Sermon Tone Analysis

ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

 

I want to suggest to you this morning that when Jesus brought you here He brought you here for a purpose, a Holy purpose an ordained reason.

Eph 4:11‑13 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(NIV)

 

It was about lunch time when this well known traveling itinerant evangelist was waiting for his team members to bring back lunch for him.

The rest place He was waiting at did not serve food but provide a suitable beverage.

Ready to help himself He noticed an attractive woman at the rest area helping herself to a drink.

This evangelist saw an opportunity.

He never restricted His outreach to the pulpit or to the masses.

Never did the thought in His mind come suppose she refuses, suppose she turns me down and rejects me, what if she thinks I'm trying to hit on her or get fresh with her.

He couldn't let this opportunity go by because He had a yearning in His soul for people to find out about a loving Saviour.

And so through prayer and faith He approached her.

Hello there, may I have a drink also?,

 

John 4:9‑29 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

\\ *13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered,, and said, I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in **Jerusalem** is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at **Jerusalem**, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ:,when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou?

or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

*(KJV)

 

She recognize in Him a sincerity of heart and purpose one who was there to help and encourage.

The Bible says she left her water jar and went away into the city and said come, see a man who told me everything I ever done is this not the Christ?

She came a sinner and turned instant evangelist a metamorphic change happens when somebody meets Jesus and excepts the changes He brings into ones life.

We are not the same our attitude changes toward God and man.

John 4:13‑14 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(KJV)

 

Something happens when people allow Christ to change their lives, something happens when people experience the power of the Spirit in their heart,

 

Prophet says there is fire shut up in my bones, Isaiah said "Here am I Lord send me" Paul said "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel" John cries out aloud in the last book of the last chapter of scripture "the Spirit and the bride say Come!

And let him that heareth say, Come." then the Evangelist in him says "And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Rev 22:17

 

The songwriter says there is something within me that holdeth the reins something within I cannot explain, something within me that vanishes pain all that I know praise God Almighty I got something within me.

"Every true disciple is born into the Kingdom of God as a missionary.

No sooner does he come to know the Saviour than he desires to make others acquainted with Him.

The saving, sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in the heart.

" Ministry of Healing.

p. 102

 

1 Cor 12:4‑11 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

(NIV)

 

Why does God do this?

Let me read this passage in the New International Version.

Eph 4:11‑13 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(NIV)

 

Please recognize the reasons Eph 4 One 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Gifts ‑ Service) Two 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(NIV) (Fruit ‑ Sanctification)

 

I Cor 12

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

(NIV)

 

* *

Brethren if you have been saved by Jesus then there is something that you can do.

Do you know what it is?

Not only is there desire but there is ability!

Some of us have such low self esteem we can't do anything but the Bible says he has given gifts to all, it's up to us to find out what it is?

Now brethren I want to take the time to say something very important.

There are two things that we receive from the Spirit of God that grows with our Christian experience and relationship with God.

They are the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 mentions the fruit it says

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self‑control.

Against such things there is no law.

One has to do with character,, the other service.

You can't have one without the other.

And both come when we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord continuing the relationship with Him day by day.

Some still are of the opinion that only the talented can give success to the work of God.

 

"Success depends not so much on talent as on energy and willingness.

It is not the possessions of splendid talents that enables us to render acceptable service; but the conscientious performance of daily duties, the contented spirit, the unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others.

In the humblest lot true excellence may be found The commonness tasks, wrought with loving faithfulness, are beautiful in God's sight.

"‑prophets and Kings, p. 219

 

It is in those who have a true relationship with Jesus that counts and that is how the work will be finished.

Some believe wealth and education give success to the work (voted years) or what I eat or how I speak carefully makes me God's man or woman.

Some think just because they don't have great talent they can't do anything for God.

God doesn't need ability He needs a willing soul.

God doesn't need strength He just needs a channel in which He will work His purposes and will.

No matter how small you feel your contribution is in God's hands it does tremendous things.

Jesus took a simple bag lunch, 5 loaves and two fish and fed 5,000.

The widows mite was a blessing of faith to her life and others.

Songwriter says God uses just plain old ordinary people, little becomes much when you place it in the master's hand.

Don't say your not holy enough to be used.

Matthew was a publican, Simon a fiery Zealot a hater of Roman authority.

Peter was impulsive and prejudice, Judas mean spirited Thomas timid and fearful, Phillip slow of heart and inclined to doubt, and John and James were outspoken, rash and hard at times with their brethren.

And all were seeking head positions among themselves.