Sunday we had a really great service. If you stayed home, you missed a blessing! First, we celebrated baptism for our newest member, Lawrence Johnson. Lawrence heard God’s call in his life and answered, “Yes.” He has started reading his Bible and I am so proud of him.
Then we had an ordination service. Josh Morris heard God’s call in his life and answered, “Yes.” Josh has already started to serve and I am so proud of him.
During the ordination service I had the real privilege of giving Josh the “Charge” of office. To give a charge means to appoint or to assign a duty, a responsibility, or an obligation. I wanted to tell Josh some of what to expect and some of what would be expected of him as a Deacon. Although I issued the Charge to Josh, the charge just as well could have been given to Lawrence as a new Christian. The Charge could have been given to any member of our church. It is a Charge for all God’s people.
As I thought about that I figured I might as well give that Charge to all of us. So here goes…
Christian, you have been called by God to a life of service, to lay your life down and to live out Christ’s life from this point forward. My Charge is simple, just two words…Be Ready.
Be ready to Serve Others for Christ. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13-14)
o In our world of “me first”, you are being called to be a servant. As Jesus told Peter – “If you love me, feed my sheep.” Christian, I charge you to serve.
Be Ready to Speak for Christ: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
o You are being called to defend the Faith-to be a warrior in the Kingdom and a leader in His Church. Christian, I charge you to proclaim Christ boldly.
Be Ready to Meet Christ. “For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:44 (NASB77)
o Live every day ready for His return. Serve every day as if your master were returning today. Reach out to the lost like this was the last opportunity. Because one day soon, it will be.
Finally, let me charge you
Be ready for Attack because of Christ. 1 Peter 5 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
o Satan would like nothing better than to destroy Christ’s church by destroying its leaders. Christian, I charge you to pray.
There you have it. Your charge. Christian, you are called. You have been chosen.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Pastor Bill
