Music...
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Hello Friends and
welcome to another
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Wednesday Night Bible
Study here in Thompsonville
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at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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We thank you for tuning
in tonight and for joining us
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for our continued study on
how to live a spiritual life
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in a natural body
and so, get your Bibles
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and invite your
friends and family members
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to sit down and
enjoy the study with us
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as we continue on the
topic, "A Servant's Life. "
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A lot of people
want to serve the Lord
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but we must have a servant's
life in order to serve the Lord
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so, tonight in our study,
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we're going to
cover what the Bible says
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about living a servant's life.
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If you'd like a
copy of the lesson,
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here is the website you
can go to... to follow with us,
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it's Lesson Number
15, go to ASF.3abn. org
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and download the
lesson for tonight,
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we call it Syllabus
but it really is a lesson
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and with that
you can follow along
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and answer the questions with us
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so invite your family members
and those who are with you
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to enjoy this study,
all you need is a Bible,
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a willing heart... a
pen... and hopefully a lesson
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to make the lesson interesting
and a blessing to you
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but right now,
bow your heads with me
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as we invite the Lord's
presence to be with us tonight.
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"Our heavenly
Father, we thank you
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that your blessings
are always available to us.
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We thank you that your
Holy Spirit will teach us,
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guide us, open
our hearts and minds
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and strengthen our
resolve to look to Christ.
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We thank you that
tonight as we open the Word
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that you will be our teacher,
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that you will
strengthen our resolve
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to not only understand
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but also to walk in
the footsteps of a servant
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so Lord, send your
Holy Spirit tonight
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to empower our hearts and minds
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and give us that willing
heart that each of us needs
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in Jesus' name we pray, amen. "
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Now, this lesson is interesting
to me for a number of reasons,
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one in particular is,
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we find there is a
warning the Bible gives
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in the book of Matthew and
not everyone who serves the Lord
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is serving the Lord.
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Or maybe I should
say it a different way,
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not everyone
that's involved in service
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that impacts God's kingdom
is in essence serving the Lord.
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It sounds kind of
strange to say that,
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but what I like to
begin tonight by doing is
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going to the book of
Matthew, Matthew chapter 7,
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Jesus warns us in... in
the area of getting connected
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to just doing things for God.
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There's
something vitally important
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that each of us must experience
in order for our actions
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to be connected
to our relationship.
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Now, I remember years ago when
I was working in New York City,
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my dad... that is
before he passed away...
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he was involved in the Music
Industry for many, many years
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Jazz musician...
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but he was also sometimes
involved in photography,
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he was involved in politics,
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he worked as a campaign manager
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for one of the
congressman in Brooklyn
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and I remember being hired
one summer for a summer job
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to... to lead out in a campaign.
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My job was to lead out in
a particular area of Brooklyn
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and get all these
young people with me
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I was one of them at
that time, I was a teenager
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but I was supposed to make
sure that every one of them
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covered an entire neighborhood,
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there were buildings...
maybe 12... 13 stories
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and we had to go to
every floor and every apartment
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to pass out campaign flyers.
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Now, I didn't know
who I was working for,
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I just knew his name
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and I could... I
could remember the name...
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I don't want to
mention it over the air
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because somebody may know
exactly who I'm talking about,
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but... I was...
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I was doing service for
someone that I didn't even know
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and... at that point to
me it was a job, you know,
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get these flyers out...
pass out the information...
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make sure that we
impact the campaign...
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we had a lot of fun...
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young people like
to have fun together
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but the point I want to make is,
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I didn't know the
person I was working for
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so it really
didn't make a difference
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but one evening, my dad said,
"Hey, we've got an invitation"
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and he told me that we
were going over to the home
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of the person that was
running for congressman
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in that particular
section of Brooklyn
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and I said, "Well,
whose house are we going to?"
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And he told me, "It was
the guy you're working for"
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and when I went over there
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and met the congressman and
his family and his children...
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when I went out on
that following Monday,
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it made a huge difference
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because I now knew the
person that I was working for...
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I now
understood a lot about him,
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I was able to
look him in the eye...
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and... still a teenager...
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I didn't understand a
whole lot about politics
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it didn't really make that
much of a difference to me,
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but I was now excited
about putting flyers under doors
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and in apartment buildings
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and wherever we
were allowed to put them
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for this individual
because now I had a personal...
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what's the next word?
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I had a personal connection
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and a relationship
with this individual...
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I knew now exactly who I
wanted to win the next campaign
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so it really empowered me to get
behind those who are in my...
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on my team and say,
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"Guys, let's make sure
we cover our whole area"
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and for those of you who
may be watching from Brooklyn,
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I was covering Ocean Parkway
all the way by Sheepshead Bay
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on the way to Coney Island
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and many of you that are
here may not know where that is
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but that was my area of work
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but what made the difference was
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I knew the
person I was working for
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and when you look
at Matthew chapter 7,
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go there with me, I
think you're already there,
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I told you to go there
and you guys beat me there,
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but in Matthew chapter 7,
we find these words of Jesus,
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Matthew 7 verse 21 and we
are going to look together
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to verse 23...
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Matthew 7 verses 21 to 23
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and notice what the
word of the Lord says,
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what are the first
two words we read...
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let's say that together, what?
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Audience and
Pastor: Not everyone...
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that means, not everyone who
is passing out campaign flyers
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for Jesus... knows Jesus.
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"Not everyone who
says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
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shall enter the
kingdom of heaven"
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but what's the qualification?
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"but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven. "
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So, let's say the campaign ends,
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let's go ahead
and use this text,
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the campaign ends and it says,
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"Many will say
to Me in that day,
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'Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name,
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and cast out
demons in Your name,
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and done many
wonders in Your name?'
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And then I will
declare to them... "
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what are the four words?
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"I never knew you;
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depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness!"
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or as the King James Version
says, "who work iniquity"
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and as I was going on,
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I remember something really
important about our meetings.
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We didn't sing...
you guys want to sing?
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Audience: Yes.
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I know our viewing audience
and our listening audience
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looks forward to the
song, "Victory in Jesus"
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and if I go any
further without that,
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I am going to
get e-mails that say,
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"How come you
didn't sing my song...
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I was waiting for you to
say the word, 'Key Change'"
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so tonight, we're going to join
with your hearts and your voices
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around the world as we
sing our theme song tonight,
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"Victory in Jesus"
Let's sing that song.
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Music...
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I heard an old, old story,
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How the Savior came from glory,
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How He gave His life on Calvary
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To save a wretch like me,
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I heard about His groaning,
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of His precious blood's atoning
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Then I repented of my sins,
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And won the victory.
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O victory in Jesus,
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My Savior, forever.
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood,
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He loved me ere I knew Him,
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And all my love is due Him,
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He plunged me to victory,
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory
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And I heard about
the streets of gold
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Beyond the crystal sea,
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About the angels singing,
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and the old redemption story,
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And some sweet
day I'll sing up there
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The song of victory.
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Key change...
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O victory in Jesus,
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My Savior, forever
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He sought me and bought me
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With His redeeming blood,
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He loved me ere I knew Him,
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And all my love is due Him,
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He plunged me to victory,
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Beneath the cleansing flood
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He plunged me to victory,
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Beneath the cleansing flood.
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Amen.
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Now, we got started...
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just a moment
ago, I was wondering,
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"What was missing?"
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There was
something about the meeting
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that was lacking and...
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in fact, I know what
it was, it was singing.
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It does our hearts well to
warm up to singing for the Lord.
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Our topic tonight is entitled,
"How to live a servant's life. "
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Say that with me together,
"How to live a Servant's Life. "
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As I mentioned
just a moment ago,
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one of the most
important variables
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or I should say... not variables
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or one of the most parameters
to working for the Lord
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is knowing Him... is what?
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Audience: Knowing Him.
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He said, "Many will say to me"
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and you know,
when you think about
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what He is
associating service with,
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He said, "Many will say
they cast out demons... "
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so you got to thinking about,
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"It's possible
to cast out demons
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and not work for the Lord. "
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Many will do wonderful
works in the name of the Lord
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and He'll say to them at the
end of all their work schedule,
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"I didn't know who you
are... I didn't know you"
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and so, one of the
most important things
00:10:58.42\00:11:00.39
is it's
important to know the Lord
00:11:00.42\00:11:02.09
in order for our work
for God to be effective
00:11:02.12\00:11:05.59
but now I want to go
back to the book of Exodus.
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What book did I
say? Audience: Exodus.
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Go with me to Exodus chapter 7,
00:11:09.40\00:11:11.40
I want to see
something very important
00:11:11.43\00:11:12.93
about the parameters of service.
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There's another aspect
that we learned last week
00:11:15.27\00:11:18.21
and it is reflected in... it is
reflected in Question Number 1
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and I want to lay the foundation
by reading this question
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and then elaborating it on...
00:11:28.28\00:11:30.59
elaborating on
it a little further.
00:11:30.62\00:11:32.62
First of all we said,
00:11:32.65\00:11:34.69
"Knowing the Lord"
is the first parameter
00:11:34.72\00:11:36.36
but there's something
else that precedes serving God.
00:11:36.42\00:11:40.63
There's something
else that precedes...
00:11:40.66\00:11:42.93
in other words,
this is important to come
00:11:42.96\00:11:44.67
before you serve God.
00:11:44.73\00:11:46.13
So, unless... unless the
Lord has done this for you,
00:11:46.17\00:11:49.77
then, serving God pretty much
doesn't have the right context
00:11:49.80\00:11:55.51
and you may impact
00:11:55.54\00:11:57.58
or do good things
for the kingdom of God
00:11:57.61\00:11:59.61
but there's something that is
a prerequisite to serving God.
00:11:59.68\00:12:03.42
Let's go ahead and
read Question Number 1
00:12:03.45\00:12:05.45
and then we'll spend some
time in the book of Exodus
00:12:05.49\00:12:07.96
but let's, Question
Number 1 goes as follows
00:12:07.99\00:12:10.26
and I know we
covered this last week
00:12:10.29\00:12:11.63
but I want to cover in its
entirety... I kind of cut it off
00:12:11.66\00:12:14.96
because we transitioned
from one lesson to this one
00:12:15.00\00:12:17.27
tonight we're going to
cover that in its entirety.
00:12:17.30\00:12:19.53
Here's Question Number 1.
00:12:19.57\00:12:21.47
"What request did God
make of the Pharaoh of Egypt?"
00:12:21.50\00:12:31.21
And this is in
Exodus chapter 9 and verse 1
00:12:31.28\00:12:33.55
and the Bible says,
"Then the Lord said to Moses,
00:12:33.58\00:12:39.49
'Go in to Pharaoh and tell him,
00:12:39.52\00:12:43.53
"Thus says the
LORD God of the Hebrews"
00:12:43.56\00:12:48.13
let's read the next
part together... you ready?
00:12:48.16\00:12:52.20
"Let my people go,
that they may serve Me. "
00:12:52.23\00:12:56.24
"That they may serve me... "
00:12:56.27\00:12:58.17
so what's the
prerequisite to serving God?
00:12:58.21\00:13:00.54
One of the prerequisites
is, being set free...
00:13:00.58\00:13:02.88
is being set free.
