Ezekiel 44:17-18 Ministry is No Sweat

All Ezekiel Messages

Sermon Notes
Transcription
Scripture
Spanish Translation

Ministry is No Sweat
Ezekiel 44:17-18
September 26-27, 2026

Football season is upon us. I have to say, I appreciate that you can now just watch the highlights and don’t have to spend the entire afternoon – after church – watching football. I’ll even save more time and just scroll to the ending.

Football gives us an interesting picture of effort. The players are running, tackling, and sweating while someone watching from their living room, sitting in a comfortable chair, is shouting, “Come on! You’ve got to be kidding me, put some effort into it, man! You call that tackling?” While he’s sitting there with a bowl of nachos on his lap eating chicken wings.

We understand that work requires effort. If you’re in the game, you’re expected to give it all up; to leave it all on the field. Life takes effort. Raising children, building a marriage, serving people, and caring for someone who is hurting requires effort. So when you hear the title, “Ministry Is No Sweat,” you might think, “Pastor, have you ever volunteered in the nursery? Have you ever served in the kitchen washing dishes?” Yes, there is work to be done. But there is a difference between effort that is a burden and effort that is “no sweat.”

Illus – I once helped my brother move something heavy. When he thanked me, I answered, “It ain’t heavy, you’re my brother.” Of course it was heavy; that was why he needed help. But there is a difference between the weight in your hands and the attitude in your heart. It ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.

We have come to an interesting section in the book of Ezekiel. He has received a vision of the temple that will be rebuilt in the latter days. He is describing the kingdom when Christ returns and reigns on the earth – the millennial reign of Christ on the earth.

During the millennial reign of Christ, the earth itself will be changed:

the lion will lay down with the lamb
the child will play with the adder
there will be an end to wars
swords will be beaten into plowshares
spears into pruning hooks

In chapter 43, Ezekiel sees the glory of God return to the temple in an amazing and powerful moving of God as the glory fills the temple! Here in chapter 44, the Lord then gives instructions for the priests who will serve in His presence at the temple.

Notice the privilege given to the sons of Zadok in verses 15-16. They are invited to come near and minister to the Lord. Special attention is given to the material of the clothing that they wear when they are ministering before the Lord.

But before we consider what they wear, consider whom they serve. Their ministry begins with nearness to God; they are not merely attending to a building or completing a religious assignment.

Then comes a detail that might seem rather unusual. When they enter the inner court, they are to wear linen garments. No wool is to be worn in that service. There is a reason; wool makes a person sweat. God even gives instructions for their turbans and undergarments; they must not be made of wool and then He adds …

Ezekiel 44:18, “They shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.”

That is first a command about the clothing of these priests. It is not a prohibition against effort. But it gives us a wonderful picture to consider. There is great spiritual application. As with many aspects of scripture, it’s a picture of a greater truth. The New Testament teaches something similar: we do not earn our standing with God by our exertion, by the sweat of the brow, and we do not produce spiritual life by human strength.

Peter calls believers a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. This applies beyond those who preach or lead worship. When you encourage someone, teach a child, prepare a meal, or serve a person in need, your life becomes an offering to the Lord. Ministry belongs to all the people of God, not just the people on staff. (1 Peter 2:5.)

That is what we want to understand. You can work hard and have a soul at rest or do very little and carry a great weight of resentment. God wants to do something deeper than rearrange the work. He wants to renew the heart from which we walk with Him, worship Him, and serve Him.

I. No Sweat in Our Walk with the Lord

The priests did not come into the sanctuary however they wished. God invited them near and told them how to come. Enter God’s presence through God’s way to reach God’s heart.
The same principle is applied to us: our relationship with God is possible because He has made a way, the way He has provided.
“No man comes to the Father, but by Me,” Jesus said. He is the way to the Father. And there is no human effort in coming to God through Jesus the Son of God.

A. Don’t sweat to draw near

Many people approach God as though they must first prove themselves. They know they have failed, so they try to do enough good things to balance the account.
Perhaps then they will feel qualified to pray. But the gospel does not tell a weary sinner to carry a heavier load until God is satisfied.

Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls.”

Notice whom Jesus invites. He calls those who are already weary. He does not say, “Get yourself together and then come.”
There have been so many times I have heard someone say, “Look, I just need to work this out on my own.” Work this out…on your own?
The very burden you think disqualifies you is the burden He invites you to bring. You come because you need a Savior, not because you finally “worked this out on your own.”
The people once asked Jesus what they should do to work the works of God. His answer directed them away from a list of achievements and toward the One whom the Father had sent.
Their first need was not more religious effort; their first need was faith.

John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Illus – Imagine someone inviting you to dinner, and then you arrive carrying cleaning supplies “Before I sit down, let me clean the kitchen so I can deserve the meal.” Your host would say, “Look, I invited you because I wanted you. Leave those things outside and come to the table.”

Hebrews 10:19-22, Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Your confidence is that Christ has made an offering for your personal sin. Confess your sin, receive His forgiveness, and come near rather than hiding because you feel unworthy.

B. You can’t earn His acceptance

Some receive salvation by grace and then spend the rest of their lives trying to earn the love that brought them to Christ.
They believe God welcomed them freely at the beginning but now imagine that every day is another day of self-effort.
That is a heavy way to live.
“I will memorize a chapter every week,” someone says. Wonderful; let the Word become the treasure of your heart. “I will get up early and pray.” That is beautiful also. But the question is whether you are drawing near because you are loved or trying to make God love you by what you do.

Illus – Imagine a child asking, “How many dishes must I wash before I can be your son?” A good father would explain that helping is part of family life, but it does not purchase a place in the family. The child works from belonging, not for belonging.

That does not mean that we should neglect prayer or live carelessly. The Father who loves you also corrects you and teaches you to walk in His ways. But His correction is not evidence that you must win Him back by self-effort. It is the care of a Father who desires your good.

Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

C. Don’t let devotion become self-glory

There is another danger in spiritual striving. We can begin to admire our own sacrifice. “Look how much I do. Look how early I get up. Look how much I help others.” Before long, we’re comparing ourselves to others and begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.

Romans 12:3, I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought…

Jesus described the heart of the Pharisee who went to the temple to pray.

Luke 18:9-14, He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Illus – Someone might say, “I get up at four every morning to pray.” That may be a wonderful time for them. But getting up at four does not make them more spiritual than someone who prays at seven. It might simply make you need a nap after lunch. The Father is looking for the heart; that matters more than the alarm clock.

Galatians 5:13, “You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

II. No Sweat in Our Worship

The priests were called to serve God as part of their spiritual service of worship. But not by sweat, not by human effort.
When grace settles the question of relationship to God, it also changes worship. We are not trying to convince God to notice us.
We are responding to the God who has already made Himself known and invited us near. Worship becomes the expression of a heart that has already received His love. And you want to give expression of your love in return.

