Serve

We don’t even know by name We just know that their world has been rocked So start with Pittsburgh and then bring it home to Portland And then make it more personal To grace point in your own life And I’ll conclude our time at just a moment and we’ll move into God’s Word this morning You have said Lord that our fight is not against flesh and blood But against the evil forces and evil spirits and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places And our battle is

nothing new This has been an epic fight since the beginning and it’s played out on the stage of human lives and Even in our world today It would be wrong and incorrect for us to say it’s just a problem on the east coast or in Pittsburgh or some other location But this battle goes on inside your people It goes on in the lives of people that fill this place today in 3,000 miles removed And remind us dear God remind us that the fight against Good and

evil goes all the way back to those incredibly resounding conclusive words by someone that was that was that was Traumatized in his day Joseph in Genesis Who said probably for all time I think you meant this for evil, but God meant this for good And I admit God it looks like how can we stop bad guys? But I realize when I say that it’s so incredibly small My understanding is so tiny compared to the realities in play in this situation and others like it That we

could put laws and legislation and we could change everything and we would still Be aghast on a regular basis and how dark and deprived To pray humanity is it just happens why? Because the enemy of our soul Satan himself wants to steal kill and destroy and he’s doing it all the time But you came to give life That’s why we gather that’s why we’re here That’s why we have our Bibles at the ready because we want to understand you more That we might live more fully

for you every day Realizing that we’re just a vapor here today and we might not have next Sunday much less tomorrow So Lord there are there’s all kinds of things being done in our world that are intended for evil There’s no other language to describe it But we gather at the foot of the cross and we affirm the truth that goes clear back to Genesis that you take what was meant for Evil and you will bring about a good please God Be that God in our

world in our nation in our state In our church In our homes our marriages our friendships our jobs and in our very lives Holy Spirit we invite you now to lead all that Transpires from this point forward as you have to this point We thank you thank you that we can gather in the strong and secure name of the risen Jesus and God’s people said You do and Yet I find in this book a picture and truth about a God that is present in all of

this and Powerful and wants to do remarkable amazing things in our world still in the midst of all of that So that’s that’s why we proceed now. That’s the belief we have You know as we’ve already kidded next Sunday’s kind of a milestone I guess in most people’s lives who turn who turn Just past 59 And I don’t know about you, but I spend time on a regular basis But mostly annual unless I have a real big need at the doctor and I go in for

my wellness visit It’s an annual deal. How many do a wellness visit?

If your hands not in the air get with it. All right, so Maybe you can’t get it up in the air. It’s like it Not so well pastor But I go there and we go through the normal routine You know and they start with the with the height and weight, right? It’s in the hallway. It’s a safe thing, right?

Tell this year and for me One of those numbers was down and one was up Seriously, I said wait a minute. No, no, no, I’m six three not six two yeah check Numbers again. No, I’m not 400 pounds get it get real. You know this can’t be true so During my exam, we always have a pretty involved conversation about a variety of issues and they’re all related to health Okay, that you know it would make sense. It’s a wellness exam my my well-being is in play

and When we’re done I get a lengthy statement I think the last one was six or seven pages long my doctors, you know very thorough and I’m a mess now Well, my doctors just detailed she she goes through it all and and gives me counsel and commentary on a lot of things and This before I leave they they look at some kind of chart that tells them I’m due for a flu shot or other Immunizations and I say hey, you know go for it, you know

and they’re all purposed to keep me well Okay, so that’s I know that that’s driving everything on those visits on those visits usually annually I give a blood draw and The doctors just looking at some basics wants to take another look at by the way all of the numbers that come as a result of that panel are compared to an Identifiable healthy sample.