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.75
If the Lord
doesn't set you free,
00:13:04.78\00:13:06.45
that is, if you don't
have a freeing relationship,
00:13:06.48\00:13:09.38
then you're still
bound to something.
00:13:09.42\00:13:11.49
The Lord did not want
the children of Israel
00:13:11.52\00:13:13.92
to serve Him in Egypt.
00:13:13.96\00:13:15.29
It was a foreign land
00:13:15.32\00:13:16.66
and the service for
God in Egypt was hindered
00:13:16.69\00:13:19.09
because they were under
task masters... they were slaves
00:13:19.13\00:13:22.36
and so, here's the point,
anybody who is a slave to sin...
00:13:22.40\00:13:25.57
as a matter of fact, go
with me to John chapter 8,
00:13:25.60\00:13:27.97
go there with me... I
want to show you the context,
00:13:28.00\00:13:30.67
anyone who's a slave to
sin, cannot serve the Lord.
00:13:30.71\00:13:33.34
Somebody once said to me,
00:13:33.38\00:13:35.21
and maybe you've
heard this before,
00:13:35.24\00:13:37.88
pause...
00:13:37.91\00:13:40.22
and I don't want to give
this as a blanket statement
00:13:40.25\00:13:42.88
but sometimes...
sometimes when people are drunk
00:13:42.95\00:13:45.55
they talk about God.
00:13:45.59\00:13:46.92
Audience: Smiling.
00:13:46.96\00:13:48.29
I was raised in New York City
00:13:48.32\00:13:49.66
and so that's
giving some context to it,
00:13:49.69\00:13:51.03
ah... some of the most
fever-pitched conversations
00:13:51.06\00:13:55.70
I witnessed in my home
00:13:55.73\00:13:57.97
and I... I... I've known people
that smoke... that drink...
00:13:58.00\00:14:02.67
and I've even seen family
members getting inebriated
00:14:02.70\00:14:06.17
that's a... that's a
very esoteric word for drunk.
00:14:06.21\00:14:09.61
Audience: Laughter.
00:14:09.64\00:14:11.05
And... and when they get drunk,
00:14:11.08\00:14:13.78
when they get
alcohol in their blood
00:14:13.82\00:14:15.15
they talk about God...
00:14:15.18\00:14:16.52
and they sometimes
even argue Bible topics
00:14:16.55\00:14:19.32
but I know they're
not serving the Lord
00:14:19.35\00:14:22.36
because they're bound by
the very thing that they are...
00:14:22.39\00:14:24.99
that they are consumed by their
alcoholism in their lifestyle
00:14:25.03\00:14:28.26
so what Jesus made it very clear
00:14:28.30\00:14:30.97
that in order for us...
00:14:31.00\00:14:32.50
in order for us to
be able to serve Him,
00:14:32.53\00:14:35.77
in the proper way,
00:14:35.80\00:14:37.14
that freedom is
connected to something.
00:14:37.17\00:14:40.21
They were not just set free
because they wanted to be free
00:14:40.24\00:14:43.01
but there's something
that the Lord gives to us,
00:14:43.04\00:14:45.71
that causes our relationship
to be now a free relationship
00:14:45.75\00:14:49.65
look at John 8 and verse...
00:14:49.68\00:14:52.05
my wife knows
exactly where I'm going,
00:14:52.09\00:14:53.86
that's what happens
when you're married 29 years.
00:14:53.89\00:14:56.29
John 8 and verse 32,
00:14:56.32\00:14:58.59
notice what the
freedom is connected to.
00:14:58.63\00:15:00.56
"Let my people go,
that they may serve me"
00:15:00.60\00:15:02.50
Hebrews 9... I mean, Exodus 9:1
00:15:02.53\00:15:04.90
but now, what is
that freedom based on?
00:15:04.93\00:15:06.80
John 8:32, the Bible says,
00:15:06.84\00:15:10.87
"And you shall know the truth
and the truth shall... " what?
00:15:10.91\00:15:14.51
"make you free"
00:15:14.54\00:15:17.48
and a lot of people say, "set"
00:15:17.51\00:15:20.62
but you've heard
me argue the point,
00:15:20.65\00:15:22.28
there's a difference between
being "set free" and "made free"
00:15:22.32\00:15:25.09
being "made free" is a mind...
is an attitude of the mind...
00:15:25.12\00:15:27.86
if I set a bird free,
00:15:27.89\00:15:29.56
if the bird is so
used to me feeding it,
00:15:29.59\00:15:32.49
it's going to come back
00:15:32.56\00:15:33.90
but unless the bird has a...
00:15:33.93\00:15:35.96
a source of food and
nourishment from somewhere else,
00:15:36.00\00:15:38.37
it's going to come back.
00:15:38.40\00:15:39.73
A lot of people have
been set free from prison
00:15:39.77\00:15:42.07
or incarceration
but they've come back
00:15:42.10\00:15:44.41
because their minds
have not been "made free. "
00:15:44.47\00:15:46.78
So the truth
doesn't just set you free,
00:15:46.81\00:15:49.48
the truth does
what? It makes you free
00:15:49.51\00:15:52.15
and I... and I know about that
00:15:52.18\00:15:53.52
because a lot
of people have been
00:15:53.55\00:15:54.88
raised in different churches
00:15:54.92\00:15:57.95
and sometimes
different denominations
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.12
and different belief systems and
when they discover the truth,
00:16:00.16\00:16:03.39
I've asked... I
asked the family once,
00:16:03.43\00:16:05.53
I said, "Have you ever
thought about going back?"
00:16:05.56\00:16:08.90
And they said to me,
"My mind won't let me. "
00:16:08.93\00:16:12.23
Why? Because
they've been made free
00:16:12.27\00:16:14.44
not only in what they understood
00:16:14.47\00:16:16.30
but they've been
made free, where?
00:16:16.34\00:16:18.14
In their mind... the truth
which is embedded in our minds
00:16:18.17\00:16:21.38
and our hearts makes us free.
00:16:21.44\00:16:24.18
So, one of the first answers
you're going to put down tonight
00:16:24.21\00:16:26.58
is, "What request did God
make of the Pharaoh of Egypt?"
00:16:26.61\00:16:30.69
"Let me people do... " what?
00:16:30.72\00:16:32.25
"Let them go that
they may serve me. "
00:16:32.29\00:16:34.92
And you'll discover that
when a person is set free...
00:16:34.96\00:16:37.83
when the truth
sets a person free,
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.93
as you see the statement made,
00:16:39.96\00:16:42.16
the Lord made it very, very
clear in John 8 and verse 36,
00:16:42.20\00:16:47.17
"If the Son makes you free,
you shall be free indeed. "
00:16:47.20\00:16:52.17
So, the One who
sets us free is Christ.
00:16:52.21\00:16:54.71
What does He use to set us free?
00:16:54.74\00:16:56.18
He sets us free by His
blood and by the truth.
00:16:56.24\00:16:59.81
As a matter of fact,
John... go with me to John...
00:16:59.85\00:17:03.12
we're in the book of
John, let me turn to the chapter
00:17:03.18\00:17:06.42
and I'll tell you
exactly where to go,
00:17:06.45\00:17:07.79
okay, here we are...
00:17:07.82\00:17:12.03
John 17:17... some of you
know exactly what text that is.
00:17:12.06\00:17:15.70
How many of you know just
by the raising of hands...
00:17:15.73\00:17:18.67
don't shout it
out... John 17:17,
00:17:18.70\00:17:21.24
it's a beautiful text, okay,
00:17:21.27\00:17:23.91
set... what... when
a person is set free,
00:17:23.94\00:17:26.61
there's something else
that is involved in that,
00:17:26.64\00:17:29.28
they're not just set
free in the physical sense,
00:17:29.31\00:17:31.88
but the Lord does something,
00:17:31.91\00:17:33.31
let's read this
together, John 17:17,
00:17:33.35\00:17:35.58
in the Bible says, together,
00:17:35.62\00:17:37.22
"Sanctify them by Your
truth. Your word is truth. "
00:17:37.29\00:17:42.49
So when a person is set free,
00:17:42.52\00:17:43.86
they're not just
set free physically,
00:17:43.89\00:17:45.29
because if a person is set free
00:17:45.33\00:17:46.80
and doesn't have
a new connection...
00:17:46.83\00:17:48.16
they're going to go back
00:17:48.20\00:17:49.53
but when they're set free
00:17:49.56\00:17:50.90
and the word of
truth is their connection,
00:17:50.93\00:17:52.50
they're not going back,
00:17:52.53\00:17:53.87
they're connected not
just to a creed, "I'm free"
00:17:53.90\00:17:56.64
but something is
keeping them free
00:17:56.67\00:17:58.77
and that's sanctifying.
00:17:58.84\00:18:00.24
By the way, the word
"sanctify" means to set apart...
00:18:00.28\00:18:02.68
to separate from...
00:18:02.71\00:18:04.05
so when God sets us free
by His Word and by the truth,
00:18:04.08\00:18:07.78
he's not setting us free just to
hang around and say, "I'm free"
00:18:07.82\00:18:11.42
that's why this lesson
is so vitally important,
00:18:11.45\00:18:13.82
He doesn't just want
us as Christians to say,
00:18:13.86\00:18:15.76
"Hey, guess what? I'm free. "
00:18:15.79\00:18:17.13
"So, what are you going to do?"
00:18:17.16\00:18:18.49
"Nothing... I'm free. "
00:18:18.53\00:18:19.86
There's
something God has to do...
00:18:19.89\00:18:21.86
there's something that God has
00:18:21.90\00:18:23.90
for everyone He has set free,
00:18:23.93\00:18:25.90
there's a work that
God has for us to do.
00:18:25.93\00:18:28.24
Now let me ask you the question
before I turn to the next text,
00:18:28.27\00:18:30.61
are we set free
by work? Yes or no?
00:18:30.67\00:18:34.28
Pause.
00:18:34.34\00:18:36.44
Let me... I'm trying
to... I'm trying to...
00:18:36.48\00:18:39.41
I know you answered
the question already,
00:18:39.48\00:18:42.62
didn't hear you... but
are we set free by our work?
00:18:42.65\00:18:45.92
Okay, I didn't... I know some
of you think very, very deeply
00:18:45.95\00:18:49.26
are hesitant to
answer the question,
00:18:49.29\00:18:50.63
we're set free by the
work that Jesus has done
00:18:50.66\00:18:54.60
but the word "work"
is continued in our...
00:18:54.63\00:18:58.90
in that action of freedom.
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.27
Go with me to the
book of Ephesians...
00:19:00.30\00:19:02.84
what book did I say? Ephesians.
00:19:02.90\00:19:07.84
Pause.
00:19:07.88\00:19:10.11
And by-the-way,
Ephesians 2 verse 10.
00:19:10.15\00:19:17.52
Pause.
00:19:17.55\00:19:23.12
When you read
that word in verse 10
00:19:23.16\00:19:24.96
and I'll go back
and elaborate on that,
00:19:24.99\00:19:27.20
the Bible says,
"For we are His... "
00:19:27.23\00:19:29.43
what's the next word?
00:19:29.46\00:19:30.80
Audience and
Pastor: Workmanship.
00:19:30.83\00:19:32.17
You know what "workmanship" is?