A. Worship because there’s a song in your heart

Psalm 84:1-2, “How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Notice the longing in those words. The psalmist is not asking what is the minimum worship that will satisfy the obligation. He wants to be in the presence of God.
When the soul discovers the beauty of the Lord, worship is not a burden or an obligation, it is the joy and delight of your heart. You worship because there’s a song in your heart.
Sometimes you might arrive at church tired, distracted, or grieving. You may have to gather your thoughts and deliberately turn your attention to the Lord. That is faith bringing an unsettled heart into His presence, knowing that joy comes when you open your heart.

Illus – There is a difference between singing to someone you love and singing for a judge at an audition. I’ve done both. At the audition, you wonder whether your performance is good enough. With someone you love, you sing to express your heart. I wrote a song and sang it at our wedding. Let’s just say, I didn’t receive any recording offers, but it was from my heart.

Worship is not a burden, it is the joy of love, and God doesn’t care if you sing out of tune, if your heart is in tune, that’s all that matters.

When you sing to give glory and honor, you also receive.
Acts 16 describes Paul and Silas praying and singing after they had been beaten and imprisoned. They sang to bring their hearts before the one who would pour grace into their open hearts.

B. Worship is the result, not the cause

Worship is responding to God’s love, not the cause of it. We do not sing until He becomes gracious. We sing because He is gracious. We do not praise Him until He cares for us; we praise Him because the cross has already revealed how deeply He cares.

1 John 4:19, “We love, because He first loved us.”

That order matters. Jesus spoke of two debtors, both unable to pay, whose debts were graciously forgiven. He asked which would love him more? The answer was the one who had been forgiven more. Gratitude arose from receiving mercy, not from purchasing it.
If worship ever becomes dry, remember what He has forgiven. Remember how patiently He has pursued you. Bring the cross back into view and let the truth have weight in your soul.

Illus – Think of receiving a kindness. Someone brings a meal when your family is going through a tragedy or sits beside you when you have no words. At that moment you don’t need an instruction manual on ‘How to Be Grateful.’ The kindness itself stirs your heart. God’s kindness reaches deeper still.

C. Don’t worship wearing wool

A person worships wearing wool when it becomes about the worshiper.
Jesus warned against praying to be noticed, for example. He directed His disciples toward their Father, who sees in secret. There is freedom in knowing you do not have to sound impressive.
A simple, honest prayer can express a deeper dependence than a speech meant for anyone listening.

Illus – You do not have to introduce yourself to your father with a speech: “Esteemed parent, in recognition of your many paternal accomplishments…may I borrow the car?” At some point he would say, “What happened to ‘Dad’?” Respect matters, certainly, but so does the nearness Jesus gave us when He taught us to pray to our Father.

Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Sometimes the most honest prayer is, “Lord, I am hurting, and I need You.” Sometimes worship begins with confession. Sometimes it begins with thanksgiving offered through tears. God knows the secrets of the heart.

III. No Sweat in Our Work for God

Now we come to the work itself. The priests in Ezekiel still had responsibilities, they had tasks and chores in the temple. But they were not to sweat in it.
Believers today are called to do good. “Don’t grow weary in doing good,” Paul wrote.

Ephesians 2:10, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God supplies the assignment but does not leave us to produce the spiritual result ourselves.

A. Let the Holy Spirit lead

There is a difference between asking God to bless what we have decided and asking Him to direct our steps. We can become so committed to our own ideas that prayer becomes only the closing formality.
But ministry belongs to the Lord.
Acts 16 gives an example. Paul and his companions had places they intended to go, but first they prayed — and the Spirit redirected them.
Then came the vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help. They responded by going where God was leading.
And He will move by His Spirit on your heart in the process.

Illus – There is an old saying that I completely disagree with, “Don’t tell God you won’t go to Africa, because that is the very place where He will send you.” It makes it sound as though He will send you where you dislike most. He works within us, changing our desires as we surrender to Him. In other words, if He’s sending you, you’ll want to go!

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

B. Trust His power to accomplish it

Zechariah 4:6, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

This is where Hudson Taylor’s spiritual secret becomes so helpful. Taylor, the famous missionary to China, knew the demands of ministry. Yet he was deeply troubled by the distance between the life he desired in Christ and his repeated failures under pressure. Striving harder did not give him the inward rest he needed.
A letter from a fellow missionary opened his eyes.

Illus – Writing to his sister Amelia, Hudson Taylor revealed the truth that changed his life: “It is not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.”

John 15:5, “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

A branch bears fruit because it receives life from the vine. It is not independent of the vine, and it cannot manufacture the life it needs. Jesus used that picture to teach dependence on the life that comes from Him. The fruit matters greatly, but the source of the fruit is the life of Christ.

Illus – We are so prone to think too highly of ourselves that we often believe we deserve whatever good comes our way. I was golfing with a friend once; he hit a shot that careened wildly into the trees, hit a branch and ricocheted right onto the green. “Wow, great shot!” he said. Careful, God has a way of humbling us.

Colossians 1:29, “For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

C. Serving in Christ is a joy

One of the distinctives we have come to know and love is servant leadership. One of the principles I have come to discover is that you can always tell who a true servant is; they enjoy serving. It’s not a burden, it’s a joy.
I love it when ministry happens because God has put someone on a person’s heart. A need is noticed, compassion is stirred, and someone says, “There is something I could do about that.”

Illus – Someone who understands cars can help a person who cannot afford a repair. Someone who loves cooking can bring a meal to a family in crisis. Someone who knows another language can help a newcomer feel less alone. The gift may look ordinary until it becomes an expression of God’s love to someone who needs it.

Ministering unto the Lord by serving was never meant to be a burden. Don’t sweat.
There is a scene in Luke 10 that brings all of this close to home. Jesus was in the house of Martha and Mary. Martha was occupied with the preparations, while Mary sat at His feet and listened to His words.
Eventually Martha asked the Lord to tell her sister to help. Her work became entangled with resentment.

Luke 10:41-42, But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Ministry is No Sweat
Ezekiel 44:17-18
September 26-27, 2026

Hey, we are in Ezekiel 44, and we're going to begin in verse 15. It says "17," but no, we're going to begin in verse 15. We're almost done with Ezekiel, just two more messages. Of course, we cover the other verses around this at our Wednesday midweek verse-by-verse service. When we're done with Ezekiel, of course, we're going to go into Daniel.

The title of our message is Ministry is No Sweat. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for Your Word and that You reveal Your heart to bless, to show us a way of life and revival and relation to you. God, we open our heart and just say, God, pour out Your Spirit of life through Your Word in Jesus's name. Everyone said, Amen.

It's fall, and football season is here. I got to say, I love that YouTube now has all the highlights. You can watch the whole football game in 10 minutes.

You don't have to spend the whole entire afternoon after church watching football. In fact, I can even scroll to the end and watch the last minute, and I watch the whole game. Football is an interesting picture of effort. The players are running and tackling and sweating while someone from their living room, sitting in a comfortable chair, is shouting, "Come on. You call that effort? That's not tackling," while they're sitting there eating their nachos and their chicken wings.