That’s that’s what you’re doing there and I’m not saying anything profound or new to you, but They’re they’re looking at my cholesterol numbers and then they’re looking at my blood sugar And then my PSA numbers and they’re interested in in those and if anything else is going on in my life they’ll suck me out of more blood and you know do more things but Several years ago my cholesterol numbers were borderline like 400 or something I forget but And my doctor instead of her usual, you

know, you’re in a minute amazing specimen of Human Health Wrote me two words in her write-up let’s talk and There was something about them. They were bold and print on the page and I thought ah I don’t want to you You know like a like a teenager that’s getting rebellious. I thought no I don’t want to talk to you So I didn’t like the sound of those words and I was figuring that she might actually want to put a kabosh to my nightly bowl of ice

cream Okay, so I made an appointment and I called Kaiser I say hey, can I get a point and see my doctor? She wants to talk and they go sure would you like next week? I said no no making as far out as possible Yeah, that’s what I’m interested in and sure enough I was busted and And she said very plainly, you know, this needs to change and so I cut back To three scoops Okay, just two all right relax.

So so here’s the deal. This is what my doctor’s doing her job is to ask about my lifestyle choices Well, you’re doing to have a nice cream every night I don’t know how she asked it nicer tone than that but you get the point somebody’s got to ask that you know How come you put so much butter on your bread and on and on right and then she does the assessment of your health and says Hey compared to the numbers what numbers people that are really

healthy your age and stage and then thirdly she’s suggesting changes that May address in the exam certain health issues So that why do I go into that partly to be cathartic about my 60th birthday but coming up but I really do it because that’s exactly what this series of messages entirely Healthy is aimed at 100% every week when I pour through the scriptures and seek for some understanding to share with God’s people from his word I’m interested in habits of a healthy Christian. That’s why we’ve

titled this series that way and As we do each week we consider according to Jesus Okay, my opinion doesn’t matter in this and you could write read and write a lot of books But it’s what does Jesus define things that he says a healthy Christian is has or does and That’s what we’re gonna do again this morning. So today healthy Christians serve Healthy Christians serve if you’re if your outline is not out I would like you to pull it out and let’s start our conversation in

an early scene in the gospel of Matthew it’s recorded in chapter 10. So if you’re got a Bible or an app would you turn to Matthew chapter 10 and And while you’re getting there, let me just set it up this way It’s what you’re about to see is that this moment is sort of like a sideline huddle You see a team that they’re about to kick off the games about to start in a football game Unlike a certain school in Oregon their team their game did

not start yesterday anyway, so but The other one one big it was anyway you get the point so here if you watch though if you’ve been in a game You see that team over on the side all of them offense defense special teams everybody and they’re gathered around a coach or two in the middle and there’s this sort of final little It’s a it’s a it’s a it’s a warrior cry It’s a we could do this week, you know and they go crazy on the sideline

and they’re getting ready to take the field for the kickoff and that’s where we are with Jesus the coach in the middle and his disciples verse 1 chapter 10 Jesus called his 12 disciples to him and Gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness imagine that These are the names of the 12 apostles first Simon who’s called Peter his brother Andrew James son of Zebedee and his brother John Philip and Bartholomew Thomas and Matthew the tax collector James son

of Alphaeus and Thaddeus Simon the zealot and Judas Escariot who betrayed him these 12 Jesus sent out with the following instructions Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans go rather to the lost sheep of Israel as you go Proclaim this message the kingdom of heaven has come near Heal the sick raise the dead cleanse those who have leprosy drive out demons freely you’ve received freely give Now let me let’s stop for a minute because you could go on to the

rest of chapter 10 is all about this sideline huddle, but we’ve gone far enough for a moment Jesus is saying let’s go guys game on fellow It starts here you’ve been with me as disciples Did you notice the change in words in verse 2?

He calls them then apostles that is those who are sent you’ve been with me now as disciples learners note takers you’ve been watching listening Cleaning every bit of information that I’ve been passing along to you that makes you a student a disciple Padilla is someone That is a learner and then you go out for me Come to me go from me come to me go from me. You get the the rhythm here It’s kind of what we do on Sundays We gather we come together and

then we scatter and we go out to the club and to jobs and to homes and to neighborhoods same thing happened then They’re sent out as Apostles for their first tour of duty if you want to use that language and it was really pretty descriptive Did you notice the in the list not a whole lot of details a few details are given someone’s son That’s why he would name him son of Zebedee the two brothers James and John a brother So we’re getting sort of superficial

