“To Be Like Christ Means To Help Others!” (God Called Us To Serve! pt. 2)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning,  9:30am Stream

09/11/22 (2nd Sunday Message)

 

hashtags:

 

#guidinglight #pastorjim

#Spirit  #heart

#willpower #surrender

#love  #showinglove

#loveofGod #loveofChrist

#repentance #serving

#forgiveness #Godworks

 

{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}

 

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 Hebrews.

 

The newborn boys he gave orders to kill.

 

Exodus Chap 2 talks about the birth of Moses.

 

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 own.

 

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 him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.

 

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 father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

 

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: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 

God has summoned us “by name.”

 

We are his.

 

{repeat}

“I Have A Personal Relationship With God!”

 

God knows who we are!

 

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 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

 

God had to introduce himself to Moses.

 

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, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 

 

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 from the hand of the Egyptians.

 

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 ask in my name.

 

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 specific in what he said to Moses.

 

God gives details to Moses.

 

Exodus 3:7-9

7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.”

 

God is telling Moses that he has seen the misery of his people in Egypt.

 

Moses knew what was going on in Egypt.

 

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 misery.

 

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 about the things others care about.

 

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. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

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 people of God were wealthy.

 

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. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

This young guy ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before him.

 

 - This guy was eager.

 

  - he ran up!  There was urgency here!

 

 - This guy was humble.

 

  - he fell on his knees before Jesus.

 

 - This guy was respectful.

 

  - He called him “Good teacher.”  This was a sign of respect.

 

 - This guy was concerned about his future.

 

He believed eternal life existed.

 

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 like the woman at the well…she didn’t know who she was talking to.

 

 - Jesus attempted to let him know this was a mistake.

 

Mark 10:18

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

 

Why are you calling me good…only God is good…

 

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 life was based on “works.”

 

But Jesus answered him anyway.

 

Mark 10:19-20

19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

 

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. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 

Jesus looked at him and loved him.

 

He told him to go sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.

 

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 him to give it away.

 

Jesus told him to SERVE SOMEONE ELSE.

 

Jesus told him to HELP SOMEONE ELSE.

 

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 gave him status.

 

 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 last week:

 

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?

 

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 the Israelites…God is concerned about people!

 

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:

https://giftstest.com/test

 

Contact Us:

info@guidinglight.org

 

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 also created a fear in many that has kept us from serving.

 

This is a question for everyone:

 

Will You Serve With Us?