No, the one who's in the game, the one who's putting the effort, they get the glory. We understand work takes effort. If you're in the game, you're expected to put everything you got. We say, "Leave it all in the field." Life takes effort. Raising children, building a marriage, serving, caring for people. It requires effort. Then you hear a message titled like "Ministry is no sweat." You wonder, "What? Ministry takes effort? Haven't you ever served in the children's ministry or served in the kitchen? It's the effort."

Yes, but there's a difference between effort that's a burden and effort that is no sweat. I was thinking of an illustration. My brother once asked me to help him move something heavy. When we were all done, he was thanking me and I said, "It ain't heavy. You're my brother." Of course, it was heavy, but that's why he needed the help. There's a difference between the weight in your hands and the attitude of your heart. "It ain't heavy. You're my brother. I love you." It's different.

See, we've come to Ezekiel, very interesting section of Ezekiel. It's very important part of the words that he gives us here in this vision. Now, he has a vision of the latter days. We were looking at this last week in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Here, he has this continuing vision, and particularly of the temple that will be rebuilt in the latter days, in the millennial reign of Christ. That's the thousand-year reign of Christ upon the Earth.

Interestingly, by the way, during the millennial reign of Christ, the book of Isaiah describes that the earth itself will be changed. The lion will lay down with the lamb. The child will play with the adders. You know what an adder is? It's like a big snake. I don't know why that just sounds so interesting to me. I can just imagine some child saying, "See you later, Mom. I'm going to go play with the adders." "Okay. Have fun. Be home for dinner."

Now, the world will be changed. There will be an end of wars. "Swords will be beaten into plowshares, spears beaten into pruning hooks." We have this vision. In Ezekiel 43, he has a vision of the glory of God returning in tremendous, amazing power to the temple. Now, this is tremendously encouraging for the people of Israel because Ezekiel saw in a vision the glory depart.

Now, he has this amazing-- like the glory is going to return in this newly rebuilt temple. Then he spends quite a bit of time in these last chapters speaking about what happens in the temple. He gives particularly instructions for the priests who will serve in his presence. It's a beautiful picture, and there's much to apply. He gives this privilege, he says, to the sons of Zadok, in verses 15 and 16. "They are invited to come near and minister to the Lord Himself."

What a amazing honor is that. You minister to the Lord in the presence of the nearness of God. What's interesting is that special attention is given to the material of the clothing that they wear when they are ministering unto the Lord. It's an interesting detail that may seem at first unusual. When they enter into the inner court, they're serving the Lord, they must wear linen garments. No wool. No wool is to be worn when they're ministering unto the Lord, and it's for a particular reason. Wool makes a person sweat. It's hot.

He gives instruction, even for the turbans on their heads and undergarments even. must be made of wool, must not sweat. Interesting. He gives this command. It's not a prohibition against effort. It's a wonderful picture to consider. There's great spiritual application, as with many aspects of Scripture. It's a picture of a greater truth.

Interestingly, the New Testament gives a similar understanding. We do not earn our standing with God by the sweat of human effort. No, our spiritual life is made possible because of what God has done in our behalf. Interestingly, Peter refers to believers in Jesus Christ as a holy priesthood. Now, you probably don't consider yourself as a priest, but that is what Peter says, that the kingdom of God under Jesus Christ is a royal priesthood, that we have the privilege and the honor of serving God Himself, and that the spiritual sacrifices of your life are an offering unto Him through Jesus Christ.

Whatever it is that you do, you're doing it as an offering of praise and worship to His name. When you encourage someone, when you teach your child, when you prepare a meal to help someone in need, when you serve, you are offering something of glory, of spiritual sacrifice to the Lord. Ministry belongs to all the people of the kingdom, not just people who are leaders in church. No, everyone. That's what he wants us to understand. You can work hard and still have your soul at rest because of what He is doing through you in it.

All right. Let's read it. We're in Ezekiel 44. Again, we'll be reading in verse 15, just a few verses. We'll cover the other verses around this at our midweek verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter study. Chapter 44:15. "'But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of my sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood,' declares the Lord God."

"And they shall enter my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table to minister unto me and to keep my charge. And it shall be that when they enter into the gates of the inner court, that they shall be clothed with linen garments. The wool shall not be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house. Linen turbans even shall be on their heads. Linen undergarments shall be on their loins, and they shall not gird themselves with anything that makes them sweat."

I. No Sweat in Our Walk with the Lord

Ministry is no sweat. It's very important to see how God would apply this. I really want us to see, starting with this, like no sweat in our walk with the Lord. The priests have the privilege of drawing near unto the Lord. He's invited them, but they enter God's presence through God's way to reach God's heart for the privilege of ministering unto Him.

The same principle applies to us. God has made relationship possible because He made a way. He has provided a way, not by human effort, not by the sweat of the brow, but through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus says, "I am that way." "I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." When you come through Jesus Christ, there is no human effort in it at all. In other words, don't sweat to draw near.

A. Don’t sweat to draw near

It's interesting. I think many people approach God as though they must prove themselves. They know they failed. They know that they have brought tremendous harm to what they've done in their lives. They try to do good things to balance the account. Maybe they feel qualified to pray, but they feel that they must carry a heavier load in order to satisfy the requirements of God.

That's not what the gospel says. That's not what Jesus said. Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, "Know this." He said, "Come unto me, all who are wearied and heavily laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke." The yoke is the burden on the animal. "Take my yoke upon you, and you will find rest for your souls." That's interesting. For the next verse, he says, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." There it is. "My burden is easy. My burden is light."

He invites those who are already weary. He doesn't say, "Get yourself together, and then you can come." I can't tell you how many times I've heard that, that somebody has blown it. They've messed up their lives. Then you're talking to them, and they say, "Look, I just need to work this out on my own." Even the way they say it, "Work this out on my own," is the very description of self-sufficiency. No, the very burden you think this qualifies you is the burden He invites you to bring. You come with that burden because you need a savior, not because you work this thing out on your own.

At one point, a crowd was following Jesus, and they asked, "What shall we do that we can work the works of God? We want to work the works. What can we do so we can work the works?" Jesus answered, this is John 6:29, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." That is what God desires for you to do. You don't have to work to gain anything. You believe. It's the relationship in which you believe.

Imagine somebody invited you to dinner, and you arrived carrying cleaning supplies. What do you do with that? "Oh, I must clean first before I can eat." No, I invited you because I want you. Leave those things outside. It's like Hebrews 10. I love Hebrews 10. These verses are amazing. He says, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter into that holy place by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil." That is His flesh.

"And since we have such a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart." Notice this. "In full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." He did that. He made a way. Your confidence is that Christ has made that offering for your personal sin. You confess your sin, you receive that forgiveness, and then you come.

