From Serve Us To Service

From Serve-us To Service

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

“Workmanship” – you were made to make a contribution…to make a difference.

Message bible 1Pe 4:10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it:

Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...” Matt. 20:28 (LB)

1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.

“Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.” Matt. 20:30-32 (NIV)

“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.” Prov. 3:28 (TEV)

There Are Three Barriers To Availability:

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”Phil. 2:4 (MSG)

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.” Eccl. 11:4 (NLT)

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13 (NIV)

In October of 2002, Elvis’ album of greatest hits had been the number one album in the nation for three weeks, 25 years after the guy died! Now in spite of enormous success, Elvis was, according to friends, an unfulfilled and unhappy man. He died at the age of 42 of a drug overdose with his head in a toilet a multi millionare and award winning superstar.

in an interview with his wife, Priscilla, she said this about her husband: “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or what his purpose in life was. He thought he was here for a reason, maybe to preach, maybe to serve, maybe to save, maybe to care for people. That agonizing desire was always with him and he knew he wasn’t fulfilling it. So he’d go on stage and he wouldn’t have to think about it.” Elvis didn’t have a clue where to begin to look. In a sense, he was lost.

I. Jesus offers a fresh and much needed invitation to our “me-first” generation – “Be a servant, give to others!”

A. Without question it IS attainable.

Philippians 2:3-5 - Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

(4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

1. Let “nothing” mean just that – NOTHING!

a. We need to stop letting the two strong tendencies of selfishness (strife) and conceit (vain glory) control us and our actions.

b. Turn the statement around… “if we do it through strife or vainglory, it is NOTHING”

2. We must replace them with “humility of mind”. How?

a. By regarding others as more important than ourselves.

b. By looking for ways to encourage, support, build up, and stimulate others.

3. This requires an attitude that would rather give than receive.

a. It is that attitude, that frame of mind that determines ahead of time to give rather than receive.

B. First, let’s look to see if this unselfish lifestyle is Biblical.

Romans 12:10-13 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

(11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

(12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

(13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

In dear abby this article was written we had a daughter who was always needing stuff clothes food toys everytime we turned around we were having to spend money, at times it was very frustrating and we complained but one day we no longer had to spend one dime on this beauriful little girl you would think that this would have been a joyous occasion A child that no longer required so much from a parent but our dear little girl died unexpectedly, don’t fuss about your church asking for money, because needs are a sign of life.

I.) JESUS SPOKE MORE ABOUT MONEY IN THE N.T. THAN HEAVEN, HELL, OR ADULTERY!