data An occupation there’s a there’s a Tax collector in the bunch a pretty passionate guy a zealot. He he goes by Simon the zealot probably a reference to a religious affiliation of the day and then you’ve got one of course among them who is recognized for his greatest failure and regret He’s the last on the list Judas and their instructions are clear and in and they include what they were To say Jesus is telling them what to say and what to do versus five six and

seven would you look at verse? Seven and let’s just Sort out those two let’s separate what you’re to say and what you’re to do. Okay, so that’s what what we come to in verse seven is what you’re to say as you go proclaim This message the kingdom of heaven has come near.

Okay, so do you see the end of the quote said that’s that’s What you’re to say when you go? That’s the proclamation to preach or to share This message. It’s the verbalization of information It’s actually putting words to the reality of who I am Verse 8 then says what you’re to do they’re to heal the sick It’s the it’s it’s the raising of the dead and cleansing those of that Heaven leprosy and driving out demons. These are big things the practice or the personalizing of the

gospel there to proclaim it The kingdom of heaven is near and then they’re to do it. They’re to practice it if verse 7 is the verbalization Jesus loves you Jesus cares about you Jesus wants a relationship with you if that’s the verbalization in verse 7 verse 8 is Jesus wants to touch you tenderly and personally he wants to heal you he wants to restore you he wants to cast out the afflicting spirits that are Traumatizing and troubling you in life So verse 7 would be more

communicate verse 8 Would be more demonstrate you getting it does it make sense?

So the the guys are going okay. I got the message and here’s what I’m supposed to do in the demonstration of it And then verse 8 finishes with a motive a memorable sort of motivation for them to follow in everything whether they say it verbally or do it visually They’re to do it with six words freely you have received freely Give in a memorable way the new English Bible Translates it this way. It’s worth writing down. I think you’ve received without Give without cost Give without

charge You’ve been with me and it and it came without cost go from me Be one sent by me and do it without charge and people they did They did in a huge way and when they returned I need you to turn for Matthew now to mark chapter 6 would you go to the next gospel? Mark chapter 6 and let’s notice this scene a supercharged reunion that that mark captures in in very sort of electric detail You received without cost give without charge and they return

now mark 6 verse 30 and mark calls attention to this amazing amount of energy so stay with me They’re out there talking to people about Jesus.

They’re out there touching people personally about Jesus and then their alarms go off in their phones or whatever and they know they’re to come back to Jesus and so they make their way back and Baby do they have stories? You ever been to a gathering where a missionary has been out on the field and comes home and and you know guys like Victor Almond deres or Patrick O’Connor Patrick and Debbie or you know it doesn’t matter Brad butcher Right he goes to India, you know and

reaches only a you know five or ten thousand people with the gospel and then he comes home and you’re just like oh And he can’t hardly you got to pin his feet to the ground, you know, he’s just so that’s what that’s what this scene is Let’s let you embrace it here verse 30 the apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done member verse 8 and taught verse 7 Then because so many people were coming and going That they didn’t even

have a chance to eat he said to them come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest So there was a boat nearby as there often wasn’t up in Galilee and they get into the boat They verse 32 says they went by themselves into a boat to a solitary place So picture them sailing or rowing it doesn’t matter, but they’re making their way across the lake Evidently folks saw all this happening and they didn’t have a Brother boats to get there with

them so they did what most of us would do they ran there Many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns to get there ahead of them. Hi guys Welcome Can you imagine this? Are you with me? Okay?

