SERVING OTHERS LIKE JESUS
This is the last of the series “Be the church by Loving God, others, and serving both. Let say that together. After today, my goal is for you to have a heart to serve others like Jesus. To “Be the Church” in our society we must Love Jesus, Love others, while Serving Jesus and Others. To serve Jesus is different then serving others. Here is what I mean, serving Jesus is obeying Him! Serving others is not obeying them, it is submitting our resources to them as if they were Jesus!
READ AND PRAY
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10
YOU CANNOT SERVE WITH A RELIGIOUS HEART.
31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
The priest represents empty religion. Empty religion is when you place anything above a human life. Priests were known to be ritualistic in order to keep themselves clean. The fact that he was on this road was “by chance”. He was probably late for a meeting. He certainly didn’t have time for a Samaritan little on someone who God had judged so harshly.
Wear a cross. Some want to call religion- but religion can’t save you.
These people are excellent at quoting the Bible. The only problem is they don’t understand the true meaning of what they are saying. They use the Bible to control or manipulate people, and situations. It sounds good. It sounds correct. But when you look at the heart of the verses you start seeing just how they have missed the correct interpretation.
Don’t do this. Don’t do that. Religion is a lot like Lazarus. We are bound.
You deserve it. You should have not walked down that road. Yet they were on the same road!
One of my favorite stories comes from a man who used to be in our church. He and his wife were close friends of our family, but they have now moved to another part of the country. We really miss their joyful presence. When he was a youth worker many years ago in an ethnic community, he attended a church that had Scandinavian roots. Being a rather forward-looking and creative young man, he decided he would show the youth group a missionary film. We're talking simple, safe, black-and-white religious- oriented movie. That film projector hadn't been off an hour before a group of the leaders in the church called him in and asked him about what he had done. They asked, "Did you show the young people a film?" In all honesty he responded, "Well, yeah, I did." "We don't like that," they replied. Without trying to be argumentative, the youth worker reasoned, "Well, I remember that at the last missionary conference, our church showed slides--"
One of the church officers put his hand up signaling him to cease talking. Then, in these words, he emphatically explained the conflict: "If it's still, fine. If it moves, sin!" You can show slides, but when they start movin', you're gettin' into sin.
If moral behavior were simply following rules, we could program a computer to be moral.
Samuel Ginder in Washington Post.
Trade your religious heart for a heart that worships God! When you behave this way you become your own god. You control god! God hates the same people that you hate, and loves those whom you love. This is a scary moment!
YOU CANNOT SERVE WITH A LEGALISTIC HEART. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
Underline the word “Likewise”. In the same way, in the same spirit. Legalism is not any different than empty religion. As a matter of fact, it is very much the same. It is just as impotent!
Levites were servants to the priests. They moved the tent of God when it was a in a tent, and guarded the temple when He was in the temple. They had a very rigorous duty. In this story, they represent the law. What the law can and will do for you.
Wear a cowboy hat with a badge on it. (with pride) Some want to call the law- but the law can’t save you.
Hats often represent pride, especially if they have a badge on them.
POWER! GOTCHA! You may know teachers that work like this. They are more concerned about “finding your wrong” then they are with just teaching. You may have co-workers like this as well.
Legalism needs a badge, physical proof that they are in control. Barney needed his badge on Andy Griffin. In and of themselves they are nothing and realize this, but put the badge in their hands and they have control!
Their philosophy is, “You deserve what you got. You shouldn’t have been on this road. You should have known better.” Yet they were on the same road!
Harry Ironside tells the story, “Some years ago, I had a little school for young Indian men and women, who came to my home in Oakland, California, from the various tribes in northern Arizona. One of these was a Navajo young man of unusually keen intelligence. One Sunday evening, he went with me to our young people's meeting. They were talking about the epistle to the Galatians, and the special subject was law and grace. They were not very clear about it, and finally one turned to the Indian and said, "I wonder whether our Indian friend has anything to say about this."
He rose to his feet and said, "Well, my friends, I have been listening very carefully, because I am here to learn all I can in order to take it back to my people. I do not understand all that you are talking about, and I do not think you do yourselves. But concerning this law and grace business, let me see if I can make it clear. I think it is like this. When Mr. Ironside brought me from my home we took the longest railroad journey I ever took. We got out at Barstow, and there I saw the most beautiful railroad station and hotel I have ever seen. I walked all around and saw at one end a sign, 'Do not spit here.' I looked at that sign and then looked down at the ground and saw many had spitted there, and before I think what I am doing I have spitted myself. Isn't that strange when the sign say, 'Do not spit here'?