00:19:32.20\00:19:33.60
Have you ever seen
something made out of wood?
00:19:33.64\00:19:35.74
Pause.
00:19:35.77\00:19:37.77
We use the word "Craftsmanship"
00:19:37.81\00:19:39.34
but work...
workmanship is... really good.
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.01
We say, "Wow! what a good job?"
00:19:41.04\00:19:43.35
Whatever is made and now-a-days
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.61
things are pressed
together by molds and machines
00:19:45.68\00:19:47.95
and plastic molds and...
00:19:47.98\00:19:49.48
so, they all look the same...
00:19:49.52\00:19:51.62
but if somebody takes the
time to do something by hand,
00:19:51.65\00:19:54.86
we say, "Wow!
what good workmanship
00:19:54.89\00:19:57.63
has gone into this. "
00:19:57.66\00:19:58.99
I was talking to somebody
today that's making baskets now.
00:19:59.03\00:20:01.30
Amazing! wonderful skill...
00:20:01.33\00:20:04.53
and what makes it more
amazing is... the person said,
00:20:04.57\00:20:06.84
"I don't like making baskets,
00:20:06.87\00:20:08.87
I don't even
know what I'm doing"
00:20:08.90\00:20:10.37
wonderful...
00:20:10.41\00:20:11.74
and I said, "Look
at the workmanship"
00:20:11.77\00:20:13.11
because God has put that...
00:20:13.14\00:20:14.54
that gift and that
desire in that person's heart
00:20:14.58\00:20:17.45
but it says, "We
are His workmanship
00:20:17.48\00:20:19.11
created in Christ Jesus"
00:20:19.15\00:20:21.22
what are we created for?
00:20:21.28\00:20:22.62
Verse 10, we are
created for what?
00:20:22.65\00:20:25.19
For good works which
God prepared beforehand
00:20:25.22\00:20:30.06
that we should walk in them.
00:20:30.13\00:20:31.96
So... so God sets us
free by His workmanship
00:20:31.99\00:20:34.76
pause
00:20:34.83\00:20:36.93
but He sets us free for work.
00:20:36.97\00:20:38.87
He works to set us
free so that we can work
00:20:38.90\00:20:42.74
and set others free.
00:20:42.77\00:20:44.67
So, you've seen that
commercial years ago...
00:20:44.74\00:20:47.68
I mentioned commercials...
some of you are too young.
00:20:47.71\00:20:50.18
Years ago there was a
commercial where it says,
00:20:50.21\00:20:52.25
"You tell two friends
and they tell two friends
00:20:52.28\00:20:54.28
and so on and so on
and so on and so on...
00:20:54.32\00:20:56.18
and it kept
multiplying exponentially
00:20:56.22\00:20:58.02
until the screen was too...
00:20:58.05\00:20:59.69
the pictures were
too small to even count.
00:20:59.72\00:21:01.62
That's how the work of
God is... He sets us free...
00:21:01.66\00:21:04.26
that we could lead someone else
to that freeing relationship
00:21:04.33\00:21:07.20
that they can lead someone else
to the freeing relationship,
00:21:07.23\00:21:09.83
thus we go to
the second question.
00:21:09.86\00:21:11.70
Pause.
00:21:11.73\00:21:13.57
The relationship is
one that sets us free
00:21:13.60\00:21:16.20
by the work that God has done
00:21:16.24\00:21:18.61
through Jesus Christ.
00:21:18.64\00:21:20.54
Look at Question Number 2,
00:21:20.58\00:21:22.64
"What was the message
that Jesus delivered to Satan
00:21:22.68\00:21:28.45
in the wilderness?"
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.22
Matthew 4 and verse
10, what was the message?
00:21:30.25\00:21:33.52
Okay,
00:21:33.56\00:21:40.20
got it? I like that,
00:21:40.23\00:21:42.56
we even have that
text on the screen
00:21:42.60\00:21:44.27
but everybody has
a Bible, wonderful!
00:21:44.30\00:21:46.57
Here it is, "Then
Jesus said to him... "
00:21:46.60\00:21:48.84
that is... to Satan,
"Away with you, Satan!
00:21:48.87\00:21:51.07
For it is written,
00:21:51.14\00:21:52.47
'You shall
worship the LORD your God,
00:21:52.51\00:21:56.41
and Him only you shall serve. "
00:21:56.44\00:22:01.12
Have you ever had a
challenge during the week
00:22:01.15\00:22:04.85
between what you want
to do and what you do?
00:22:04.92\00:22:08.59
Raising hand... all right,
00:22:08.62\00:22:10.86
so, if it's what you want
to do, you're serving yourself.
00:22:10.89\00:22:13.76
If it's what God wants you
to do you're serving the Lord.
00:22:13.80\00:22:16.63
In this context, what
Jesus was laying out is,
00:22:16.67\00:22:19.80
there... there's more
than one kind of service.
00:22:19.83\00:22:23.67
That's why He says,
"Him only shall you serve"
00:22:23.71\00:22:27.48
and you'll discover
as we go further on,
00:22:27.51\00:22:29.04
the answer to the question,
00:22:29.08\00:22:30.85
"What was the message
that Jesus delivered to Satan?"
00:22:30.88\00:22:33.15
And you can put
it in your own words
00:22:33.18\00:22:34.98
but in fact it's this.
00:22:35.02\00:22:36.55
Only serve God.
00:22:36.58\00:22:38.69
When we are set free... we are
set free to be servants of God.
00:22:38.72\00:22:44.73
We're serving Him.
00:22:44.76\00:22:46.43
As a matter of fact,
00:22:46.46\00:22:48.06
go with me to Revelation
chapter 7 verse 13 to 15.
00:22:48.10\00:22:52.70
Revelation chapter 7,
verse... just to show you...
00:22:52.73\00:22:57.31
just to... just to
affirm that very thought
00:22:57.34\00:23:00.64
and I... I tell you
what? If we're not...
00:23:00.68\00:23:03.91
if we don't become accustomed
to serving the Lord down here,
00:23:03.95\00:23:08.18
then, there's really no
place for us in the kingdom
00:23:08.22\00:23:10.95
based on this text...
00:23:10.99\00:23:13.42
Revelation 7
verse 13 to verse 15.
00:23:13.46\00:23:17.43
Okay, verse 13:
00:23:17.46\00:23:19.33
"And then one of the elders... "
speaking of the great multitude:
00:23:19.36\00:23:25.27
Then one of the elders
answered, saying to me,
00:23:25.30\00:23:28.04
"Who are these
arrayed in white robes,
00:23:28.07\00:23:31.24
and where did they come from?"
00:23:31.27\00:23:32.81
And I said to
him, "Sir, you know. "
00:23:32.84\00:23:34.74
So he said to me, "These are
the ones who come out of... "
00:23:34.78\00:23:37.95
what? "out of the
great tribulation,
00:23:37.98\00:23:40.28
and washed their
robes and made them white
00:23:40.32\00:23:42.95
in the blood of the lamb. "
00:23:42.98\00:23:44.49
And this is the verse,
00:23:44.52\00:23:45.85
"Therefore they are
before the throne of God,
00:23:45.89\00:23:50.13
and served Him monthly... "
00:23:50.16\00:23:51.93
Audience: Day and night.
00:23:51.96\00:23:53.66
Pastor: "And serve
Him occasionally... "
00:23:53.70\00:23:56.36
what does it
say, let's read it...
00:23:56.40\00:23:58.50
"And serve Him... " what?
00:23:58.53\00:24:00.84
"Day and night in His temple.
00:24:00.87\00:24:03.17
And He who sits on the
throne will dwell among them. "
00:24:03.20\00:24:06.74
So, how... how often should
we serve the Lord as Christians?
00:24:06.78\00:24:10.35
Our life is a life of service.
00:24:10.38\00:24:13.92
As a matter of fact, Paul
the apostle understood it,
00:24:13.98\00:24:17.19
not only did John understand it
00:24:17.22\00:24:18.65
but Paul the apostle
made that very, very clear.
00:24:18.69\00:24:20.96
In other words, here's my point.
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.89
If you want to give
your life to the Lord,
00:24:22.92\00:24:25.53
please include in that,
"I want to serve the Lord,
00:24:25.56\00:24:28.63
I just don't want to
just join the church"
00:24:28.66\00:24:30.97
because God doesn't need
people that don't do anything.
00:24:31.00\00:24:35.07
Right?
00:24:35.10\00:24:37.51
Anybody could
buy a football jersey
00:24:37.57\00:24:39.57
but that doesn't mean
they're playing on the team.
00:24:39.61\00:24:41.08
Anybody can say,
"I'm a Christian"
00:24:41.14\00:24:43.24
and not even impact at
all the kingdom of darkness.
00:24:43.28\00:24:47.58
Romans chapter 12
00:24:47.62\00:24:49.68
just to verify this point,
00:24:49.72\00:24:51.12
they serve the
Lord day and night...
00:24:51.15\00:24:53.56
they serve the
Lord day and night.
00:24:53.59\00:24:55.96
Look at Romans 12,
this... this concept...
00:24:55.99\00:24:58.79
this teaching... this...
00:24:58.83\00:25:00.20
this life is affirmed
over and over in the Bible.
00:25:00.23\00:25:04.83
Romans 12 verse 1 and 2,
00:25:04.87\00:25:07.70
notice how Paul... he
even puts this in a...
00:25:07.74\00:25:10.41
in a sense where he's saying,
00:25:10.44\00:25:12.27
"There is an altar
that we've got to go to"
00:25:12.31\00:25:14.41
there's an altar
that we are taken to
00:25:14.44\00:25:17.71
so service can
begin in our lives.
00:25:17.75\00:25:20.98
Romans 12 verse 1, he says,
00:25:21.02\00:25:23.02
"I beseech you
therefore, brethren,
00:25:23.05\00:25:24.39
by the mercies of God,
00:25:24.42\00:25:25.75
that you present your... " what?
00:25:25.79\00:25:27.39
"bodies a living sacrifice"
00:25:27.46\00:25:30.79
the altar... he's
talking about right here.
00:25:30.83\00:25:32.86
You've got to die to self
00:25:32.89\00:25:34.30
in order for you to be
able to decide to serve God,
00:25:34.33\00:25:36.90
a living sacrifice... how?
00:25:36.93\00:25:38.53
"Holy, acceptable to
God, which is your... " what?
00:25:38.57\00:25:42.70
"reasonable service. "
00:25:42.74\00:25:44.64
NIV says,
"spiritual act of worship"
00:25:44.67\00:25:46.78
your reasonable service
00:25:46.81\00:25:48.14
and then he says, "And do
not be conformed to this world
00:25:48.18\00:25:51.25
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind,
00:25:51.31\00:25:55.35
that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable
00:25:55.38\00:25:59.09
and... " what else?
00:25:59.12\00:26:00.62
"perfect will of God. "
00:26:00.66\00:26:01.99
So, in other words he says,
00:26:02.02\00:26:03.36
"He wants us to be a living
sacrifice that we may prove
00:26:03.39\00:26:06.33
what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God. "
00:26:06.36\00:26:10.00
But how is that done?
Through reasonable service.
00:26:10.03\00:26:13.44
So when a person
says, "What are you doing?"
