iLife Series Part 3: iServe

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serve one another; part 3

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Review: God has called us to a very different standard of living when it comes to our RELATIONSHIPS with other people,

God says, I want you to do unto others as I have done unto you. I want you to begin taking your relational cues from me, your Heavenly Father, and as I have treated you, that is how I want you to treat other people,

13 For you have been called to live in freedom-- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love, 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another, 16 So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit, Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. Galatians5:13-16

Live in freedom from the LAW

God is not measuring His relationship with you by your performance that is over with. Just because you are free, don't leverage your freedom for your own self-centeredness and selfishness,

Instead, this freedom brings a brand new OPPORTUNITY and choosing freely to do it you can make an impact relationally,

Now, I want you to freely choose to go back toward the people that disapPointed you, who hurt you, who were unfair to you, who you consider your enemies, now that you don't have to ... you can freely choose to serve them.

Challenge: You see a need, MEET IT, If not... eventually, you'll DESTROY each other. .. and you'll be all by yourself.

The biblical term describes a DOG FIGHT

That's why people can feel very alone, even though they have people around them all the time, It's a slow form of self destruction, As you learn to follow God, get ready, because God is going to lead you in the direction of serving other people,

When you decide to serve you break the control of self-centeredness. Service does DAMAGE to self-centeredness.

Challenge: Serving those who have HURT ME Question: How far do I take that?

It was time for supper. , .Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come" .he began to wash the disciples' feet" .John 13:2-7

In the moment when all power and authority was His, Jesus SERVED.

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Jesus could have done anything He wanted, He gathered with the betrayers, and the deniers, and the cowards and he served them, Then a few hours later, he hung on a cross and died for their denial, betrayal and their cowardice,

Can you adopt this attitude? What is their NEED? How can I meet it?

It may never be recognized, it may never be applauded, there may never be any

gratitude, but when you serve, you do what your Heavenly Father did for you, You serve the betrayers, you serve the guilty, you serve the cowards, and you serve your enemies,

For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

One last thought: You can allow your freedom to make you so self-absorbed that you slowly

destroy relationships or you can follow the example of Jesus and meet needs WITH LOVE,