Keep Calm And Be A Team Player

 

When we recognize the “truth” of Jesus Christ and give our lives to Him, God in return puts us on “His team”. As members of Christ’ team we all have a purpose. Our ability to fulfill that purpose is limited only by our willingness for hard work, self sacrifice and service. My prayer is that I will never be a “wasted team member for our Lord Jesus Christ”. Being on a team means there’s a plan. A goal that the team is trying to accomplish. Our goal is to advance the Kingdom of God. However, there are some things we need to know since we are on this team. 

1. You Were Saved For A Purpose.

VERSE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 1:9 “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” – NIV

Paul tells the believers in Ephesus that they have been saved for a purpose and he encourages them to seek to fulfill the purpose that God has preordained for them.

VERSE PASSAGE: Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” –  NIV

Paul tells us that all things work together for those called according to His purpose. Notice that we are called according to “His purpose” and not “our purpose”.

2. God’s Purpose For Us Requires Service.

VERSE PASSAGE: Matthew 22:36-37 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – NIV

Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love our Lord with every fiber that’s within us. When we love someone we tend to do things for them, spend time with them, grow with them, deepen our relationship with them, and want to do things with them. Serving the Lord is an act of love towards Him. 

3. God Has A Different Purpose & Plan For Each Individual.

VERSE PASSAGE: Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” – NIV 

You see we are all of the same body. But, we all are different parts of that body. Together we made the body whole. Some Christians and Churches are sacrificing parts of the body because they believe those gifts are irrelevant in today’s world. They believe that certain gifts were only to be used during Jesus’ time. The Church is suffering because of this. We must believe that all parts of the body are needed to function 100%. God has a plan and purpose that is different for each person because they are a part of they body that is different from another. 

4. Don’t Bury or Hide Your Talents.

In Matthew 25:14-30 We see the parable of the servants with the talents. It is lengthy so it won’t be on here. But do read it. This is a parable of two servants. One servant buried his talent and was called worthless, wicked and lazy. Don’t bury your talents but use them to serve and glorify God. God has given us talents and we must use them. Each talent does something for the Kingdom of God. It may serve the body, serve the unsaved, edify the body, heal the body, speak to the body, prepare the body, keep finances up within the body, serve on the frontline, look over the sheep, teach and train the members of the body. You see we each have parts in this body. This was just some of the many parts. We are each of worth. We each have a talents and gifts from God and God does not want us to bury those.

5. Give It A “Real Try”

VERSE PASSAGE: 2 Chronicles 31:21 “In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” – NIV

We see that Hezekiah, one of the first leaders in the nation of Israel poured his whole heart into his work. Whatever our service to God is, we need to give him our “best effort”.

6. Be a Leader.

VERSE PASSAGE: Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – NIV

Paul tells us that it is our obligation to present ourselves as living sacrifices to our Lord as our reasonable service. Another thing worth mentioning is how can we get others to follow Christ if the world has not seen a change in us? What reason do we give our friends, family, co-workers to become a Christ follower if we have not been transformed since following Him? How can we change the world when we have not yet changed. We must be a leading example of what Christ can do for people. If we have not changed we have done only harm to Kingdom of God. If people know that we are saved and follow Christ but yet we are still living the exact same lifestyle and not trying to change at all we have only given people a reason not to come to Christ. We are called to lead. Lead a life that Holy and acceptable to the Lord. 

7. Stand Firm In The Lord.

VERSE PASSAGE: Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” – NIV

Paul encourages us to stand firm in the Lord and not to succumb to the evils of this world. I have heard a lot of words that have tickled many ears. I have seen many fall to the wayside. We need to stand firm. 

Let’s take a look at the meaning of a few worlds. 

Stand: To support oneself on the feet in an erect position

Firm: Securely or solidly in a fixed place. Not weak or uncertain.

Stand Firm: To refuse to change. 

We will face many things. But we must stand firm in the Lord. He alone will hold us up. 

God bless you my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger