Building A Great Life VII, A Life Of Service

This morning, and it's important, very important that you have this little half-sheet so you can fill in the blanks with me. And you're never going to see me do a message more quickly than this one. I'm not saying it's any less important, it's just going to be, I'm going to go through it, and you're going to say, boy, that was really great, he went through it. Our text for this morning, on top of the sheet, just one little simple sentence, let's look at it together. Matthew 20, 26. It was Jesus who said, whoever wants to be great must become a servant. You might want to turn your Bibles open to Matthew chapter 20, if you have brought your Bible with you. Matthew chapter 20. When you think about greatness, what do you normally think about? Do you think scientist, explorer, astronaut, John Glenn, is he great, going back into space at age 76 or 77? I'm not sure about great, pretty bold though, I'll say that, it gives me hope, how about you? What do you think of greatness? Do you think of sports achievements? Do you think of politicians? Do you think of media exposure, influence, power? What do you think of? Well, friends, none of these made Jesus' list. On his A list was one simple word. He said it clearly, if you want to be great, you've got to become a servant. And I want to be very clear about a couple of things. Nothing here is clouded in its interpretation. I'll grant you, there's some things in the Bible that have different spins on them, and you can say this means that and that. This isn't one of those. In this particular case, he's very clear. You want to be great in my kingdom, you've got to be a servant. We've been in an eight-week series that we've entitled, Building a Great Life. And this part today is crucial, because I believe it gets lost in our culture, even though little parts of our culture know that serving is important. In fact, in today's society, the great companies out there are learning, the great companies provide what? Great customer service, huh? And there's lots of other ways that we're learning it, but Jesus was the first to say it. If you want to become great, you've got to become a servant. And why did he say it? Because that's the way he lived his life. If you'll put up, please, Matthew 20, verse 28. Let's read this out loud and together. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Now leave that up a moment, Donna. Friends, look at that verse up in the overhead. What could be more plain than that? How could he say it any more simply? He said, I didn't come to this earth to be served. How many believe he should have been served? He said, I didn't come for that, but I came to serve. The Son of God, in all of his glory, his sinless perfection, his power and dominion over nature and all of creation, he came to serve. You can capture the essence of what the Christian life is about with two simple words. Giving and serving. And I want to submit to you, those are not words that most of us want to hear, nor are they words that we find in many other disciplines of life. But if you are not regularly giving and regularly serving, I've got to challenge the state of your Christian walk. You may get an A for enthusiasm or attendance or doctrinal understanding or fellowship, but if you're not regularly giving and regularly serving, you are at best a baby Christian. At best. How can I say that? Because Jesus said it. He said it this way. In the context of washing his disciples' feet, he said this. He said, I have set for you an example that you should do as I have. Now he wasn't just talking about washing feet. He was talking about serving. He was saying, I was a servant, you should be a servant. Or he said, no servant is greater than his master. In other words, he's saying, you mean to tell me if you're not willing to serve that you're greater than I am? And there's probably not one of us in the room that says, oh yeah, I'm greater than Jesus. He's saying, but by your actions, if you don't serve, that's what you're saying. If you're not giving, if you're not serving, you may think you're okay. But Jesus would question, where's your heart? Now this morning, I want to encourage you in some simple ways to begin to release the latent potential in your spirit to become a servant and to take a very practical, hands-on approach. That's what all this is about. And the gym, by the way, is equally prepared to receive you in the next few moments. This isn't a typical service. Again, I want to say, if you're a guest today, we're taking a little different approach. But everything you're going to see is part of the service. And I want you to consider in a moment how you can become, a. Connected into a small group, all along those walls are small groups, and there's other places where you can find a small group, where you can connect with a small group and serve a small group of people, or connect into a ministry that might have a little larger vision and maybe impact a bigger group of people. I want every one of you to consider how God might call you to serve. And in order just to maybe encourage you to do that a little bit more, I want to give you ten reasons in ten minutes. Some of you have been here a while are laughing. Could never happen, you're thinking. Ten reasons why you ought to serve. Here we go. Write them down. Ready? Number one, you were created for service. Friends, God designed everything. Look at Ephesians 2.10. It says, we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good work. Good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do. Have you