B. You can’t earn His acceptance

Confident in all assurance in that which He has done in your behalf because you can't earn His acceptance. Some receive salvation by grace and then spend the rest of their lives trying to earn the love that brought them. They believe God welcomed them at the first, but somehow imagine that every day is another day of sweat on the ground, of self-effort. That is a heavy way to live.

"I'll memorize a chapter every week." Well, that's wonderful, but do it because you want the word of God to be a treasure in your heart. "I will get up early and pray." Beautiful, wonderful, but do it as a way of having fellowship with the Lord. Not because you're trying to win anything from Him, because you're loved. It's a beautiful understanding. You cannot win Him by self-effort. You cannot get yourself in His good graces to earn acceptance before the Lord. An illustration might be this. Imagine a couple, and they're having a tiff. Now, for the sake of the illustration, let's imagine that it's the husband's fault.

What does he do? He brings flowers, and he's on his best behavior in order to get back in her good graces. That's the way the human effort is, but that's not the way it is with God. You don't bring good gifts or be in your best behavior to get in His good graces. No, you are in His good graces because of who you are in Christ and what He's already done for you. It's like Romans 8:1. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." You don't have to work your way to His good grace. You are standing in that grace right now. Amen. Let's give the Lord praise, right? Amen.

C. Don’t let devotion become self-glory

Then we see from this perspective. Don't let devotion become self-glory. There's a danger in spiritual striving in that you can begin to admire your own sacrifice. Look how much I do. Look how much I help others. Before long, you're comparing yourself to others and begin to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think. No, it's very easy, very easy to look with contempt on other people, to look down on them. You don't do what I do. It's like what Paul wrote in Romans 12:3, "I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought."

Jesus, interestingly, gave him a parable that spoke to this very pointedly. He spoke of the heart of a Pharisee who went to the temple to pray. This is out of Luke 18:9-14. "He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector."

Now, as I mentioned, tax collectors were considered like the worst of sinners. They were despised, despicable sinners. "The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself. 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people, swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week. I paid times of all that I get.'"

"The tax collector, standing some distance away, was unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful to me. I'm a sinner.'" I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." It's a beautiful picture and understanding of the heart. That's what matters. Someone might say, "Well, I get up every morning at 4 to pray." That may be a wonderful time for that person, but getting up at 4 does not make a person more spiritual than someone who gets up at 7, might make you need a nap in the afternoon, however.

The Father's looking for the heart. The heart is what matters. It's like Galatians 5:13. "You were called to freedom, brethren. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Then we see this in Ezekiel 44. There's no sweat in our worship. The priests were called to serve God. It was their spiritual service of worship, not by sweat, not by human effort. For when grace settles the question, it changes the worship.

II. No Sweat in Our Worship

You're not trying to convince God to notice. No, we are responding to the one who's made himself known and then invited us to draw near. It's because of what you've already received, and you want to give expression to that love in return for all that you have received. In other words, you worship because there's a song in your heart. I love that. That's why you worship. There's a song in your heart that just wants to give expression to what God has done. It's like Psalm 84. David wrote it. Psalm 84:1-2. "How lovely are your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts. My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh, they sing for joy to the living God."

A. Worship because there’s a song in your heart

See, notice the longing and the yearning. He's not asking, "What is the minimum worship that would satisfy the obligation?" No. Oh, how lovely are your dwelling places. My heart yearns, even longs for the courts of the Lord. See, when your soul discovers the beauty of the Lord, worship, is that an obligation or a burden? There's a song in your heart that wants to give expression and sing. You might even arrive at church tired or distracted or grieving, but you gather your thoughts, you deliberately return your attention to the Lord, knowing that by faith you can bring an unsettled heart into His presence, and the joy will come when you open your heart to the Lord.

There's a difference between singing for someone you love and singing for a judge and on audition. I've done both. I've sung before a judge and on audition. Why? When I was younger, I took voice lessons because I had visions of grandeur. I was going to have a band that was going to go big. I wanted a good voice, and so I took voice lessons. I was auditioning, and you're all worried about the technique and all that stuff. "Oh, I was going to go big." It reminds me, funny.

I had a question about the direction of my life, and so my friend arranged for me to meet with this pastor. I said, "I am trying to decide a direction in my life. I was hoping you could help me." He said, "Well, what are the choices you're looking at?" I said, "I don't know if I should be a pastor or if I should take the band and go big." He said, "Those are your options?" "Yes," I said. "Be a pastor." "Thanks a lot." I did the other as well. At our wedding, see, I had written a song and sang it for my wife at our wedding. Was it good? It was not.

That didn't matter. The point was, it was from the heart. That's what mattered. See, worship is not a burden. It's the joy of love. God doesn't care, even if you sing out of tune. If your heart is in tune, that's what matters. You sing because there's a song in your heart. Interestingly, when you sing, when you give glory and honor, something happens and you also receive. Something is received in it.

It reminds me the story in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas, they had been called by the Spirit to minister in Macedonia and Philippi. At one point, they are arrested. The city officials have them beaten with rods as thick as a man's finger. Can you imagine with me? Beaten with rods and then thrown into the inner dungeon, shackled their feet. There, it says about midnight, they start to sing. They worship. Beaten with rods, hurt, wounded, suffering, sitting in the dark, damp, cold prison.

I imagine Paul turning to Silas, "Silas, how are you doing?" "It hurts." "I know." He said, "You know that song? You know that hymn about God's faithfulness? I want to sing that." "Yes, me too. Let's sing." [singing] "Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not. Thy compassions, they fail not as thou hast been forever will be."

B. Worship is the result, not the cause

Something happens. God meet you in that place and pours into you when you sing out of the heart. It's a beautiful understanding. See, worship is the result, not the cause. You are responding to God's love. It's like we don't sing until He's gracious. "I want to sing until you're gracious to me, Lord." No, you sing because He's gracious to you. You don't sing until He cares. No, you sing because He cares.

1 John 4:19, "We love because He first loved us." That order matters. Jesus spoke of two debtors, both unable to pay, whose debts were graciously forgiven. He then asked, "Who loved Him more?" The answer? The one who had been forgiven more. Gratitude arose from the mercy, the great mercy He had received. I tell you, this is important. If your worship ever feels dry or your relationship to the Lord ever feels dry, I say to you, remember what He has done. Remember how much you have been forgiven. Remember how much grace He's poured out on your life. Remember how much kindness He's done for you. Oh, God has done great things, and we are glad, so very glad. Amen?

C. Don’t worship wearing wool

Think of receiving a kindness. Someone, you're going through a tragedy, and someone brings a meal, or you've lost someone very dear to you, and someone sits with you, comforting you in it. At that moment, you don't need a manual on how to be grateful. The kindness itself stirs the heart, and God's kindness reaches deeper still. God is stirring something in the heart, and that's why it is a song to sing. See, that's why He says, "Don't worship wearing wool." A person worships wearing wool when it becomes about the worshiper. Jesus warned about praying to be noticed, about bringing attention to give expression to oneself.

