Serve the Lord
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
When you close your eyes and picture serving the Lord, what comes to mind?
Is it standing on a stage, teaching a class, volunteering at a church event, or heading out on a missions trip? Over time, culture—and even church culture—has a sneaky way of redefining what God’s Word actually says. Abraham Lincoln once famously asked a crowd, "How many legs would a dog have if you counted the tail as a leg?" The crowd answered, "Five." Lincoln replied, "Four. Because calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one."
In the same way, being busy with church tasks doesn't automatically mean we are serving the Lord in the way He desires. As High Point continues its focus on Joshua 24:15—"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"—Teaching Pastor Ricky Johnson took a deep dive into Old Testament history and prophetic scripture to show us the crucial distinction between serving the house and ministering to the Lord.
Serving the Lord: What Does True Ministry Look Like?
Teaching Pastor: Ricky Johnson
Date: July 19, 2026
Church: High Point Assembly of God
Series/Theme: As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord
Understanding the Temple: From Separation to Ultimate Access
To understand the core of Old Testament priesthood and how it applies to believers today, we first have to look at the layout of Herodian Temple in Jerusalem:
Court of the Gentiles: Open to anyone, but separated by a barrier with warning signs indicating that non-Jews who passed further faced death.
Court of Women: The limit for Jewish women seeking to get near the sanctuary.
Court of Israel: The furthest point an ordinary Jewish male citizen could go.
Court of the Priests: A place of slaughter, blood, fire, and death where Levitical priests performed animal sacrifices.
The Sanctuary (Holy Place): A quiet, sacred room containing the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, and the altar of incense.
The Holy of Holies: The room behind the 6-inch-thick veil housing the Ark of the Covenant, where God’s presence rested. Only the High Priest could enter once a year.
The Grace of Access
When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple ripped from top to bottom.
Grace is access. Jesus broke down every barrier. Gentiles, women, ordinary men, and priests alike were granted equal, direct access into the very presence of God without fear of death.
A Tale of Two Priesthoods: The Levites vs. The Sons of Zadok
Pastor Ricky traced the history of the tribe of Levi, illustrating how God redeemed a family marked by violence (Genesis 34) because they took a stand against idolatry during the golden calf incident at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). They were granted no territorial inheritance in the Promised Land; instead, the Lord Himself was their inheritance.
However, as centuries passed, corruption split the priestly lines. In Ezekiel 44:10–16, God makes a sharp distinction between two groups serving in His temple:
The Levites Who Strayed (Ezekiel 44:10–14) TXT | The Sons of Zadok (Ezekiel 44:15–16) TXT |
Action: Went far from God, followed idols, led Israel into iniquity. | Action: Remained faithful, kept charge of the sanctuary when others strayed. |
Role: Assigned as gatekeepers, slayers of sacrifices, and task-doers of the house. | Role: Permitted to come near to God, stand before Him, and enter His sanctuary. |
Limitation: Restricted from coming near God or touching His holy things. | Privilege: Ministered directly to the Lord at His table. |
The straying Levites were still allowed to work in the temple because tasks needed to be done, but they lacked proximity to God. They were serving the house, but they were not ministering to the Lord.
Key Takeaways for the Believer Today
In 1 Peter 2:9, Scripture tells us that as New Testament believers, we are a "royal priesthood." Therefore, the lesson of Ezekiel 44 applies directly to our spiritual lives today:
Busy Activity vs. Intimate Proximity: It is entirely possible to be active in church work, ministry events, and tasks while remaining distant from God’s presence. Don't let tasks replace personal fellowship with Jesus.
Ministering to the Lord First: True biblical service starts with standing before God in worship, prayer, and quiet communion before heading out to work for Him.
Guarding Against Manufactured Fire: Like Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire, we cannot manufacture a move of God through human effort alone. Our job is to prepare the altar of our hearts and let the Holy Spirit bring the fire.
Faithfulness in the Dark Times: The sons of Zadok stood firm when the culture and the rest of the nation went astray after idols. Refuse to compromise your faith to fit in with modern trends.
Reflection Questions for Your Week
Am I spending more time serving the house (tasks, duties, busywork) than I am ministering to the Lord (prayer, worship, listening to His voice)?
What "unauthorized fires" or self-reliance am I trying to bring into my spiritual walk instead of waiting on the Holy Spirit?
How can I draw nearer to the presence of God this week, taking full advantage of the access Jesus purchased for me?