The Heart of a Servant Pt 2
Notes
Transcript
Last week, we started with these questions:
What is the purpose of your life? Why are you here?
What about the Church? What is its purpose? Why does it exist?
When Christ called those first disciples, he said:
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
We all agree that the Church has a purpose, amen?
We have a mission! What is that mission?
Church — It is our primary mission to introduce people to a person…(we’re not introducing them to some god, or some spiritual entity, or some celestial being)… We are introducing them to a person, and that person is Christ Jesus. (Brandon Gwinn, emphasis mine)
And nothing should dissuade us from that mission.
24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Paul saw his mission of introducing people to Christ as the single most important thing in his life!
And nothing… not even the threat of punishment and death was going to stop him!
What does it take to have that kind of commitment?
The Heart of a Servant.
If we are going to become faithful followers of Christ… if we have any hope of making God, not #1, but EVERYTHING in our lives, then we have to develop a servants heart.
In this passage, as the Apostle Paul prepares for his final journey to Jerusalem, where he will be imprisoned, we find some characteristics of a servants heart.
Let’s read this passage again, so that it remains fresh in our minds:
18 When they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.
20 I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
21 as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
22 And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.
24 But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.
26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
28 Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.
34 You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.
35 In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.
37 There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,
38 grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
Last week, I said we would be looking at 3 of them, but there are actually 4.
Last week, we talked about the need for faithfulness — to our families, to our finances, to the fellowship, and to our faith...
Today, we are going to consider two more characteristics of Paul that some find difficult to handle!
Humility (19)
18 When they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.
In spite of all that Paul did, in spite of the fact that he was considered the greatest evangelist in the Bible, in spite of the fact that Paul wrote the vast majority of the New Testament,… Paul was a very humble man.
There are many Biblical scholars who believe Paul to be the greatest Christian to ever live…
But… in spite of all that… in spite of the fame… the influence… the natural pride that would have come from it… Paul did not go about bragging!
He didn’t go around praising himself, saying: “That’s right! I’m Paul, look at all the churches I built… Look at how great my ministry is… Look at all the wonderful things I have done… Look at all the outreach and salvations MY church has done…”
You ever know someone like that? Or worse, a pastor, ministry, or church like that?
Church — Paul never said things like that… in fact, he actually said the opposite:
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,
15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.
Paul knew who he was!
He knew his past… He knew the sins he had committed… He knew his failure to trust and follow God, instead pursuing his own desires…
And… He knew he didn’t deserve the fame he received!
When Paul looked at his life, he didn’t see his personal accomplishments… He saw God’s handywork… And that prevented him from being prideful.
Let me ask you this — When you look at your life, what is it that you see?
Paul saw failure… brokenness… sin… When he looked in the mirror, Paul saw a broken man who deserved to be condemned by the God he loved… not a man deserving God’s grace and mercy… God’s Love!
When you look at your life, is that what you see?
Just like Paul, we are, each of us, unworthy of the Grace God has given us!
23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Do we really understand that?!
Do we really understand that the only thing we deserve is death?!
Let me tell you, that death… the death that scripture tells us will come at the “second death” (Rev 21:8), is not what many believe…
It is not eternal torment… it is not eternal separation from God… No! Both of those ideas intimate that eternal life is available for all… No, that second death is final… it is to literally cease to exist! To be no more! And that is what we deserve because of our sin!
Yet God had grace!
He gave us Jesus!
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
You see, Paul understood something we need to understand… Apart from Christ… WE are nothing! and we can do nothing!
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being
It is impossible to become prideful when we understand this truth!
Let me tell you — Beneath EVERY sin lies pride. Think about it…
Why do people mistreat others? Why do we steal? Why do we cheat? Why do we lie?
Because we think of ourselves as better then others… as more enlightened… as smarter… as more deserving… as more loved, and more lovable…
Pride is at the very heart of Sin.
So, how do we overcome it? By remembering who we are in comparison to God.
It is so easy for us to become prideful… to develop a “big-headed” opinion of ourselves when God blesses us.
