Improve Your Serve week 4 (2)

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“Sustaining a Lifestyle of Serving”

Review :
The Creation Mandate
Serving is a part of created DNA
Serving is worship unto God
Our identity in Christ provides the foundation for our serving
Preview of Key Concepts:
Sustaining a Lifestyle of Serving
A man in the Old Testament who at the age of 85 was ready to fight
We are going to discuss how this man “encouraged himself in the Lord.”
We will see how he maintained a focus on God’s promise for his life.
We will see how living in the joy of the Lord empowers us to develop a lifestyle of serving.
And, we will discuss how we can actually rob serving opportunities from ourselves.
Opening:
Many have said to me through the years that they are either too old to serve or that they have already served and it is time for them to take a break.
Although I understand the reasoning behind this statement, I must say however that it is not within keeping to Scriptural teaching.
We can witness the lives of serving for several individuals recorded through Scripture who continue to serve faithfully and effectively even in older age.
One such person is found in the narrative of the Old Testament as the people of Israel is transitioning into the Promise Land.
Recall with me that for 400 years, the people were enslaved by the Egyptians. Their life and daily requirements were conducted under the brutal demands of slavery. They cry to God and He delivers them through the display of His mighty hand.
Once free from Egypt, the people wander in the wilderness for an additional 40 years. Under the leadership and guidance of God through His servant Moses, their every need is continually met, yet an entire generation died in the wilderness and never experienced receiving the reality of the promise that was rightfully theirs.
An up and coming generation of leaders come into place led by God through Joshua who served under Moses and gained a mentorship in spirituality and leadership. Joshua’s determination to serve God can clearly be seen and heard as he proclaimed: “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
There was however one other individual who faithfully served the Lord from the original generation. He and Joshua were the two of ten spies who returned with a good report after spying out the land. Both declared boldly that the land was theirs because of the God they served and followed.
This second individual is not heard of after this report in a prominent way. Joshua takes the forefront of leadership while his companion takes the backseat of waiting 40 years in order to receive what had been promised.
This man’s name was Caleb, and his unwavering dedication and perseverance in serving God speaks as a testament of what is required to live a sustained lifestyle of service.
Text: Joshua 14:6-15

Caleb’s Request and Inheritance

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. 12 So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. 15 Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.

Opening Observations:
Caleb remembered the promise
The length of delay is irrelevant to him receiving what had been promised
He acknowledges a heart wholly devoted to the Lord
Caleb is now 85 years of age as he recounts his beginning age of 40 and that he has waited 45 years to receive the promise
“I am still as strong today as I was then”
Caleb is ready to fight and receive the promise; his physical age was not a restriction. “Give me this mountain!”
Caleb receives his inheritance 45 years after the promise was given because he learned how to sustain a lifestyle of serving.
How was Caleb able to sustain a spirit to serve?
He learned how to encourage himself in the Lord.
He learned how to keep his focus on the promise.
He learned how to live in the joy of the Lord.
Although he had experienced many challenges and obstacles throughout his life, he did not allow the bad to rob him of the good.
I believe one statement in the narrative of Caleb’s life embraces these four statements I just shared; “And now behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as He said these 45 years.”
It may be easy to conclude at this point that Caleb had a unique advantage over others. He must have received some sort of “special” treatment for God in order to remain strong. But I would suggest that Caleb serves as an example for us as to what it can look like to develop a sustained lifestyle of serving.
Encouraging himself in the Lord:
In another narrative of the Old Testament, we read the story of David as he is on the run for his life from King Saul. At one point he and his band of men experience great loss as their wives and children are taken captive and their homes burned to the ground.
The situation became so desperate that the men began to consider stoning David because of their unbearable grief. One statement in the story reveals the heart of a warrior who has learned how to sustain a lifestyle of serving.
1 Samuel 30

6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God

David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
How can we strengthen ourselves in the Lord like David and Caleb?
Common traits for both men can be seen:
They kept their eyes on God’s promise above their situations.
Although weary from battle and life lived in a wilderness, they kept their hearts tender and receptive to God’s voice and direction for their lives.
Their devotion to God overcame every obstacle.
The apostle Paul is another example of one who dedicated himself to the Lord’s service in spite of extreme opposition and hardship.
2 Corinthians 11