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.90
"Oh, I'm... I'm
working for the Lord"
00:26:15.94\00:26:18.84
oh really? What does that mean?
00:26:18.87\00:26:21.01
"I'm serving the Lord. "
00:26:21.04\00:26:22.54
Let me ask you the question,
00:26:22.58\00:26:24.05
if a police officer is off duty,
is he still a police officer?
00:26:24.08\00:26:27.38
Audience: Yes.
00:26:27.42\00:26:28.75
I heard a terrible
story once on the news
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.85
about some
Emergency Medical Technicians
00:26:31.89\00:26:34.72
that were having lunch
00:26:34.76\00:26:36.09
and a lady in a restaurant
was under cardiac arrest
00:26:36.12\00:26:42.00
or some terrible
condition and it made the news
00:26:42.03\00:26:48.00
and they appealed...
00:26:48.04\00:26:49.47
they saw the EMTs
sitting and having lunch
00:26:49.50\00:26:52.34
and they said,
"This lady needs help!"
00:26:52.37\00:26:55.14
they said, "We're on
lunch... we're having lunch...
00:26:55.18\00:26:58.81
we need... we need some... "
00:26:58.88\00:27:00.92
they refused to help her.
00:27:00.95\00:27:02.78
So they had to flag down...
00:27:02.82\00:27:04.85
they had to call
the police... 9-1-1
00:27:04.92\00:27:07.19
and do you think
they got reprimanded?
00:27:07.22\00:27:09.49
Because in the Hippocratic
Oath in the medical field,
00:27:09.52\00:27:13.40
you are on the job how often?
00:27:13.43\00:27:16.50
24... 7...
00:27:16.53\00:27:18.30
you are always a
medical professional...
00:27:18.33\00:27:20.60
you are always a
police officer...
00:27:20.64\00:27:22.10
you are always a Christian...
00:27:22.14\00:27:25.17
you are always
serving the Lord...
00:27:25.21\00:27:29.04
because you're living a
life... a living sacrifice.
00:27:29.08\00:27:33.85
So everything you do
00:27:33.88\00:27:35.22
should leave an
impression for somebody.
00:27:35.28\00:27:36.85
"Wow! man... "
00:27:36.89\00:27:38.49
our lives are
like... as the Bible says,
00:27:38.52\00:27:40.59
"We are the salt of the earth...
if the salt loses its savor,
00:27:40.62\00:27:44.09
then what use is it?"
00:27:44.13\00:27:46.33
Just throw it
out on the street...
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.23
so, would you keep
salt in your cabinet
00:27:48.26\00:27:51.23
if it doesn't taste like salt?
00:27:51.27\00:27:52.60
"What is that?"
00:27:52.63\00:27:53.97
"I don't know but I don't... "
00:27:54.00\00:27:55.34
it's in the salt shaker...
it doesn't have any use...
00:27:55.37\00:27:56.71
you get rid of it.
00:27:56.74\00:27:58.07
So in essence, when the
Christian comes to Christ,
00:27:58.11\00:28:00.11
he or she is now... dedicated
themselves to a life of service.
00:28:00.14\00:28:04.98
Look at Number 3,
look at Number 3...
00:28:05.01\00:28:07.25
David the Psalmist...
00:28:07.28\00:28:08.72
we're going to get to
where we started last week
00:28:08.75\00:28:10.29
and then again
fly... fly down to Number 9
00:28:10.32\00:28:13.72
but let's not rush, all right,
00:28:13.76\00:28:15.79
"How does David the...
00:28:15.82\00:28:18.46
the patriarch
describe the service of God?"
00:28:18.49\00:28:21.93
He was also the Psalmist
but David the Patriarch...
00:28:21.96\00:28:24.20
how does he
describe the service of God?
00:28:24.23\00:28:26.33
Psalm 100 and verse 3.
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.40
Pause.
00:28:28.44\00:28:30.84
Audience: Our service to God.
00:28:30.87\00:28:34.28
Pastor: Yeah,
well, you'll find it...
00:28:34.31\00:28:36.68
am I correct? It's verse 3.
00:28:36.71\00:28:39.25
Yeah, I know it's on
the question, it says...
00:28:39.28\00:28:41.58
but on the screen it is correct.
00:28:41.62\00:28:43.49
that's correct? On the
screen right, okay good.
00:28:43.52\00:28:46.12
Here it is, yeah, okay
well, let's read it together,
00:28:46.15\00:28:52.29
it should be "to" right?
00:28:52.33\00:28:53.66
Psalm 100 verse 2, it's
correct on the Syllabus.
00:28:53.70\00:28:56.20
Let's read it together.
00:28:56.23\00:28:57.93
"Serve the LORD with... " what?
00:28:57.97\00:28:59.90
Audience and Pastor: gladness...
00:28:59.93\00:29:01.80
"come before His
presence with... " what?
00:29:01.84\00:29:03.41
singing.
00:29:03.44\00:29:04.77
Now, don't
forget, we like to sing
00:29:04.81\00:29:06.84
but he's saying,
"Don't just like to sing...
00:29:06.88\00:29:09.04
be glad to serve. "
00:29:09.08\00:29:12.35
You know...
00:29:12.38\00:29:15.08
we have a Retirement Plan
that's out of this world...
00:29:15.15\00:29:17.15
until the
Retirement Plan is in effect,
00:29:17.19\00:29:19.55
we are all hired to labor
for the Lord, isn't that right?
00:29:19.59\00:29:22.92
The Retirement Plan
is out of this world.
00:29:22.96\00:29:25.59
I tell people, "I sell life
insurance and fire insurance"
00:29:25.63\00:29:28.20
when people ask what
I... "What do you do?"
00:29:28.23\00:29:30.70
"I sell life insurance
and fire insurance... "
00:29:30.73\00:29:33.13
well, we do right?
00:29:33.17\00:29:35.04
Save people from the fire
and give them life eternal.
00:29:35.07\00:29:39.01
Right, now, I do
say, "I'm a Pastor"
00:29:39.04\00:29:41.54
I don't try to cop out and say,
00:29:41.58\00:29:42.98
"I sell Life
Insurance and Fire Insurance. "
00:29:43.01\00:29:46.68
But in fact... so
what does a pastor do?
00:29:46.72\00:29:48.05
"He sells life
insurance and fire insurance. "
00:29:48.08\00:29:50.15
It's the best plan,
it's out of this world
00:29:50.19\00:29:52.25
but we've got to
serve the Lord with what?
00:29:52.29\00:29:54.32
Gladness... we've got to
be glad to serve the Lord
00:29:54.36\00:29:57.86
and if you saw Jesus...
if you saw Him face to face
00:29:57.89\00:30:01.36
and He asked
you to do something,
00:30:01.43\00:30:02.96
would you say, "I mean, really?
00:30:03.00\00:30:04.83
Really Jesus, like right now?
00:30:04.87\00:30:06.84
My favorite Show is coming on"
00:30:06.87\00:30:08.77
Would you say that? We
absolutely wouldn't do that,
00:30:08.80\00:30:12.47
we've got to keep the mindset
that He's always with us.
00:30:12.51\00:30:16.14
Our lives should be a
continual life of service.
00:30:16.18\00:30:18.71
Let's go to
Number 4, go to Number 4
00:30:18.75\00:30:21.32
and now there's
a flipside to that
00:30:21.35\00:30:23.89
because the Bible
talks about the liability...
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.49
what word did I
use? The liability...
00:30:26.52\00:30:29.26
in other words, the downside
of not serving the Lord.
00:30:29.29\00:30:32.66
Here's the question,
"How does the Bible describe
00:30:32.69\00:30:36.06
the liability of
not serving God?"
00:30:36.10\00:30:38.93
Pause...
00:30:38.97\00:30:40.74
This very text
by-the-way reveals the fact
00:30:40.77\00:30:44.11
that service to
God for a Christian
00:30:44.14\00:30:47.41
is not an optional thing.
00:30:47.48\00:30:49.44
So, when a person
is called on to serve,
00:30:49.48\00:30:53.11
they said, "Well, do I have to?"
00:30:53.15\00:30:55.38
No you don't... no you
don't have to do anything
00:30:55.42\00:30:58.69
but remember this,
00:30:58.72\00:31:01.49
what you don't do, is
how you will be rewarded
00:31:01.52\00:31:05.99
and what you do is
how you will be rewarded,
00:31:06.06\00:31:10.47
didn't Jesus say that
in Revelation 22 verse 12?
00:31:10.50\00:31:13.54
"Behold, I come quickly,
and My reward is with Me,
00:31:13.57\00:31:16.77
to give to every man according
as his work shall be. "
00:31:16.81\00:31:19.97
So, no you don't
have to do anything
00:31:20.01\00:31:22.24
but... but pay day
comes, don't look for a check.
00:31:22.28\00:31:25.28
Right and I
heard one person say,
00:31:25.31\00:31:28.58
"People stop looking for
work when they find a job. "
00:31:28.62\00:31:31.72
You'll get it tomorrow.
00:31:31.75\00:31:33.86
A job and work are
not the same thing.
00:31:33.89\00:31:37.36
Some people want a check
but they don't want to work.
00:31:37.39\00:31:40.16
Work and a job is
not the same thing
00:31:40.20\00:31:42.50
but look at this text,
00:31:42.53\00:31:43.87
the liability
of not serving God.
00:31:43.90\00:31:46.63
Starting in
Deuteronomy 28 verses 47 and 48.
00:31:46.70\00:31:50.77
here's how it reads,
00:31:50.81\00:31:52.61
"Because you did not serve the
LORD your God with... " what?
00:31:52.64\00:31:56.78
"joy" and what else?
00:31:56.81\00:31:58.58
"gladness of heart"
00:31:58.61\00:32:00.32
in other words, they
served Him but it was drudgery,
00:32:00.35\00:32:02.28
"for the
abundance of everything,
00:32:02.35\00:32:05.59
therefore you
shall... " do what?
00:32:05.62\00:32:08.86
"Serve your enemies,
00:32:08.89\00:32:10.66
whom the LORD
will send against you,
00:32:10.69\00:32:13.43
in hunger, in
thirst, in nakedness,
00:32:13.46\00:32:16.16
and in need of everything,
00:32:16.20\00:32:18.40
and He will put a yoke of iron
on your neck until... " what?
00:32:18.43\00:32:23.64
"until He has destroyed you. "
00:32:23.67\00:32:25.94
Is that sad?
00:32:25.97\00:32:27.38
You know, the Lord is in essence
saying to the Israelites,
00:32:27.41\00:32:29.14
He was saying,
"I've called you to serve
00:32:29.18\00:32:31.28
but you don't want to... you're
not even glad to serve me,
00:32:31.31\00:32:33.05
as a matter of
fact, you're serving
00:32:33.08\00:32:34.42
but it's not even a joy,
okay, I'll tell you what,
00:32:34.45\00:32:35.95
since you don't
want to serve me,
00:32:35.98\00:32:37.45
you go and serve the enemy. "
00:32:37.49\00:32:38.95
That's one of the
reasons why the Israelites
00:32:38.99\00:32:41.22
ended up in Babylon.