Hey, we saw you come and actually we saw you leaving and yeah Okay, and when Jesus landed and saw a large crowd he had compassion on them because they were like sheep Without a shepherd So he began teaching them many things by this time it was late in the day So his disciples came to him This is a remote place they said and it’s already very late Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat

and Jesus said You feed them So they come back to Jesus, let’s just stop for a minute and digest this they come back to Jesus and they’re saying We won this is great So glad I signed up for this thing with you This was so cool. Everybody went I mean when it says they came back right at the beginning there verse 30 and reported to him all they had done and taught you got to understand something There’s a lot not recorded here as in nothing’s recorded

But they’re like I think of my children getting on a ride at Disneyland the teacup ride. How many been on that? It’s a terrible ride. It’s a horrible ride and they get on there with Debbie and Debbie’s was one of the kids and the other two and another teacup and they’re going dad come on I’m like no it’s okay It’s full it’s full and and so I’ll be here and I’ll be filming it’s about In the day of the little portable cameras, you know and I

and I’m and I’m filming and the ride starts and they’re going dad dad and I look at them and I’m like And so I just let my phone my camera.

It’s just doing this thing right and then they get off the ride I’m nauseated from the brief moment. I went hey You all right I’m having one of those moments and and they get off the ride and what do they do? That was incredible. They’re tugging and pulling dad get on with it. This was incredible.

That’s what’s happening here, okay? The disciples these apostles now are coming back amped up. Let me what what hits you from this scene? Let me let me give you a few observations. I’ve already given you one verse 30.

They’re so excited verse 31 They’re exhausted Why else would Jesus say hey guys you need a break? You guys are shot I’m so happy for you. I mean Pete I can see how Bartholomew that was cool, man, but you guys are goners you’re gassed You need to take a break they were exhausted and then look at verse 32. I see relentless Desperate people needs Relentless in the sense they don’t stop well. Hey guys.

We’re off the clock Time for my you know break. No They run and they do all that and they find their way to greet them when they arrive on the shore and their their needs are are desperate and Verse 34 is something else is standing To me it’s it’s the compassion and attentiveness of Jesus Has compassion on them and he actually makes this observation that he repeats elsewhere in the Bible Luke 9 is another place. You know these people are sheep without a shepherd They’re lost so bad place to be and then I see his disciples doing what I have felt at times Saying I’m done verse 35. We’re done Tried to pick up the tone when I read it earlier. They’re saying no, we don’t want to feed these people are Hungry there.

No food here send them away You catch that tone? Because that’s what’s happening here Raising this reality check Serving which is our topic this morning is both exhilarating and Lost in and it’s clear to me that the disciples experienced both Most people who serve know how much it fills you and at the same time Drains you Know what I’m talking about don’t you? You’re like man, this was this was awesome. This was pinch me stuff and then you realize oh I am shot and really really tired still healthy Christians serve So let me answer a question in the balance of our time this morning how can healthy Christians serve and Still stay healthy. Would you write that question down?

Because it’s a question you get the answer to on your own I’m gonna give you some Bible answers But how do if you let’s say you want to be healthy This is one of those habits you want to further adopt and develop and embrace in your own life And so you want to be a healthy Christian who serves? I’m saying here healthy Christian serve But how can a healthy Christian serve and stay healthy? Okay Because if you don’t get this down and there are times when

I have I’ve not gotten it down. I become grumpy and cynical and a whole bunch of other things that make me less of a servant than Jesus wants me to be So how can healthy Christian servants still stay healthy? I’ve got two New Testament passages You don’t have to turn to them because they’re from the new living translation So I’m gonna show them to you one in Romans There they’re actually two like all of scripture Holy Spirit passages filled with Holy Spirit wisdom and they are

fleshed out in two long-term servants the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter So the first one the Apostle Paul want you to take a look at these words.

They’re from Romans 12 Verses 3 to 8. Okay, you know Romans 12 1 and 2 I urge you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice unto God Spiritual service of worship do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove that the will of God is that which is good and Perfect good excellent and perfect. Okay, then verse 3 And by you guys have a great party. They’re

going to a wonderful great granddaughter party and they Yeah, they can’t believe I just called attention to that Not fun Okay, here’s the deal because of the privilege and Authority this is verse 3 because of the privilege and Authority God has given me this is Paul talking I give each of you this warning Don’t think you are better than you really are Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves the emphasis is mine Measuring yourselves by the following Faith God has given us just as our bodies

have many parts and each part has a special function So it is with the body of Christ We are members many parts of one body and we all belong to each other again my emphasis in his grace God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well Circling words I’m putting certain things well you may be amazing Well, I’m getting ahead of myself in some things and not so amazing in others So if God has given you the ability to prophesy for example speak out

with as much faith as God has given you if your gift is serving others serve them well if Your gift is to encourage others be Encouraging if it’s in giving Then give generously if God has given you leadership ability then take the responsibility seriously If you have a gift of showing kindness to others do it gladly Now would you write this principle down comes out of all that you and I just read from Romans 12 Three to eight principal number one serve according to your ability.