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

Paul goes on to describe a situation which has produce a level of great suffering to the point that he prayed 3 times for God to remove the issue. Here is the sustaining empowerment Paul received:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3 observations of Paul’s statement can be made:
The grace of God is our sustaining empowerment.
The power of Christ rests on our weaknesses.
Paul says: “for the sake of Christ, I am content” . . .
Paul, like David and Caleb in the Old Testament, had learned how to sustain a lifestyle of serving as each placed their dependance on the God who not only called them but could also sustain them through His sufficient grace.
When we grow weary and begin to lose sight of the promise, let us remember the grace of God which sustained these men and will sustain us today.
Focus on the promise:
Our focus will determine our level of pursuit.
When we focus on the past and the hardships that have been endured, it is easy to lose sight of the promise. And once the promise is lost in full view, the natural progression is to become convinced that serving is for someone else.
Caleb, David, and Paul each kept their focus firmly on the promises of God. As a result, they were able to finish their life’s journey from a place of strength and fulfillment rather than a life of desperation bound in regret and missed opportunities.
Jesus also kept his focus as he endured the cross on our behalf.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice the statement: “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.”
In order for Jesus to see the joy set before Him, He must have kept His focus. To say the least, this is a tremendous challenge when faced with death on a cross; however, Jesus sets the example once again for us today.
The same joy that was set before Jesus is set before us today.
Although we are not asked by God to endure a cross for the salvation of the world, yet the accessibility of the Father’s joy remains within our grasp.
The promise for Caleb was the mountain of Hebron. The promise for David was reigning as King. The promise for Jesus is a “bride prepared for His return.”
We are Christ’s promise, and as such, we must once again remind ourselves what His lifestyle of service has accomplished.
Christ is still serving us today.

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

The intercession of Christ on our behalf is an ongoing service of His Lordship to this day. He continually approaches the Father on our behalf so that we can receive the sufficient grace and wisdom we need in order to live a sustained life of serving.
Our promise, and continued motivation for service, is the anticipation of Christ’s return and eternity lived in His presence. It is to stand before Him and hear Him say, “well done, good and faithful servant!”
Living in the joy of the Lord:
For many, joy is a long lost attribute of life. For them, joy is only associated with a time gone bye. It is found in the memories of yesteryear as they recall the days of serving. But for others, their experience of God’s joy is a present reality.
Why do some only remember days of joy while others currently experience joy?

This Day Is Holy

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

The Levites taught the people
Some have simply not be told that a sustained lifestyle of serving is possible.
Teaching goes beyond information to heart formation.
Hearing the Word of God
“To hear” indicates obedience
When they heard, they obeyed
A holy time unto the Lord
Holiness is something that has been set apart unto the Lord for the purpose of honoring Him.
I believe that one of the primary contributions to enable us in developing a lifestyle of sustained service is found in the practice of Sabbath.
Our current American culture does not lend itself to a day of Sabbath. There is a constant push to fill “unused” time with more things only to find ourselves continually faced with an inability to find a moment of Sabbath with the Lord.
They understood what was declared to them.
Scripture tells us that without understanding or “a revelation” the people cast off restraint.
It is also my belief that a second issue facing us today is the lack of current revelation from the Lord. The issue is not on His side but ours. When we have a fresh revelation from God burning in our hearts, we will not lack in a passionate pursuit of His promises.
No stealing allowed:
We are familiar with the teaching of Jesus which reveals the plan and purpose of the enemy. Jesus said the devil comes “to steal, kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)
Although this teaching of Jesus brings an awareness of the enemy’s desire to steal from us, we can often miss the reality that we can actually steal from ourselves.
How do we steal from ourselves?
We steal from ourselves when we allow our hearts and minds to be drawn to the size of our problems to the exclusion of the size of God’s promises.
We steal from ourselves when we provide the enemy with an entrance to our hearts through poor attitudes and perspectives.
We steal from ourselves when we choose to fill our days to the limit and have no time for service.
We steal from ourselves when we attempt to live life apart from the mission of Jesus in reaching people for His kingdom.
Each of these statements, and many others that could be made, point out a simple fact; we can choose whether or not stealing our service to the Lord will be taken from us.
In summary:
In order to develop a lifestyle of sustained service, we must learn how to encourage ourselves in the Lord. Everyone is different and different approaches work for different people. The key is to identify which approach works for us and then consistently engage every day.
We must maintain a continual focus on God’s promises for our lives. We cannot afford to see the size of our problems to the exclusion of God’s promises. If/when we do, we will succumb to a life void of service as we attempt to manage our problems and loose sight of God’s faithfulness in keeping what He has promised.
We must learn how to live ongoing in the joy of the Lord. To do so, we must obey what we already know from Scripture; set aside consistent days of Sabbath rest; and continually receive fresh revelation from the Holy Spirit to keep the Father’s passion fully alive within us.
We must no longer steal the opportunities for serving from ourselves. Poor attitudes and perspectives must be repented of and surrendered to Christ. We must take an intentional approach in creating time for the Lord in each day. And, we must always keep the mission of Jesus in full view before our eyes.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that it is never too late for me to serve in Your kingdom.
I ask that You would help me to learn how to encourage myself in You. Teach me what works best for me and help me to engage in this encouragement every day.
Lord, I also ask that You would help me keep a solid focus on Your promises for my life. Help me to always choose to believe what You say over and above anything else I could hear.
Jesus, I ask that you would fill me with Your joy. Help me to live daily in Your joy so that I will remain strong and ready to serve You in any way You assign to me.
And then I ask that You forgive me for the times I have stolen opportunities to serve from myself. Help me to make room to serve You everyday. And, help me always remember that it is the Father’s heart “that none should persih.”
In Jesus name, amen!
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