SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD
Adapted from Rick Warren’s 40 Days
"Shaped To Serve God"
Intro:
In October of 2002, Elvis’ album of greatest hits had been the number one album in the nation for three weeks, 25 years after the guy died! Now in spite of enormous success, Elvis was, according to friends, an unfulfilled and unhappy man. He died of obesity and drug dependency at 42. And in an interview with his wife, Priscilla, she said this about her husband: “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or what his purpose in life was. He thought he was here for a reason, maybe to preach, maybe to serve, maybe to save, maybe to care for people. That agonizing desire was always with him and he knew he wasn’t fulfilling it. So he’d go on stage and he wouldn’t have to think about it.” Elvis didn’t have a clue where to begin to look. In a sense, he was lost.
And today we’re continuing our 40 Days of Purpose, and we’re going to look at God’s fourth purpose for your life, there on the top of your outline…you were Shaped to Serve God. Elvis felt like he was here to do something, to serve, to preach, to save…to do something with his life, but he just couldn’t quite figure it out, said his wife. I don’t want you to make that mistake.
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10 (NIV)
APPLICATION:
“Workmanship” – you were made to make a contribution…to make a difference.
Explanation:
Whenever God gives us an assignment to do something, He never gives it to us without equipping us first. Notice what Job says in the next verse…
“Your hands shaped me and made me.” Job 10:8 (NIV)
APPLICATION:
Here at San Jose Baptist, we have talked about five things God uses to shape you:
Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences
“Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.” 1 Pet. 4:10 (NIV)
MY 4th PURPOSE IS TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS
You were not put here just to take up space. You were put here to serve God. The way we serve God is by serving others. Some people want to serve God, but not others. The Bible has a word for this. It is called: “Ministry”
Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...” Matt. 20:28 (LB)
EXPLANATION:
In the Bible, the word “ministry” and “service” are the same word. So all of us are called to ministry.
LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS
1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.
“Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.” Matt. 20:30-32 (NIV)
“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.” Prov. 3:28 (TEV)
There Are Three Barriers To Availability:
1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS
“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”Phil. 2:4 (MSG)
2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM
“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.” Eccl. 11:4 (NLT)
3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM
“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13 (NIV)
2. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING GRATEFUL.
“Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...’" John 11:41-42 (NIV)
“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Ps. 100:2 (KJV)
“It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan...” 2 Tim. 1:9 (LB)
There Are Two Barriers To Gratefulness:
1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING
“Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful.” Rom. 14:4 (GW)
2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS
“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.” Matt. 6:1 (CEV)
3. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING FAITHFUL.
“I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” John 17:4 (NIV)
“The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful...” 1 Cor. 4:2 (TEV)
“Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” 1 Cor. 15:58 (MSG)
“He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians.” Heb. 6:10 (NLT)
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things so; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matt. 25:21 (NIV)
Conclusion:
Let’s bow our heads. Would you pray this?
Father I realize that I was shaped to serve You by serving others. Forgive me for the times I’ve put a “do not disturb” sign on my heart. Help me to see the interruptions as opportunities to serve. Help me to make time for what matters most. You’ve been so good to me. I want to give something back. I want to serve You freely and gratefully and faithfully, and I want to practice before I get to heaven so one day I can hear You say “Well done, good and faithful servant”. In Your name I pray, Amen.