We love to celebrate our accomplishments… to tell others what God is doing for us… especially in the Church…
But, how many times have you heard people tell it as though THEY did it? How often have you done that?
We tend to forget that God is that One who made it all possible… God is the One who blesses… God is the One who saves… God is the One who provides for… AND God is the One who deserves the Glory!
I read a story the other day about a flea that jumped on an elephant’s back.... You see, one day, they crossed a wooden bridge, and when they got to the other side, the flea whispered in the elephant’s ear, “Did you feel her move when WE walked across?!”
I think sometimes, WE are like that flea…
We sometimes want to take credit for the things God is doing in and through us…
You see… God says:
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
God says, “I’ll take care of it...”
And we say: “Look what I did!”
We’re kind of like that rooster in the morning… I’ve got three of them, so I hear this all the time… You see, they get loud around sun rise… It’s almost like they think they made the sun come up!
Their crows sound like they are shouting “Look what I did!”
But we can do NOTHING apart from Christ! This is why Paul says:
5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God,
6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside,
8 how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory?
Paul says, It is the Holy Spirit that does the work!
We need to hear this! — It is the Holy Spirit… at work in our lives… that brings glory to God! WE DO NOT!!
Now, don’t get me wrong; we should work hard, we should try to use every tool at our disposal to serve God and serve the people around us, to bring glory to God through our work, BUT… we should not take credit!
It is the Holy Spirit that brings the glory, by enabling us to do it!
One pastor said it this way: We must work like it all depends on us, but we must pray as if it all depends on God!
Because it does!!!
The work is ours to do, but God is the power and authority behind the work, and without Him, the work is pointless.
23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As we develop the Heart of a Servant, we MUST be FAITHFUL, and we MUST be HUMBLE.
3. Compassion (19)
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.
Some men believe that “REAL MEN DON’T CRY.”
Think about it men… most of us here are from an older generation… How often growing up did you hear that said?
“Suck it up, boy… Real men don’t cry!”
It’s easy for us bikers… for us rednecks… for us rough and rugged “real men”… to say that, isn’t it?
It’s almost like showing emotion is a sign of weakness or something…
Let me tell you — That is true in the Biker world… and it may be true in some of the circles we run in, but… It is NOT true in the Kingdom of God!
Let me tell you — Paul was not a weak minded man! He was not a cry baby… (what’s the term today?) a “Snowflake”!
I don’t think any of us here today would walk up to Paul and call him that either!
You see, Paul wasn’t a weak, emotional, “push over,” He was a man… as brave and bold as a lion!
He was a man who endured unbelievable things for the cause of Christ!
Think about it… How many of us could endure the types of persecution, suffering, and deaths the apostles endured?
Paul was beaten on several occasions… He was tortured… imprisoned… slandered… stoned… and left for dead…
Yet he never backed up, he never backed down, and he never walked away…
In spite of having the tenacity of a bulldog, Paul had a heart of compassion.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
There are three things that brought Paul to tears… and they are the same three things that should bring us to tears…
Paul wept at the very thought of “backslidden” Christians.
4 For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
When was the last time you “wept” over a believer who was “backsliding”… who seemed to be slipping away from Christ?
Too often we would rather spend our time either avoiding them, or gossiping about them, rather then going and engaging them.
Think about it — When was the last time you went to someone who was wandering away from God, and with tears begged them to get right with God?
It is difficult to think about, but that is exactly what Paul did!
2. Paul wept over the threat of false teachers.
29 I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
We have talked about this many times in here… There are so many Christians today being led astray by false doctrines and false teachings because so many people do not look at doctrines…
Our world has done a tremendous job at teaching people that “doctrines” are evil… corrupt… and vile creations of man…
Let me tell you — No denomination (or non-denomination)… No Church is immune…
People in the church… leaders in the church… are avoiding focusing on the Word — “Sound doctrine” as Paul puts it — , and instead focusing on programs, buildings, activities, social causes, etc…
We are seeing preachers everywhere who are willing to go on national television and say that God will not send anyone to hell, because Jesus died for everybody!