00:32:41.26\00:32:42.59
That's one of the reasons
00:32:42.62\00:32:43.96
why that city was
burned to the ground
00:32:43.99\00:32:45.33
because they did not
want to serve God and He said,
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.00
"If you're going to
live like the Babylonians
00:32:47.06\00:32:48.40
and serve the Babylonians,
00:32:48.43\00:32:49.76
you're not going to serve
the Babylonians in Jerusalem.
00:32:49.80\00:32:51.97
Serve them in Babylon
00:32:52.00\00:32:53.90
and that was one
of the reasons why
00:32:53.94\00:32:56.34
the Israelites
were led into captivity.
00:32:56.37\00:32:58.74
They serve... they served...
00:32:58.77\00:33:00.41
and many of them were destroyed
during the time of service.
00:33:00.44\00:33:02.98
You find in the book
of Exodus, it begins,
00:33:03.01\00:33:05.61
"There arose a Pharaoh
who did not know Joseph"
00:33:05.65\00:33:08.45
and boy! the
taskmasters of Egypt
00:33:08.48\00:33:11.89
are not like God.
00:33:11.92\00:33:14.36
See God will discipline us
00:33:14.39\00:33:16.52
but He does it
with love, doesn't he?
00:33:16.56\00:33:18.13
But your enemies will
not discipline you with love.
00:33:18.19\00:33:21.50
It's a fearful thing to
fall into the hand of a...
00:33:21.53\00:33:24.83
an almighty God
00:33:24.87\00:33:26.20
but I'd rather be in God's hands
00:33:26.23\00:33:28.10
than in the hands of the enemy
00:33:28.14\00:33:30.01
so what's the answer here?
00:33:30.04\00:33:31.81
How does the Bible describe the
liability of not serving God?
00:33:31.84\00:33:34.98
It will destroy you...
00:33:35.01\00:33:37.15
just simply...
it will destroy you.
00:33:37.18\00:33:39.08
There are those individuals
that... they live a double life.
00:33:39.11\00:33:44.12
During the week,
six days or seven days
00:33:44.15\00:33:47.42
or five days a week,
00:33:47.46\00:33:48.79
they're living a
completely different life,
00:33:48.82\00:33:50.33
they're serving the enemy
00:33:50.36\00:33:51.79
and then they try to
come to church on Sabbath
00:33:51.83\00:33:53.86
and "serve" God
00:33:53.90\00:33:55.46
and they get it mixed up
00:33:55.50\00:33:56.83
thinking that in the bulletin
where it says, "Church Service"
00:33:56.87\00:33:59.30
they think that
means you're serving God...
00:33:59.33\00:34:02.64
no... that's
just Church Service.
00:34:02.67\00:34:04.21
That's the order of the
service but that's not service
00:34:04.24\00:34:07.14
any more than the...
00:34:07.18\00:34:08.64
any more than seeing
the sign "Gas Station"
00:34:08.68\00:34:11.08
means your car is
filled up you see,
00:34:11.11\00:34:13.62
then you got to connect.
00:34:13.65\00:34:15.32
You got to get that
in-filling you got to...
00:34:15.35\00:34:19.09
but you don't fill your
car up and just drive it home
00:34:19.12\00:34:21.32
and leave it in the garage.
00:34:21.36\00:34:22.86
For us to come
to church on Sabbath
00:34:22.89\00:34:24.39
and be filled
with the Holy Spirit
00:34:24.43\00:34:25.93
and be filled by the message,
00:34:25.96\00:34:27.30
it's a travesty to just go
home and just park ourselves.
00:34:27.33\00:34:29.93
He says, "This is
the place where...
00:34:29.96\00:34:32.50
the... the... the coaching...
00:34:32.53\00:34:34.10
this is where the... where
the Lord is encouraging you
00:34:34.14\00:34:36.10
and empowering you,
00:34:36.14\00:34:37.74
you got to do
something beyond this moment
00:34:37.77\00:34:39.81
in order for your
life to be enhanced
00:34:39.84\00:34:41.54
and so, that's how it is
00:34:41.58\00:34:43.41
when people get
something or buy something new,
00:34:43.45\00:34:45.88
I've... I've seen a lot of
the young people around here
00:34:45.91\00:34:47.85
when they get a new gadget
00:34:47.88\00:34:49.22
and I must say... I'm not in
the category of young people,
00:34:49.25\00:34:52.35
but I do get excited
when I get a new gadget,
00:34:52.39\00:34:54.26
we all know what
that's all about, right?
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.16
What do we do? We talk about it,
00:34:56.19\00:34:58.43
we describe it,
we demonstrate it,
00:34:58.49\00:35:00.66
if the Lord has made us
new, 2nd Corinthians 5 verse 17,
00:35:00.70\00:35:04.83
"If anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation... "
00:35:04.87\00:35:07.34
we should live it... we
should demonstrate it...
00:35:07.37\00:35:09.50
we should not only
talk about it but share it
00:35:09.57\00:35:11.67
and... and you'll discover,
more people will be transformed
00:35:11.71\00:35:15.64
by Christians who are not
ashamed to let the world know
00:35:15.68\00:35:19.61
that they're connected to Christ
00:35:19.65\00:35:20.98
and I think that's one
of the biggest things today
00:35:21.02\00:35:23.02
is that the world
has a lot of Christians
00:35:23.05\00:35:25.02
but you can't pick them out.
00:35:25.05\00:35:26.72
You can't pick them out.
00:35:26.76\00:35:28.32
A number of years
ago, a pastor said to me,
00:35:28.39\00:35:31.26
"When you go to a
restaurant, do you pray
00:35:31.29\00:35:34.03
or do you hide yourself with
the menu while you're praying?"
00:35:34.10\00:35:36.60
Audience: Laughter.
00:35:36.63\00:35:37.97
No, we always bow
our heads and pray.
00:35:38.00\00:35:39.47
I'm... I'm always impressed too
00:35:39.50\00:35:41.77
when I see people
that are at other tables
00:35:41.80\00:35:44.21
and they hold hands
together and they pray
00:35:44.24\00:35:46.31
and sometimes I open my
eyes and there is the waiter
00:35:46.34\00:35:48.38
or waitress standing
right there with our food
00:35:48.41\00:35:50.45
waiting for us
to finish praying.
00:35:50.48\00:35:52.55
It's a witness
00:35:52.61\00:35:54.22
and we've had instances in
restaurants where we've gone
00:35:54.25\00:35:56.45
and we've
frequented the establishment
00:35:56.48\00:35:58.02
and people have said,
00:35:58.05\00:35:59.39
"You know, I'm
having surgery next week,
00:35:59.42\00:36:01.22
would you pray
for me about that?"
00:36:01.26\00:36:03.56
"Okay, I'll do that. "
00:36:03.59\00:36:04.93
I'm a part of a Flying
Club here in southern Illinois
00:36:04.96\00:36:08.73
and a couple of years ago,
00:36:08.76\00:36:10.60
one of the gentlemen was
having a surgery in his family
00:36:10.63\00:36:13.80
and he said, "Hey, you
know, I... I... I know...
00:36:13.84\00:36:17.11
I mean... you know... " he
was trying to work it out...
00:36:17.14\00:36:19.17
"you know, I'm not
really a Christian"
00:36:19.21\00:36:20.84
he's trying to fix it...
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.21
I said,
"That's... that's okay... "
00:36:22.24\00:36:23.88
he said, "Well, you know,
00:36:23.95\00:36:25.28
could you
remember me in prayer?"
00:36:25.31\00:36:26.68
And I said, "Why
don't we pray right now?"
00:36:26.72\00:36:28.42
and there we were right
there on the... on the...
00:36:28.48\00:36:30.32
on the flying field...
00:36:30.39\00:36:31.92
everybody else in
there in their team shirts
00:36:31.95\00:36:34.62
and their...
their club shirts...
00:36:34.66\00:36:36.02
and we just bowed our
heads and prayed together.
00:36:36.06\00:36:38.19
I went to my car...
gave him a... gave him a CD
00:36:38.23\00:36:40.30
and gave him a
booklet and... that...
00:36:40.33\00:36:43.03
that puts a seed there
but how ready should we be
00:36:43.06\00:36:47.10
in order to be servants of God?
00:36:47.14\00:36:49.60
Huh...
00:36:49.64\00:36:51.41
be ready in
season and what else?
00:36:51.47\00:36:54.44
out of season...
00:36:54.48\00:36:55.81
in season... out of season...
00:36:55.84\00:36:58.31
a police is a police
officer when he's on duty
00:36:58.35\00:37:01.45
and when he's not on...
in season and out of season.
00:37:01.48\00:37:03.49
We're never not a Christian.
00:37:03.52\00:37:05.02
All right...
00:37:05.05\00:37:06.39
Number 5... Number 5
00:37:06.42\00:37:08.06
we're diving
into a new area now.
00:37:08.09\00:37:10.73
Here it is.
00:37:10.76\00:37:12.89
"How is the transition made
from inactivity to service?"
00:37:12.93\00:37:18.40
From inactivity to service,
how is the transition made?
00:37:18.43\00:37:23.91
Pause.
00:37:23.94\00:37:26.57
We can simply say it's a
decision... and that's true
00:37:26.61\00:37:29.04
but you have to decide
between one thing or the other.
00:37:29.08\00:37:34.02
There's always more
than one thing to decide.
00:37:34.08\00:37:37.05
When you come to the
place where you decide
00:37:37.09\00:37:39.99
there's something really
you have to decide against
00:37:40.02\00:37:43.53
and there's something you
have to decide in favor of.
00:37:43.59\00:37:46.83
Joshua 24:15...
00:37:46.90\00:37:49.23
this is a wonderful text
because it was at a point where
00:37:49.26\00:37:52.33
there was a lot
behind the Israelites
00:37:52.37\00:37:54.90
but there was so
much more ahead of them
00:37:54.94\00:37:57.44
and the
challenge came to the one
00:37:57.47\00:37:59.71
to whom the
mantle had been passed
00:37:59.74\00:38:02.34
and the decision had to be made
00:38:02.41\00:38:04.95
and there's a reason why
the text reads the way it does.
00:38:04.98\00:38:08.05
Let's look at this
text in Joshua 24:15
00:38:08.08\00:38:10.69
because for whatever reason,
00:38:10.72\00:38:12.25
some people felt serving
God was a laborious thing.
00:38:12.29\00:38:15.26
That's why we
read just a moment ago
00:38:15.29\00:38:17.49
in Deuteronomy 28.
00:38:17.69\00:38:19.03
He had to get into the
minds of the Israelites
00:38:19.06\00:38:20.70
that serving God is not a labor
00:38:20.76\00:38:22.60
but look at the text,
00:38:22.63\00:38:23.97
that's why it
begins the way it does,
00:38:24.00\00:38:26.33
he says, "And if
it seems... " what?
00:38:26.37\00:38:28.94
"evil to you to
serve the LORD... "
00:38:28.97\00:38:31.51
can you imagine that?
00:38:31.54\00:38:32.87
"and if it seems evil
to you to serve the LORD,
00:38:32.91\00:38:36.08
choose for yourselves this
day whom you will... " what?
00:38:36.14\00:38:40.25
"serve... " and look
at the two categories,
00:38:40.28\00:38:43.08
"whether the gods
which your fathers served
00:38:43.12\00:38:45.89
that were on the
other side of the River,
00:38:45.92\00:38:48.79
or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell... "
00:38:48.82\00:38:54.56
let's read the
rest of it together...
