Where Does a
Christian get the Power to Serve?
Audio mp3
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
15 Feb, 2009 AM
I.
Introduction (Hebrews 11:32-34;
Philp 4:13)
A.
I want you
to notice the words “out of weakness
were made strong”. And contrast with Philp 4:13 where Christians
can do all things thru Christ’s strength
B.
This
C.
Most of us
are busy. Life has a way of keeping us occupied. You actually have to work
very hard to be lazy. There’s normal job work, and house work and school
work, and homework and …
D.
God says to
be not weary in “good work” - well doing, in doing right, and doing good
works as Christians
1.
These are
things we do, not like benevolent kings and queens, but as servants, whose
highest calling and priority is others!
2.
There are
too many people who look at the Christian life and wish they could live it,
but only experience failure and disappointment
3.
I believe it
is because we have the “Movie Star” view of the Christian Life – we see only
the glamour of the lifestyle, and not the long hours and extensive training
and repetition and hard work that goes into making films (after watching a
family film, we love to watch the “Making of the film” on the DVD that shows
all the people, and all the goof-ups, and the work that went into putting it
all together)
E.
A
Christian’s life is the life of a servant.
1.
Yes, we are
children of the King of kings
2.
But we are
servants first!
3.
When
4.
The greatest
men and women in the Bible were SERVANTS of the most high God
5.
The highest
praise any human can ever receive by Jesus Christ is “Well done, thou good
and faithful SERVANT”
6.
Why is it
that we HATE that title? Because we do not know the power that is only
available to the SERVANT of Christ
a.
We know the
power of our anger and wrath
b.
We know the
power that money has in this world
c.
We know the
power of fashion and beauty
7.
But, do
Christians not know the power of SERVING GOD?
II.
Background
A.
The Realities of the Christian
Life
1.
All of us
are weak, weary, limited in strength, and insufficient for the life we have
been called to live (2Cor 11:27-29)
a.
We get weary
in well doing
b.
Serving the
Lord is hard work
c.
d.
Praying is
hard work – Jesus in
e.
Witnessing
to a generation that is not listening is hard work
f.
Loving your
enemy is hard work
g.
Holding
together you marriage and family is hard work
2.
None of us
are strong enough
3.
And it
frustrates us! Because we feel like failures, and like we ought to be strong
and more successful at life in general
B.
The Strength of the Servant
Life.
1.
There is a
supernatural strength in the life of a born again servant of God – more than
of a king, or queen, or prince, or tyrant.
2.
This
strength is like a wall socket in your house – fully powered and ready to
supply all the necessary energy for whatever you plug into it.
3.
The same
with these 7 things: each one has the necessary power behind it to enable
God’s people to not dominate, not to conquer, but to SERVE!
III.
Message – The Strength of a
Servant
A.
It is in SERVING
(Matthew 20:25-28; 1Cor 9:19; 2Cor 13:9)
1.
That’s where
we all must begin
2.
Not in
leading, commanding, demanding, or controlling
3.
But in
ministering, giving of ourselves, letting others benefit from our efforts
4.
Not looking
at the people you are serving, not doing it just for them, but looking at
the Lord as the Person you serve
5.
Hey, you are
not a slave to that husband, or to your parents, or to your boss – you are a
SERVANT to the One who bought you, and freed you, and saved you, and loves
you, and lives inside you, and empowers you AS you serve!
6.
Remember
last week, I showed you that we were saved TO SERVE!
7.
Make sure
that you constantly remind yourself that when you do things for anyone, no
matter how small, you are doing it unto Jesus (Matthew 25:40)!
8.
Don’t miss
out on this strength that is there for every Christian that comes by
serving, serving, serving others, AS UNTO the Lord Jesus!
B.
It is found in SUBMISSION
(Luke 7:2-9) – Oh, what a hard word!
1.
The
Centurion soldier knew that Jesus had great power and abilities because
Jesus was UNDER authority
2.
Here is the
principle…
a.
When you’re
under authority God gives you power and help you need
b.
When you are
in rebellion, and are fighting your authority, you are left alone by God
(1Pe 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble.”)
3.
The way up
for the Christian is simply by humbling yourself, yielding your rights – not
a very modern way of living, but the only successful way
4.
The greatest
victory of all time, was when even Jesus SUBMITTED to His Father, and gave
up HIS OWN RIGHTS, and did His Father’s will! That’s how come He was able to
finish on the cross, and pay off every one of your and my sin-debts before
God!
5.
To get to
this place, you have to allow yourself to be brought low, abased, humbled,
and even humiliated Like Christ was (Philp 2:7)
6.
When you
demand your rights, and force your way, and fight for the lead, you will do
it to your own hurt
7.
So, Bite
your tongue, grip your heart, and take your place as a servant in your home,
on your job, in your class room, in this church
8.
