chafer, bible doctrines: church, service and stewardship

The church: her service and stewardship

Monday 22 August 2011

A. Her service toward God

Service = work performed for the benefit of another. In this the OT anticipates the NT - most OT doctrines are found incomplete until the NT - this is also seen in many other areas. In service we see the OT type and NT antitype (a person/thing that represents the opposite of someone or something else.).God appointed service is performed by a chosen priesthood - both OT and NT e.g. 1 Peter 2:5-9. In the NT Jesus is the great high priest and we are the priesthood who serve God and man.


OT service focussed around the tabernacle, temple etc. - for us there is a broader ministry to all believer-priests and to all people.1. OT and NT service of sacrifice is very similar;OT - born in the tribe of Levi - ceremonially inducted - served as long as he lived - ceremonially cleansed at the start of ministry - EX 29:4NT - believer wholly, once for all cleansed at salvation - Col 2:13, Titus 3:5 - set apart for God by new birth, of the family of God - this is done willingly - Rom 12:1 - yielding to God, Eph 2:10


Here consecration to God takes place through Christ - and is a fulfillment of the OT type seen in the consecration of the Levites by the priest.Having been yielded to God the believer-priest gets new power - Rom 12:2NT priestly sacrificial service has 4 aspects:a. Dedication of self - Rom 12:1 - spiritual serviceb. Sacrifice of continual praise - Heb 13:15c. Sacrifice of substance - Phil 4:18d. Sacrifice of good works - Heb 13:16


OT priests bathed when entering service, an act done by another - Ex 29:4 and then repeatedly in the bronze laver before any service - NT priest is cleansed and forgiven but confesses sin to remain in fellowship with God - 1Jn1:8-9OT priest appointed for life - NT priest to God forever.


2. The service of worship - is done by believer-priests as it was by OT priests.OT worship shown in the furnishing of the Holy Place, which were shadows of Christ - NT worship is by and through Christ alone.Believer offers self to God in worship - Rom 12:1 - giving praise and thanksgiving from the heart - Heb 13:15OT priests had 2 restriction - no strange incense Ex 30:9 - and no strange fire - Lev 10:1 - Chafer says these both have symbolic meanings of formality in service and fleshly emotions


3. Intercession is an important believer-priest function - prophet is God’s representative to the people, the priest is the peoples representative to God - OT the high priest alone entered the Holy of Holies once each year - now Christ has entered through his own blood, and intercedes for his own in the world - when Christ died the veil was torn in two and the way is now open to all who come to God through him - and we can thus minister in intercession.Heb 9:7, 4:14-16, 9:24, 10:19-22, Rom 8:24, Heb 7:25, Rom 8:26-27, 1Tim 2:1, Col 4:12


B. Service toward man

Romans 12:1-8 has a specific structure: dedication - consecration - then gifts given by God, a ministry of the indwelling Spirit - the Spirit performs a service using the believer as an instrument - it is a manifestation of the Spirit 1 Cor 12:7 - like character is a fruit of the Spirit.There are diverse gifts and each believer has some gift - 1 Cor 12:7, Rom 12:6, Eph 4:7 etc.There are some offices which all believers perform - sacrifice, worship, intercession etc.


Chafer suggests some representative lists of gifts are seen in scripture - Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:8-11, Eph 4:11 - and that some gifts have ceased - 1 Cor 13:8 - he states the gifts are likely to be as varied as the circumstances in which believers are called to serve.1 Cor 12:7, Jn 7:37-39, Eph 2:10Spirit filled believers are continually active in their gifts - this is done by a life of confessing sin, yielding our lives, depending on the indwelling Spirit - the result of which is a desire to do God’s ordained work in God’s way. You are active in service because you are Spirit filled.


C. Her stewardship

Stewardship, says Chafer, relates to earning, possessing and giving of money. Rom 14:10-12 says we shall all stand and be judged before Christ.1. Earning money must be done in a way worthy of a relationship with God.1 Cor 10:31 - whatever you do...Gen 3:19, 2 Thess 3:10 - all will toil - but for a believer this is doing the will of God, not just earning a living - it is an appointment for, and, to God.


God cares for his people at all times - he is committed to them regardless of their earning power - Phil 4:19, Heb 13:5 - for all a believer has is from him 1 Sam 2:7We might agree with a “boss” upon a salary - Lk 10:27 - but for the Christian doing the will of his Father is the primary focus, an act of devotion - in this way we sanctify all we do for the glory of God and rejoice forever more - 1 Thess 5:16


2. Possessing money is a great responsibility for any sincere Christian - there is great need and great good that can be done - so we have to ask seriously about our money and property. All property should be held / used at the control and leading of the HSp.Beware of the ways of men:Desire to get rich - 1 Tim 6:8-9, 17-18, James 1:11, Phil 4:11Desire to provide for a day of need - Matt 6:25-34The desire to provide for othersAll must done at HSp leading.


3. The giving of earned money becomes an important aspect of serving God - giving must stand on your grace filled relationship with God - give yourself and all you have to God - 2 Cor 8:5, 1 Cor 5:20, 7:23, 1 Pet 1:18-19Tithing (and Sabbath day observance) is never imposed on the believer - it was part of OT law (which has now been done away with) - so giving now is based on grace, which is based on god’s sovereignty over all a believer is and has.Chafer summarises Christian giving from 2 Cor 8:1-9:15


a. Christ was their pattern - he gave all not a tenth - 2 Cor 8:9b. Giving took place out of great poverty - verse 2 - In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.Remember Luke 21:1-4c. Giving was not by command or necessity - Law commanded giving and payment of such was a necessity - God is looking at giving in terms of the devotion of the giver - no % but a yielded heart, Phil 2:13, 2 Cor 9:7 -Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.


If a % is stipulated then some would give to fulfill that, in a begrudging way - not out of a desire in their heartChafer suggests that Christ blessed 5 loaves etc. And fed 5,000 - so when we have given then God will make it abound - 2 Cor 9:8d. The first believers gave themselves before they gave money - yield your life to Gode. The first Christians gave systematically - 1 Cor 16:2 - give regularly!


f. God sustains the giver with resources here on earth - 2 Cor 9:8-10, Luke 6:38Chafer suggests blessings for giving are not based on the % but on the heart condition of the giver - God graciously acknowledges all gifts given from the heart, but the blessing might be spiritual or temporal as God chooses.


g. True riches are from God;You can be rich on earth and not towards God, Lk 12:21,We are urged to buy from Christ gold which is tried in the fire, Rev 3:18Through the poverty of Christ in his death we can be made rich 2 Cor 8:9We can be rich in faith, James 2:5 - in good works, 1 Tm 6:18, in the riches of his grace Eph 1:7 and in the riches of his glory Eph 3:16


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