Be Different Servant

A cartoon showed a picture of a woman lying on her bed sick, obviously in misery. In the sink were stacked piles of dirty dishes. A huge basket of clothes to be ironed sat nearby. Two dirty children were fighting in one corner, and in the other a cat sat licking spilled milk. A smiling woman stood in the doorway and the caption had her saying, “Well, Florence, if there is anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

What a picture of the local church! Pastors and church staff are overwhelmed with work. More needy people cry out for their attention than they have time for. Sunday school and other youth programs lack workers. Visitors need a personal call. New people need someone to make them feel welcomed. The missions program needs dedicated workers to reach out to the lost of our community. Facilities need maintenance and improvements. Even some who are involved seem to be committed only when it’s convenient. And yet people often say, “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know!”

Have you ever just said something because you were “supposed to” but deep down inside you were hoping that no one would take you up on the offer?

Romans 12:1-2 ¹² Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So often when it comes to service everyone begins to think, “Great what are they gonna ask me to do now?”

The New Sermon series is entitled BE DIFFERENT. There is something that happens when Jesus moves in, though not automatic, the more you walk with Him you begin to see others more important than yourself. You begin to see the gospel and your “sacrifice” “service” as a proper act of worship.

This leads to a transformed life. A different life.

“The ministry of serving may be as public as preaching or teaching, but more often it will be as isolated as nursery duty.

It may be as visible as singing a solo, but usually it will be as unnoticed as operating the sound equipment to amplify the solo.

Serving may be as appreciated as a good testimony in a worship service, but typically it’s as thankless as washing dishes after a church social.

Most service, even that which seems the most glamorous, is like an iceberg. Only the eye of God ever sees the larger, hidden part.” – Whitney

Christ Expects Us To Serve

To serve we must be clean.

Hebrews 9:13-15 ¹³ Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. ¹⁴ Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds^[f] so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. ¹⁵ That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

Never try to hide in ministry…… In order to serve you must be close and clean. “Holy and Pleasing” is the only service God sees and accepts.

When you serve in order to hide under the title of ministry you are only fooling yourself, making yourself feel good……. But God sees through the masquerade.

To serve we must be cheerful

Psalm 100:2 (NIV) ² Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.^[1]

Nobody will want the God you claim if the Goods you produce are Rotten.

It not only is a turn off but it is false advertizing. Jesus put a new song in your mouth, stop singing the old one. Saved People Serve People.

I can’t speak for you but there are times in my life that I need to be Motivated. There are many motivators in life. I want us this morning to see what Gods word says about why we should be motivatied to BE DIFFERENT.

Motivated by Obedience

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NIV) ⁴ It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. ^[2]

We should serve the Lord because we want to. We should want to be obedient to his commands, even though that is difficult at times.

Motivated by Gratitude

1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV) ²⁴ But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. ^[3]

Anytime that we begin to feel as if serving Christ is difficult, just think of where you would be if it was not for his sacrifice.

“Suppose God put ten million dollars in your back account every morning for the rest of your life, but didn’t save you?

Suppose he gave you the most beautiful body and face of anyone who ever lived, a body that never aged for a thousand years, but then at death shut you out of Heaven and into hell for eternity?

What has God ever given anyone that could compare with the salvation He has given to you as a believer?– Whitney

BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE HE HAS MADE YOU DIFFERENT

Motivated by Gladness

Psalm 100:2 (NIV) ² Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ^[4]

Have you ever served the Lord or worshiped the Lord because you felt like you had to, or you kinda did it because you felt like that’s what you were supposed to do?

Again God looks at the heart, not at the outside expressions. To BE DIFFERENT serving God is not a burden, it’s a privilege.

Motivated by Humility

In John 13:12-16 we see our Savior washing the disciples feet, not because he had to, but because he was showing them that it was not about fame and power but it was about having a servants heart.

I’m smart enough to know that I’m not the greatest communicator, or pastor that you guys have ever met, I’m just humbled to be able to Serve Jesus and watch Him use me through all my weaknesses. You see He created me, He knows me, and He can do with me what he chooses.

Anybody in the same boat as me this morning? You are just humbled at the thought that Jesus lets you be on His team.

Motivated by Love

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) ¹³ You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ^[5]

There is no better fuel or service that burns longer and provides more energy than love.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.^[6]

Service comes from the Lord, for the Lord. It might be directed to others but it is so that He might be praised, not us.

If you simply Go through the motions of what you should do, rather than it being a response of what you Want to do, this morning have this conversation with HOLY GOD……

1. Have you Made me a New Creation?
2. Am I the Hold up?
3. Will you make me different this morning?

Allow Him To Make You Different

[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

[2] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

[3] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

[4] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

[5] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

[6] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984