Servolution Sunday 2026 | Angela Colyer | Gateway Christian Centre

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Gateways Weekly Service. We are so glad that you are here. We pray that this message inspires you, it encourages you, and that God speaks to you in new ways. Now, on with the message.

SPEAKER_02 0:19

To the one, to the one true God. To the one who is above all others. To the one who was slain before the foundation of the earth. To the one to whom is worthy of all praise. To whom is due all worship. To the one who saved our souls. To the shepherd of our hearts. To the lover of his bride.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

To the King Eternal. To the Immortal One. To the only One worthy. We lift our praise. We lift our hearts. We lift our voices. And we sing endless praise.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Do you see him? Do you see him as he really is?

SPEAKER_01 1:42

Do you see what he has really done? Do you understand that he is the one who holds life in his hands? Do you know that he is the one who got on the cross for your sin? Do you understand that he bore stripes on his back for your healing? Yet he is God. God eternal. God immortal. God invisible. The only true God. The only one. Your God.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Through him you run through a trail. And you leap over a wall. Through him you are strong. Through him there's nothing to be afraid of. Because he is your help.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

He is your comfort. He is your guy. So when trouble comes, we just lift our eyes to where our help comes from.

SPEAKER_02 4:18

Because our help comes from heaven. Our help comes from the maker of heaven. And earth. Lead me to the rock.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

He is your son and your shield. He comes before you and he is your rear guard. He is beside you, he is comforting you. He adds the case for you. He is your seat for you. And he is the He is the creator of the universe. He is the author of salvation. And he sees you. What is man that you are mindful of him, Arco?

SPEAKER_02 5:21

Or the son of man that you visit him.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