There is freedom in not having to sound impressive when you pray. It'd be like a son trying to sound impressive when he came to his father. "Oh, esteemed parent, in recognition of your many paternal accomplishments, I give you honor. Now, may I borrow the car?" Whatever happened to just "Dad?" Just "Dad." See, Matthew 6:6. "When you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

There's just something personal and intimate about understanding that he's a father who cares. Sometimes the most honest prayer is, Lord, I'm hurt. I need you. I'm hurting. I need you. Honest prayer. Then there's this. When you look at Ezekiel 44, he's speaking to us, "No sweat in our work for God."

III. No Sweat in Our Work for God

Now we come to the work itself. The priests had responsibilities, chores, tasks to do, but they were not to sweat in it. Believers in Jesus Christ are called to do good. "Don't grow weary in doing good," Paul wrote to the Church of Galatia. Also, it's in Ephesians 2:10. "We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

God does call us to that. He gives the assignment but does not leave us to produce the result ourselves. Notice, He brings the Holy Spirit to bear. Let the Holy Spirit lead. There's a difference between asking God to bless what you've already decided and asking Him to direct your steps. I tell you that God will direct your steps. He will walk on this journey with you, and He will direct your steps. Sometimes we can become so committed to our own ideas that prayer becomes only the closing formality.

A. Let the Holy Spirit lead

Now that we've decided, let's pray. Now, Acts 16, earlier in the chapter, by the way, gives a tremendous example. It says Paul and Silas desired to go to such and such a place, but the Holy Spirit forbid them. Then they wanted to go to another place, but the Holy Spirit directed them, said, "No." Then they had a vision that a man from Macedonia called down to them and said, "Come here and help us." They knew it was the Holy Spirit directing their steps. God will direct your steps, and He will direct your heart as you do it. He will stir the heart in it.

There's an old saying, no doubt you've heard it. It's an old saying, and I have to tell you, I completely disagree with it. The saying goes like this. "Don't tell God that you won't go to Africa because that's the very place He'll send you." It makes it sound as though God is going to send you where you dislike the most. No, I tell you, He works upon the heart. He works upon the soul, so that if He's sending you, you're going to want to go.

I imagine someone having a conversation with God like this, "I really don't want to do this. Lord, I really don't want to do this." You know what I think God would say? "Then don't do it. I want you to do whatever you're called to do because you want to do it." I tell you, if the Holy Spirit is stirring you, you're going to want to do it. It would be a delight to you to do it. It's like Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." If it is for His good pleasure, then it will be for your good pleasure. At the right hand of the Father are pleasures forevermore. "I delight to do your will, O Lord," the Scripture says.

B. Trust His power to accomplish it

Then not only will He lead by His Holy Spirit, He will empower by His Holy Spirit. Trust His power to accomplish it. Zechariah 4:6 is perhaps one of the most famous chapters in this regard. "'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." That Scripture speaks so clearly. It's not by sweat, not by human effort. It's not by might. It's not by power. It's the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Live by that. It comes from abiding, comes from receiving, the infilling of God, empowering. It's like John 15:5, "He who abides in me and I in him, he is the one who bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing." A branch bears fruit because it receives life, and out of that life, it bears forth the fruit. Fruit matters greatly, but the source comes from Him.

We are so prone to think too highly of ourselves that we often believe that if anything good comes our way, we deserved it. I was golfing with a fellow once, and he hit a shot that careened wildly into the trees, ricocheted off a branch, and rolled right onto the green. He said, "Wow. What a great shot."

Anything good that comes your way, God did it. Any blessing, God did it. Any wonderful idea, God gave it to you. Any wonderful success, God was behind it. God brings that which delights His heart, and it's good. Colossians 1:29, "For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power which mightily works in me." What a great verse. His power mightily is at work. He will empower by His Holy Spirit. Then lastly this, "Serving in Christ is a joy. One of the distinctives that we have here at Calvary Chapel is we call the distinctive of servant leadership. It's very important, distinctive. One of the principles that I have come to understand is that you can always tell who is a true servant. You say, "Well, how?" Because they enjoy the serving.

C. Serving in Christ is a joy

That's how you know that they really-- they love to serve. It's a joy to serve. I love it when ministry happens because God put someone on a person's heart. God put you on my heart, and I want to do something. I want to do this. It's wonderful to see that was God moving. God did that. God stirred that. I saw a need. I noticed a need, and something stirred in me. I can do something about that, ministering to the Lord, never meant to be a burden, not by sweat. It's delight.

It reminds me of some years ago. Our youth leaders took our youth group down to Mexico to serve at an orphanage. It was an orphanage for disabled children who've now grown up, by the way. It was hard. They would take the whole youth group. They would really take over the entire orphanage so that the staff there could have a respite. Now these orphans are growing up, and some are becoming adults. It's hard. You sometimes have to change their diapers or feed them by hand. It was difficult.

The youth leaders are preparing the youth group to go. They say, "Hey, when we ask you to do something, it would be amazing if you could respond by saying, 'I would love to.'" If we ask you to change someone's diaper, that's not fun. I get it. It's not fun. If you could respond by saying, "I would love to," it'll change your heart. Let's just make a pattern and decision that when we ask you to do something, you say, "I would love to." That's what they did. The amazing thing is that when they came back, they kept saying it. Their parents would ask them to do something and say, "I would love to." The parents loved us for that.

That's the right heart. If God asks you to do something, instead of burden, "I would love to." "I would love to." "It'd be joy." "It'd be an honor." "I would love to." Not by some burden, this sweat of the brow, some obligation that creates some deep burden? No. I would love to. God, what you've done for me has stirred my heart. I would love to.

Let's pray. Lord, thank you. Giving us a picture so beautiful as this. It's not by sweat. It's not by mind. It's not by power. It's not by obligation. "It's by my spirit," says the Lord. God, you have stirred us. You showed us how great is your glory, how great your kindness. We want to honor you. We want to serve you. It would be a joy. It'd be an honor. It'd be a delight. I would love to.

Churches, we're praying. How many would say that to the Lord? "I would love to." "I would love to honor you." "I would love to serve you." "I would love to." Would you just raise your hand as an expression of saying that to the Lord? God, I would love to. You've won me. It'd be my honor. It would be my joy. I would love to. Father, thank you. We give you praise and glory and honor for it all in Jesus's powerful name. Amen.

Ezekiel 44:17-18 NASB

¹⁷It shall be that when they enter at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and wool shall not be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house. ¹⁸Linen turbans shall be on their heads and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.

El ministerio no es nada del otro mundo
Ezequiel 44:17-18
26-27 de sept de 2026

La temporada de fútbol americano ya está aquí. Tengo que decir que agradezco que ahora se puedan ver los mejores momentos y no tener que pasar toda la tarde, después de misa, viendo fútbol. Incluso ahorraré más tiempo y simplemente iré directamente al final.