00:38:54.60\00:38:56.70
the personal commitment is,
00:38:56.73\00:38:58.17
"But as for me and my
house, we will do... " what?
00:38:58.20\00:39:02.60
"serve the LORD."
00:39:02.64\00:39:04.04
You've got to
make that decision.
00:39:04.07\00:39:05.41
One of the things I liked
about the patriarch's lives
00:39:05.44\00:39:07.31
and I read about...
you know, Job and Abraham
00:39:07.34\00:39:10.71
and many of the
patriarchs of old...
00:39:10.75\00:39:13.65
they served the Lord
not just for themselves
00:39:13.72\00:39:16.28
but they made provision for
their families to serve the Lord
00:39:16.32\00:39:18.72
and what God has called...
00:39:18.75\00:39:20.66
that's called not
only being a patriarch
00:39:20.72\00:39:22.12
but that's called being
a priest of a person's home
00:39:22.16\00:39:24.03
so the priest... the
head of the household
00:39:24.06\00:39:25.79
must make the decision...
00:39:25.83\00:39:27.16
must make the stand that
all of those under my roof...
00:39:27.20\00:39:31.53
if you have guests in
your house for example,
00:39:31.57\00:39:35.74
we just say, "Well, you know,
normally we have family worship
00:39:35.77\00:39:38.14
but let's not do it tonight,
we may upset our guests. "
00:39:38.17\00:39:40.08
No... I'm talking
about the practicality of it,
00:39:40.14\00:39:44.15
lead your guest
into... "Well tonight,
00:39:44.18\00:39:46.41
you know, right after dinner
we usually have family worship,
00:39:46.45\00:39:48.18
you can join us... "
00:39:48.22\00:39:50.15
"What's family worship?"
00:39:50.19\00:39:51.52
Plant a seed
and they'll discover
00:39:51.55\00:39:54.06
that what makes
your family different
00:39:54.09\00:39:56.49
from other families that
they have probably visited
00:39:56.52\00:39:59.13
is that the Lord is
the Head of your household.
00:39:59.16\00:40:01.66
The Lord is the one that's
in the midst of your household
00:40:01.70\00:40:03.93
and it's enjoyable
00:40:03.97\00:40:05.30
and some people that
have visited us have said,
00:40:05.33\00:40:07.34
"Wow! I like that...
I mean, that was nice"
00:40:07.37\00:40:09.47
and sometimes, we've
had a guest that will say,
00:40:09.50\00:40:12.91
"Can I read something tonight?"
or "Can I sing a song?"
00:40:12.94\00:40:15.64
But we have to
make up our own minds
00:40:15.68\00:40:18.38
because there's
the two categories...
00:40:18.41\00:40:21.02
the gods that were on
the other side of the river
00:40:21.05\00:40:23.99
or the gods in
whose land we dwell.
00:40:24.02\00:40:26.76
Now, the reason why
this is so significant
00:40:26.79\00:40:28.76
is they didn't
make it into Canaan yet.
00:40:28.79\00:40:30.99
They were in the
land of the Amorites
00:40:31.03\00:40:32.93
and so there
was a lot of them...
00:40:32.96\00:40:34.80
they were
surrounded by a lot of things
00:40:34.83\00:40:36.77
that they could decide to do
00:40:36.80\00:40:38.23
so Joshua said, "If it
seems evil to serve God,
00:40:38.27\00:40:43.94
you can decide to serve
those in whose land you dwell,
00:40:43.97\00:40:46.94
but as for me and my house,
I'm going to serve the Lord. "
00:40:46.98\00:40:49.88
Amen.
00:40:49.94\00:40:51.31
And that was the difference
between Joshua and Caleb.
00:40:51.35\00:40:53.88
They always had
their minds set...
00:40:53.92\00:40:55.28
there was nothing impossible...
00:40:55.32\00:40:56.75
once we are servants of God,
00:40:56.79\00:40:58.15
there's nothing
that we should turn down
00:40:58.19\00:41:00.59
when it comes to
serving the Lord.
00:41:00.62\00:41:02.29
They made up their minds.
00:41:02.32\00:41:03.66
Go with me to 1st
Timothy chapter 3,
00:41:03.69\00:41:06.19
I want to show
you something here,
00:41:06.23\00:41:08.73
very important...
the category of service.
00:41:08.76\00:41:12.77
You'll discover that
when a person goes from
00:41:12.80\00:41:16.81
just being a follower of Christ
00:41:16.84\00:41:18.91
to being involved
in service for Christ,
00:41:18.94\00:41:24.28
I've often said,
00:41:24.31\00:41:29.65
"Everybody can't do everything
00:41:29.68\00:41:31.42
but everybody
can do something. "
00:41:31.45\00:41:33.19
All right.
00:41:33.22\00:41:34.89
God hasn't given
everybody every gift
00:41:34.92\00:41:37.49
but everybody can do something.
00:41:37.53\00:41:39.79
It was interesting
how... how Paul the apostle
00:41:39.83\00:41:42.40
in his letter to
Timothy talks about service
00:41:42.43\00:41:44.97
and... and bear with me
00:41:45.00\00:41:46.60
because we're talking about the
qualifications of a Deacon here
00:41:46.63\00:41:50.31
but the principles really do
apply in the sense of service.
00:41:50.37\00:41:54.01
1st Timothy chapter 3,
I want to look to verse...
00:41:54.04\00:41:57.75
Verse 10 to 13 all
right and actually I want
00:41:57.78\00:42:02.85
to go ahead and
read just verse 10
00:42:02.88\00:42:04.45
because I want to apply
that principle to all genders.
00:42:04.49\00:42:09.89
It says, "But let these
also first be... " what?
00:42:09.92\00:42:15.90
"tested... then
let them serve. "
00:42:15.93\00:42:20.34
A person... when the Lord is
about to put somebody in service
00:42:20.37\00:42:24.94
He allows them to be tested.
00:42:24.97\00:42:28.11
The word there is also proved.
00:42:28.14\00:42:31.21
So the word that is
being applied here...
00:42:31.25\00:42:34.18
when a person is
being chosen for service,
00:42:34.22\00:42:36.82
one of the things
we do as a church...
00:42:36.85\00:42:39.42
we have what's called
Nominating Committee, right,
00:42:39.45\00:42:42.36
we try to make decisions
to put people in positions
00:42:42.39\00:42:45.29
where we say, "Now,
I've watched that person,
00:42:45.33\00:42:47.33
I've seen them in
difficult situations,
00:42:47.36\00:42:49.90
I've seen them in
comfortable situations,
00:42:49.93\00:42:52.40
I think that person can be
in that difficult position. "
00:42:52.43\00:42:55.70
And so, if we feel that they're
not ready for that position,
00:42:55.74\00:42:59.11
we say, "Well,
now they could do that
00:42:59.14\00:43:00.48
without losing
their Christianity.
00:43:00.51\00:43:01.84
We can put them in
that particular area...
00:43:01.88\00:43:03.48
let's get them
involved in something
00:43:03.51\00:43:05.48
that's not going
to put them too...
00:43:05.51\00:43:07.02
too severely in a
position to be tested
00:43:07.05\00:43:08.72
where they may lose
their Christianity... "
00:43:08.75\00:43:10.32
because not everyone is
able to be in every position.
00:43:10.35\00:43:13.12
Huh... see... even...
00:43:13.15\00:43:16.46
even... even before
a person is baptized
00:43:16.49\00:43:18.63
we look at that person's life
00:43:18.66\00:43:20.30
and the commitment is made
on the basis of test... try...
00:43:20.33\00:43:24.03
see where they are.
00:43:24.07\00:43:25.40
Don't just throw
them into a category
00:43:25.43\00:43:27.50
or throw them into a scenario
00:43:27.54\00:43:29.04
that they are not
at that point willing
00:43:29.07\00:43:30.71
to be able to live up
to the requirements of.
00:43:30.74\00:43:33.88
So, one of the things that
you'll find in serving the Lord
00:43:33.91\00:43:36.98
is that people
will sometimes be tested
00:43:37.01\00:43:39.11
and so when the test comes,
00:43:39.15\00:43:41.92
what do you think
God is preparing you for?
00:43:41.95\00:43:44.59
I just told you, say
it together... service.
00:43:44.62\00:43:49.59
See... who brings
the tests your way?
00:43:49.62\00:43:52.79
Huh... no He allows them,
00:43:52.83\00:43:57.83
"Let no man say
when he's tempted...
00:43:57.87\00:43:59.57
he's tempted by God" okay...
00:43:59.60\00:44:04.27
where do most of your
tests as Christians come from?
00:44:04.31\00:44:07.91
Pause.
00:44:07.94\00:44:11.01
That's not what I hear,
00:44:11.05\00:44:14.62
okay... I'm... I'm
trying to draw it out of them,
00:44:14.68\00:44:16.48
you just follow along,
00:44:16.52\00:44:17.85
where do most of our
tests come from as Christians?
00:44:17.89\00:44:21.32
Doesn't it come
from other Christians?
00:44:21.36\00:44:24.19
Huh...
00:44:24.23\00:44:26.56
Do you come to
church by yourself?
00:44:26.59\00:44:27.93
Do you... do you serve...
00:44:27.96\00:44:29.90
do you worship in a
place where there are people
00:44:29.96\00:44:32.23
of different temperaments?
00:44:32.27\00:44:33.70
Different likes and dislikes,
am I getting close here?
00:44:33.74\00:44:36.97
People that may agree with
you or may not agree with you,
00:44:37.01\00:44:40.18
are we all growing together?
00:44:40.21\00:44:41.74
So, the reason I
use the question...
00:44:41.78\00:44:44.38
the reason I
phrase the question...
00:44:44.41\00:44:46.92
as Christians, where do
most of our tests come from?
00:44:46.98\00:44:50.62
That is... in the
house of worship...
00:44:50.65\00:44:52.59
I... maybe I should have
put that in the question,
00:44:52.62\00:44:54.42
sometimes it comes from those
who are in our own households.
00:44:54.46\00:44:58.43
Sometimes it comes from
those that we worship with
00:44:58.46\00:45:01.60
and those we sing with
00:45:01.63\00:45:03.53
and those that we
work with during the week.
00:45:03.57\00:45:05.53
If you're involved in
that kind of ministry.
00:45:05.57\00:45:07.47
So, when those tests come,
00:45:07.50\00:45:09.40
we have to always
think of ourselves
00:45:09.44\00:45:12.44
in a position where
we're being tried and proven
00:45:12.47\00:45:14.98
to see whether or
not we are worthy or fit
00:45:15.01\00:45:17.85
to be put into a
position of responsibility,
00:45:17.88\00:45:20.65
where we can be
trusted to represent Christ
00:45:20.68\00:45:23.39
because when you serve,
you're not serving yourself.
00:45:23.42\00:45:26.09
That's why I've
heard people say,
00:45:26.12\00:45:27.76
"Oh... I... I... I think
I've gotten over this now,
00:45:27.79\00:45:30.43
but two years ago...