Well… That’s technically true! Jesus did die for everyone. But we still have to make a choice!
We still have to choose Him.
One preacher even tried to use ideas like Hitler and the holocaust to argue this point…
He said, “Hitler killed millions of Jews, but… According to your theology, God will not send millions to hell, but, he will send the billions who don’t accept Him. Are you saying that God is worse than Hitler?”
No! But let’s be clear…
Scripture tells us that on judgment day, there will be some who will not be given access to heaven, BUT… God will send no one!
That is a choice you make!
It is up to you!
Let me tell you — Justice is not justice without consequences.
This man went on to say, “Who are you to say that millions of people in China aren’t going to heaven just because they don’t believe in Jesus?”
This is where a lot of people look at it and say, “That’s not the Jesus I want!”
They want a Jesus who gives permission to their lives, who is going to take everyone to heaven, regardless of their beliefs… and so, they refuse to here the truth of God’s word, instead, writing it off as an idea YOU made up!
But those of us standing on the infallable word of God are saying… “No! I don’t say that… Jesus said it…”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Honestly, if this idea that “everyone’s going to heaven” is true, then why do we do outreach? Why do we engage in evangelism? Why even practice any religion at all?
If all roads lead to heaven, then we are wasting our time in church, sharing the gospel, even in studying the scriptures....
Then… after arguing this point... this same preacher undermined his whole point by saying this: “Call the # on your screen to donate so that we can continue to reach our world… just use your visa or mastercard!”
Can I ask you — How does your heart feel when you here these kinds of false teachings coming out of the church today?
Just like Paul, it hurts my heart… and it has caused me to have some pretty serious discussions and disagreements with leaders even in our denomination.
3. Paul wept at the thought of ANYONE going to hell.
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.
That is a powerful statement!
Paul wanted to see people saved so badly that he was willing to go to hell in their place!
DO WE?!
Would you ever say that about someone? Your child? Your spouse? Your mom or dad? Your neighbor?
Would you be willing to say, “Lord, If you will save my child, my spouse, my mom and dad, my neighbor, that drug addict down the street, that dirty old biker who just insulted me at the store .... I will take their place in hell.”
Would you be willing to give up eternity for the sake of someone else?
How far would you go for a complete stranger, who needs Christ?!
Honestly… Does your heart hurt so much for the lost, that you would be willing to give up your place in heaven if it meant that they would be able to be there?
Let me tell you something....
That is exactly what Jesus did for you… and for me…
He took our place on the Cross… He died for us… He gave up eternity… His place in heaven… to come to earth and die for us!
BUT…
We are not asked to give up heaven for our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors… because we can’t!
You see… Here’s the truth…
13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
When we have so much compassion for others that our hearts weep at the knowledge that they do not know Christ… when we are willing to lay down our lives for them… when we are willing to do ANYTHING, no matter how uncomfortable it is for us…
When our compassion for others reaches that point, it becomes Christ’s compassion… The Holy Spirit moves… and, just like Christ, we will pick up our lives again…
Let me tell you — Compassion can do what nothing else in this world can do.
Christ didn’t change the world because He was God… or because He had some great amazing awesome new teaching… Christ changed the world because He had compassion for people.
What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
35 Jesus wept.
This is during the story of raising Lazarus from the dead… When Jesus looked upon the people there… John tells us His compassion overwhelmed Him, and… “He Wept!”
We cannot “bully” someone into the kingdom… We cannot coerce someone to faith… we cannot brow beat people into submission… And we shouldn’t try!
BUT… We can LOVE them into the kingdom…
5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
The poorest of the poor can be made clean with a little soap...
The vilest of sinners can be made clean by the blood of Christ.
What is your desire for the people of this world?
Where is your heart?
What does it “break” for?
Now… What are you going to do about it?
Are you going to dig your feet in, and stubbornly refuse to budge?
Are you going to let your pride keep telling you they are not worth it? That your better then them? That they need to “get over it” and find Jesus like you did?
Or…
Are you going to humble yourself… have compassion for them… and become the servant God has called you to be?