Why don't you devote your life to serving Christ in His Ekklesia.

1. There was a man whose name was Jake. He was unsure just what kind of work would allow his family to be properly provided for. He had worked many jobs but as of yet had not found one that he could pour his heart into. One which he could totally depend on to satisfy him both in the satisfaction of a job well done, and in proper compensation, providing all his family needs.<br />Jake had always heard of a big corporation named quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
that everyone only spoke good of. He had met several of this companies employees and they always encouraged him to train with them so he could work for this company. Jake was always skeptical of this company because the word was they were continually in training, and once you went to work for them it was forbidden that you ever moonlight at another job. The story was that if you ever tried to quit or tried to take a second job, the administrators and executives would continually be coming by your house, talking to you, your wife & kids, trying to convince you that you were needed in the company and it was not appropriate for you to try working for two bosses.<br />Jake had never worked in this atmosphere. All the jobs he had worked at before didn't care if he took a second job. And if he quit the bosses always figured, quot;
Well, he feels better working at another company. One job is as good as the next.quot;
Jake was so unsure about starting on with a company that demanded him giving 100% to that job, and that one only. What if he didn't like it and wanted to go elsewhere. And what right did an employer have to demand you always work for them and never even consider working for other employers? It just didn't seem right.<br />One day Jake took his family to the park for a picnic. While they were eating Jake thought he recognized a man playing catch in the ball field with a couple boys. He was sure that was the neighbor that use to live next door. After a while the man walked from the ball field and said,quot;
Hey, Jake, is that you?quot;
<br />quot;
Well it is Mike, Mike its been, what, 3 years since I've seen you. How are things going for you? What have you been up to?quot;
<br />quot;
Well,quot;
Mike said, quot;
Things could not be better for my family and me. I started working for quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
and my life has never been better. My brother had been trying to talk me into working for quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
but I was skeptical. He told me of all the benefits and how the work was so rewarding. After months of him trying to talk me in to working for quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
I sat in on one of their training sessions. Then another one, and another one. After several sessions I went to one of the administrators and ask for a job in quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
I haven't regretted it. Only two months after starting work, word came down from the head office that I was needed in New Mexico. I packed up the family and quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
moved us to New Mexico. I'm back here on vacation visiting my relatives for a few days.quot;
<br />Just then another man walked onto the field. quot;
Jake, this is my brother Rex. <br />quot;
Rex, so you also work for quot;
Ekklesia?quot;
<br />quot;
Yes, I have been with them for 50 years.quot;
<br />quot;
Where are you living?quot;
<br />quot;
Well about 10 years ago quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
moved me to Kansas City. At the first of the year my home will be finished in the South of France so we will be moving there.quot;
<br />quot;
Wow, your building a home in the South of France! quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
must really pay well.quot;
<br />quot;
Well quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
gives me all I need. I am not building the home, quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
is preparing it for me. They prepare homes for all their employees. When one has served quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
well that is what is in store for them, a home in paradise. This is what all of us look forward to. quot;
Why don't you come with Mike and me to one of quot;
Ekklesia'squot;
training sessions and see what you think? <br />quot;
I would like to check them out. It sounds too good to be true.quot;
<br />quot;
I'm sure you'll like it. There are sessions every day. We'll go tonight.quot;
<br />Jake went with Rex and Mike that evening. What he heard was incredible. There were so many different jobs and positions that needed to be filled. Each person is suited to a job. There is no job more important than the others, all have to be done for quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
to function properly. At this meeting a chart of a human body was displayed to remind all the importance of each part functioning properly. The new people attending this meeting were informed of all the benefits to be receive for committing to work with quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
Workers were told not to worry for anything they needed, quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
would provide all that was needed. The icing on the cake was the final home built specifically for each employee. It would be a mansion in the perfect place of their choice.<br />Of course in exchange for all this the employee must be dedicated to their work. The stipulation that turned most away from quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
was that in all things the company came first. It was explained that by putting quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
first always, you were putting those you love and all others first. The new comers were reminded that quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
would provide all that the worker & the worker's family needed. No matter what it might be, if there was a need the need was met. And always the employee and family were to remember the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the mansion in the perfect place, that would be the great reward for dedicated service.<br />Upon returning home Jake told his wife all that he had learned about quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
He was so pumped up, so excited. The teacher at the session and the working members of quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
were so fired up and enthused that all wanted to share with as many as possible how great quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