00:45:30.46\00:45:31.86
I think I've dispelled the
idea of the... of the fallacy. "
00:45:31.89\00:45:34.46
Some people have said
00:45:34.50\00:45:36.23
when I've asked them to do
certain things as a Pastor,
00:45:36.26\00:45:37.97
they say, "But you
get paid for that. "
00:45:38.00\00:45:39.33
And I said, "Really... "
00:45:39.37\00:45:42.14
we all get paid, right?
00:45:42.17\00:45:44.24
And what is the payment?
00:45:44.27\00:45:46.34
Audience: Eternal life.
00:45:46.37\00:45:48.11
Pastor: Eternal life.
00:45:48.14\00:45:49.81
If you read Matthew when the...
00:45:49.84\00:45:51.78
when the owner of
the vineyard came,
00:45:51.81\00:45:53.72
how much did he give everybody?
00:45:53.75\00:45:55.52
How much did He give everybody?
00:45:55.55\00:45:57.29
Audience and Pastor:
Same amount... a penny...
00:45:57.32\00:45:59.79
which means that the gift of
eternal life is for everyone.
00:45:59.82\00:46:04.56
Never serve thinking
that you're serving the Pastor
00:46:04.59\00:46:08.60
but you always serve the Lord
00:46:08.63\00:46:11.53
but look at some
of the categories,
00:46:11.57\00:46:13.54
look at Number 6.
00:46:13.57\00:46:14.90
Look at some of the
barriers to service.
00:46:14.94\00:46:16.87
Number 6... Number 6...
00:46:16.91\00:46:19.97
I've got to go a
little faster here now,
00:46:20.01\00:46:21.38
"What does the Bible list
as a barrier to serving God?"
00:46:21.41\00:46:25.05
What does the Bible list
as a barrier to serving God?
00:46:25.08\00:46:28.68
And this is very real.
00:46:28.72\00:46:30.39
I... I sometimes
think if we paid...
00:46:30.42\00:46:32.79
if our church
operated differently
00:46:32.82\00:46:35.12
and people were paid to
serve, we'd have a larger...
00:46:35.16\00:46:37.76
we have a lot of
service in this church right?
00:46:37.79\00:46:39.83
Am I telling the truth Dan,
00:46:39.86\00:46:42.16
if people got like $12 an
hour to go pass out tracts,
00:46:42.23\00:46:44.93
how many people will
be passing out tracts?
00:46:44.97\00:46:47.04
"Pastor, you have
any more neighborhoods
00:46:47.07\00:46:48.90
for me to go into?"
00:46:48.94\00:46:50.27
Man! we'd be paying out
money like left and right
00:46:50.31\00:46:52.74
but notice this,
00:46:52.77\00:46:54.84
service should never be based on
00:46:54.88\00:46:57.31
what Dr. Luke describes here.
00:46:57.35\00:46:59.61
Okay, here's the question,
00:46:59.68\00:47:01.88
what does the Bible list
as a barrier to serving God?
00:47:01.92\00:47:05.39
Luke 16 beginning with verse 13
00:47:05.42\00:47:07.36
and it says, "No
servant can serve... " what?
00:47:07.39\00:47:11.56
"two masters... " why?
00:47:11.59\00:47:14.26
"for either he will hate
the one and love the other,
00:47:14.30\00:47:20.20
or else he will
be loyal to the one
00:47:20.24\00:47:23.17
and despise the other.
00:47:23.20\00:47:25.71
You cannot serve
God and... " what?
00:47:25.74\00:47:27.51
"mammon. " What's mammon?
00:47:27.54\00:47:29.58
Mammon's money... huh...
00:47:29.64\00:47:31.65
earthly things...
00:47:31.68\00:47:33.82
some people say, "Mammon"
00:47:33.85\00:47:35.35
but it's earthly things
00:47:35.38\00:47:36.79
and money was one of those
significant categorical areas,
00:47:36.85\00:47:40.99
serving... some people say,
00:47:41.02\00:47:42.49
"Hey, how much does it pay?"
00:47:42.52\00:47:43.99
Pause.
00:47:44.03\00:47:45.99
"Well, if we think about
it... it pays really well,
00:47:46.06\00:47:48.70
it pays eternal life...
00:47:48.73\00:47:50.07
that's the end
result, eternal life...
00:47:50.10\00:47:52.57
but notice
what's happening here,
00:47:52.60\00:47:54.34
the battle is, "What
is it going to do for me?"
00:47:54.37\00:47:57.67
And that's the category here
00:47:57.71\00:47:59.04
that the Lord wants
to make very clear to us,
00:47:59.07\00:48:00.64
"What am I going
to get out of it?"
00:48:00.68\00:48:02.61
It should never
be self-centered,
00:48:02.64\00:48:04.71
it should be
what? Christ centered.
00:48:04.75\00:48:06.75
Everything we do should
be focused beyond ourselves
00:48:06.78\00:48:11.02
and focused to Christ.
00:48:11.05\00:48:12.72
You never
really get the blessing
00:48:12.75\00:48:14.86
if you're thinking about just
what is going to benefit you,
00:48:14.92\00:48:17.13
how it's going to benefit you.
00:48:17.16\00:48:18.49
If you're thinking
about blessing somebody else,
00:48:18.53\00:48:20.63
you have to keep
that principal in mind
00:48:20.70\00:48:22.63
it's more blessed to
give than to receive.
00:48:22.66\00:48:24.53
If we're thinking about
enhancing somebody else's life,
00:48:24.57\00:48:26.97
then the
servant's heart is there...
00:48:27.00\00:48:28.44
if we're living
the servants life,
00:48:28.50\00:48:29.87
but if we're thinking about what
just to get out of it for us,
00:48:29.90\00:48:32.67
then we're not at the
place where the servant's life
00:48:32.74\00:48:34.68
is being lived
00:48:34.71\00:48:36.04
and we don't have
the servant's heart.
00:48:36.08\00:48:37.41
Don't make a choice between
00:48:37.45\00:48:39.15
whether or not
it's of benefit to you
00:48:39.18\00:48:41.58
and don't allow money to
sway you from serving the Lord.
00:48:41.62\00:48:45.22
I know people that
will work on Sabbath
00:48:45.25\00:48:47.99
in a... in a viable position,
00:48:48.02\00:48:51.16
they may be nurses or
doctors in the medical field,
00:48:51.19\00:48:53.40
but they'll make the
decision based on the fact that,
00:48:53.43\00:48:55.56
"Hey, I get time-and-a-half,
00:48:55.60\00:48:57.10
I get double time if I
work on the Sabbath... "
00:48:57.13\00:48:59.60
and I know of somebody
that left the medical field
00:48:59.63\00:49:02.07
and went into
private in-home medical work
00:49:02.10\00:49:04.37
because they said,
"You know, after a while,
00:49:04.44\00:49:06.74
even though I wasn't
violating the Sabbath
00:49:06.78\00:49:09.08
by working as a nurse,
00:49:09.11\00:49:10.45
after a while, I lost the
significance of the Sabbath,
00:49:10.48\00:49:14.08
it just became any other day
00:49:14.12\00:49:15.98
because I was serving man... "
00:49:16.02\00:49:18.22
and then they said, "But... "
00:49:18.25\00:49:20.36
So I said, "Well, what
happened before you quit?"
00:49:20.39\00:49:22.89
They said, "You
know what happened?
00:49:22.92\00:49:24.26
Whatever I made on Sabbath,
00:49:24.29\00:49:25.63
I dedicated it to some
ministry in the church. "
00:49:25.66\00:49:28.56
How many people would
work in the medical field
00:49:28.60\00:49:31.37
and say, "It's not about
money, it's about service"
00:49:31.40\00:49:34.14
and give what they
make on the Sabbath
00:49:34.17\00:49:36.54
to some ministry in the church?
00:49:36.57\00:49:38.24
Not very many
people would do that.
00:49:38.27\00:49:39.87
But then, once again, people
that would get to that place,
00:49:39.91\00:49:42.64
have a servant's heart.
00:49:42.68\00:49:44.31
Look at
Number... where are we now?
00:49:44.35\00:49:46.55
Number 7... Number 7,
00:49:46.58\00:49:48.35
"How does the Bible
describe those that know,
00:49:48.38\00:49:52.55
but choose not to serve God?"
00:49:52.59\00:49:56.19
How does the Bible
describe those that know,
00:49:56.22\00:49:59.69
but choose not to serve God?"
00:49:59.76\00:50:03.47
Pause.
00:50:03.50\00:50:05.57
Okay, by the way,
Question Number 6,
00:50:05.60\00:50:10.71
the answer there was...
00:50:10.74\00:50:12.07
what does the Bible list
as a barrier to serving God?
00:50:12.11\00:50:14.64
Earthly things
because if you just put money
00:50:14.68\00:50:19.41
it's more than money that
tempts people from serving God,
00:50:19.45\00:50:22.28
it's more than
money that's a barrier.
00:50:22.35\00:50:23.72
They have interests
that may steal their hearts
00:50:23.75\00:50:28.69
from the time that God wants to
spend time with them in study,
00:50:28.72\00:50:31.16
I know a lot of
times on Wednesday night
00:50:31.19\00:50:33.46
I remember somebody...
years... this is years ago
00:50:33.50\00:50:36.63
we used to have a challenge,
I was pastoring a church
00:50:36.67\00:50:40.54
and that's way back in the
days when they had this Show
00:50:40.57\00:50:44.37
it was in Texas...
this big old wealthy family
00:50:44.44\00:50:47.74
huh... it was called
Dallas, right, Dallas
00:50:47.78\00:50:51.01
and I remember one
Wednesday night, I was like,
00:50:51.05\00:50:54.22
"Man! where is everybody?"
00:50:54.28\00:50:55.62
And on Sabbath, I
said, "Where was everybody?"
00:50:55.65\00:50:59.32
And they said, "Didn't
you know that Wednesday night
00:50:59.35\00:51:01.19
was a finale in
the Dallas Series?"
00:51:01.22\00:51:03.32
Because the big
question was, "Who shot JR?"
00:51:03.39\00:51:08.06
Well, nobody...
he's right here...
00:51:08.10\00:51:10.20
Audience: Laughter.
00:51:10.27\00:51:11.60
We have our very own JR...
00:51:11.63\00:51:13.40
but everybody wanted
to know who shot JR...
00:51:13.44\00:51:16.10
and it was going to be
revealed in the finale of Dallas
00:51:16.14\00:51:19.17
and I'm thinking,
"You got to be kidding me,
00:51:19.21\00:51:21.94
you wanted to know
more about who shot JR
00:51:21.98\00:51:24.68
than who crucified Jesus. "
00:51:24.71\00:51:26.15
You see, that's not...
00:51:26.18\00:51:28.08
that's not the issue
but that's what's happening
00:51:28.12\00:51:30.02
so when the Bible
uses the word "Maman"
00:51:30.05\00:51:32.09
it's not just finances...
it's not just money...
00:51:32.12\00:51:34.09
but all kinds of interests pull
us away from our service to God
00:51:34.12\00:51:39.89
and I like it here
because in our church,
00:51:39.93\00:51:42.00
I love the fact that our
women are involved in ministry,
00:51:42.03\00:51:44.67
they work at the...
