“If You Want To Gain, You Have To Give!” (God Called Us To Serve! pt. 3)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning,  9:30am Stream

09/18/22 (3rd Sunday Message)

 

hashtags:

 

#guidinglight #pastorjim

#Spirit  #heart

#willpower #surrender

#love  #showinglove

#loveofGod #loveofChrist

#repentance #serving

#forgiveness #Godworks

 

 

{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}

 

We had been talking about Moses.

 

How at the burning bush God spoke to Moses.

 

He let Moses know that He knew him

 

 ….and had something for him to do.

 

We discussed like Moses, God not only knows us, he has something for us to do as well.

 

God Called Us To Serve!

 

We’re going to start from a different place today.

 

Galatians 5:13

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

 

We are free because of Christ.

 

We are free from sin.

 

We are free of all charges because of Christ.

 

And we love God for saving us.

 

 At least we should.

 

We should want to please Christ.

 

We should want to serve Christ…

 

 Because our lives would be nothing without him.

 

And how do we serve Christ?

 

Verse 13

…serve one another in love.

 

We Serve Christ By Serving One Another!

 

God didn’t save us so we could do what we want.

 

God didn't save us so we could figure out what new sins to get into.

 

God didn’t save us for that.

 

God Isn’t A Genie And Salvation Isn’t A Get Out Of Hell Free Card!

 

Just with Moses…our reason to be here isn’t to do what we want.

 

God has a purpose and plan for us to DO something.

 

God Placed Us Here To DO Something!

 

And that thing will benefit someone else.

 

Matthew 5:16

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

 

Let your light shine so they see your good WORKS.

 

And they may glorify GOD!

 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

 

People would see his being a servant and be pointed to God!

 

He does it for the sake of the gospel!

 

Romans 15:2 (NCV)

2 Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to help them be stronger in faith.

 

To help others be stronger in the faith!

 

Serving Helps Others To See God!

 

We should help one another when they’re in need.

 

 “Moses…my people need help.”

 

We should show kindness and gentleness with others.

 

We should express concern and care with others.

 

We should have sympathy and empathy for others when they’re hurting.

 

This is the way to encourage others.

 

This is the way to show the love of God for others.

 

No matter how far they fall,

 

 LOVING and SERVING means to not give up on them and help them up!

 

Jesus Himself Was THE Example Of A Servant To Us!

 

Matthew 20:28

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Jesus…the SON of God.

 

The one person who deserved to be served above anyone.

 

He gave his life to save us…

 

THAT is the attitude of a servant!

 

John 13:14-15

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

 

We’ve talked about this the past few weeks.

 

Jesus washed the feet of others.

 

And he said THIS was the example for us!

 

Every foot he washed was someone who was sinful.

 

Yet Jesus did it anyway.

 

Being A Servant Means You Can’t Just Serve Those You Like!

 

Galatians 6:10 (NCV)

10 When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.

 

Luke 10:30-35 (The Good Samaritan)

 

Luke 10:36-37

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

 

Jesus said GO AND DO LIKEWISE.

 

Speaking of Jesus telling us to do it directly…

 

Our Love For God Is Proven By The Way We Serve!

 

John 21:15-17

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

 

Peter had denied Jesus 3 times.

 

Jesus asked Peter if he loved him 3 times.

 

Each time.

 

Peter:

 

Do You Love Me?

 

Feed And Take Care Of My People

 

Do you love me?

 

SERVE!!

 

Jesus Said If We Love Him, Serve His People!

 

Jesus said he could sum up the commands into 2.

 

Love God

 

Love One Another

 

That’s a high point to put loving and serving!

 

When you look at the body of Christ…

 

 All the members of a ministry…

 

 There is a smaller number who actually COME to church.

 

 Out of those who come…

 

 Even a smaller amount of those who volunteer.

 

Here is a sad truth:

 

Only A Small Group Of People Will Actually Use Their Lives To Serve Others

 

Matthew 9:37-38

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 

When it comes to serving:

 

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 Guiding Light To Help Others?

 

If GLC isn’t your church home…are you serving in THAT place?

 

There are ministries in your own church that need your help.

 

For Example:

 

- You might want to go out into the community and tell others about the Gospel of Christ.

 

We have a Community Outreach Ministry designed for that.

 

Are You Signed Up?

 

- You might want to help others with physical things that they need.

 

You alone can only give so much.

 

We have a World Vision Ministry designed for that.

 

Are You Signed Up?

 

- You might want to help us spread the word to not just those IN the building, but at home and across various platforms.

 

We have a Media Ministry designed for that.

 

Are You Signed Up?

 

- You may want to provide encouragement and support for others.

 

To work with:

 

Men, Women, Children, Elderly

 

Those who are grieving.

 

Those who need prayer.

 

- You may want to help keep our campus safe.

 

All these ministries and MUCH more!

 

We Need Your Help!  Your Ministry Needs Your Help!

 

And don’t think it’s worth noting either!

 

Matthew 10:42

42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

 

God is watching!

 

If you serve…you will reap a reward!

 

God sees it.

 

You are blessing someone…

 

And God will reward you!

 

Let’s Make Sure We’re Doing Something!

 

We have to start somewhere!

 

We can’t just continue to watch and not give back.

 

We can’t continue to fill our cups and never put back!

 

Jesus Tells Us That If You Want To Gain, You Have To Give!

 

Mark 8:35-36

35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

 

Whoever loses his life for him.

 

AND the gospel!!

 

What is the gospel??

 

What did he tell Peter?

 

If You Love Me, Serve My People!

 

This is important!

 

If You Want To Gain, You Have To Give!