A PLEASING SERVANT
TEXT: JOHN 12:24-26
INTRODUCTION: A ragged boy with a violin under his arm once roamed the streets of Europe. A famous musician hearing him play, and learning that the boy had no home, nor family, took him under his wing.
He became a father to the boy and taught him all he knew about the violin. The boy practiced faithfully.
Then came the night of his first performance. He played so well that after each number the applause was deafening. But for some reason the boy didn’t pay any attention for the huge ovation. He kept his eyes turned upward and played on and on.
The audience was mystified at his strange behavior. Finally, someone remarked, “I don’t understand why he is so insensitive to this thunderous applause. He keeps looking up all the time. I’m going to find out what is attracting his attention!”
Moving around the concert hall the man found the answer. There in the top-most balcony was the old music master. Looking over the railing toward his young pupil, and nodding his head as if to say, “Well done my boy, play on.”
The boy played on seemingly unconcerned whether the audience liked it or not. He was playing to please his master only.
Let me ask you, are you pleasing your master the Lord Jesus Christ today/tonight? Are you looking up at Him. Is He nodding His head in approval to you?
How can we be pleasing servants?
I. WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR CONVERSION
Look at I John 5:9-13;
1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Look at Judas Iscariot, he was one of the twelve, part of the inner circle.
1. He was there when Jesus healed the lame, gave sight to the blind.
2. He saw Him raise the dead.
3. He heard the greatest preaching from the greatest preacher of all time.
4. He learned from the greatest teacher that ever taught.
5. He saw Him calm the storm with three words, “Peace be still.”
6. He was one of the twelve that Jesus sent out to preach.
7. He took one of the baskets filled with fish and bread and helped feed the 5000.
Yet after all this (and much more that I’m sure was not recorded) Judas was lost. And you know something, none of the disciples suspected a thing. Judas was even the treasurer.
One the night Jesus was betrayed we read in; John 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
John 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
John 13:25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
John 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
John 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
They had no clue, they never suspected a thing with Judas.
Remember the parable of the wheat and tares?
Mat 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Are you sure of your conversion?
I. WE MUST BE SURE OF OUR CONVERSION
II. WE MUST BE SERIOUS IN OUR COMMITMENT
We are serious in our commitment to a lot of things.
1. Jobs
2. Sports
3. Hunting, fishing.
4. Material things.
But what about our commitment to Jesus Christ?
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
We are to deny ourselves, our wants, our desires, unless they are from God. This is a sacrifice.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Dead to self, but alive to God.
Hen and pig. Full commitment.
Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
We need to ask the same question Paul asked.
I. WE NEED TO BE SURE OF OUR CONVERSION
II. WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS IN OUR COMMITMENT
III. WE NEED TO BE SATURATED WITH COMPASSION
Look at the compassion of Jesus.
Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Mat 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Mat 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
Mat 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
We need to have compassion for those who are hurting. Pastors need to have compassion for his people. A heartfelt compassion.
We need to be concerned;
A. For One Another
1 Pet 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Who are we to be concerned for? Those we love. Who are we supposed to love? Each other.
Physical needs; 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Pray for one another; 1 Sam 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
When you are concerned for someone, you pray for them. We need to lift one another up in prayer.
How I feel when someone says, “I’m praying for you.”
People make mistakes, pastors make mistakes. Instead of ripping them for it, pray.
B. For A Lost And Dying World.
Hell Bound
Psa 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
I. WE NEED TO BE SURE OF OUR CONVERSION
II. WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS IN OUR COMMITMENT
III. WE NEED TO BE SATURATED WITH COMPASSION
IV. WE NEED TO BE STRONG IN OUR CONFIDENCE
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Look at those through out the Bible who displayed strong confidence in God Almighty.
1. Noah – no rain.
2. Abraham – Isaac to sacrifice.
3. Joseph – Brothers hated, thrown in prison.
4. Moses – Contest with Pharaoh, forty years of wandering.
5. David – Goliath
6. Daniel – Lion’s den.
7. Shad. Mesh. Abed. Our God is able.
He is still able today! We need to believe the Bible. We serve the same God; Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Rom 14:23b……………whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
I. WE NEED TO BE SURE OF OUR CONVERSION
II. WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS IN OUR COMMITMENT
III. WE NEED TO BE SATURATED WITH COMPASSION
IV. WE NEED TO BE STRONG IN OUR CONFIDENCE
V. WE NEED TO BE SET ON OUR CONVICTIONS
Daniel had convictions; Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Now there may be preferences that people may have but convictions are Biblically based and without compromise.
1. That this is the Word of God – the KJV
2. That abortion is murder.
3. That homosexuality is a sin.
4. Not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
We need to speak out as Christians. Stand up and tell the world the right way, and point out wickedness.
VI. WE NEED TO BE LISTENING FOR THE SOUND OF HIS COMING
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Jesus Christ is coming back soon. Are you ready to meet Him? Are you: Read Points.
Will you hear the Lord say to you;
Mat 25:21 Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Are you a pleasing servant?
