"How to Make Enthusiastic Servants"
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT)
Intro: It feels great to be enthusiastic. The one thing that makes feeling enthusiastic better…, is to be in a group or crowd of people who are enthusiastic.
The source of the word enthusiasm has its origin in the Greek “en theos” meaning God within us!
Here in our text the Apostle Paul was finishing a sermon to some of the Corinthians who had rejected the idea that Christians would be resurrected after death.
And so there was this apathy…, this indifference…, this boredom and laziness that was growing in the church, because if there is no resurrection after death…, then what is the use? What hope do we have to look forward to?
Today we are going to talk about “How to Make Enthusiastic Servants.”
I am convinced that following these three steps will work to invite the unchurched and win the lost to Christ, and also they will work to motivate and excite the weary believer.
So let’s look at the first point.
I. Re-Sing the Hymns
How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? (Psalms 137:4 KJV)
This tells us a story about a bitter and sad time in the life of the children of Israel.
It was a period known as the “Great Exile.”
The children of Israel had been invaded by the Babylonians.
Their homes destroyed, not one brick standing on top of another.
Their temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed.
Their cities had been leveled to the ground.
The people who were once blessed and wealthy had lost everything.
Their livestock..., their possessions…, their homes…, their families…,
They were driven from their homeland and made slaves.
The people of Israel would remain scattered for generations with no sign of deliverance in their future.
After years of captivity…, After many miles of journey…from their native country…away from all that was familiar to them…, Their captors demanded from them a song…, But not just any song…,
Their tormentors requested that they sing a joyful song.
Sing for us one of those songs of Jerusalem. Sing us a song of the Lord. Sing with some enthusiasm!
But the bible says that they could not sing…, they would not sing…
They sat down and wept and hung their harps in the weeping willow trees…
Because they could not sing the songs of the Lord in such an unfamiliar and strange land.
Image if you were so sad that you could not sing.
Look around you today…there are so many people in the world who are broken…
People who are hurt. People who are held captive to addictions. People who are bound by job loss and poverty. People who are angry because of divorce and embittered by families fighting.
Church is a place to inspire, to make the wounded feel whole again. Worship warms the heart and sets the soul and spirit on fire again.
If you want to get a group of people excited and enthusiastic you sing.
Songs and music are safe and comfortable to the unchurched and believer alike.
You don’t have to be a Christian…, you don’t even have to know the words to a song…
But when you get in a crowd of people who are singing…, before you know it…
You are tapping your feet…, You are humming the tune…, You are part of the crowd…, You are fitting in.
When you are tired…, depressed…, beaten down…, discouraged…, sing a hymn and your hope will begin to return.
We need to Re-Sing the Hymns…
Just As I Am Without One Plea (written in 1835 by Charlotte Elliott).
"I Can Only Imagine" (recorded by Mercy Me and written by Bart Millard).
We can learn a lot about ourselves when we look at what we sing about.
Sing a praise song and then end it with “Amazing Grace.” (John Newton 1778).
When you want to make a group of people enthusiastic then Re-Sing the hymns.
When you want to make a group of people enthusiastic…
II. Re-Preach the Gospel
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
(1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)
When the Apostle Paul first visited Corinth…, (when he founded the church of Corinth in Acts 18:1) Paul started out preaching the basics…, the fundamental precepts…, the simple message of the Gospel. He was determined to preach nothing but the story…, of Christ crucified, Christ dead and buried, Christ risen from the dead, Christ will come again.
He returned, preaching that same message of truth near the end of 1 Corinthians 15:45.
It is a sermon that says, Satan seemed to be victorious in the Garden of Eden.
Satan seemed to be victorious on the cross.
Satan seemed to be victorious when Jesus was in the tomb…
Satan seemed to be victorious when he got you to sin…
Satan seemed to be victorious when he had you addicted.
Satan seemed to be victorious when he had you gossiping.
Satan seemed to be victorious when he told you that there was no forgiveness.
But I have got some “Good News.”
God turned Satan’s cross into a crown.
God turned Satan’s grave into victory.
God turned Satan’s death into a resurrection life.
God turned Satan’s pleasure into a hang-over…, Did you hear what I just said?
Sin might be fun but it is only for a season. Then the bright lights and things of this world grow strangely dimmer and dimmer. Sin might be fun for a moment but then there is wake up call. Reality checks in.
