Why Serve?

Introduction

Today we continue the series titled ‘Why?’ Where we are looking at more basic doctrines & teachings and simply explaining ‘why’ - ‘why’ we should do a thing.

The first issue that began it all was a message titled ‘Why Church?’ - where we looked at the importance of church, and why church should be a priority in our lives.

Why Church? (Why does the Church & Church Attendance Matter?)

Because Jesus was Crucified for It

Because it’s God’s Chosen Vessel to Accomplish His Will

Because of Our Command, Our Commission & Our Concern

It shows whether we’re concerned about our Brethren, our Commission, our Command or even our Lord.

Why Train? (Why and How we should Train our Children)

We looked at The Particulars, The Process & the Permanence of Training our Children

Why the Bible? (What Makes the Bible Special?)

Because of It’s Author, It’s Accuracy, It’s Accessibility, It’s Ability

Topics we didn’t get to include: Because it’s Alive; It’s Applicable & Because of it’s Authority

Why Jesus? (Why is Jesus Important?)

Because Jesus Loves Us; He Laid Down His Life for Us; He Lives; He Left Us Promises; He is LORD

Why Pray? (Why is prayer necessary to the Christian?)

Because we have Opportunity; Obligation; Demonstrates Obedience; & So that we Might Overcome

Today we’re going to examine something that is important to the life of the Christian. It’s the purpose for being a Christian… (Consider that for a moment)

We’re going to look at Why Serve?

I thought given that the events that happened on this day 21 years ago, it was an appropriate topic. Because when planes plunged into the WTC 21 years ago, it prompted may souls into service. Police, firefighters, eventually soldiers & even civilians chose to serve their country & fellow man.

Of course the type of service that we are focusing on today is in service unto the LORD.

I’m not talking about the US Army, I’m talking about the Army of the LORD!

I’m not talking about saving people from a burning building, I’m talking about saving souls from a burning Hell!

But hopefully, we’ll be able to lean on some illustrations regarding those who served their country and fellow man 21 years ago today.

So Why Serve? The first reason that I want to put forth today is simple - For Duty’s Sake

I. For Duty Sake

Rom. 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Explanation of Duty

(Duty) That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform.

Why should we serve the LORD? For Duty’s sake. We OWE HIM! We are debt bound unto Him! We are obligated to serve!

Jesus died for us. He gave His life a ransom for you and I. He SACRIFICED EVERYTHING so that we may live. Because He presented His body to be beaten, mocked & crucified for us, we should present out bodies a living sacrifice for Him!

The Bible tells us: 1Cor. 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

So when we consider what duty is (that which one owes to another), we should serve Christ because we are duty bound to do so.

(Ill.) If a man is a soldier, he has sworn an oath and received compensation. If for no other reason, they are duty-bound to perform the work of a solider.

(Ill.) If a man is a police officer, he has sworn an oath to protect and defend, has been hired for that purpose & recieved compensation. They are duty-bound to perform their job as is expected of them.

Church, you are not your own. If you’ve been born again, you’ve ENLISTED! You owe a debt unto the LORD!

We see the Explanation of Duty

The Extent of Duty

Secondly we see the extent of duty. In other words, how much do you owe? How far should you go?

As a Christian, what portion of your life do you owe unto the LORD? This is really a great question to contemplate.

Let’s consider what God has done for you:

He has given you life

He supplies your needs

He has provided you Salvation

Without His Providence, you’d HAVE nothing and you’d BE nothing. James said: Jam. 1:16-17 “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Has God been good to you? Ok, how much time are you going to give Him today?

Many Firemen on 9/11 - the extent of their duty was that they were there until the Fire was out, or they’d given it their all

Many soldiers that went overseas afterwards - they were there until the battle is won, or they were called home

Christians, the extent of our service should not be any less! We should be willing to charge towards Hell to rescue some from the flames! And we should continue until either the battle is won, or we’re called Home!

We see the Extent of Duty

The Expectation of Duty

Now that we’ve looked at the explanation and extent of duty, let’s consider the expectation for a moment.

What I’m speaking about is that we citizens of the United States, we expect people to just do their jobs, right? We expect soldiers to do their job. If you have your house burning down, you expect the firemen to put out the fire. If you go through McDonalds drive through, we expect them to take our order and give us our food, right?

(Ill.) Many of you might be familiar with the Uvalde school shooting. 19 kids and 2 teachers were killed by a gunman. The police upon approaching the Rob Elementary, waited for over an hour before going in and taking the gunman out. Parents were outside begging them to go in. After the investigation, they deduced that had they acted, lives would have been saved.

If you had a child in that classroom, wouldn’t you think it a reasonable expectation to have those officers go in and try to save your child?

Ok, let me ask you this: Do you think it reasonable that God would expect you to reach out & try to save souls on their way to destruction?