That’s why I’m gonna back up and show you Serve according to your ability Your ability something that God has given you nothing more Nothing less Okay, nothing more nothing less No one can do everything But the other half is true as well everyone can do something Okay This isn’t true of the people that stand up here on Sunday Or the ones that serve in a Sunday school leadership or youth or children’s say everyone everyone No one can do everything, but everyone can do something so whatever

part you play Play it with all your heart Here’s here’s something that the Bible is trying to tell us in Romans 12.

There is no superiority or inferiority Verse four tells us that don’t do more than your part What’s that look like in the body? I mean, it’s like the nose trying to see Take that image in what do noses do They smell they sniff They’re part of how we breathe, but they have nothing to do with how we see Unless you’re designed differently than the rest of us Right so so don’t do more than your part if you’re a nose be a nose Don’t be a nose

that wants to learn how to see or hear because you’re a nose But the reverse is true don’t do less than your part Let’s take a part that we don’t see very often Most of us ever the liver All right, so it’s like a liver protesting. Hey, you know what this stinks being a liver Really, it’s the dirty job. I’m a blood filter everybody How about that? This is not a good job and and I’ll tell you something I don’t feel appreciated on this job.

I really don’t so I’m Here’s an announcement. I’m gonna take a break I’m your liver and I’m gonna take a break How does that new settle in your body’s health? You got dirty blood and what what comes after dirty blood if you don’t do something quick death That didn’t work So don’t do less than your part or your body won’t work And let me say about attitude which we’ve tried to capture here. I think Romans is telling us don’t just Fulfill a hole fulfill a roll

You would know it if my heart wasn’t in preaching You would absolutely know it you’d go. Yeah, you know, he’s got content But it falls flat it goes nowhere it doesn’t move my soul I don’t get what he’s saying So don’t just don’t just fill a hole fulfill a Roll my case to teach Did you notice the descriptive words and you could circle and maybe some of you did don’t don’t just do something do it Well, he repeats that do it well Do it well serve

well teach well encourage if you give give generously give give well If you if you do what you do do it seriously And gladly I Told you there was a second passage and I’m gonna show it to you now Sound judgment is vital for knowing your part and doing your part.

So one more stop. This is first Peter chapter 4 verses 10 and 11 Same passage their translation new living translation God has given each of you a gift From his great variety of spiritual gifts every word there is a discernment he’s given something to you and There’s great variety in it. That means it’s likely you’re not sitting next to somebody that’s wired the way you are Okay And that’s a great thing that’s a wonderful thing use each of these gifts Well to serve one another he tells you the purpose of the gift that you’ve been given Use that gift to serve one another some examples. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you Do you have the gift of helping others?

Then do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies notice don’t do it in your own power But if you’ve got the gift of serving and helping then do it with the strength and power and might that God gives you in supplies then everything you do will will have this kind of result it will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ and it belongs with him All glory and power to him forever and ever and the church said amen So here’s the second principle

first principle serve according to your ability second one serve to benefit others and glorify God I want you to think about the last time somebody gave you a gift It could be a bracelet could be a bicycle could be a boat New fifth will Something else on your birthday list, okay, so a normal gift given whatever that gift happens to be is Given to you for your enjoyment. Is it not? It’s weird if somebody says here. Here’s your gift be sure and share it Really if

you gave me Dark chocolate covered coffee beans Please spare me the torture of hearing you say be sure and share I don’t want to those are my beans I Will give you a bean and I will tell you where to buy them You get the idea, right? But God God it’s all together different when we’re reading here about the gifts he gives he gives us gifts for the benefit of others Whoa, that’s huge These gifts aren’t ours to have or to hoard It’s more correct They

gain their meaning when they are used for the benefit of others That’s that’s big and it’s not lost on me that when we were starting this out and Jesus says here’s what I want you to Say and do member versus seven and eight back in Matthew 10 What are the two examples that Peter gives?

