SERVING IN VAIN OR FOR GAIN

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

It is not common to hear that somebody has served the Lord IN VAIN. How?  We shall have a lot of questions in our head. We have a lot of deception in Christianity. Everybody that is dead is gone to heaven by our pronouncement, even when we know that there are some question marks in their lives. God is the Author of orderliness. If you will not follow the right ways and steps, obviously, you cannot please God. We shall see what make people including some of us to serve IN VAIN.

1.   HOW DO PEOPLE SERVE IN VAIN?

1. Serving in your own ways, that is, the ways you feel is good or the way that is easy for you, serving like others – copy 2Corinthians. 10: 12; Prov 14:12 
2. Serving in deceitfulness and hypocrisy Acts 5: 1 – 5; Ezekiel 33: 30 – 32; Isaiah 58: 1, 2
3. Serving in sin 1Samuel 4: 1 – 5, 10 – 11
4. Becoming men pleasers Galatians 1: 10; 1Samuel 15: 24
5. Serving two masters Matthew 6: 24
6. Doing another man’s job

2.   EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN VAIN

1. Nadab and Abihu Leviticus 10: 1 – 3
2. Korah, Dathan and Abiram Num 16: 1 – 3, 28 – 35
3. Hophni and Phinehas 1Samuel 2: 12, 22, 34; 4: 11
4. Saul the king 1Samuel 13: 8 – 14; 15: 3, 9 – 11
5. Uzzah 2Samuel 6: 3, 6, 7
6. Judas Iscariot Matthew 19: 28; Acts 1: 16 – 20
7. Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5: 1 – 11

3.   THE GAIN IN SERVING THE LORD Genesis 24: 35

1. Exodus 23:25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
2. Matthew 10: 42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
3. John 12: 26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
4. 1Corinthians 15: 58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The GAINS cover every area of life, ministry, defense, protection, finance, health, family, and so on. So then how can we serve and be sure we shall receive GAINS?

4.   WAYS OF SERVING GOD WITH GAINS Matthew 7: 21 – 23

1. When we serve willingly Judges 5: 2; Nehemiah 11: 2; Isaiah 1: 19
2. When we serve according to our given ability, that is, do your best. Matthew 25: 15 – 17, 22, 23; Ecclesiastes 9: 10
3. Serve in cooperation with the Lord 1Corinthians 3: 9
4. Finish whatever you started for the Lord John 4: 34; 17: 4; Acts 20: 24
5. Serve with the loving fear of the Lord within you Psalm 2:11
6. Every service must be as if God is physically present there. Ephesians 6: 6, 7
7. Every action must be done in acceptable manner. Hebrews 12: 28 the end does not justify the means
8. Serve heartily and whole heartedly Colossians 3: 23; 1Samuel 7: 3; 2Chronicles 15: 15
9. Do God’s work promptly Mark 1: 17 – 18
10. Doing the will of God Matthew 7: 21

SERVING IN VAIN OR FOR GAIN

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

It is not common to hear that somebody has served the Lord IN VAIN. How?  We shall have a lot of questions in our head. We have a lot of deception in Christianity. Everybody that is dead is gone to heaven by our pronouncement, even when we know that there are some question marks in their lives. God is the Author of orderliness. If you will not follow the right ways and steps, obviously, you cannot please God. We shall see what make people including some of us to serve IN VAIN.

1.   HOW DO PEOPLE SERVE IN VAIN?

1. Serving in your own ways, that is, the ways you feel is good or the way that is easy for you, serving like others – copy 2Corinthians. 10: 12; Prov 14:12 
2. Serving in deceitfulness and hypocrisy Acts 5: 1 – 5; Ezekiel 33: 30 – 32; Isaiah 58: 1, 2
3. Serving in sin 1Samuel 4: 1 – 5, 10 – 11
4. Becoming men pleasers Galatians 1: 10; 1Samuel 15: 24
5. Serving two masters Matthew 6: 24
6. Doing another man’s job

2.   EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN VAIN

1. Nadab and Abihu Leviticus 10: 1 – 3
2. Korah, Dathan and Abiram Num 16: 1 – 3, 28 – 35
3. Hophni and Phinehas 1Samuel 2: 12, 22, 34; 4: 11
4. Saul the king 1Samuel 13: 8 – 14; 15: 3, 9 – 11
5. Uzzah 2Samuel 6: 3, 6, 7
6. Judas Iscariot Matthew 19: 28; Acts 1: 16 – 20
7. Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5: 1 – 11

3.   THE GAIN IN SERVING THE LORD Genesis 24: 35

1. Exodus 23:25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
2. Matthew 10: 42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
3. John 12: 26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
4. 1Corinthians 15: 58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The GAINS cover every area of life, ministry, defense, protection, finance, health, family, and so on. So then how can we serve and be sure we shall receive GAINS?

4.   WAYS OF SERVING GOD WITH GAINS Matthew 7: 21 – 23

1. When we serve willingly Judges 5: 2; Nehemiah 11: 2; Isaiah 1: 19
2. When we serve according to our given ability, that is, do your best. Matthew 25: 15 – 17, 22, 23; Ecclesiastes 9: 10
3. Serve in cooperation with the Lord 1Corinthians 3: 9
4. Finish whatever you started for the Lord John 4: 34; 17: 4; Acts 20: 24
5. Serve with the loving fear of the Lord within you Psalm 2:11
6. Every service must be as if God is physically present there. Ephesians 6: 6, 7
7. Every action must be done in acceptable manner. Hebrews 12: 28 the end does not justify the means
8. Serve heartily and whole heartedly Colossians 3: 23; 1Samuel 7: 3; 2Chronicles 15: 15
9. Do God’s work promptly Mark 1: 17 – 18
10. Doing the will of God Matthew 7: 21