The Servant

Text: Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” connected with go, forward, ahead, opposite is to remain idle.

Introduction:

Pastoring: An under shepherd, A Bishop, A Preacher, An Elder, A Friend. Forty years: Not Measured by merely years, calendar dates but souls, tears, battles, Victories, Loses, Help, Hurts, faith, Service, Laughter as well, fun, joy, thrills, excitement, etc.

There are many example in the Bible of those who have endured long service: Joseph in Prison, Moses in the desert, Paul in Prison, Daniel in Captivity,(who have carried on for long period of times) Faithful, with Endurance, With Patience, with Love, With Care, With Council, With Example, With Consistency, Leading, Loving, Serving, etc. Many starters not so many finishers. May we all run to be Finishers! Moses: Moses never thought at 80, it just begun.

Looking back: GOD has been Faithful: I see people who have run and do run with me. Sermons, 1000’s over these 43 years, over 8320 right here, all on fire, ablaze, anointed of God, well? Some have are used for various reason: Such, used as aide in keeping going while watching on a tread meal, some used for bed at night, to help them sleep. Weddings, Funerals, Nursing Homes, prisons, Attention Center, Mission fields, others not counted. Many Tears, Victories, Battles, Celebrations, Loses, Countless prayers that have come to pass.

Hey news flash: looking ahead, God has been Faithful!!

I. Serve Leading: Serve By Example, By trying to live what we preach. “Labor: means: Work, Energy, Time, Commitment, Toil, sweat.

A. Lead: To go with one, while moving forward. Thanks to all that have come on this Course of life with us. Amen, Glad to be in the ship with you!

B. Not about convenience: Moses served in the pastures, in the deserts, in the wilderness. Paul served in Prisons, Daniel served in captivity, David served in caves,

C. Goal for leading: Is not just to lead or serve long but to serve well in Gods will. Many start, but to Finish is the goal: Complaints, Criticism, Rebellion, Disappointments, Trials, Battles, Hurts, Hurdle's,

D. Gods people: Should be like a lighthouse. they cannot stop the storms but they can show the sailors the way.

II. Serve Together: Pastors are Leaders, Servants but also Need Sheep to love. “ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”Carries the idea of care, help, admiration but also side by side, relationship.

A. Paul: Great example of caring and loving those who served with him. He gives several list of names of people we don’t know and have no record of how they helped, but they are stuck in Paul's mind, his soul, most of his heart. Liken Timothy, Silas, Luke, Onesimus, Titus, Philemon, Barnabas, Archippus, Nymphas, Marcus, Tychicus, Herodion, Apelles, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Hermas, Olympas, etc.

1. People: Fruit that remained, Family, Co Labors, praise God for them! One has said “if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

2. We have been greatly Blessed.

3. We are not Building our Kingdom but His!! Great danger is to forget who the ministry belongs to.

B. We may not see all the Harvest until glory.

C. There is power of together, lets push on together. Missionary coming Home after a long service, tears in his eye, His wife reminds him, we are not Home Yet! There will be Disappointments, Discouragements, Trails, Difficulties, Valleys, Chasms, Mountains here, but listen, it will be worth it all!

III. Serve the King: Never Forget, The KING!

A. Always keep Him in sight, in mind, in heart.

B. The legacy of a servant is not found in Buildings, accomplishments, titles, but in serving God, in loving people, in pointing folks to Christ!