1 Kings 18:[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

If we acknowledge God is God then we need to serve Him. Too many people these days claim to be Christians and are lackadaisical in their “service” for God.
This morning I would like to speak to us about serving God. If indeed you claim to be a Christian and a child of God then our hearts desire should be His will in our lives. Not just on Sunday morning but at all times.

Romans 1:[9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Let me begin by saying you cannot serve God until you are in the gospel of His Son. You may do many good works but until you have put your faith in the gospel you are spinning your wheels. You must belong to God before you may serve God. After you have given your heart to Him then you need to serve God. If God be your God then serve Him.

One way in which a Christian serves God is by praying for others. By praying to God we acknowledge He is in control. We acknowledge we wish to seek His will in our lives. We show God our hearts desire is for His people and just ourselves.

Romans 7:[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

We serve God with our spirit. It is the attitude we approach challenges with. We should not serve God begrudgingly or as if we are forced to but willingly and with pleasure. We should want to read our Bible. We should want to sing praises. We should want to share God’s love to others. It begins with a willing spirit. This change in spirit can only come through the power of God. It is not turning over a new leaf but allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of our hearts.

Romans 7:[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

It is having the right mind. We should think differently than the lost. Our mind should be focused on God and our innermost being should be geared towards what God would want us to do.
The change the Holy Spirit makes in our lives is not from the outside in but from the inside out. It is the change in our innermost being which then impacts the way we live our life and manifests itself in our actions. It is not a change of our actions which effects our thinking but is a change in our thinking which effects our actions.

(Romans 12:[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.)

Rom.14:17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

We serve God in
Righteousness- The Christian of all people should be doing what is right. Not doing what is to our benefit or only doing something which benefits ourselves but in all circumstances doing what is right and not doing just what is convenient.

Peace We have peace with God through the shed blood of Jesus. We have a deep and abiding peace knowing our sins are forgiven and we have no fear of death. This peace is manifested by us to those around us by the sharing of the gospel of peace. It is shown to those around us by the way in which we do not allow circumstances to effect us.

Joy in the Holy Ghost There should be an internal joy in the Christian heart which shows in the things we say and do. We should not be the moaners and complainers but the ones who encourage and lift up regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves.

Galatians 5:[13] For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

We serve God by serving others in love. Not by helping others with a hope for payment or for our own benefit. But because we love God and He loves us, we manifest the love of God to others.

Eph.6:[5] Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
[6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
[7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
[8] Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Colossians 3:[22] Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
[23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
[24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
[25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

We serve God by doing whatever our hand is tasked with as if we are doing it directly for God. We are to serve from the heart. One of the best ways we show we belong to God is with the attitude with which we do our job. The Christian’s testimony at work should be that they are the “go to” people. The “can do” people.