SAVED TO SERVE: the basic idea 1-1-23

 SAVED TO SERVE: the basic idea  1-1-23

A New Year, A New You

Post-Christmas Stress Disorder

“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭11‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.  GOD DID HIS PART

A.  God sent His son

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Jesus shed His blood

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Spirit revealed the Word

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

II.  WE CAN BE SAVED

The word "save" in the Greek is the word sozo which literally means to heal, preserve, save, do well, and be (make) whole. It means deliverance in the present as well as in the future or in eternity, physical as well as spiritual.

A.  Hear the Good News

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬

B.  Believe

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Repent

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”

‭‭ Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

D.  Confess

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

E.  Baptism

“After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

‭‭ 1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

F.  Remain faithful

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

‭‭ Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sir Nicholas Winton was a stockbroker in 1938 when Hitler's troops began to march into Czechoslovakia. In his gut he knew that something evil was underfoot. He quit his job as a stockbroker and began to charter trains, raise money, and transport Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and Poland. Because of him, 699 Jewish children escaped what would have been imminent death in Nazi prison camps.

Vera Gissing, one of the 699 children who escaped remarked, "He did not only save 699, he saved a generation. We have had children and grandchildren. Because of him, there are about 7,000 of us alive."

Jay Winters

III.  WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE

D. L. Moody shared this:

One day I saw a steel engraving that I liked very much. I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen, at the time, and I bought it. It was a picture of a woman coming out of the water, and clinging with both arms to the cross. There she came out of the drowning waves with both arms around the cross perfectly safe.

Afterward, I saw another picture that spoiled this one for me entirely. It was so much lovelier. It was a picture of a person coming out of the dark waters, with one arm clinging to the cross and with the other she was lifting some one else out of the waves. That is what I like. Keep a firm hold upon the cross, but always try to rescue another from the drowning.

A.  Saved to serve

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Here for a reason

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Rick Stacy, former pastor at Meridian Christian Church in Okemos, Michigan tells a story about Ken Bailey.

Ken was a laborer on the Alaska Pipeline back in the mid 70’s. He worked up in the icy cold for a year and came back with $30,000. That was a lot of money 30 years ago! He blew it all in a month.

He went back and in six months made another $18,000. He came home again and this time he decided to visit church.

The first Sunday he walked through the doors and sat in the back seat I had two thoughts - 1) He looked just like Grizzly Adams - beard and all and 2) Here was a man that would never become a Christian.

I preached the message and gave an invitation. The instant the music began Ken came rushing down the aisle. I thought he was going to crush me! Tears came down his face as he gave his life to Jesus.

The next Sunday he came back to services and I didn’t recognize him -he was dressed in a 3 piece suit and no beard! When I asked what caused him to shave and dress up he said, "Jesus changed me on the inside and I want people to know it - so I changed the outside."

CONCLUSION

God did His part.  We can be saved.  We are saved to serve.

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.