And discover
a power that wells up inside of you simply because you serve others as
Christ told us to
C.
It is found in CONFIDENCE and
ASSURANCE.
1.
Not in
ourselves (Philp 3:3)
2.
Assurance of
our Forgiveness by God (
3.
Assurance of
our Purpose (1Peter 4:2)
4.
Assurance of
our Future (2Cor 5:6,8)
D.
It is found in PREPARATION
(1Tim 2:15-21)
1.
We call it
training. But not necessarily by formal education
2.
Training by
learning this Bible
3.
Training by
the fiery trials
4.
Training by
watching and observing God’s hand in your life
5.
God is
constantly at work, trying, like a
6.
We usually
resist His work on us
7.
But it is in
those times of humbling, patient, stressful preparation that we find His
POWER to serve Him as a vessel of honour - a vase, a jar, a bowl, a cup –
all are created for a special, honourable purpose to serve the Master!
E.
It is found in God’s ANOINTING
– His Power IN You
(2Cor 12:7-10)
1.
Paul had
preached, and worked miracles, and started churches, and won souls, and even
wrote Scripture by the power of the Holy Ghost
2.
But he was
not “perfect” until he was totally dependant upon God’s power in his life
for absolutely everything
3.
The Bible
also calls it an “anointing” (Acts 10:38; 1
a.
Jesus had it
(Acts 2:18)
b.
David
absolutely depended upon it (Psalm 18:1; 86:16; 138:3)
4.
It is given
only upon request – not automatically in us
5.
Every
believer has the Holy Spirit of God in them from the moment they received
Christ as their Saviour, but they are not empowered by the Holy Spirit
unless desperate for Him!!!
6.
This is the
secret of the Christian life…
a.
Fully aware
that we are totally unable to please and serve God as we are – no matter how
able, and how talented we may be. We will always wear out, fall out, and
fail
b.
Fully aware
of the task at hand – all things we do are hard folks
c.
Totally
rejecting our abilities AND our inabilities – a clear decision to reject our
talents and money, and normal abilities
(1Cor 2:3-5)
d.
Totally and
absolutely desperate for God to enable us to the task at hand (EX: Jacob in
Gen 32:24-26)
e.
This is
where prayer becomes a place of power (Acts 4:29)
F.
It is found in FAITHFULNESS
– staying the course (2Cor 4:7-18)
1.
Every time a
Christian quits, or gives up, they start over
2.
Every step
you take, and keep taking, even baby steps, you go from strength to strength
3.
That is how
you build up your physical strength – by working out, not by quitting
4.
So also it
is with living as a servant – the more you serve, the better you get at it!
5.
Not in
ability, but in just staying at whatever God has called you to do
a.
Like the
widow woman, and her persistence – she had no lawyer, no money, no
eloquence, but she got her help that she needed!
b.
Like Moses –
no longer able to speak, or command, or lead like he had back in
G.
It is found in PRAISE
(Matthew 25:21; Neh 8:10)
1.
Just knowing
the God almighty is pleased
2.
Knowing that
you have blessed your heavenly Father
3.
Not seeking
the praise of men anymore, but simply the praise of God (
IV.
Conclusion
A.
The Realities of the Christian
Life
1.
All of us
are weak, weary, limited in strength, and insufficient for the life we have
been called to live (2Cor 11:27-29)
a.
We get weary
in well doing
b.
Serving the
Lord is hard work
c.
d.
Praying is
hard work – Jesus in
e.
Witnessing
to a generation that is not listening is hard work
f.
Loving your
enemy is hard work
g.
Holding
together you marriage and family is hard work
2.
None of us
are strong enough
3.
And it
frustrates us! Because we feel like failures, and like we ought to be strong
and more successful at life in general
B.
The Strength of the Servant
Life.
1.
There is a
supernatural strength in the life of a born again servant of God – more than
of a king, or queen, or prince, or tyrant.
2.
This
strength is like a wall socket in your house – fully powered and ready to
supply all the necessary energy for whatever you plug into it.
3.
The same
with these 7 things: each one has the necessary power behind it to enable
God’s people to not dominate, or to conquer, but to serve!
C.
The Places to “Plug-Into” for
Strength
1.
It is in SERVING
2.
It is in SUBMISSION
– Oh, what a hard word!
3.
It is in CONFIDENCE and
ASSURANCE.
4.
It is in PREPARATION
5.
It is in God’s ANOINTING
– His Power IN You
6.
It is in FAITHFULNESS
– staying the course
7.
It is in PRAISE
D.
The Living of the Servant Life
1.
Begins at
the Cross – totally empty, and in need of Jesus to save your life
2.
Is tapped
into by simple, obedient faith in Jesus Christ – how profound!
3.
Is lived one
day at a time – not yesterday, or tomorrow, but today
4.
Next week,
we plug ourselves into some ministry, and start discovering the power that
is available only to SERVANTS