El fútbol nos ofrece una imagen interesante del esfuerzo. Los jugadores corren, bloquean y sudan mientras alguien que los observa desde su sala, sentado cómodamente en un sillón, grita: “¡Vamos! ¡No lo puedo creer! ¡Pónganle un poco de empeño! ¿A eso le llaman placar?”. Todo esto mientras él está sentado con un tazón de nachos en el regazo comiendo alitas de pollo.

Entendemos que el trabajo requiere esfuerzo. Si estás involucrado, se espera que lo des todo; que lo dejes todo en el campo. La vida requiere esfuerzo. Criar hijos, construir un matrimonio, servir a los demás y cuidar de alguien que sufre requiere esfuerzo. Así que cuando oigas el título «El ministerio no es un esfuerzo», quizás pienses: «Pastor, ¿alguna vez ha sido voluntario en la guardería? ¿Alguna vez ha servido en la cocina lavando platos?». Sí, hay trabajo que hacer. Pero hay una diferencia entre el esfuerzo que es una carga y el esfuerzo que no requiere esfuerzo.

Ilustración: Una vez ayudé a mi hermano a mover algo pesado. Cuando me dio las gracias, le respondí: «No pesa nada, eres mi hermano». Claro que pesaba; por eso necesitaba ayuda. Pero hay una gran diferencia entre el peso que llevas en las manos y la actitud que tienes en el corazón. No pesa nada, es mi hermano.

Hemos llegado a una sección interesante del libro de Ezequiel. Él ha recibido una visión del templo que será reconstruido en los últimos días. Describe el reino cuando Cristo regrese y reine en la tierra: el reinado milenario de Cristo en la tierra.

Durante el reinado milenario de Cristo, la tierra misma será transformada:

El león se acostará con el cordero.
El niño jugará con la víbora.
Habrá un fin a las guerras
Las espadas se convertirán en arados.
Las lanzas se convertirán en ganchos de poda

En el capítulo 43, Ezequiel ve cómo la gloria de Dios regresa al templo en una manifestación asombrosa y poderosa, ¡llenándolo por completo! En el capítulo 44, el Señor da instrucciones a los sacerdotes que servirán en su presencia en el templo.

Nótese el privilegio otorgado a los hijos de Sadoc en los versículos 15 y 16. Se les invita a acercarse y servir al Señor. Se presta especial atención al material de la vestimenta que usan al ministrar ante el Señor.

Pero antes de fijarnos en lo que visten, pensemos a quién sirven. Su ministerio comienza con la cercanía a Dios; no se limitan a cuidar un edificio o a cumplir una tarea religiosa.

Luego viene un detalle que podría parecer bastante inusual. Cuando entren al atrio interior, deberán vestir prendas de lino. No se debe usar lana en ese servicio. Hay una razón: la lana hace sudar. Dios incluso da instrucciones para sus turbantes y ropas interiores; no deben ser de lana y luego añade…

Ezequiel 44:18, “No se ceñirán con nada que les haga sudar.”

En primer lugar, se trata de una orden sobre la vestimenta de estos sacerdotes. No es una prohibición del esfuerzo. Pero nos ofrece una imagen maravillosa para reflexionar. Tiene una gran aplicación espiritual. Como ocurre con muchos aspectos de las Escrituras, es una imagen de una verdad superior. El Nuevo Testamento enseña algo similar: no nos ganamos nuestra relación con Dios por nuestro esfuerzo, por el sudor de nuestra frente, ni producimos vida espiritual por nuestra fuerza humana.

Pedro llama a los creyentes un sacerdocio santo, que ofrece sacrificios espirituales aceptables a Dios por medio de Jesucristo. Esto se aplica más allá de quienes predican o dirigen la alabanza. Cuando animas a alguien, enseñas a un niño, preparas una comida o sirves a una persona necesitada, tu vida se convierte en una ofrenda al Señor. El ministerio pertenece a todo el pueblo de Dios, no solo a quienes forman parte del personal. (1 Pedro 2:5).

Eso es lo que queremos comprender. Puedes trabajar duro y tener paz interior, o trabajar muy poco y cargar con un gran peso de resentimiento. Dios quiere hacer algo más profundo que reorganizar el trabajo. Quiere renovar el corazón con el que caminamos con Él, lo adoramos y le servimos.

No hay que preocuparse por nuestro caminar con el Señor.

Los sacerdotes no entraron al santuario a su antojo. Dios los invitó a acercarse y les indicó el camino. Entra en la presencia de Dios a través del camino de Dios para llegar al corazón de Dios.
El mismo principio se aplica a nosotros: nuestra relación con Dios es posible porque Él ha abierto un camino, el camino que Él ha provisto.
«Nadie viene al Padre sino por mí», dijo Jesús. Él es el camino al Padre. Y no se requiere ningún esfuerzo humano para llegar a Dios a través de Jesús, el Hijo de Dios.

No te preocupes por acercarte

Muchas personas se acercan a Dios como si primero debieran demostrar su valía. Saben que han fallado, así que intentan hacer suficientes buenas obras para compensar sus errores.
Quizás entonces se sientan capacitados para orar. Pero el evangelio no le dice al pecador cansado que cargue con una carga más pesada hasta que Dios esté satisfecho.

Mateo 11:28-29: «Vengan a mí todos ustedes que están cansados y agobiados, y yo les daré descanso. Lleven mi yugo sobre ustedes… y hallarán descanso para sus almas».

Fíjense a quién invita Jesús. Llama a los que ya están cansados. No les dice: «Anímense y vengan».
Han sido muchas las veces que he oído a alguien decir: “Mira, necesito resolver esto por mi cuenta”. ¿Resolver esto… por tu cuenta?
La misma carga que crees que te descalifica es la que Él te invita a llevar. Vienes porque necesitas un Salvador, no porque finalmente lo hayas resuelto por tu cuenta.
En una ocasión, la gente le preguntó a Jesús qué debían hacer para realizar las obras de Dios. Su respuesta los apartó de una lista de logros y los dirigió hacia Aquel a quien el Padre había enviado.
Su primera necesidad no era un mayor esfuerzo religioso; su primera necesidad era la fe.

Juan 6:29, “Esta es la obra de Dios: que crean en aquel a quien él ha enviado.”

Ilustración: Imagina que alguien te invita a cenar y llegas con productos de limpieza. «Antes de sentarme, déjame limpiar la cocina para merecer la comida». Tu anfitrión te diría: «Mira, te invité porque quería que vinieras. Deja esas cosas afuera y ven a la mesa».

Hebreos 10:19-22 – Nueva Biblia de las Américas

Entonces, hermanos, puesto que tenemos confianza para entrar al Lugar Santísimo por la sangre de Jesús, por un camino nuevo y vivo que Él inauguró para nosotros por medio del velo, es decir, Su carne, y puesto que tenemos un gran Sacerdote sobre la casa de Dios, acerquémonos con corazón sincero, en plena certidumbre de fe, teniendo nuestro corazón purificado de mala conciencia y nuestro cuerpo lavado con agua pura.

