLY SPIRIT, EMPOWER ME TO BECOME A WITNESS IN JESUS NAME.

One thing about witnesses when it comes to court cases is this, they understand that they cannot decide to say, ‘I’m shy, I can’t testify’ because I don’t like crowds, I can’t take the stand. They understand that someone else’s life depends on their testimony and version of the event. Relating this to Christendom, there cannot be introverts in the kingdom of God. I’m not referring to you being reserved. Being a spiritual introvert can be very dangerous. It prevents you from opening up to give and receive spiritual gifts and if you haven’t got this, how can you be a witness? How can you express the love of God?
The songwriter sings, channels of my spirit OPEN UP,

• HOLY SPIRIT, OPEN UP THE CHANNELS OF MY SPIRIT AND FLOW LIKE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.
• BLESS ME WITH YOUR GIFTS THAT I MAY BLESS OTHERS IN JESUS. NAME

The bible says, if we don’t open our mouth, the rocks will worship GOD, So if we decide to be spiritual introverts, God forbid that the rocks may take our places of honour.

• I REFUSE TO ALLOW ROCKS TAKE MY PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF MY FATHER IJN.
• EVERY BLOCKAGE IN MY SPIRITUAL DUCTS, BE CLEARED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:31-40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Another way to serve God is in your giving. Like Sarah, you never know when you will entertain an angel. However there is something about giving that we need to be careful not to miss. This is sowing into fertile soil, good soil that germinates and goes forth into our future and manifests.
The Holy Spirit helps you discern. Sometimes he tells you not to sow unto rocky grounds. Sometimes he tells you to be specific, he even confirms the amount he wants you to give. Be careful to listen to the Holy Spirit when giving. Some rocky grounds are out there to devour your finances and take advantage of your good heart.
I know it can be hard. You’ve given, sown, helped but it never gets appreciated. God appreciates your service. Your reward of double honour awaits. The bible says, do not be weary in doing good for in good time, you will reap a good reward.

• OH LORD, EMPOWER ME WITH YOUR STRENGTH TO NEVER BE WEARY OF DOING GOOD

On the other hand, you may say, I don’t have enough. I have bills, commitments etc. The truth is no one ever has enough. It’s gratitude and contentment that makes everything enough. What if the widow at Zarephath used that as an excuse not to feed the prophet Elijah? But look at the turnaround she encountered after sharing the little she had.
Start by committing to a charity, it’s a great start. What is the need at your local church. Start by giving what you have towards it- doesn’t have to be all of it. If a ministry is blessing you in any way, sow towards it, nothing is ever too small, when you start, God will increase your capacity to do more, He won’t just stop there, He will make sure that you never lack. It’s a principle that has never failed.
Giving does not come naturally to everyone. Some of us give because the Grace is available.

• CREATE IN ME A GENEROUS SPIRIT OH LORD
• HELP ME TO GIVE CHEERFULLY AT ALL TIMES WHEN CALLED
• NEVER ALLOW ME FIND AN EXCUSE NOT TO GIVE TOWARDS THE ADVANCEMENT OF YOUR KINGDOM IJN
• HELP ME SERVE YOU WITH MY GIVING IN JESUS NAME

Giving is not only by material things. Sometimes God wants our time. Make a list every week of those you would like to call. Check on friends and families, you have no idea what they are going through. Spend time praying for people you know and don’t know. Pray for nations. This is a valuable act of service.

• HOLY SPIRIT, MAKE ME AVAILABLE TO SERVE YOU WITH MY TIME
• MAY THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN DESTROY EVERY DEVOURER OF MY VALUABLE TIME IN JESUS NAME
• ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD, HELP ME PRAY WITHOUT CEASING IN JESUS NAME
• HELP ME BUILD PEOPLE AND YOUR KINGDOM UP WITH MY ACT OF GIVING IN JESUS NAME.