That's my God.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

He is your salvation. He is your destiny. He is where we've been, and he is where we're going. And he is where we are right now. Hallelujah. Bless the Lord of my soul. And all that is within me. Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord of my soul. And forget not all his benefits. Daily. Daily he's there for us. Daily he loves us. Daily he visits us. Daily he blesses us. Daily he takes care of us. Daily loads us with benefits. You guys have gotten good at praising. And he's worthy. He is worthy. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Well, thank you, team. Thank you very much. Aren't they a blessing? You can go ahead and be seated. John says to send his hello. He is in Liverpool this morning. But we're gonna be celebrating Servolution Sunday today. Now, as we continue. I hope you all got one of these. Did you get one of these? Great, because I might not remember to mention it in a minute. But uh today is, of course, our Servolution Sunday. This is the weekend when we celebrate and thank those around Gateway who serve the vision of this house so faithfully. I hope that you know as well as I do that we are who we are because of who you are. That we do what we do because of what you do. So thank you, Gateway. Thank you for pulling together, serving one another, and serving Him through your giving, through your praying, through your loving, through ministering, through hard work, through rain, through cooking burgers for teens, and serving biscuits to children, through preparing evangelism tracks, or getting rooms ready for events, through catching, through counting, through cleaning, through sound checks, with your gifts, with your time, and with your treasure. Thank you. Every year we take this Sunday to look at the importance of serving and helping. We have carried water from one end of the room to the other. We have talked about the tragedy of Paganini's violin. We have done science experiments. One year John even climbed a portable rock wall with a much younger Livia Perot on his attached to him somehow. Today I have nothing so dramatic. In fact, I've simply asked for a couch. Because maybe it's because I'm tired after yesterday's. But today I want to dig into the concept and the word helper. I want to bring value to this word. When I knew that I was doing the message for servolution, it instantly came into my mind the verse that says, God is my helper. I thought I need to understand that word more. I think it means something completely different, or it needs to mean something completely different in our minds than it has done previously. If God is my helper, maybe I've misunderstood helpers. This month is all about transforming our minds, right? So let's transform our minds around this concept. You know, if you do a Bible study on this word helper or the word help, now remember we're changing the way we think. There are actually a couple of words in the Bible for helper. One of them we find in the New Testament, and this is the word parakletos. We find this in John 16 and verse 7. And this is the um first use of the word helper that I want us to look at. It's in the New Testament, and it was talking about the Holy Spirit in John 16. And John 16 and verse 7 says, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. So that's the word, the Greek word parakletos, and it literally means called to one's side. It means one called alongside to help. The Holy Spirit is our helper. He comforts us, he advocates for us, he helps us. And there's other verses that we can read to understand more of what it is that he does to help us. John 14, um, reading in verses 16 and 17 in the New American Standard Version, I think that's how it goes. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, that he may be with you forever. That is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see him or know him, but you know him because he abides with you and will be in you. And then it goes on to say, But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and he will bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 15 and verse 26 says, When the helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. And verse uh chapter 16 and verse 7 says, But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. And then verse 12 of chapter sixteen and ver through verse fourteen says, I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will disclose to you what is to come, and he will glorify me, for he will take of mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are mine, therefore I said that he takes of mine and discloses it to you. Then Acts chapter one and verse eight says, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. So the Holy Spirit is our helper. But this is next level help, guys. He is parakletos, he comes alongside us. This is serious help. He comforts us, he advocates for us, he teaches and guides us, he shares heavenly re revelation with us, he empowers us, he is alongside us. We can find examples of this kind of a helper in the Bible. Of course, this is how the Holy Spirit helps us, but we can read stories where others have come as that person who comes alongside to help someone. In Exodus chapter 4, we read that Aaron was called to act as a spokesperson and a support to Moses in leading Israel. In Exodus 31, we read about Aholiah and others, but he was appointed as a specialized helper in the construction of the temple. In 1 Samuel, we read about Jonathan, who provided counsel and loyalty to David. In Esther chapter 2, we read about how Mordecai guided and mentored Esther into her role as queen who would save her people. In 2 Kings 4, we read about the Shunammite woman who supported and helped Elisha, providing him hospitality, which led to her own breakthrough. And in Acts 9, we read about Barnabas, who supported Paul and introduced him to the apostles, validating his ministry. Those are helpers, people who came alongside someone to help them accomplish what God had given them to do. And that is what the Holy Spirit does for you and me. He helps us. I don't know about you, but without him, I would do a terrible job at everything that God has called me to do. He is so significant. So significant to our lives. To our calls. To the vision that he's given us. He's our helper. It really wasn't that helpful. And all of you have had one of those too, you know. He comes alongside. I've learned that the Holy Spirit is my partner in everything that I do. He is right there alongside me. Making it possible. Making it better. Let's look at the second word for a helper. And this one's in the Old Testament. You know, one of the most inspiring chapters for a church leader about help when it comes to church life, when it comes to fulfilling the vision of a house, is actually found in the story of