00:51:44.70\00:51:46.03
they go to the
prisons during the week,
00:51:46.07\00:51:48.17
our men... many of
them go to the prisons
00:51:48.20\00:51:50.51
sometimes during the
week but on the weekends
00:51:50.54\00:51:53.14
to various Institutions
00:51:53.17\00:51:54.74
and there are a lot of
things that can be done
00:51:54.78\00:51:56.41
but the motive should be,
"What can I do for you Master,
00:51:56.44\00:52:00.32
because of what
you've done for me. "
00:52:00.35\00:52:02.38
Here's what the Bible says,
00:52:02.45\00:52:04.39
"How does the Bible
describe those that know God
00:52:04.45\00:52:06.55
but choose not to serve Him?"
00:52:06.59\00:52:07.92
Here it is, Romans 1:25
and it reads as follows,
00:52:07.96\00:52:10.03
what do they do?
00:52:10.06\00:52:11.39
"Who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie,
00:52:11.43\00:52:14.13
and they worshiped
and served the creature
00:52:14.16\00:52:17.00
rather than the Creator,
who is blessed... " how long?
00:52:17.03\00:52:20.24
"Forever. "
00:52:20.27\00:52:21.60
We lived in northern California
00:52:21.64\00:52:23.24
and this kind of
rings a bell for me
00:52:23.27\00:52:24.61
because we lived up in the area
00:52:24.64\00:52:25.97
where they have some of
the most beautiful trees,
00:52:26.01\00:52:28.04
the Redwoods...
00:52:28.08\00:52:29.41
I mean, trees that were in some
cases, hundreds of years old
00:52:29.44\00:52:33.92
and in some cases,
more than a 1,000 years old.
00:52:33.95\00:52:36.12
I remember there was a
tree that had a... a...
00:52:36.18\00:52:38.29
a graft picture showing
way back... as far as Egypt
00:52:38.32\00:52:42.26
and I'm thinking to myself,
00:52:42.32\00:52:43.66
"How can a tree
be around that long?"
00:52:43.69\00:52:45.03
And... but one of the
things that came to me
00:52:45.06\00:52:49.36
as I read this text is,
there were those that... they
00:52:49.40\00:52:53.94
we call the... I'm
trying to be delicate here
00:52:53.97\00:52:56.57
they were more
concerned about the trees...
00:52:56.60\00:52:59.11
preserving the trees than
preserving a knowledge of God
00:52:59.14\00:53:03.78
and I know that we
who believe in Creation
00:53:03.81\00:53:06.45
and are mindful
of our environment,
00:53:06.48\00:53:09.68
don't want to be insensitive
00:53:09.72\00:53:12.49
and just, you know,
just start clear cutting
00:53:12.52\00:53:14.62
and killing off Creation,
00:53:14.66\00:53:16.56
but what is being said here
00:53:16.59\00:53:18.09
is they knew God but
they chose to worship the...
00:53:18.13\00:53:22.13
worship the creature
rather than the Creator.
00:53:22.16\00:53:26.13
There are some people
that are environmentalists,
00:53:26.17\00:53:29.50
there are some people that are
00:53:29.54\00:53:30.87
so concerned about
the color of the grass,
00:53:30.91\00:53:32.51
there are people that want to
have really clean neighborhoods,
00:53:32.54\00:53:34.81
the Lord said,
"That's great and fine
00:53:34.84\00:53:36.91
but let's not
leave off serving God,
00:53:36.95\00:53:38.95
just to deal with
things that are temporary. "
00:53:38.98\00:53:41.78
They understood...
00:53:41.82\00:53:43.25
they exchanged the
truth of God for the lie
00:53:43.28\00:53:46.09
and worshipped and served the
creature rather than the Creator
00:53:46.12\00:53:49.42
once again, listing another
barrier between serving God
00:53:49.46\00:53:53.13
and just serving and
living for our environment.
00:53:53.16\00:53:56.33
Let's try to get to Numbers 8
and 9 before we finish tonight.
00:53:56.36\00:53:59.47
Number 8... I... I
just love this one.
00:53:59.50\00:54:02.34
Ah... okay...
exactly... the answer is,
00:54:02.37\00:54:05.14
"How does the Bible
describe those that know...?"
00:54:05.17\00:54:07.11
They serve creation
rather than the Creator.
00:54:07.18\00:54:10.45
they're more concerned
about Creation than the Creator
00:54:10.51\00:54:13.08
and right now, there's a
big environmental movement...
00:54:13.11\00:54:15.68
there's a whole big
thing about global warming,
00:54:15.72\00:54:18.32
it may be true,
it may not be true,
00:54:18.35\00:54:20.52
that's not the issue here,
00:54:20.56\00:54:21.89
but I'm more concerned about
the Lord that's going to take us
00:54:21.92\00:54:23.76
out of this planet
that's falling apart.
00:54:23.79\00:54:25.89
That should be our
Number one concern.
00:54:25.93\00:54:27.86
Look at Question Number 8,
00:54:27.90\00:54:30.17
"In what spirit
does the Bible describe
00:54:30.23\00:54:32.87
the life of the servant?"
00:54:32.90\00:54:34.24
In what spirit
does the Bible describe
00:54:34.27\00:54:36.00
the life of the servant?
00:54:36.04\00:54:37.37
Oh, turn with
me to Colossians 3,
00:54:37.41\00:54:39.71
we don't want to
miss this one tonight,
00:54:39.74\00:54:42.78
Colossians 3 and
verse 23 to verse 24.
00:54:42.81\00:54:45.78
Beautiful text,
00:54:45.81\00:54:47.15
pause
00:54:47.18\00:54:49.42
okay, here we are,
it's on the screen.
00:54:49.45\00:54:51.45
And the Bible says,
let's read this one together,
00:54:51.49\00:54:54.36
let's make this our
own personal testimony,
00:54:54.39\00:54:56.89
"And whatever you
do, do it... " how?
00:54:56.93\00:55:01.96
"heartily, as to
the Lord and not to men,
00:55:02.00\00:55:07.00
knowing that from the Lord
you will receive... " what?
00:55:07.04\00:55:11.34
the reward of the inheritance;
for you serve the Lord Christ. "
00:55:11.37\00:55:17.75
So, when we are called to
service, who are we serving?
00:55:17.78\00:55:20.75
Say it together,
we're serving the Lord.
00:55:20.78\00:55:22.72
That's why David said,
"Serve the Lord with gladness
00:55:22.75\00:55:25.99
come before His
presence with singing. "
00:55:26.02\00:55:29.06
We've got to always keep that
in mind because if we think,
00:55:29.09\00:55:31.79
"Well, what has
God done for me?"
00:55:31.86\00:55:33.19
He's done so much for me
that I want to serve Him...
00:55:33.23\00:55:36.36
I want to serve Him joyfully,
00:55:36.40\00:55:37.87
I want to serve
Him with a glad heart.
00:55:37.93\00:55:40.90
So here's what you put down,
00:55:40.94\00:55:42.27
"In what spirit
does the Bible describe
00:55:42.30\00:55:44.11
the life of the servant?"
00:55:44.14\00:55:45.87
Pause.
00:55:45.91\00:55:47.38
Huh...
00:55:47.41\00:55:48.81
we serve God heartily...
00:55:48.84\00:55:50.21
with our hearts...
the seat of affection.
00:55:50.25\00:55:53.55
we do it heartily.
00:55:53.58\00:55:54.95
Have you ever heard
somebody laugh heartily?
00:55:54.98\00:55:56.85
That's a hearty laugh,
00:55:56.89\00:55:58.39
it wasn't a
"he... he... he... he"
00:55:58.45\00:56:00.16
it was more like a
"Pastor-C.A. laugh. "
00:56:00.19\00:56:02.36
Audience: Laughter.
00:56:02.39\00:56:03.73
You know, he laughs heartily,
00:56:03.76\00:56:05.09
I can't even duplicate
that, but it's heartily,
00:56:05.13\00:56:07.10
it's got some robust there,
00:56:07.13\00:56:08.60
you know some
people laugh so heartily
00:56:08.63\00:56:10.40
that they make you want
to laugh when they laugh.
00:56:10.43\00:56:12.43
Well, here's my point,
00:56:12.47\00:56:14.07
some people
serve God so heartily
00:56:14.10\00:56:16.34
it makes you want to serve
God when you see them serve.
00:56:16.37\00:56:19.77
Other people sneeze
and it makes you sneeze
00:56:19.81\00:56:23.21
or people yawn...
and it makes you yawn
00:56:23.24\00:56:26.61
let's make our
service to God as contagious
00:56:26.68\00:56:30.39
and a lot more exciting
than a yawn or sneeze...
00:56:30.42\00:56:33.09
a sneeze and a laugh.
00:56:33.12\00:56:34.46
Last one, very
significant, very significant,
00:56:34.49\00:56:38.29
"How does Paul the apostle
describe the battle of service?"
00:56:38.33\00:56:43.83
How does he describe
the battle of service?
00:56:43.87\00:56:46.10
This is going to be
our transitioning point
00:56:46.13\00:56:48.34
we'll pick up on the next time
00:56:48.37\00:56:50.64
and this is Romans 7 verse 25.
00:56:50.71\00:56:52.04
Romans 7 verse 25,
our last text for tonight,
00:56:52.07\00:56:54.38
we'll get it in
here, it's on the screen,
00:56:54.41\00:56:56.85
he says, "I thank God...
through Jesus Christ our Lord!
00:56:56.88\00:57:01.12
So then, with my mind...
00:57:01.15\00:57:03.25
with the mind I
myself serve" what?
00:57:03.28\00:57:06.76
"the law of God, but
with the flesh... " the what?
00:57:06.79\00:57:10.33
"law of sin. "
00:57:10.36\00:57:11.69
During the week, my
Brother and my Sister,
00:57:11.73\00:57:13.46
if you're watching this
Program or listening tonight,
00:57:13.50\00:57:15.33
you've got to make a decision
00:57:15.36\00:57:16.83
where your
service is going to be
00:57:16.87\00:57:18.27
because during the week,
00:57:18.30\00:57:20.14
you're going to have a
battle between the mind...
00:57:20.17\00:57:22.60
that is the
spiritual life and the flesh,
00:57:22.64\00:57:25.74
how to live a
spiritual life in a natural body
00:57:25.77\00:57:28.24
and whatever decision
you make is going to impact
00:57:28.28\00:57:31.11
whether or not you're
going to serve the Lord.
00:57:31.15\00:57:32.98
Whatever decision you
make on the side of Christ
00:57:33.01\00:57:34.78
will lead you to
"heartily service"
00:57:34.82\00:57:37.15
joyful
service... glad service...
00:57:37.19\00:57:39.45
but if you make a
decision against serving God
00:57:39.49\00:57:42.79
and going down the path that
tends to rob you of the joy,
00:57:42.82\00:57:46.29
then you will not
be able to experience
00:57:46.33\00:57:48.76
the blessing that
God intends for you,
00:57:48.80\00:57:51.67
so when the flesh
calls, ignore it...
00:57:51.70\00:57:54.17
when the Spirit
calls, respond...
00:57:54.20\00:57:56.20
and whatever doesn't make sense,
00:57:56.24\00:57:58.17
one day we know will
come into a sharper focus.
00:57:58.21\00:58:01.44
God bless you.
00:58:01.48\00:58:02.81