God turned Satan’s gossip group into a prayer circle.
God turned your Sin into a Worship Celebration because that which was lost has been found!
Because of Christ’s resurrection…, we as believers can look forward to a raised and resurrected life after death. This is the doctrine of the promise of Eternal Life after death. If that doesn’t get you enthusiastic then nothing else that the church teaches will.
Then right near the end of his sermon…,
Paul breaks out into this mini chorus in scripture from Hosea chapter 13:14.
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 KJV)
Learn this lesson: People get enthusiastic when they hear the Gospel.
On the day of Pentecost people got so enthusiastic about the gospel…, that the critiques and scoffers said the disciples must be drunk on new wine… (Acts 2:13 KJV) But they weren’t drunk they were enthusiastic about hearing the Gospel.
Another time Paul got so enthusiastic when preaching the gospel before Festus and the court of Judea…, Festus, the procurator, said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself. Acts 26:24 You are so enthusiastic you must be crazy!
But all along it was the Gospel that made people speak in tongues and every man to hear in his own language. It was the Gospel that made Paul, (Acts 26:25) this well educated…, judicious, astute Roman orator sounded madly insane…, But Paul said, “I am speaking the sober truth…” Entheos –God within!!!
Are you into God’s theology… instead of into man’s theology. (see Revelation 22:19 KJV)
We don’t need another lecture from the pulpit.
We don’t need another talk on secular humanism.
We don’t need another sermon on political correctness.
When you want to make a group of people enthusiastic then Re-Preach the Gospel.
Point number three
III. Re-Visit the Altar
“leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:24 NLT)
Allow me to put this point into its proper context.
Sin can delay our connection with God.
Broken relationships with people can hold back our link to the Holy Spirit and Christ.
There is a sin problem that each and every one of us must go to the altar to take care of.
Repent is more that I feel bad because I have done something wrong…
Repent is more than guilt because you have gotten caught.
When you repent you have to go to the right people and the right place to ask for forgiveness…
You can be in the middle of church.
You can be in the middle of worship raising your hands to God.
You can even be kneeling at the altar.
And suddenly you remember that someone has something against you…
If you want God to forgive you…, not only do you have to have a CHANGE of ATTITUDE but you also have to have a CHANGE OF ACTIONS.
Attitude is in the spirit…, the heart and the soul…
Actions are in the body…, the eyes, the ears, the hands, the feet and even the tongue.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:28 KJV)
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. (James 1:26 KJV)
We learned this little song as a child. Sing it with me…
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There’s a Father up above
And He’s looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say
“leave your sacrifice there beside the altar." Matthew 5:24
Go and be reconciled to that person.
Don’t wait for the other person to come to you…
God makes it simple to understand…
Go and be reconciled…to that person…
This requires a deliberate effort on your part. This is a genuine confession.
NOT “Well if you hadn’t done what you did…, then I wouldn’t have done what I done… and so now we can call it even.”
NO this is…, I have sinned against you and ask for your forgiveness…, I have sinned before God and ask for Divine forgiveness.
When you have done all the bible instructs you to do…
[Note: The bible describes two steps to reconciling with another person.
1. Go to them individually. If they will not reconcile with you then 2. Take another from the church as a witness. See Matthew 18:16-17]
Then "come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:24 NLT)
When you want to make a group of people enthusiastic then Re-Visit the Altar.
Nothing will make a person more enthusiastic than an old fashion meet Jesus at the altar.
Nothing will make a church more revived…, more enthusiastic than when its members take an old fashion trip down the isle to the altar.
Listen folks people have come up with a lot of new ways to try to energize and revitalize and Botox the church.
More than anything else we need Bishops that will revisit the altar.
We need Pastors that will revisit the altar.
We need Church people to revisit the altar.
We need Moms and Dads to revisit the altar.
You need to revisit the altar.
Whole families need to come.
Whole churches need to revisit the altar.
“ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16 KJV)
The right path is marked clearly before us…
It is not going to be found in some new scheme…
It is not going to be found is some cutesy program…
Enthusiasm can be found in these three things…
Closing: Enthusiasm!!! Re-Sing the Hymns. Enthusiasm!!! Re-Preach the Gospel. Enthusiasm!!! Re-Visit the Altar.
