SAVED TO SERVE: Share our lives 2-12-23

 SAVED TO SERVE: Share our lives 2-12-23

We are saved to serve.

We are trusted servants of God.

We are to serve in whatever we do.

We are called to serve all of our life.

We are called to serve others.

We are called to serve the world.

We are intended to share our lives with one another.

I.  SHARE JESUS‬

In “Share Jesus Without Fear”, Bill Fay speaks very bluntly about the sin of silence. He states that believers sin when they remain silent and do not share Jesus with others. He says that the sin of silence is a deadly sin and he’s right. We erroneously think that by remaining silent about our faith in Jesus Christ, we are taking a neutral position. But the truth is, by our silence, we condemn those around us to death and suffering for eternity.

Bill Fay from “Share Jesus Without Fear”

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Make disciples

B.  Teach them

Movie ushers use their flashlight to show you the way in a dark place.

If something goes wrong, everyone looks to the guy who has been identified as knowing the way – by his jacket, his name tag, his silly hat, and his light.

There was a young man working as an usher, and his manager asked him one night:

Are you ready for an emergency, do you know what to do if there is a fire?

The young man said – don’t worry about me, I sit in the back, I can be out of here in 2 seconds.

That young man has never understood or accepted his responsibility as an usher has he?

That is not the right attitude for a Movie Usher, or for a Christian.

We must be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. We must be ready and willing to share Jesus with someone who needs Him. We must be ready to help save a persons life.

II.  SHARE KNOWLEDGE

"All knowledge that begins not and ends not with His glory, is but a giddy, but a vertiginous circle, but an elaborate and exquisite ignorance." 

John Donne

“My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Teach

B.  Rebuke

C.  Correct

D.  Train in righteous‬

"Millions of people today are searching for a reliable voice of authority. The Word of God is the only real authority we have. His Word sheds light on human nature, world problems and human suffering. But beyond that, it clearly reveals the way to God. The message of the Bible is the message of Jesus Christ who said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life' (John 14:6). It is the story of salvation; the story of your redemption and mine through Christ; the story of life, of peace, of eternity. Our faith is not dependent upon human knowledge and scientific advance, but upon the unmistakable message of the Word of God."

Billy Graham ‬

III.  SHARE WISDOM

An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean, "In return for your unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward you with your choice of infinite wealth, wisdom, or beauty."

"Give me infinite wisdom!" declares the dean, without hesitation.

Done!" says the angel before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

All heads now turn to the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. "Well," says a colleague, "say something brilliant."

The dean stands and, with the poise of Socrates, opines, "I should have taken the money."  

Reader's Digest

“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”

Charles H. Spurgeon‬

"The possession of facts is knowledge, the use of them is wisdom." 

Old adage‬ 

A.  Experience

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Example

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it is harvest time."

Old saying

CONCLUSION

"There is only one solution if old age is not to be an absurd parody of our former life, and that is to go on pursuing ends that give our existence a meaning - devotion to individuals, to groups or to causes, social, political, intellectual or creative work."

Share your life with others.  Share Jesus.  Share knowledge.  Share wisdom.

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.