is. One could not come out of the session with a negative attitude. After much discussion Jake and his wife decided that he should try to join quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
<br />The very next day Jake went to the administrator and ask to become part of quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
He was welcomed with open arms and started training sessions immediately. Jake was given a training manual and supplies. He studied hard and each day was more excited than the last. He knew it was a wise decision to join the quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
family.<br />In addition to learning his job, Jake also learned company policies and procedures during these training sessions. He was told and shown by example that the company would forever more take care of its dedicated employees. The employee was required to totally trust quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
would do what was promised and using this trust, fulfill duties when instructed by management in keeping with the training manual. They were always reminded to strive forward in anticipation of their promised mansion.<br />After six months of these training sessions Jake had not received his assignment. One day the word came to him. quot;
A position is ready for you beginning the day after tomorrow. You will arrive at the airport tomorrow, 7am. There will be a plane waiting to transport You and your family to the location you will work. You will find all your possessions in a house ready for your family when you arrive.quot;
<br />quot;
I know quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
has a very good reason for sending me where ever I'm going. My family and I will be there at the time you request.quot;
<br />We jump now to many years later when Jake is being handed the keys to a magnificent mansion on top of a hill on Catalina island. Let's listen in on the presentation.<br />quot;
I remember when Jake got word that he was being moved, he went gladly. His willingness to go where he was directed showed real trust. Jake was always referring to the training manual. He showed his dedication and trust by jumping into action whenever he saw something the manual said needed to be done. quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
has grown in numbers and maturity since Jake came aboard. He brought many workers into the company. Not only did he introduce them to quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
but he tutored them, helping them grow in the companies policies and procedures. Every person he brought into the family will receive their mansion as he continually encouraged each of them to always keep their eye on the great reward. He reminded all of us that we all have to do our jobs so the company can grow. I know of several workers who were transferred to, shall we say, less than desirable locations, doing less than desirable task. Jake was on the phone with each of them, encouraging them and reminding them that their mansion would be built exactly where they would love to be, they just need to always keep their eye on the prize. It is with great pride that I welcome Jake, a dedicated servant of quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
, into his mansion.quot;
<br />How can we make an application to our lives from this little story? First of all you might or might not know that the name of the company, quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
is the Greek word which is translated church in your Bible. Did you notice how Jake got involved with quot;
Ekklesia?quot;
By friends encouraging him and bringing him to a meeting. Is this not what we should be doing? Encouraging our friends, and like in Mike's case, family to come to church. You remember how quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
promised to take care of every need of those who trusted and were dedicated workers? I am reminded what Jesus said in Matt. 6 <br />Matt 6:25-33 quot;
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? quot;
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.<br />We have been promised all we ever need if we will seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.<br />You recall how the workers were encouraged to continue working at quot;
Ekklesia.quot;
Quitting was discouraged so the administrators, executives and even fellow workers would encourage them to remain, always looking toward the prize. In the same way the elders in the church are to shepherd the flock. Remember Jesus story in Luke 15 about the shepherd who leaves the 99 safe sheep to search for the 1 which is lost? If one of the flock is not coming to eat from the trough of spiritual food served at the church assembly the shepherds should be searching for them. In addition, we all need to help those who are falling away. Remember what James 5:20 says. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Remember, the one who willfully does not come to the assemblies is sinning. The Hebrew writer tells us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. And then in the next verse saysIf we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, Are we going to help those of our family that are deliberately, continually sinning? Lets go find those lost sheep.<br />quot;
Ekklesiaquot;
demanded that in order to receive the promised mansion the worker must have trust and must show his dedication. Is this not the same thing God demands? James says in his second chapter that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. Then give the example of Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? He goes on to say the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Faith and deeds, trust and displayed dedication. We have to show our faith by what we do.<br />Jake was always referring to his training manual. Is not our training manual God's word? Paul tell the Romans that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. <br />We must always be studying and referring to God's word.<br />Remember how Jake was welcomed in to his mansion as a dedicated servant. Will Christ welcome you into heaven in this way?<br />Just as the workers were always reminded to strive toward the prize of the special mansion, Paul tells us to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. <br />This is our hope, our faith. We totally trust God has made us a mansion in heaven that will be given to us if we are a trusting servant showing our dedication by what we do for Him. And we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<br />