We see the Expectation of Duty

Why Serve? For Duty Sake. Secondly, to Deliver the Oppressed

II. To Deliver the Oppressed

For this we’re going to look back int he book of Exodus at a man by the name of Moses.

In Exodus chapter 3, we find that Moses is 80 years old, tending his father-in-law’s sheep, when God calls him out of a burning bush.

The reason that God calls Moses out of that bush is because God wants Moses to go back to Egypt and lead His people out of bondage.

Why Serve? Because there are people in bondage that need to be led out!

But what does it take to want to serve the LORD and lead souls out of bondage?

A Submission to God’s Will

As we consider Moses, throughout Ex. 3-4, God had to convince Moses to go. Moses gave every excuse imaginable as to why he couldn’t, but God took away all those objections. Finally, Moses surrendered to God’s Will.

Had Moses not surrendered, where would the COI be today?

If you’re going to be used to deliver oppressed souls unto the LORD, you’re going to have to submit to God’s Will.

The reason is that if you continue in your own will, you can’t. If you are living carnally, you cannot be used of God. 1Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Your will is concerned for only for yourself. God’s Will will use you to help others.

You must Submit to God’s Will

A Willingness to be Sent

We see in Ex. 4:19-20 “And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.”

Moses was willing to go. This is not an easy thing - to leave the familiar for the unknown.

Some of you want to be used of God - but you want to be used on your own terms. (Ill. Ok God, I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do… just as long as it’s convenient for me. Don’t send me to Africa. Don’t send me to the UK. Don’t send me to Indiana.) All too often, we’ll refuse to answer a call such as that. Then you know what God does? He says ‘Ok, then just go next door & tell them about me’. Then the cry isn’t ‘Don’t send me to Africa’, it’s ‘Don’t send me next door’!

If you want to serve the LORD & be used to Deliver Lost souls, you must be willing to be sent. Wherever that may be!

A Willingness to be Sent

A Desire for Souls

Moses had a love for his brethren… it’s what got him in trouble in the first place. We see actually later on that the love that he had still remained as he prayed that God wouldn’t destroy them for their wickedness.

Church, if you’re going to serve, you must have a desire - a care for souls.

(Ill.) I picture 21 years ago as the Twin Towers are on fire - people are covering their mouths and racing down the stairs to exit the building. All the while, firefighters gear up and head up the stairs! Why? Why would they do that? 1 - Because it was their duty. Secondly, because they cared that people were trapped & they needed help - and if anyone was going to help them escape the fire, it would be them.

Church - if lost souls are going to come to the saving knowledge of Christ, it’s going to be because of Christians. Christians who care, and are willing to lay down their lives if need be to give them the Gospel.

Understand this: As important as it was for those firefighters to do their duty and try to rescue those people - it’s no less important (and I would argue moreso) that you and I do OUR duty and try to rescue the perishing! They were trying to save their lives, but church, we’re trying to save their souls!

A Desire for Souls

Why Serve? For Duty Sake. To Deliver the Oppressed. Next to Defend the Helpless

III. To Defend the Helpless

There are some who cannot fight for themselves. We must serve FOR THEM

Joh. 8:1-11. tells the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees brought her to Jesus, and we see what Jesus did for her, we Christians need to do for others in like manner.

To Stand & Speak for Those Who Cannot

What Jesus did

Jesus was placed in a position to either help this woman or not. This woman had no defence, she had no voice: So Jesus defended her.

Joh. 8:7 “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

What the Solider’s do

Soldiers do much the same thing. (Ill.) I think of during WWII, the Jews were being exterminated, and it was soldiers who came to their aid.

But church, what I thought most off when it comes to this subject is what we Christians must do for children.

What we must do for the children

Children in our society today are being destroyed - in a variety of ways.

Little boys are being taught that if you want to be a girl, it’s ok. They’re even going as far to chemically castrate little boys & giving drugs to make little girls grown beards! They are BABIES AND SOCIETY IS ABUSING THEM! If Christians won’t stand up and say this is wrong, then who will?

They’re being trained to believe that there is no consequences to their actions

They’re being trained to believe that there is no God

Someone needs to stand up and speak the truth! People might hate you for it, they’ll call you names, but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! CHRISTIANS STAND UP AND DEFEND THE HELPLESS!

Why Serve? To Defend the Helpless

IV. To Demonstrate Who We Are

Disciples of Christ - Joh. 13:12-17

It’s a Proof

IF we serve the LORD, it demonstrates unto the world that we are His disciples.

Church let me tell you what: People should be able to tell that you’re a Christian without you telling them.

It’s Powerful

This world sees too many people who claim to be Christians, but live just like everybody else. But when they see someone who has given themselves unto the LORD, and are willing to serve Him - it’s powerful! It makes a difference!

Church - it should be our desire to make a difference for Christ. Is it yours?

Conclusion