BE A VERB
Yes, we are going to discuss grammar today. No, I am far from a grammarian however when I was deciding what my 3 little words were going to be, I came across a quote that I loved. Before I get to that, let’s talk about grammar.
We know from English that there are 8 parts of speech with the most important being the noun and the verb. A noun is a person a place or a thing. A verb shows action. There are common nouns and proper nouns. There are action verbs, linking verbs and helping verbs.
Now to the quote:
“The church is not a noun it is a verb. An action verb!”
I started thinking to myself that is so true and then I thought- I want to be a verb. I don’t want to just be a noun, but also a person that is an example of encouraging, motivating, helping and showing kindness.
Because aren’t we the church?
Mark 10:45 New International Version (NIV)
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
As I began to research would you believe that someone else has already discovered that they also want to be a verb?
Robert Rohm wrote an article in 2013 entitled- Tip: I am a verb!
Love it! If you have a difficult time understanding how something can be a noun and a verb let me explain in Roberts words.
Roberts 2 examples:
Years ago, a company was started which was called Federal Express. I’m sure you have heard of them or seen one of their big trucks drive past you recently. Federal Express was a noun. It was the name of a company, but over the years, because of their action, we slowly changed FedEx from the name of a company to something we do. We now “FedEx” an envelope to get it to its destination. FedEx has become a verb!
Another example would be a company by the name of Xerox. They sold office equipment, but with time, making a copy of a piece of paper became an action that we did. We would say, “Would you please ‘Xerox’ this for me?” Xerox moved from the position of being a noun to a verb.
Doesn’t that make perfect sense?
The three in one is a verb. God didn’t sit around and wait for everyone to do everything for Him He took all opportunities and took the lead. He encouraged, He uplifted, He influenced, He made considerable contributions to the world. He sacrificed, what did He not do?
But how many times are we reluctant to be a verb? How many times do we want to sit and not do? How many times are we reluctant to serve?
We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And what do hands and feet do? They aren’t just nouns, they are verbs.
John 14:12 NIV
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Jesus isn’t saying that others would do the same miracles He did however He is saying that the disciples, by power of the Holy Spirit, would carry out His word to others.
THE TABERNACLE
When God built the tabernacle in the book of Exodus, it was a noun. However, when we look up the word tabernacle, it can mean either a place to meet or a place that moves. It was erected in one place, but it was moved to other areas. God never intended for us to be a people stuck in one place. When God moves us, we move. When God moves, we move.
Exodus 3:3-14 NIV MOSES RELUCTANT TO SERVE
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
One of our headings in our Bible readings was this, Moses was reluctant to serve. Why? Moses felt ill-equipped to do the job that God had placed before him. Moses said to God, “who am I that I should go?” Moses was insecure he focused on what his shortcoming was. But God said, “I will be with you.”
Exodus 6:28-7:7 New International Version (NIV)
Aaron to Speak for Moses
28 Now when the Lord spoke to Moses in Egypt, 29 he said to him, “I am the Lord. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I tell you.”
30 But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
7 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. 2 You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, 4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.5 And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”
6 Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.
God also gave Moses a verb in Aaron. When Moses thought he wasn’t an eloquent speaker God said, “what about your brother Aaron, I know he is an eloquent speaker he is on his way to meet you.”
All throughout the Bible, many were hesitant to be a verb however God enabled them with skills and talents to do the job that He placed before them.
God doesn’t want stagnant people he wants people moving for Him.
The church is a building where we go to worship (a noun). But the church is a verb. It is a group of people stepping out into the mission field. Moving in Christ, stepping out with the spirit whatever the commitment and embracing our passion and purpose. Doing our job for Christ being the church. Being a verb.
We go to church, but we GO out of church to be the church! Be a verb and GO, go and serve!
CHALLENGES FOR THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment
- Dig deep into His word
- Start being a verb, serving, remove your insecurities, trust God with the job He has given you
- Fill your cup so you can fill other cups
Tip: I am a verb, Robert Rohm, 7/29/13
Living Intentionally Challenge- Day 6 being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
All scripture from Biblegateway.com
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