“To Be Like Christ Means To Help Others!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning,
09/11/22 (2nd Sunday Message)
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Backstory:
Last week we talked about the book of Exodus.
We disused the slavery in Egypt.
We talked about Joseph and how the Hebrews became enslaved.
Pharaoh enslaved the living
The newborn boys he gave orders to kill.
Exodus Chap 2
Moses was hidden for 3 months.
He was placed in a basket and the basket was placed in the Nile.
Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket and raised Moses as her
Moses was a Hebrew who was given the title of “Egyptian.”
Why did Moses leave Egypt?
Remember Moses was a Hebrew/Israelite.
Exodus 2:11-15
11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid
Moses had seen the Hebrew being beaten by an Egyptian.
He retaliates by killing the Egyptian.
He murdered this guy.
It’s not a secret and he leaves the area because Pharaoh was looking for him.
So years later we get to Exodus 3.
Exodus 3:1
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his
Moses goes to see why the bush doesn’t burn up.
When he gets closer to where God is…God calls him.
Moses has a name…God let’s him know that HE knows who Moses is.
I explained last week that God knows each of you by name.
Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
God has summoned us “by name.”
We are his.
{repeat}
“I Have A Personal Relationship With God!”
God
He isn’t the person you have to “introduce yourself to.”
This is the God who knows all about you…and he has called you also.
He is waiting on us to answer.
So he calls Moses.
Exodus 3:5-6
5
God had to
God knew us before we knew him.
(Jeremiah - before I formed you I knew you).
God Knows You By Name!
Exodus 3:7-9
7 The Lord said,
God tells Moses that he has seen what has been happening.
God tells Moses that he has heard them crying…
God tells Moses that he is concerned.
Verse 8
So I have come down to rescue them
God says he has come down!
God says he is going to rescue them!
Verse 10
10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
God is sending who?
God said HE was going to do something…
…he called someone searching for Him to do it.
God Knows You And Has A Work For YOU To Do!
John 15:16
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you
God chose us…
He appointed us…
To DO something!
God gives us directives to “serve” for him.
So the question:
How Are You Serving For God?
To fully serve…
like God wants you to serve…
You have to care about people
God was very
God gives details to Moses.
Exodus 3:7-9
7 The Lord said,
God is telling Moses that he has seen the misery of his people in Egypt.
Moses knew what was going on in
He was well aware of the slavery that was going on.
He murdered the Egyptian who was beating on one of the Hebrews.
But God is letting Moses know that HE had seen what was happening.
God is reminding Moses those people are still there in
Verse 7
…I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
God is concerned about what is going on…but God is descriptive.
Moses they are hurting…
Moses they are miserable…
They are crying out…they are enslaved.
They are suffering.
God knew that Moses cared about them before.
God is appealing to Moses to care about them again.
To Be A Servant Of God, You Have To Care For People!
We have to care about the needs of others.
We have to care
Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
“Not only”
This means you can have things you look out for on your own.
You can have interests you look out for…but you should also look to something else…
The INTERESTS of others.
{repeat:}
God Called Me To Serve!
Here’s a story:
Mark 10:17-25
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.
Many people talk of this story from face value…
Face value looks at this to say that people with money can’t get into heaven.
That would mean that you have to be poor to get into heaven.
But many of the
David was a King.
Abraham was VERY wealthy.
Job was VERY wealthy.
Joseph was VERY wealthy.
Solomon was wealthy…he didn’t even pray for it.
So it’s not JUST because the man had money.
Let’s look at this story.
Mark 10:17
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him.
This young guy ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before him.
- This guy was eager.
- he ran
- This guy was humble.
- he fell on his knees before Jesus.
- This guy was respectful.
- He called him “Good teacher.”
- This guy was concerned about his future.
He believed eternal
He believed that Jesus could tell him what was necessary to get it.
But what happened was he regarded Jesus as just that…a “good teacher.”
That would be just fine if he were talking to anyone else…but he was talking to Jesus himself.
Just
- Jesus attempted to let him know this was a mistake.
Mark 10:18
18
Why are you calling me good…only God is
No man can stand before God in righteousness…
If you’re saying I’m a good teacher…a man…I’m not good.
-or-
If you’re actually saying I’m God..then I AM good as you say.
*hint hint*
so which is it???
2nd thing this guy did was assume eternal
But Jesus answered him anyway.
Mark 10:19-20
19 You know the commandments:
All these he has kept??
Really?
He’s a wealthy smooth talker.
Who has ever KEPT God’s commandments perfectly?
This guy says he has.
Perhaps he’s really tried…and you know how compassionate Jesus is.
Verse 21
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.
Jesus looked at him and loved him.
He told him to go sell
Then come follow him.
What did he lack??
Was it the money specifically??
What Did Jesus Tell Him To Do?
Jesus did NOT just tell him to sell everything he had.
He also told
Jesus told him to
Jesus told him to
Then Jesus told him to come and follow him.
What work was Jesus doing?
Jesus spent his ministry “serving others.”
To Be Like Christ Means To Help Others!
To follow Christ means to do what he was doing…
Helping and serving others…
Washing their feet.
Mark 10:22
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
The man went away sad…because he had great wealth.
His wealth
His wealth gave him security.
His wealth made him “greater than others.”
It becomes too difficult to let something so defining go.
But Jesus only wanted servants.
Matthew 23:11-12
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
This decision became very difficult for the rich man because he spent so much time focused on self.
He thought of himself so highly that whatever “action” that was required he could do.
He could do anything but put others before himself.
It’s not about how much money you live with…
Or how much you leave behind.
Who Is Your Life More Focused On; You Or Others?
God called us…to do.
God asked us…to serve.
Just like
Your Church Home Is A Great Place To Serve Others!
GLC is a ministry that serves others.
We not only serve others in need outside the ministry…
We work to serve others IN the ministry?
So the question:
Where Am I Serving In
If GLC isn’t your church home…are you serving in THAT place?
God called Moses…
God told him of the need a nation had…
God told him HE was going to help them.
So he sent Moses.
God Is Concerned About People And Needs YOU!
Just like
People are going through all types of things…and he is asking YOU to help US help THEM.
We are asking for your help here at GLC to meet the needs of our people.
There are many ministries here that actually need help!
www.guidinglight.org/ministries
There are lists of ministries you can get involved with.
We can also help you find a good ministry fit based on your spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Gifts Test:
Contact Us:
Just let us know your results and we can send you a form where you can look at your results and pick a ministry.
Covid has taken many things from us.
It has
This is a question for everyone:
Will You Serve With Us?