ever marveled at some of the things that God created? How many of you have ever looked at like tropical fish and said, now why did he create that one that has the streamer coming off its head, or the one that pops up like this? Or you look and see these bugs and say, he's created everything for a purpose. And you know what? You are the pinnacle of his creation. Please hear me. You have a purpose. God created you for it. But if you don't discover it, you'll miss what life was about. This last summer I was working in the garage. Cleaning the garage, I do that about every five or ten years. And I came across this flashlight. It was buried in one of the toolboxes. Pull out the flashlight. You know, hit the old button and nothing happened. So what's the next thing you do? Well, I looked inside. And not only were the batteries corroded and seeping over, but the whole thing, I mean, the whole thing is full of that gunk, that acid. And you know what? The whole flashlight was ruined. I mean, not just the batteries, but the whole thing was worthless. And it just became a picture to me what happens with our life. That flashlight didn't burn out. It basically rusted out. It blew out. And some of us were created to let our light shine. And if we don't do it, we're going to rust out. And we'll be unfit for the Master's use. Number two, you were saved for service. 2 Timothy 1.9. Look at this. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power, or that word, charis, grace of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. You see, you were saved for a purpose. You ever wonder why I have? I've asked the question, God, when I finally came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, when I finally discovered that I was a sinner, that I was under the wrath of God, that I needed a Savior, something that many of you have discovered, that some of you have yet to discover, and I fell on my knees in repentance, and I always ask, or frequently ask God, why didn't you come right then and just take me back to heaven? I mean, isn't that where I'm going anyhow? Why didn't you just take me home? Ever wonder about that? Some of you are thinking, I wish he'd do that today. I'm ready to go. I mean, just take me out of here. But you know what? If you're involved in the things of God, you love life. Because you see God working, and you get to share in the things of God. And you realize that you're here because God has some things for you to do, to prepare you for your position in heaven. You are saved to serve. This summer I was watching some TV shows. Later on in the afternoon, which I rarely do, when I was doing my study break, I'd have a little workout time in the afternoon, and I'd come back and cool down. And I remember flipping on the... I forget which one of those TV hosts it was, but they had a couple of bodybuilders on in the afternoon. And, you know, they were pretty much disrobed, and the guys would... They would pose. You know, one of these shots. They think that's pretty funny, huh? Okay. I need one of you real men to come up and do this so I can see. But anyhow. And the host would say, Oh, tell me now. What do you use those muscles for? And then they'd go like this again. Right? Right? And they'd say, Wait, no, what do you use them for? And they'd pose again. And you know what the answer was? Nothing. They just had muscles to have muscles, because muscles somehow look good. But they didn't use them for anything. And I thought to myself, I wonder how many people here have huge muscles of faith. You've had the Bible over the years in your life. You've had teaching, and you've had conferences, and you've had cassette tapes, and you've had equipping and training and experience, and you've got these huge Bible biceps. But what are you using them for? If I asked you today, What are you doing with that muscle? Where is that strength being applied? You'd have to say, Scott showed me how to do that. God gives us muscles of faith to make a difference. Where are you serving? Number three, you're called for service. Wow. I'd love to take 15 minutes on this one. I'll just take 30 seconds. Understand, friends, it's not just pastors and missionaries, and nuns and priests and people that you... We are all called out of darkness into His wonderful light, the Bible says, 1 Peter 2.9, to proclaim the wonders of His grace. There's a call on your life. There's a call on your life. The question is, will you get into it? Will you discover it and begin to employ your life for that call? The single most important word in describing your destiny, Jerry Bridges writes, is the word called of God. Number four, you're gifted for service. God doesn't just say, Hey, get out there and find something to do and do your best. He equips you in a certain way to do it. Look at your outline. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to make himself happier, to build a bank account, to do what? To serve others. Sadly, many Christians I know have received gifts from God that they use very effectively in building their own net worth, building their own spheres of influence. I just want to say very pointedly, men today, those of you who are men who have administrative gifts and leadership gifts and strategic planning, have you ever used some of those gifts that's making you the money that you're making in some way to advance the kingdom of God? Women, I want to ask you the same question. God maybe has given you wonderful gifts. Maybe you have wonderful sense of hospitality. Maybe you're very gifted in teaching. Have you ever used those gifts to advance the kingdom of God? Or you just set a nice table for the neighbors or the family. God's given us gifts so that we can serve others and make a difference for the kingdom. So whatever it is, use it for the glory of God. Number five, we're commanded to serve others. Numerous times in scripture, God says, this is what you're supposed to do. Philippians 2.7, have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus who took on the nature of a servant. Paul commands us, that should be the mind that we have. I'm here to serve. Not to be served, but to serve. It's not an option to sit back and say, hey, I'm just going to be a receiver. I'm just going to be taking here for the next few years. A non-ministering Christian, and by the way, the word minister and serve are interchangeable in the Greek. The word diakonos means servant or minister. To be a non-ministering, non-serving Christian is a contradiction. It is immature to think that God's push here is simply to keep receiving and not to give back. The mature Christian recognizes the more he or she gives, the more God is able to replenish and overflow. That's why the people that went on this trip had their lives changed. They gave. And I think you can tell from their testimonies their lives have been changed. Number six, your church family needs you to serve. All of 1 Corinthians 12 is very clear about this. Every part of the body is necessary. Isn't it interesting, the Holy Spirit chose the analogy of the human body to describe how the church works. It talks about eyes and hands and feet and the whole thing. But just imagine this morning if you got a call from your liver that said, hey, I'm going to stop working today. Count me out. I'm just going to receive. I just want you to feed me and give me a place to stay. I'm not going to work anymore. Now if your liver sent you that message, what would you be? Big trouble. That's right. Because you need your liver to survive. Isn't that true? Friends, we need you. Every one of you, we need you. When you're not functioning, we are weaker because of it. One of the things that just so inspires me is the thought that one day this won't be a church where 30 or 40% of the people are serving and participating, but we're 90 or 95%. Imagine the multiplied effect. Imagine what would happen if the whole body was working. So turn to someone right now and say, I need you. Tell them, I need you. I need you. Tell them. I need you to be working, not just taking up space. Number seven, you show your gratitude to Christ by serving. A person who just sits and takes and enjoys and so is basically saying, hey, God, you know what? You're lucky to have me. Now, what are you going to do for me today? And I'm convinced, friends, if that's your probably unspoken attitude, you've never really understood grace. You've never understood your condition before God. I'm convinced that once you realize what Jesus did for you, your whole life will be a life of gratitude. You know, long before I became a full-time minister, I was a fanatic volunteer. You can ask my wife. As soon as I got a hold of what had happened to me in Christ, I gave all my free time as a college student. I'd go on my first job. I'd come home from work and I'd go out and work with kids. When I went in the Marine Corps, I built a youth group on the base where I was serving. And I also had an officer's Bible study. I mean, I was serving God not because I had to or was guilty, but because I was grateful. And if God's touched your life and you're not grateful, why? You've got the greatest... You can't buy what you have. And God says, show your gratitude by serving others. Give something back. Number eight, you make life meaningful by serving. There's countless thousands of people in America who are discovering that success is not as satisfying as once promised. There are millions, millions who make it, who work to make it, rather, to financial independence and very few of them do. And when they get there, they often ask, now what? It's amazing to me how many people pursue this and pursue it. It was George Bernard Shaw who said, there are two sources of unhappiness in life. One is not getting what you want. The other is getting it. And that's very true. The real search these days is the search for significance. Being able to say in some profound way, I matter. I affected someone. I helped, by God's grace, to change another person's life. The self-centered, it's just me and my family, I've got to watch out for, kind of life, is not a fulfilling life. I heard a stealer say after the game on Sunday, and I don't think he was saying this in an antagonistic way. He was kind of responding to the report. He said, well, if you have your health and your family, what else is there? Well, I want to submit to you what else there is, is a world that has need. A world that's dying apart from Christ. A world where people are hurting that you can make a difference in. That's what there is. Number nine, you'll be held accountable for your service. Look at 2 Corinthians 5. We make it our goal to please Him, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. How many know what the BMA is? That's B-M-A, is judgment seat of Christ. That's not where you stand before God and have to give an account for your sins. Listen, I've got some great news. If you're in Christ, you've already passed through the judgment. You can say praise the Lord there if you want to. If you're in Christ, if you're a true believer. But understand, we must all, every one of us who are in Christ, stand before His judgment seat and the Lord is going to look us