Another way we can serve God is through submission and obedience to his word and instructions. Let’s take a look at the lives of David and Saul. Both were by no means perfect men. But whenever David was wrong and was chastised for his wrong doing, he obeyed by being repentant and submissive. Saul on the other hand would find an excuse and challenge the authority of God. To the point that God rejected him as king.
“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.””‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭15:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• I REFUSE TO ALLOW DISOBEDIENCE DISQUALIFY ME FROM A LIFE OF SERVICE TO YOU IJN
• I REJECT EVERY SPIRIT OF REBELLION THAT WILL COST ME MY PLACE IN YOUR KINGDOM

Whenever David sinned, his concern was never about losing his position as king, his main concern was losing his standing with God. He was passionate about his life of service to God. If we read further into that scripture, we see that Saul was more concerned about his position and what people would say. He insisted that Samuel followed him so as not to lose his reputation amongst men. David on the other hand did not care, he wanted God and everyone to see his vulnerability. 

• I REFUSE TO BE A PLEASER OF MEN, I CHOOSE TO BE A PLEASER OF MY GOD.
• LET MY PASSION FOR GOD BE A LIFE OF SERVICE IN JESUS NAME

Because David chose a life of service and dedication to God, there were peculiar blessings available to him. Christ was born through his lineage. God consistently blessed kings from his lineage because of David. The wealthiest king ever was David’s son.David was a covenant in itself.
“Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• CAUSE THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID TO BE AVAILABLE TO ME IN JESUS NAME  (these sure mercies include the blood of JESUS)
• MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH ME OH LORD

Let’s take a look at Hannah, the mother of prophet Samuel. We know how she cried to God for a child and dedicated him in service to God right from when he was a baby. How does one who has been waiting on God for a child for years, mocked by others, decide to take the child to the temple immediately after he was weaned to God’s temple and then leave him there with the priests? It doesn’t make sense. However it was an act of service. Hannah understood the principles of service to God. It wasn’t the typical way of the world. She served the way God wanted her to. And in return, God blessed her the way he wanted to, with other children.There are certain blessings available to the Hannah’s who serve God the way GOD has called them to.
“Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.”‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭1:24-28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• OH LORD, HELP ME TO SERVE IN THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY THAT I HAVE BEEN CALLED.
• HELP ME TO SERVE THE WAY ONLY YOU WANT ME TO SERVE, NOT THE WAY THE WORLD HAS CALLED ME TO SERVE. NOT THE WAY ANYONE HAS CALLED ME TO SERVE, BUT THE WAY YOU HAVE CALLED ME TO SERVE IJN

Now we will take a look at rewards for service
““So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.”‭‭Exodus‬ ‭23:25-27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

• OH LORD, BLESS MY BREAD AND MY WATER (your bread signifies your source. Identify it and speak God’s blessings over it)
• REMOVE EVERY SOURCE OF SICKNESS, TERMINAL OR TEMPORARY FROM MY LIFE, LINEAGE AND GENERATION IN JESUS NAME
• I REJECT ANY MISCARRIAGE OF DREAMS, ASPIRATIONS, AMBITION OR PHYSICAL MISCARRIAGE IN JESUS NAME
• I DEMOLISH EVERY ALTER OF BARRENNESS ON ALL LEVELS OVER MY LIFE IN JESUS NAME
• FUFIL THE NUMBER OF MY DAYS WITH LONG LIFE IN JESUS NAME
• SET A FIRE OF CONFUSION IN THE CAMP OF MY ENEMIES OR ANY TONGUE THAT RISES UP AGAINST ME IN JESUS NAME

“GOD -of-the-Angel-Armies said, “They’re mine, all mine. They’ll get special treatment when I go into action. I treat them with the same consideration and kindness that parents give the child who honors them. Once more you’ll see the difference it makes between being a person who does the right thing and one who doesn’t, between serving God and not serving him.””‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:17-18‬ ‭MSG‬‬
Special treatment separates those who serve God from those who do not. Consideration and kindness from God is available to those who serve God. Which means where there would normally be a no. God will review and consider your plight. Lastly, there is a significant difference, a separation between those that serve GOD and those who do not.David was a witness to this. Daniel was a witness to this. Esther was a witness, John was a witness, Shadrach Meshack and Abednigo were witnesses. You are witnesses too in Jesus’ name.

• I RECEIVE THE SPECIAL/ PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO SERVE YOU IJN
• I RECEIVE KIND CONSIDERATION FROM THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY IJN
• I AM SEPARATED FOR SIGNS AND WONDERS IJN
• I AM ADORNED WITH A GARMENT OF DOUBLE HONOUR IJN.