Paul’s Service, Speech, And Stand

The chorus of that song goes like this, “I shall not be, I shall not be moved; I shall not be, I shall not be moved: just like a tree that’s planted by the waters, Lord, I shall not be moved.”

But the problem with many of the saints of God singing that song is that they are not like a tree planted by the waters, and the devil moves them around like checkers on a checkerboard. They are one thing today, and tomorrow they are something entirely different.

Illus: When you see these folks coming, you do not know whether to “duck” or “pucker”. You never know what kind of a mood they are in.

The apostle Paul was a great Christian, and the reason he was such a wonderful Christian was because he was motivated by what are known as CORE VALUES!

Illus: When a person is motivated by core values, those core values motivate them to live a certain lifestyle every day. They are not living a certain way one day and the next day a different way. These core values that are instilled in their life dictate how they live their life each day.

Let's look at this passage and get a glimpse of Paul's life.

I. HIS SINCERE SERVICE

HOW WE SERVE THE LORD IS IMPORTANT! As we read about Paul in the New Testament, it is obvious that this man SERVED THE LORD BECAUSE HE LOVED THE LORD.

As you look at the lives of many who profess to be saved, it is obvious that to them, the Christian life is a duty (job). JUST A JOB!

As you look at the work force in this nation, have you noticed that you have GOOD EMPLOYEES and BAD EMPLOYEES?

• The GOOD EMPLOYEES love their jobs and they do the very best they are capable of doing.

• The BAD EMPLOYEES view their jobs as just jobs, and they are going through the motions of being an employee, but it is all SHOW! They do not care a thing about their jobs.

HOW WE SERVE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Illus: Recently a pastor walked into a fast food restaurant and one of the workers behind the counter acted like she resented him coming in and disturbing her rest.

She gave him his order with a frown on her face, and took his money that was providing her with a job, and she never once said, “Thank you.”

It was obvious that she was not thankful for her job, she took no pride in her job whatsoever!

She came from behind the counter with a hamburger and a large soft drink on a tray for herself, but when she got close to the pastor she had just served, her large drink fell off the tray and smashed onto the floor.

She let out a few words of disgust, and just left the drink on the floor for the customers to walk around.

The fact is, this fast food restaurant will soon be out of business if they do not correct the problem of how their employees serve their customers.

HOW WE SERVE IS IMPORTANT! And today, the work of God is suffering greatly because of the way that some Christians serve the Lord.

We need more Christians like the apostle Paul. Looked how he served the Lord.

A. HE SERVED WITH HUMILITY

Look at Acts 20:19, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind....” Notice, the mindset of the apostle Paul was one of HUMILITY.

If anyone had a right to be proud, the apostle Paul did.

• HE WAS WELL EDUCATED - Look at Acts 22: 3, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” This would be equivalent to have a degree from Harvard.

• PAUL WAS A MEMBER OF THE SANHEDRIN - This would be equivalent to being a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

But yet the Bible said he served the Lord with “…humility of mind.”

Illus: John Ruskin once said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility."

Yet throughout history there have been those who regarded themselves as superior to others.

Illus: The worst example is in Nazi Germany, where Hitler taught his people that they were a superior race.

• When we walk in the mindset of PRIDE, we are more like Satan than at any other time. Remember, he was so proud that it led to him being thrust out of heaven.

• When we walk in the mindset of HUMILITY, we are more like Christ than at any other time.