Saying and doing what you teach makes what you say and do exceedingly special If you serve others as a speaker of God’s truth and by the way, can I correct a hunch that you might have This is not a verse about pastor Steve It’s about This a verse about you at work tomorrow When you speak truth about who God is It’s that big so when you have that kind of gift if you serve others as a speaker of God’s truth and then they’re going to benefit

From what you have to say and at the same time you if you listen can hear God’s applause You can hear God say man that was good You said it you nailed it good stuff And amazingly you you’ll have this humbling sense that verse 11 is getting it that God chose to use you You’re gonna say wow Lord. I’m humbled. I feel small And the second example he gives if you serve others by meeting some need that they have You can know what it feels like

that in God’s power You’ve been able to touch somebody deeply his power in fact has poured Through you So many examples I could tell you but Let me tell you about a current one I I’m not really good at fixing things There’s a lot of projects at home. It’s not that I’m lazy and don’t care It’s I don’t know how to do them if I don’t if they’re not done most of the time. It’s because I’m just like what That’s a great idea No idea how

to do it, you know, and here’s the sad part usually when I try it doesn’t turn out so good And I could illustrate that but but here’s the deal I have a friend who is incredibly skilled at doing things at meeting the needs at helping others and He does it with his strength and energy that God supplies And he he did that with me recently and he did that with some other people and I’m gonna confess to you right now my first thought when I heard

of this other situation that he was helping with him and just Lived out verse 11 My first thought when I heard of that need is I can’t do that.

I can’t I can’t do that I don’t And I cared around this burden kicking myself feeling inferior feeling like God What kind of Christian are you? Can I tell you some people that was not my gift? I would have made that situation worse I Really would have and then they would have really needed my friend Don’t fix it. Are you with me on this? Are you hearing that?

Don’t do what you’re not gifted to do and Stop feeling guilty for not doing it and Stand or sit in awe of the person whose gift it is to do that because they’re serving And that brother the only reason I haven’t said his name is he’s here this morning. I want to embarrass him I do not want to embarrass him He’s just a servant and he did what he did and I said somewhere along the way, man I just can’t do this I said I I love I love pastoring and preaching he goes and you do it well and I couldn’t come close. I can’t go there Is that a beautiful pit is that the body of Christ? Every one of us does our part Healthy Christians. That’s what we do.

We serve And when we serve according listen to me. This is the summary of everything. I’ve said according to our ability given by God For the benefit of others It’s not for our own benefit this gift this ability and we bring glory to God Amen Serving this way is in fact sustainable because it’s serving within our wheelhouse You do have a wheelhouse. It’s what you do well And it’s what you do and it brings you energy. We don’t we don’t do it for our accolades For the praise of doing it because we’re serving within our wheelhouse Because remember that verse way back in Matthew where we started We’ve received without cost so we give without charge Pray with me will you?

Because God we come to you today as as people that you intend to use Everyone every one of us What a great feeling it is what a great privilege it’s humbling it’s empowering To be used by you I pray for every person hearing your word this morning Who may be up to this point of thought you know what the pros they handle that they do it well You would change that false teaching in every heart that has it today You would cause every person here to

see they truly have been gifted by you To serve Help them to know help them to seek what that is. It’s not some big fancy test Just think about what you love to do And what works out pretty well when you do it and then do it for the glory of God I Pray that when that Catch his fire here What we’ve assumed in this whole series we would be healthy by your definition as individuals and as a church For your glory in the name of

Jesus. I pray We’re gonna sing a final song or so and and Talk to God about your own Wheelhouse and strengths and let him Set a path in front of you for how he wants to use you To touch others and to bring glory to him

Transcript machine-generated from the sermon audio, so it may contain errors. 6,178 words.