"I come to Oakland and go to the home of the lady who invited me to dinner today and I am in the nicest home I have been in. Such beautiful furniture and carpets, I hate to step on them. I sank into a comfortable chair, and the lady said, 'Now, John, you sit there while I go out and see whether the maid has dinner ready.' I look around at the beautiful pictures, at the grand piano, and I walk all around those rooms. I am looking for a sign; and the sign I am looking for is, 'Do not spit here,' but I look around those two beautiful drawing rooms, and cannot find a sign like this. I think 'What a pity when this is such a beautiful home to have people spitting all over it -- too bad they don't put up a sign!' So I look all over that carpet, but cannot find that anybody have spitted there. What a queer thing! Where the sign says, 'Do not spit,' a lot of people spitted. Where there was no sign at all, in that beautiful home, nobody spitted. Now I understand! That sign is law, but inside the home it is grace. They love their beautiful home, and they want to keep it clean. They do not need a sign to tell them so. I think that explains the law and grace business."
As he sat down, a murmur of approval went round the room and the leader exclaimed, "I think that is the best illustration of law and grace I have ever heard."
Trade you legalism for grace and truth. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jn 1:17
Most likely you have truth. But you need to temper it with grace. To add grace you must recognize your own need; your own underserved favor or merit.
A duck hunter was with a friend in the wide-open land of southeastern Georgia. Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon he could hear crackling as the wind shifted. He realized the terrible truth; a brushfire was advancing so fast that they couldn't outrun it. Rifling through his pockets, he soon found what he was looking for--a book of matches. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the fire to come. They didn't have to wait long. They covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and braced themselves. The fire came near--and swept over them. But they were completely unhurt, untouched. Fire would not pass where fire already had passed.
The law is like a brushfire. I cannot escape it. But if I stand in the burned-over place, not a hair of my head will be singed. Christ's death has disarmed it.
SHOW “SET ME FREE” VIDEO
TO SERVE YOU MUST HAVE A COMPASSIONATE HEART.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Have nothing. I have a relationship with Christ.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev. 1:5-6
This enables me to create a relationship with others! All need the Good Samaritan! The Samaritan was bi-racial. So was Jesus! All man, all God.
“as he journeyed, came where he was.” It doesn’t say that he made special arrangements. He didn’t pray and hear this voice that directed him down this road. He simply did his best to be obedient to God and God directed this man’s path! This happened with Moses and the bush; David and the sheep to be king; as well as many others! Jesus said to “Go and make disciples”. That means, “As you are going, make disciples”. We try to over spiritualize things! And by doing so we make them more complicated!
And when he saw him, he had compassion. This man was looking for an opportunity. His eyes were opened! He was doing what he knew to do, but was looking for God to show up in His world! Having compassion and showing compassion is the true consistent sign of Jesus! Having compassion, showing compassion is a pure way of being Jesus to your world.
When your spouse does something and you think- “you deserved that”? Who are you most like?
He was prepared.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal,
Fred is an EMT. He is prepared to help people on his job. Are we disicpled enough to help people God brings into our world? Do you have the spiritual bandages to help others wounds heal?
Oil and Wine- represents the Holy Spirit.
He was willing to give what God had given Him. He showed compassion!
brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
Time, money.
Right now you know who you need to serve. Right now the Holy Spirit is reminding you who He wants you to be a servant to. Right that name down now. On your notes, right that person’s name down. God will tell you what to do later. WILL YOU GO AND SERVE THEM AS IF THEY WERE JESUS?
I hope that you can see that serving others is about having your heart right with God. I didn’t give you a long list of things to do because what we do isn’t the point! The point is where is your heart? Is your heart right with God? If it is your actions will follow. If it isn’t your actions will follow. Do you need to get your heart right with God today? Now is the time. Before you can serve Jesus, your heart must love Him. Do you love Jesus today? Are you willing to get your heart right? Would you pray this prayer with me?
Dear Jesus. I have tried to do things my way and they don’t work. I have tried to look like I have it together by being religious, looking religious, and even acting religious. I found that it was empty. NO good. I have tried to have it together by controlling everything. Only to find I can’t control anything! Would you make me right with you today? Would you clean my heart up? Help me to be a servant to others by showing them the love that you gave to me!
In Jesus name, Amen.