in the eyeball and say, now what did you do with your life? Lance, what did you do with your life? Michelle, what did you do with your life? Robert, what did you do with your life? You know Lord, I really appreciate what you did for me, but I was really busy and you know, I had, the house was so much today and the kids were always there and you know, I just had this and that, this and that. And I didn't have time to serve, Lord. You didn't have time to serve. I came, not to be served, but to serve, but you didn't have time to serve. I think you're going to hear the Lord say, that's the wrong answer. But that doesn't mean that you won't be received into heaven. It just means that you won't have the place that you could have in the grace of God and in the glory and reward of God throughout heaven. Number ten, that reward is beyond imagination. There will be rewards in heaven beyond imagination. I've mentioned this, friends, and I want to say, I believe it's a pure motive. It's certainly an acceptable motive to say that you want to serve in order to gain a heavenly reward. The Bible says in Hebrews 12 that Jesus fixed his eyes on the joy that was set before him and endured the cross because he knew God was going to reward him. The Father was going to take him back to his right hand. And I don't know about you, but when I read this verse, Matthew 25, 21, look at it. Well done, good and faithful servant. I live to hear those words, don't you? You've been faithful with a few things, now I'm going to put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness. That's the reward that we have if we learn to serve. That's all in the context of our talents right there in Matthew 25. Friends, this is so important. It's so serious. I see, I watch some of the efforts that you put in for your careers and your jobs, for your children and their schooling, for some of your hobbies and your pursuits of recreation and so on. And all that's okay. It's all acceptable. But I want to ask you a question. Are you more passionate about all those things than you are about what Christ has for you to do? The most passionate thing in your heart should be Jesus Christ and His purposes for you. Because I think otherwise we just miss it. And I'm convinced at this stage in my life you can go all the way through life and miss it. What are you thinking about? I didn't come to be served, but to serve. It's time that some of us get up off our blessed assurance and do something. Didn't we sing that this morning? Okay. I had this picture in my heart all week. It started early in the week. I was thinking about it this morning. Oh, Justin, I need you up here. Please. I imagine myself being redeemed by the Lord and stepping up with God to this huge airplane. And many, many people were on it. And as I stepped onto the plane, Jesus was at the door and He hands me this huge sack. I quickly recognized this. You know what this is? It's a packed parachute. Now this plane is bound for Heaven's eternal glory. And I know that's where I'm going. And I said, man, this is great. I'm on the plane for glory. But when Jesus hands me this parachute, I said, well, Lord, why am I getting this? Aren't you flying this plane? He said, yes, I am. I said, Lord, is this plane going down somewhere? He said, no, it's not. I said, is there something I don't know about? He said, well, there's one thing. He said, this plane is flying over enemy lines and there are many people there who need to be rescued and you are their only hope. And, Lord, that means then I have to leave the safety of the plane and risk some kind of danger in order to rescue others? And Jesus looks right back at me and He says, I did. He left the right hand of the Father to rescue you and me. Well, then, Lord, if I jump out of the plane, how am I going to get to Heaven? And He looks right back at me and says, I'm coming again. And when I come, I'm going to take you back with me and I'm going to deliver you to the Father. And I'm going to say, Father, this one's with me. Friends, you may have learned all about Christianity, all about ministry. You may have heard sermons about equipping for ministry and how to serve and give and love. But the question is, are you doing it? Or are you just sitting here week after week, taking it in, nodding your head, walking out and smiling, saying, another great message. You got to use it or lose it. The question is, will you just go on the plane with this packed parachute and just sit there and hold on all the way to Heaven? Thanks, Justin. Just put it down. Or will you decide that you're going to take the risk of your life and jump out of the plane and start the free fall into service? Here you go, Justin. When you do this, you're going to find you're going to fall real fast at first and wonder, what's going on here? And then suddenly, as we sang a little bit earlier, you're going to find that you're going to begin to soar. God's going to begin to lift you up on the wings of eagles. And He's going to fill you with the Spirit, the wind of His breath. And the parachute of your life is going to start to float exactly where God wants you to be. Question is, are you going to sit in the plane and just hang on until you get there? Or are you going to be a risk taker and make the leap of faith? Are you ready to do it? Are you ready to jump behind the enemy lines and make a difference? Are you ready to be a servant? Let's stand and ask God for the grace to do that. I'd like you just to sing with me the beginning of that chorus we learned. Lord, make me a vessel of honor. Equip me to be the person...