Derek Prince - There's Only One Acceptable Motive To Serve God
Now I want to offer you some suggestions as to, how we can be sure that our service will stand the test of fire. I want to suggest to you three ways, that you can assess your own service. First of all, what is your motive? The only motive that’s acceptable to God, is for God’s glory. And a whole lot of what is done in the church today, is done by men for their own glory. I say personally, and this is simply, a personal observation, I think the greatest problem in the church today, is personal ambition on the part of ministers. The largest church, the longest mailing list, the most miracles. That all will be burned up because its motive is wrong.
1 Corinthians 10, verse 31, Paul says: Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. There’s only one acceptable motive, for our service and that is the glory of God. Somehow I feel the Lord wants me to pause there. Just give you an opportunity to consider, what has been motivating you in your services, in your service for Him. You see, Paul said we need to be renewed in our minds in Romans 12:1. The difference between the renewed mind and the unrenewed mind is this: The unrenewed mind comes to a situation and says: What’s in this for me? The renewed mind says: Where will God get glory? It’s a total change of motivation. I think this very much applies to marriage. I think many marriages, are unhappy because the people approach them with an unrenewed mind. The attitude of each is: What will I get out of this? Will it make me happy? That’s almost a certain recipe for an unhappy marriage. The right motive is what can I give, not what can I get but what can I give? When two people meet together with the purpose of giving to one another, they’ll have a happy and successful marriage. It’s the whole issue, of motivation that’s really important.
Secondly, if your work is to stand the test of fire, it must be done in obedience to the Word of God. That’s the only acceptable basis. In Matthew 7, Jesus spoke about two different kinds of persons, the one who built on the sand, and the one who built on the rock. He said at the end, Matthew 7. I’m in Mark, that’s why I’m having trouble. But I’ll be there. Matthew 7, verse 21 and following. These are the words of Jesus: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does the will of my Father in heaven. So, the only acceptable motive is to do the will of God the Father. Then Jesus goes on with something that offends some people. He said: Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied, cast out demons and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.
I have, by the grace of God, been privileged to cast out many, many demons. I’ve seen a number, of very definite miracles take place. I have frequently prophesied. I want to tell you I do not base my hope of heaven on any of that. And anybody who does is in danger. There’s only one essential requirement, for heaven, it’s doing the will of the Father that is in heaven. Jesus says to these miracles workers, Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. Do you know, many of them are a law to themselves. They do basically, whatever they feel like, take whatever they can get, and ignore the great central principles of the Word of God. I could speak a lot about that but it’s probably not profitable. But I have to say, I’ve just recently written a letter about Balaam.
I was so impressed with the story of Balaam. Here was this man, with these miraculous prophetic gifts, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom. I mean, he gave forth prophesies in Numbers, as beautiful as any that are uttered concerning the destiny of Israel. And yet he perished, executed by the people of Israel. Do you know what his problem was? He’s mentioned three times, in the New Testament and it states very clearly Balaam’s motivation, was love of money. That cost him his soul. And really, in today’s church we need to ask ourselves: Are we motivated by the love of money. Ruth and I have a Scripture, we quote (I won’t ask her up) but it says: We are not as many who peddle the Word of God for profit. That’s a startling statement, isn’t it? That was in the days of Paul. Paul says there are a lot of people making profit out of the gospel. It’s our motives that God searches.
And the third requirement is the power that we operate in. In Romans 15:18-19, For I will not dare to speak of any of those things, which Christ has not accomplished through me in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. Paul says nothing that I’ve done is worth mentioning except that, which the Holy Spirit has done through me. That’s the only acceptable power, for ministry, is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. So let me give you those three requirements, for your work to stand the test of fire. Your motive: for God’s glory. Are you doing it in obedience to the Word of God or are you doing, your own thing or making your own rules? Three: Are you working in the power of the Spirit, or in your own fleshly ability?