SAVED TO SERVE: Trusted servants 1-8-23

SAVED TO SERVE: Trusted servants 1-8-23

 

We are saved to serve.

 

Many don’t want to serve except to serve themselves. But we all serve something. Some serve the idols of money and materialism. Some serve the idols of addictions. Some serve the idols of entertainment. Some serve gods made in their own image. We are called to remind people that God has created us to serve Him. We are to follow Jesus in serving others by pouring into life rather taking from it.

                              Mark Eberly

 

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 

 

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 

 

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

                              Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

 

Some of the most humorous and enlightening moments in our lives center around eating and drinking.

 

Take for instance the interaction between a pastor and young boy in a certain congregation. It seems this particular congregation loved good fellowship and always served coffee after the sermon. One Sunday the pastor asks a little boy if he knew why they served the coffee.

 

"I think," said the boy, "it’s to get the people awake before they drive home."

 

I.  TRUSTED SERVANTS

 

Too many Christians are not serving. When you ask them to do something they say, "Well, uh, sorry, but that is not my spiritual gift." Trouble is they seem to think they have no spiritual gift because they say that about everything. Brethren, I tell you the truth in Christ that are no such gifts as pew warming and sermon or music listenin’!! All of the spiritual gifts are proactive. You will be doing something. If you tell me that you are sold out to the Lord and not doing anything I will try not to be rude and call you a liar, but I will have to ask you to explain your definition of consecration to me.

                              Chuck Swindoll

 

        A.  Entrusted with the Holy Spirit

 

 “Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

                             2 Corinthians 5:5 NIV

 

        B.  Entrusted with the Good News

 

“On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”

                             1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV

 

II.  CAPABLE SERVANTS

 

The former editor of Christianity Today, Kenneth Kantzer, commented once that he never knew what his gift was. He just served where he saw the need. If a man of this experience and caliber never knew what his gift was but just served where he saw a need, then this should serve as a good example to all of us.

 

               A.  Given the Word

 

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

                              Psalms 119:11 NIV

 

               B.  Given gifts

 

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

                             1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV

 

               C.  Given everything we need 

 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

                             2 Peter 1:3 NIV

 

III.  FAITHFUL SERVANTS

 

There is a powerful story told of the late great American Chicago preacher, educator, pastor, author, and humanitarian, Rev. Dr. Frank Wakely Gunsaulus (1856 - 1921), which says things well:

 

"On Saturday morning, while he was in his study writing a sermon, his nephew came in. The young man was a fine athlete - about 25 years of age - but, he had never been quite able to find himself. He noticed his uncle’s sermon text, found in John 18:37 (KJV): "Pilate therefore said unto Him, ’Art Thou a king, then?’ Jesus answered, ’Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the Truth. Every one that is of the Truth, heareth My voice."

 

The young man said, "Uncle, I wish I knew why I was born?" It gave the preacher a chance to say a few words to him about life; and, soon the young man went on his way! While the young man was walking down the street in Chicago, Illinois, on December 30, 1903, he heard fire engines and noticed that the Iroquois Theater on Randolph Street - between State Street and Dearborn Avenue - was burning. The young man rushed over and when he arrived, he saw a number of people gathered around a balcony window.

 

Quickly, the young man found a heavy plank, climbed on the building next to the theater and laid the plank across to that window. Then he stood in the window and helped many people across to safety. While he was assisting them, a heavy timber fell on him and knocked him to the pavement below. Just before he died, Rev. Dr. Gunsaulus got to him and said, "Now you know why you were born. You were born to save those people!"

 

““His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

            Matthew 25:21 NIV

 

A.  Gains for the master

            B.  Receive more for the master

               C.  Share in their master’s happiness

 

The focus is the master, not the servant nor the task.

 

Our commitment in the service of the Lord is very important in building the body of Christ. And I challenge you to commit your life in the ministry: Confidently, wholeheartedly and absolutely for the glory of God.

 

In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were born to a family named Taylor. The older one set out to make a name for himself by entering Parliament and gaining public prestige. But the younger son chose to give his life to Christ. He committed his life in serving God: Confidently, unconditionally and wholeheartedly. With that commitment, Hudson Taylor turned his face toward China and obscurity. As a result, he is known and honored on every continent as a faithful missionary and the founder of the China Inland Mission (now known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship). For the other son, however, there is no lasting monument. When you look in the encyclopedia to see what the other son has done, you find these words, "the brother of Hudson Taylor."

 

If you want to succeed in life, commit your life in serving God.

                              Joel Santos' Sermon "A Committed Christian"

 

CONCLUSION

 

Trusted servants, capable servants, faithful servants

 

A missionary couple returned after many years of faithful service in Africa. It so happened there was a very important diplomat also on the same ship. When the ship arrived, this couple stood back and watched as the band played and the people had gathered and there was great applause, with a huge banner that read WELCOME HOME! As the diplomat walked down the gangplank and was whisked off in a lovely limousine, this dear fellow put his arm around his wife and he walked off with her. “Honey,” he said, “it just doesn’t seem right after all of these years that we would have this kind of treatment and here this fellow gets welcomed home that way.” She put her arms around her husband and said to him, “But, honey, we’re not home yet.”

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.