David, particularly in 1 Chronicles chapter 12. The context of this chapter is that this is occurring after the prophet Samuel has anointed David as King of Israel. The nation now knows about this. King Saul now knows about this, and he's not really all that happy about it. He is king. He still wants to be king. And when he's done being king, he wants his son to be king. And now we find out, well, this is a bit problematic, really. David might have a vision. David has a call and a destiny. But it's not going to be accomplished without a battle. It's not going to be accomplished without help. David would never be able to do that on his own. He needed heavenly help. Absolutely, yes, first and foremost. But he also needed help from individuals. People that also believed in this calling. At the start of 1 Corinthians, uh Chronicles 12, David is in exile. He has a destiny. Israel has a destiny, a great God-given vision. They're not fulfilling it yet, but David is called to lead them into it. But he is going to need some help to do it. And in verse 9, there's a man we're introduced to, and his name is Ezer. And he was the first of the Gadite warriors who joined David in Ziklag. And it's not insignificant that the Bible gives us his name. Because we are being told what is happening. Ezer means warrior ally. The word is also translated helper in the Bible. Help is coming. It is coming in the form of warrior allies for David. Ezers. David is on the run from Saul. But men from several of the tribes are joining up with him. They are giving their allegiance to David and they are promising to fight for him. Because they know the vision, they know the calling for David and Israel. And so they have come to help. They are warrior allies. And then we read about how David was when he lived in Ziklag, he was joined by a group of Benjamites. And they are described in the Bible as archers and slingers who could sling stones with both hands. I don't really know a lot about medieval and ancient warfare, but I'm guessing that's a great thing. Two hands are better than one. These men have skills. And they know the vision and the destiny of David and of Israel. And so they have come to help. Warrior allies. And then a group of Gadites. Joined David when he was in that stronghold. And they are described in chapter 12 as mighty and experienced warriors. It goes on to say, their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were swift as gazelles upon the mountains. And then it says that the least of them was a match for a hundred men, and the greatest for a thousand. And they have come to help. David's fighting force is growing. And then other groups from Judah and Benjamin and Manasseh also joined David. And they know the vision and they know the destiny of David and of Israel, of their nation, and they've come to help. Warrior allies. Doesn't that sound wonderful? Verse 23 then actually skips forward in time, approximately seven and a half years, and it takes us to the time where David actually was now appointed king over all Israel and over Judah. And it tells us, as the story continues, that more warriors from all over the nation begin to gather in Hebron to swear their allegiance to their new king. They knew the vision and the destiny of David and of their nation, and they have come to help. David's fighting force is growing, full of warrior allies. The Bible's full of these helpers, these warrior allies, people who know the vision, people who come to support, to accelerate, to facilitate the fulfillment of the vision, the divine purpose. Some examples we find, looking in a David story in 1 Samuel 23 and verse 16, we read, and Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. So Jonathan protected and strengthened David's relationship with God during King Saul's persecution. We also read, and we're not going to go there for time, but about Joab. Joab was instrumental, hugely pivotal in securing the kingdom for David. He was fearless, a brilliant strategist, and fiercely loyal to David. He led the army in nearly all of David's major battles. Then we read about Abishai. He was the leader of David's thirty mighty men. Abishai was a fearless warrior who famously saved David's life by killing a Philistine giant who nearly killed him. Then there's Beniah, who was an exceptionally brave warrior who killed two Ariels of Moab. He killed a lion in a pit and an Egyptian giant. He was later promoted and became David's personal bodyguard. And then we read of Itai the Gittite. He was a foreigner, but he displayed an unmatched loyalty to David during Absalom's rebellion. And he refused to leave David's side, even when David urged him to. And we hear the story of how they connected and those allies, what they did. These people were helpers. All of these people were coming together to see the plan and the vision of God for Israel to come to pass. Helpers, warrior allies. And church, can I promise you that visions, that churches need these helpers today, too. I asked them to bring this couch here today. I might actually ask Martin, can you help me get down there? Thank you. I'm down. I've asked for this couch, like I said, because I'm a little bit tired and it's more comfortable than standing. I know I'm really low. Someone, we won't name them, but someone broke the legs, but that's fine. Still, this bit works. I want this to represent something. You can't see me, can you? I mean, some of you can because I'm on the screen, but most of you, if you're trying to look at me right now, you can't see me. We could fix this. We could put legs on our couch, that would help. But we we could also lift it up there, couldn't we? And if I put it up on this stage, more of you could see me, and you'd be able to, we could feel like we're having a great conversation and I could be comfy at the same time. It's an awesome idea. I'm gonna suggest it to John later today. But for me to get this up here, up there, what am I going to need? Help. I would need some people in this room to come grab this couch and help lift me up there. Don't worry, we haven't risk-assessed it, so none of you are on the spot. You don't have to help me get up there. Aren't you glad? So I'm gonna go back up. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping me take big steps. To get up here, to get that couch up here so I could be nice and comfortable. I needed help. I can't do it on my own. I can't lift couches. I might have a vision to move the couch up on the stage so I can sit on it, but I can't accomplish it. Not on my own. I need help. Allies. Warrior allies. The gateway has a vision, but it needs help. Family ministry. The youth and children's have a vision, but they need help. Pastoral care and discipleship. These things have vision, but they need help. Evangelism needs help. We need help. We call many of our teams in this church helps ministry because we need help. Easers, warrior allies. Interestingly, the first time we find the word helper in scripture is in Genesis 2. Now, do you want to dig into something this morning? Look at you looking at me. I don't know. Do I want to do that? Genesis 2 in verse 18 says, The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Helper suitable. Those actual Hebrew words are Ezer connecto. English Bibles have chosen to translate Ezer connecto as helper suitable or helper fit. This is why the wife is often described in church as a help meet. And it is also why we have come to view her as the man's assistant, mother of his children, and manager of his home. That focus has led us to believe that God gave primary roles to men and supporting roles to women. But that doesn't entirely fit into the whole council of the Bible. You see, Ezer is in the Bible twenty-one times. Twice for the woman in Genesis chapter two, three times speaking of nations that Israel was asking to help them in battle. We find those in Isaiah 30, Ezekiel 12, and Daniel 11. And then 16 times speaking of God, declaring God as Israel's helper, savior, protector, Ezar. Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Hosea. Hosea thirteen and verse nine. Let's read a couple. You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper, Ezer. Deuteronomy 33 and verse 7. Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah, bring him to his people. With his own hands, he defends his cause. O be his help against his foes, Ezer. Psalm 33 and verse 20. We wait in hope for the Lord. He is our help, Ezer, and our shield. You are my help, Ezer, and my deliverer. Each one of these words, help, is the word Ezer. The same word used to describe Eve. I don't know about you, but I am incredibly uncomfortable to view God as Israel's or my assistant. We've learned that Ezer means warrior ally, battle helper. And that word connecto in Genesis 2, Ezer connecto, suitable, it doesn't really do connecto justice because it literally means and translates as in front of him. This has a connotation of a close, interdependent, complementary association. Nineteen of these Easer verses are in a military context, talking about an ally in battle. Like I said a minute ago, three times when Israel was asking for help from other nations, sixteen times to depict God as his people's shield, defense, as better than chariots and horses. Of course he is. He is our ally, our strength in the battle. He is the warrior ally who stands with you. He stood with Israel when they went to battle. So why do we see Genesis 2 so differently? Didn't God give them the command to subdue and have dominion? Those words also come from a military context. And so did Ezer Connecta. In the book Half the Church by Carolyn Curtis James, she says Eve was created to be Adam's strongest ally in pursuing God's purposes and to be his first roadblock to stop him from veering off the course. The Easter is a warrior. God is our warrior. That is how he helps us. And he created the woman beside the man to be an Easer warrior alongside her brother. You need the help she brings to the mission. Look at Deborah and Barack. Women, you are called to be part of what this church is doing. You are called to the vision of this house. The help needed is a full deployment of your strengths, your gifts, and the best that you have to offer. We, the church, your family, your marriage become so much better because of what you contribute. Imagine a soldier in a battlefield and his gun has jammed. A helper in that moment is not someone who brings him a cup of water. In that moment, he needs someone who rushes in with a backup shield or with a weapon, fighting side by side to ensure victory. And I don't want us to get distracted talking about ladies. But Ezer is not a mere helper. Easer is a strong helper. Easer is what God is to you. And that is some kind of help. He is the warrior that rescues us. He is our ally in life's battles. And that is what we need to be for one another, also. And for the vision of this house, and for the children of this house, and for the teenagers of this house, and the young people, and the broken, and the hurting, and those who are new in their faith. They need warrior allies. They need helpers to heaven. That is what help is. It is an easer, a warrior ally. It is the parakletos, the one who comes alongside and makes everything better. Galatians 6 and verse 2 in the NIV says, carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? It's the law of love. Jesus taught us that. And he loved us so perfectly when he helped us be free from sin. So we need to raise our game when it comes to how we view helping. Our King, our Savior, the one who we stand in awe of is our help. The Father has chosen to be my warrior ally. The Son came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. And he sent his spirit, the third member of the divine trinity, to be alongside me, helping me, comforting, advocating, empowering, teaching, guiding me and you. So if helping is good enough for our Savior, the Son, and if helping is good enough for our Father, the Creator, and if helping is good enough for the Holy Spirit, then helping is more than good enough for you and for me. So I will choose to follow the example, and I will choose to help the God kind of way. It is my honor to be like him. And together we can move the couch. Together we can help families, the bound and the hurting. Together we can help the sick. Together we can help the generation before us and the one that comes after us. Together we can help the thirsty. Together we will help. So I have a leaflet. And I have a challenge. Are you helping? Are you helping the God kind of way? Because you're missing out if you're not. You really are. And the vision needs you. So this is our Servolution weekend. And this is where we open ourselves up to you and invite you to come and be part of the team. And so the service is about to end. But I hope you won't run out the door. Well, unless you run out that one or that one. Because if you head out that door, you'll find some of our team talking about some of the ways that you can help around here. And if you go through those doors, you'll find some of our team talking about how you can help around here. And if you go out those doors, you'll find your children. So go do that and then bring them back and find out all about how to help. But folks, to do what God has called this house to do, it takes all of us. And it takes us doing the God kind of help. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 42:22

Thank you so much for joining us for this week's message at Gateway. We were so glad to be able to share it with you. If you would like to find out more about what is going on at Gateway or when our weekly services are, you can visit our website at www.igateway.org.uk. Thank you so much for joining us.