The Passionate Technician
Notes
Transcript
Dave Barker - Worked at a company called Autozone as an assistant manager
Loved cars
Finishing schooling to become a certified mechanic
Went home and repaired his cars, along with making some hot rod modifications to others cars
He talked about cars, he worked on cars, and knew cars
Customers would come in just to talk with him
Customer came in and asked for a set of brakes
I looked up what he needed and asked if he wanted me to get the brake pads
He looked at me and asked, Is Dave here?
I said, yes, and went to get Dave.
He came out, and they started talking.
The man asked Dave about the same brakes, and he like I did moments before asked if he wanted them.
He said, yes, and Dave asked me to get the brakes.
I handed him to the man, and the man without acknowledging me at all said, are these the right ones?
Dave looked at the box, verified the number, smiled at me, and looked at the man and said, yes they are correct.
Dave, anything else? No. Just the brakes.
Dave completed the sale, talked with him for a moment, and he left.
When the man left I walked up to Dave and said, what just happened? I looked up the same brakes, and asked to get him, but he would only deal with you? What did I do wrong?
Dave looked at me, smiled, and said, “Some like to talk about cars.”
I didn’t get what he said right away. Dave’s life was passionate about cars, and when someone needed some good advice or just wanted to talk about cars, they knew who to come to. My passion for cars was not like Dave’s.
Paul was passionate about the Gospel. It was his life. It was his hope. It was his core belief, trust, and foundation of faith.
Paul’s life was completely encapsulated in the Gospel. He lived, ate, and breathed the Gospel.
Here in our text Paul gives us a glimpse into his heart for the Gospel.
He was committed to preaching Jesus Christ, and his passion for it was undeniable.
Let’s open the bonnet and see the drive that compelled Paul.
Passion leads to sacrifice
Passion leads to sacrifice
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Free - in bondage or servitude to any man - he was free to go where he wanted to go and do what he wanted to do
Made myself servant - to enslave — to make a slave of; bring into servitude
Paul said, I could do what I want, but my passion for the Gospel brings me to a position of where I must serve others with the Gospel
Why would bring himself into servitude to others? To see others saved.
Love
Passion demands love - not simply a fondness, but rather a love that moves to action
Need
A passionate person who sees someone without that same passion will find a way to encourage them on their passion
Humility
Passion will humble oneself to learn, adjust, and enable one to be effective in one’s passion
Paul’s passion for the Gospel led him to sacrifice to meet the needs of others for the Gospel.
Paul was willing to serve others even if that demanded his life to be in servitude to others.
A Christian that has a passion for the Gospel will be willing to learn what is needed in order to preach the Gospel.
Front entrance
Learning the builder’s language:
Crown molding - Coving
What if I refused to learn what is needed? What if I refused to learn how the local council, planning permission, and all the other details regarding this place that God has given us as a tool to reach Skelm for Christ?
Pastor that would not be wise!
Would not be effective!
Why do Christians do the same today? I’ll only do this or do that if I have to do nothing to learn or adjust.
I love Bob Jones’ spirit - As we prepare for the revival there has been a lot for him to learn regarding technology. He has learned new apps and new systems, and is glad to learn!
This is the spirit Paul had!
Our passion for the Gospel ought to propel us out of our “comfort zone” and move us to reach more people with the Gospel!
Passion leads to adaptation
Passion leads to adaptation
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul did not approach every person the same way with the Gospel.
It was the same destination - Jesus Christ
When he dealt with the Jews, he would use the law
When he dealt with Gentiles, he would use a different approach
He did NOT violate Scripture and go into sin to preach Jesus Christ, but he was willing to do what Jesus did:
Matt 11:19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Paul was willing to learn how to use the law to open the door for the Gospel with the Jew
Paul was willing to use his tentmaking talents to open the door for the Gospel to the Gentile
Paul was willing adapt to the king’s court to testify of Jesus
Paul was willing to sing in a prison to reach a jailer with the Saviour.
Paul was willing to preach to a group of idol worshipping agnostics on Mars Hill, and break bread with sailors fearing for their lives
Paul was willing to inspire other Christians to preach the Gospel and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit to meet a lady named Lydia by the river side with Gospel personally
Paul was willing to carefully teach through the OT to reach those in synagogues and willing to preach all night to believers
Paul was willing to adapt to the situation at hand and to the person he was speaking to!
Paul did so for a purpose - that some might get saved!
Does your passion for the Gospel move you to do things that you may have to learn?
Witnessing to a muslim?
Witnessing to an atheist?
Witnessing to someone via a new app?
Witnessing to someone in person that is has more knowledge than you?
Witnessing to a child that simply knows he needs Jesus?
Passion leads to God’s kingdom increasing
Passion leads to God’s kingdom increasing
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul stated that he did all this so some might be saved
NOTICE - He did NOT say, all will be saved
Sadly, not everyone will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, but the blessed truth is that when one is passionate about Jesus; some will get saved
Jack Hyles - helping change tires, carry shopping, etc - funeral stories about people coming to know Jesus as Saviour as a result of the sacrificial help given
Paul’s motive was to further the Gospel.
He acknowledges that with the Gospel being furthered that there was a partaking with them
fellow partaker n. — a person who partakes of the same object as another.
Partnership
The opportunities given through their care for the pastor, would be eternal rewards given to them as well
Their working together opened opportunities for the Gospel to be given, souls saved, baptised, and discipled
1 Cor 1:14-16
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
There was a team of people that worked together to tell others about Jesus, baptise, and disciple!
The passion of Paul was an example. He was not there to replace the Christians duties, but to example how it should be done.
This passion that Paul exampled ought to be in every saved, born-again, child of God!
Where is your passion? Are we more passionate about an area of enjoyment in our life than the Gospel?