Tu confianza radica en que Cristo ha hecho un sacrificio por tu pecado. Confiesa tu pecado, recibe su perdón y acércate a Él en lugar de esconderte por sentirte indigno.

No puedes ganarte su aceptación.

Algunos reciben la salvación por gracia y luego pasan el resto de sus vidas tratando de ganarse el amor que los llevó a Cristo.
Creen que Dios los recibió gratuitamente al principio, pero ahora se imaginan que cada día es otro día de esfuerzo personal.
Esa es una forma dura de vivir.
«Memorizaré un capítulo cada semana», dice alguien. ¡Maravilloso! Deja que la Palabra se convierta en el tesoro de tu corazón. «Me levantaré temprano y oraré». Eso también es hermoso. Pero la pregunta es si te acercas a Dios porque te ama o si intentas que Dios te ame por tus acciones?

Ilustración: Imagina a un niño preguntando: “¿Cuántos platos tengo que lavar para poder ser tu hijo?”. Un buen padre le explicaría que ayudar es parte de la vida familiar, pero no garantiza un lugar en la familia. El niño se gana el derecho a pertenecer, no a ser considerado parte de ella.

Eso no significa que debamos descuidar la oración ni vivir con negligencia. El Padre que te ama también te corrige y te enseña a seguir sus caminos. Pero su corrección no implica que debas recuperarlo por tus propios esfuerzos. Es el cuidado de un Padre que desea tu bien.

Romanos 8:1, “Por lo tanto, ahora no hay condenación para los que están en Cristo Jesús.”

No permitas que la devoción se convierta en autoglorificación.

Existe otro peligro en la búsqueda espiritual. Podemos empezar a admirar nuestro propio sacrificio. «Mira todo lo que hago. Mira lo temprano que me levanto. Mira cuánto ayudo a los demás». Pronto, nos comparamos con los demás y empezamos a tener una opinión más elevada de nosotros mismos de la que deberíamos.

Romanos 12:3, Digo a cada uno de vosotros que no tenga más alta estima de la que debe tener…

Jesús describió el corazón del fariseo que iba al templo a orar.

Lucas 18:9-14, También les contó esta parábola a algunos que confiaban en sí mismos por ser justos y despreciaban a los demás: “Dos hombres subieron al templo a orar; uno era fariseo y el otro publicano .El fariseo se puso de pie y comenzó a orar así: «Dios, te doy gracias porque no soy como los demás: estafadores, deshonestos, adúlteros, ni siquiera como este publicano. Ayuno dos veces por semana y doy el diezmo de todo lo que gano». Pero el publicano, de pie a cierta distancia, ni siquiera se atrevía a alzar los ojos al cielo, sino que se golpeaba el pecho, diciendo: «Dios, ten misericordia de mí, pecador».Les digo que este hombre volvió a su casa justificado, y no el otro; porque todo el que se enaltece será humillado, y el que se humilla será enaltecido.

Ilustración: Alguien podría decir: «Me levanto a las cuatro de la mañana para orar». Puede que sea un horario maravilloso para esa persona. Pero levantarse a las cuatro no la hace más espiritual que alguien que ora a las siete. Simplemente podría hacer que necesites una siesta después del almuerzo. El Padre busca el corazón; eso importa más que el despertador.

Gálatas 5:13, “Hermanos, ustedes fueron llamados a la libertad; solo que no usen la libertad como pretexto para dar rienda suelta a los deseos de la carne, sino sírvanse unos a otros por amor.”

Gálatas 5:13 – Nueva Biblia de las Américas

Porque ustedes, hermanos, a libertad fueron llamados; sólo que no usen la libertad como pretexto para la carne, sino sírvanse por amor los unos a los otros.

Sin sudor en nuestra adoración

Los sacerdotes fueron llamados a servir a Dios como parte de su culto espiritual. Pero no mediante el sudor, ni mediante el esfuerzo humano.
Cuando la gracia resuelve la cuestión de la relación con Dios, también transforma la adoración. No estamos tratando de convencer a Dios de que nos preste atención.
Estamos respondiendo al Dios que ya se ha dado a conocer y nos ha invitado a acercarnos. La adoración se convierte en la expresión de un corazón que ya ha recibido su amor. Y tú deseas expresar tu amor a cambio.

Adora porque hay una canción en tu corazón.

Salmo 84:1-2, ¡Cuán preciosas son Tus moradas, Oh Señor de los ejércitos! 2 Anhela mi alma, y aun desea con ansias los atrios del Señor; Mi corazón y mi carne cantan con gozo al Dios vivo.

Fíjense en el anhelo que se percibe en esas palabras. El salmista no pregunta cuál es el mínimo de adoración necesario para cumplir con la obligación. Desea estar en la presencia de Dios.
Cuando el alma descubre la belleza del Señor, la adoración no es una carga ni una obligación, sino la alegría y gozo del corazón. Adoras porque hay una canción en tu interior.
A veces, puedes llegar a la iglesia cansado, distraído o afligido. Quizás tengas que ordenar tus pensamientos y dirigir tu atención al Señor con determinación. Esa es la fe que lleva un corazón inquieto a su presencia, sabiendo que la alegría llega cuando abres tu corazón.

Illus – Hay una diferencia entre cantarle a alguien a quien amas y cantarle a un juez en una audición. He hecho ambas cosas. En la audición, te preguntas si tu interpretación será lo suficientemente buena. Con alguien a quien amas, cantas para expresar tus sentimientos. Compuse una canción y la canté en nuestra boda. Digamos que no recibí ninguna oferta para grabar, pero salió de mi corazón.

La adoración no es una carga, es la alegría del amor, y a Dios no le importa si cantas desafinado, si tu corazón está en sintonía, eso es lo único que importa.

Cuando cantas para dar gloria y honor, también recibes.
Hechos 16 describe a Pablo y Silas orando y cantando después de haber sido golpeados y encarcelados. Cantaban para presentar sus corazones ante aquel que derramaría gracia en sus corazones abiertos.

La adoración es el resultado, no la causa.

La adoración es responder al amor de Dios, no ser su causa. No cantamos hasta que Él se muestre misericordioso; cantamos porque Él es misericordioso. No lo alabamos hasta que se preocupe por nosotros; lo alabamos porque la cruz ya ha revelado la profundidad de su amor.

1 Juan 4:19, “Nosotros amamos, porque Él nos amó primero.”

Ese orden importa. Jesús habló de dos deudores, ambos incapaces de pagar, cuyas deudas fueron perdonadas por Preguntó cuál lo amaría más. La respuesta fue aquel al que se le había perdonado más. La gratitud surge de recibir misericordia, no de comprarla.
Si alguna vez la adoración se vuelve árida, recuerda lo que Él ha perdonado. Recuerda con qué paciencia te ha buscado. Vuelve a tener presente la cruz y deja que la verdad tenga peso en tu alma.

