FINDING A HEART FOR SERVICE Colossians 1:9-14 April 30,
2000
Introduction: This morning we are going to consider three stories.
A soldier’s story
A Scripture’s story, and
A missionary’s story
As we consider the question: how do we find a heart for
service to Jesus Christ?
A SOLDIER’S STORY
We begin with the soldier’s story. Some time ago I had an
opportunity to interview for pastoral position in a church. It was a
preliminary interview so, I went to the home of one of the leaders of
the church so that he could escort me to the place where I would be
eating dinner with the entire church board.
I went to his home and after we had introduced ourselves to each
other he left me alone in his living room for few moments. As I was
sitting there, I noticed a picture of a young soldier on the table beside
my chair. I assumed that it was his son.
So, when he came back, I asked him about picture. He said, "Yes,
that’s our son. We lost him in Vietnam." As we drove to the
restaurant I reflected on what he had said and thought about it more
later.
He was a young man who served his country and gave his life. He
never came home; he never married; he never brought grandchildren
home to his parents for Christmas; he never took the kids to Disney
World; he never bought a house; he never served on the church
board; he never coached Little League baseball; he never did all the
things we all do, because for his country he gave the last full
measure of devotion.
Military service is serious business. Men and women who serve in
the Armed Forces must find a heart for their calling so they will be
able to do their duty even if it costs them their lives.
It is remarkable how many times the Christian life is compared to
military service into Bible. In the II Tim. 4:7 Paul says "I have fought
the good fight,(AGONIZE) I have finished the race, I have kept faith."
In I Tim. 6:12 he also admonishes Tim. to fight the good fight of faith.
All believers are charged in II Peter to make their calling an election
sure by "fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold on eternal
life".
Paul compares the life of the Christian to the life of the soldier in I
Tim. 1:18: "no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits".
For the soldier life is war. For the faithful servant of Christ life is also
war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that, to quote John Piper.
That is the soldier’s story. What does his story tell you about finding
a heart for service as believers in Jesus Christ? To answer that
question let us consider together the story that a passage of
Scripture tells.
A SCRIPTURE’S STORY
Take a Bible in your hands and turned with me to Colossians 1:9.
You will find this passage on page 1399 in our pew Bibles.
At the very beginning of this letter the apostle Paul tells the
Colossians that he has heard of their faith in Jesus Christ and their
love for other Christians. This is what he refers to when he begins
verse 9 by saying "for this reason". He is referring to his knowledge
of their faith. Now follow along as I read the text.
READ the TEXT: Colossians 1: 9-14.
Now, here’s the story of this passage. The first thing Paul tells the
Colossians is that he and those who are with him are praying for
them. Notice what they are praying for.
He is asking God to fill them with the knowledge of his will
and he is asking that God do that through spiritual
wisdom and understanding.
His prayer for these believers is essentially that they would know
what God wants them to do, and that they would gain this knowledge
through the kind of wisdom and understanding that is spiritual and
not merely human.
Why does he pray this prayer? He gives two reasons.
So that these believers lives would be worthy of the Lord
and so that they would please God in every way.
I would make two observations at this point. Each one of us needs
someone to pray this kind of prayer for us. We need to ask
ourselves the two questions implied here: is the life that I am living
worthy of the Lord? Can I honestly say that I am pleasing God in
every way?
From this point in the text Paul goes on to explain what he means by
"please him in every way" in four parts:
BEARING FRUIT: producing in life and witness what is
consistent with a commitment to Christ.
GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE GOD: he has in mind an
ever deepening relationship with God
BEING STRENGTHENED BY GOD’S POWER FOR
ENDURANCE: this phrase suggests that having a heart for serving
God requires power that cannot be found in human strength alone.
GIVING THANKS: he calls the Colossians to be thankful to the
Father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance that has
been given to all believers.
Then he tells them why they should be thankful and this is the
bottom-line.
Three words stand out in verses 13 and 14:
rescued
redemption
forgiveness
We use these words so much that their meaning loses force in our
minds.
What do they mean? What is their significance? What is Paul
talking about? Do we really know what sin is?
What Paul is talking about is this:
Sin is a matter of the entire person, not merely one aspect of
the person. There are references in the Bible that make it clear that
the body is affected. (Romans 6:6) There are others that tell us that
the mind or reason is involved. (II Corinthians 4: 4) The emotions are
also involved. (Romans 1: 26-27) And sin even affects the will.
(Romans 6: 6, 7)
Sin is first of all a failure to love, honor and serve God. The
bad things we do proceed from that failure.
As sinners we are completely unable to rescue ourselves from
our sinful condition, and no one else is able to rescue us, except
Jesus.
This set of facts has an ominous sounding name: total depravity. We
cannot help ourselves. We need Jesus. This passage takes us back
to Easter Sunday and before that to Good Friday. The death of
Jesus on the cross was the only answer to your sin and the eternal
punishment that flows from it.
The soldier gave the last full measure of devotion, his life, for his
country. Jesus Christ gave his life for your redemption.
Each time you stand before the cross remind yourself that what was
done there could be done in no other way. The cross is the place
were we find a heart for service. Jesus calls us to serve him in a way
that is worthy of the sacrifice that he has made for us.
Story of private Ryan 50 years later at the Cemetery in France,
demanding of his wife: “Tell me that I have lived a good life”,
(implying that he needs reassurance that the life he has lived has
been worthy of the sacrifice of the lives of others).
A MISSIONARY’S STORY
While I was in Mozambique with Randy and Susan Carpenter in
January an incident occurred in a city several hundred miles away.
Missionary home invaded; missionary Father shot and killed;
his son promises to return complete his work.
Conclusion: what is your heart for Christian service? Are you a
volunteer or are you called of God? Is the life you are living worthy
of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Are you living in a way that pleases
him in all things?
To what extent would you be willing to allow your personal peace and
affluence to be disturbed in order to serve the Lord?
Do you remember the story of Abraham and the command he
received from God in Genesis 22 to sacrifice his son on a mountain?
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he was prepared
to do anything for God.
What are you and I prepared to do for God? Anything?
This morning God is seeking those who will surrender to him,
and answer his call because they know that being used of God is the
most fulfilling thing anyone can do with his life.