Ilustración: Piensa en recibir un gesto de bondad. Alguien te trae comida cuando tu familia está pasando por una tragedia o se sienta a tu lado cuando no encuentras las palabras. En ese momento, no necesitas un manual de instrucciones sobre «Cómo ser agradecido». La bondad en sí misma te conmueve. La bondad de Dios llega aún más lejos.

No adores la ropa de lana

Una persona adora vistiendo lana cuando esto se convierte en algo personal para el adorador.
Jesús advirtió, por ejemplo, que no se debe orar para llamar la atención. Dirigió a sus discípulos hacia su Padre, que ve en lo secreto. Hay libertad en saber que no es necesario aparentar ser alguien importante.
Una oración sencilla y sincera puede expresar una dependencia hacia Dios más profunda que un discurso dirigido a cualquier persona que lo escuche.

Ilustración: No tienes que presentarte a tu padre con un discurso como: «Estimado padre, en reconocimiento a tus muchos logros paternales… ¿puedo usar el coche?». En algún momento, él diría: «¿Qué pasó con “papá”?». El respeto importa, sin duda, pero también la cercanía que Jesús nos brindó al enseñarnos a orar a nuestro Padre.

Mateo 6:6, “Cuando ores, entra en tu aposento, cierra la puerta y ora a tu Padre que está en lo secreto; y tu Padre, que ve en lo secreto, te recompensará.”

A veces, la oración más sincera es: «Señor, sufro y te necesito». A veces, la adoración comienza con una confesión. A veces, comienza con una acción de gracias expresada entre lágrimas. Dios conoce los secretos del corazón.

III. Nuestro trabajo para Dios no requiere esfuerzo.

Ahora llegamos al trabajo en sí. Los sacerdotes en Ezequiel todavía tenían responsabilidades, tenían tareas y quehaceres en el templo. Pero no debían sudar en ello.
Hoy, los creyentes están llamados a hacer el bien. «No se cansen de hacer el bien», escribió Pablo.

Efesios 2:10, Somos hechura suya, creados en Cristo Jesús para buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparó de antemano para que anduviéramos en ellas.

Dios nos da la tarea, pero no nos deja producir el resultado espiritual por nosotros mismos.

Deja que el Espíritu Santo te guíe.

Hay una diferencia entre pedirle a Dios que bendiga nuestras decisiones y pedirle que guíe nuestros pasos. Podemos llegar a estar tan aferrados a nuestras propias ideas que la oración se convierte simplemente en una formalidad final.
Pero el ministerio pertenece al Señor.
Hechos 16 ofrece un ejemplo. Pablo y sus compañeros tenían lugares a los que pensaban ir, pero primero oraron, y el Espíritu los guió hacia otro camino.
Entonces llegó la visión de un hombre de Macedonia que pedía ayuda. Ellos respondieron yendo adonde Dios los guiaba.
Y en ese proceso, Él obrará en tu corazón mediante su Espíritu.

Ilustración: Hay un viejo dicho con el que discrepo totalmente: «No le digas a Dios que no irás a África, porque es precisamente allí donde te enviará». Da la impresión de que te enviará al lugar que menos te gusta. Él obra en nuestro interior, transformando nuestros deseos a medida que nos entregamos a Él. En otras palabras, si te envía, ¡querrás ir!

Filipenses 2:13, “Porque Dios es quien obra en vosotros, tanto el querer como el hacer, para su buena voluntad.”

Confía en Su poder para lograrlo.

Zacarías 4:6, “‘No con ejército, ni con fuerza, sino con mi Espíritu’, dice Jehová de los ejércitos.”

Aquí es donde el secreto espiritual de Hudson Taylor se vuelve tan útil. Taylor, el famoso misionero en China, conocía las exigencias del ministerio. Sin embargo, le preocupaba profundamente la distancia entre la vida que anhelaba en Cristo y sus repetidos fracasos bajo presión. Esforzarse más no le brindaba la paz interior que necesitaba.
Una carta de un compañero misionero le abrió los ojos.

Ilustración: En una carta a su hermana Amelia, Hudson Taylor reveló la verdad que cambió su vida: “No se trata de esforzarse por alcanzar la fe, sino de descansar en el Fiel”.

Juan 15:5, “El que permanece en mí, y yo en él, éste lleva mucho fruto; porque separados de mí nada podéis hacer.”

Una rama da fruto porque recibe vida de la vid. No es independiente de ella y no puede producir la vida que necesita. Jesús usó esta metáfora para enseñar la dependencia de la vida que proviene de Él. El fruto es muy importante, pero la fuente del fruto es la vida de Cristo.

Ilustración: Tendemos a sobreestimarnos tanto que a menudo creemos merecer todo lo bueno que nos sucede. Una vez estaba jugando al golf con un amigo; su golpe se desvió bruscamente hacia los árboles, golpeó una rama y rebotó directamente en el grama. «¡Guau, qué buen golpe!», exclamó. Cuidado, Dios tiene maneras de ponernos en evidencia.

Colosenses 1:29, “Para esto también trabajo, esforzándome según su poder, el cual obra poderosamente en mí.”

Servir en Cristo es una alegría

Una de las características distintivas que hemos llegado a conocer y apreciar es el liderazgo de servicio. Uno de los principios que he descubierto es que siempre se puede reconocer a un verdadero servidor: disfruta sirviendo. No es una carga, es una alegría.
Me encanta cuando el ministerio surge porque Dios ha puesto a alguien en el corazón de otra persona. Se percibe una necesidad, se despierta la compasión y alguien dice: «Hay algo que puedo hacer al respecto».

Ilustración: Alguien que entiende de coches puede ayudar a quien no puede costear una reparación. Alguien que ama cocinar puede llevar una comida a una familia en crisis. Alguien que habla otro idioma puede ayudar a un recién llegado a sentirse menos solo. El regalo puede parecer ordinario hasta que se convierte en una expresión del amor de Dios para quien lo necesita.

Servir al Señor nunca tuvo la intención de ser una carga. No te preocupes.
En Lucas 10 hay una escena que ilustra todo esto de forma muy cercana. Jesús estaba en casa de Marta y María. Marta se ocupaba de los preparativos, mientras que María se sentaba a sus pies y escuchaba sus palabras.
Finalmente, Martha le pidió al Señor que le dijera a su hermana que la ayudara. Su trabajo se vio empañado por el resentimiento.

Lucas 10:41-42, Pero el Señor le respondió: «Marta, Marta, estás preocupada y angustiada por muchas cosas; pero solo una es necesaria, porque María ha escogido la mejor parte, la cual no le será quitada».

Webcast

DonateLike this sermon?

If you enjoyed the sermon and would like to financially support our teaching ministry, we thank you in advance for partnering with us in sending forth the word.

Donate

All Ezekiel Messages