KJV Sermon Outlines

Saved To Serve

Text: Hebrews 9:14

INTRODUCTION

1. By being a Christian we are truly blessed...
a. "A person reborn", he is provided the opportunity to live a new life
b. "Belonging to the Lord", he is God's special child
c. "Living by faith", he walks with God
d. "Consecrated to God", he has been set apart to live a holy life
e. "Guarded by the power of God", he is not alone in his struggle against the powers of Satan and the evil world in which we live

2. But with blessings come responsibilities...
a. There are obligations that come with our new opportunities
b. There are duties that come with our new calling

3. Indeed, the Christian has been called to serve God...
a. We have been "Saved To Serve" - cf. He 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

b. It is only "reasonable" we be expected to serve God –
Rom. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
c. Each person has a ministry (service) we are expected to fulfill
Col. 4:17 “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

[Thus the concept of "servitude" or "servanthood" is a significant part of what it means to be a Christian. That our service to God might be more acceptable and fruitful, consider...]

I. THE GREATNESS OF SERVANTHOOD

A. BEING A SERVANT OF GOD IS A GREAT HONOR...
1. The title of "servant" was what many great men in the O.T.
were called
a. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - Deu 9:27 ("Thy servants")
b. Moses - 1 Kin 8:53 ("Thy servant")
c. Joshua - Josh 24:29 ("Servant of the Lord")
d. Caleb - Num 14:24 ("My servant")
e. Job - Job 1:8 ("My servant")
f. Isaiah - Isa 20:3 ("My servant")
g. The prophets - Jer 7:25 ("My servants")
2. New Testament writers referred to themselves as "servants"...
a. James - Ja 1:1
b. Paul - Ro 1:1; Ph 1:1
c. Peter - 2 Pe 1:1
d. Jude - Ju 1
e. John - Re 1:1

B. JESUS CAME TO SERVE...
1. He was foretold to come as the "Suffering Servant" – Isa 52:13-53:12
2. He "did not come to be served, but to serve" - Mt 20:28; Ph 2:7
3. Even as our Lord and Master, He exemplified the servitude He
desires of His disciples - Jn 13:12-17

What an honor, if God were to look upon us as "His servants" as He did
these great men, including His own Son, Jesus Christ!

He will, if we put into practice...

II. THE CONCEPTS OF SERVANTHOOD

A. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE...
1. In a slave-master relationship...
a. The slave knows no law but his master's word
b. He has no rights of his own
c. He is the absolute possession of his master
d. He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience
2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ?
a. It should, especially in light of 1 Cor. 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
b. We have to come to Jesus on HIS terms, not our own - Lk 6:46 “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

B. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE HUMILITY...
1. Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible
a. When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive to the idea of complete obedience
b. For example, consider Paul's self-estimation - 1 Co 15:9-10 “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ and His Will?
a. Jesus said it should! - Lk 17:10
b. But if we murmur or complain about what Jesus tells us to do, can we really be considered "servants"?

C. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE LOYALTY...
1. Since we become servants FREELY, it should be expected that we:
a. Are to be loyal to Him first - cf. Gal. 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
b. Do not consider our own profit or preference important, but
that of the One we freely serve!
2. It is amazing how any can claim to be servants of the Lord
Jesus Christ, while:
a. Complaining about having to do the will of God, OR...
b. Being negligent or slothful in carrying out His will
3. Yet some act as though they are being forced against their own
will!
a. They don't "have to" serve the Lord Jesus...
1) Of course, the alternative is not very inviting
2) If we don't serve Jesus, by default we serve Satan, and
are destined for hell!
b. But God by His grace has offered salvation, and how dare we
ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of service in grateful appreciation!

That we not be negligent in our service, be aware of some...

III. HINDRANCES TO SERVANTHOOD

A. SERVICE TO THE WRONG MASTER...
1. Jesus warned we cannot serve both God and Mammon - Mt 6:24
2. Serving the wrong things will render us fruitless - Lk 8:14
3. Paul illustrated we can only serve the one we obey - Ro 6:16

B. PLACING LIMITATIONS ON OUR SERVICE...
1. Some limit how, where, and when they will serve
a. As Moses tried to do - Exo 3:10,11
b. Many will serve God, but only when convenient
2. Some limit who they will serve
a. As Jonah tried to do - Jonah 1:1-3
b. Many will serve God, but not when it means serving others
(especially people we don't like)

C. POSSESSING CERTAIN ATTITUDES...
1. Such as sluggishness and laziness - cf. He 6:11,12; Mt 25:26
2. Such as ingratitude - cf. 2 Co 8:9; Ph 2:5-7
a. Which often comes when we forget how graciously we have
been served
b. We like service with a smile; are we willing to give service with a smile?
3. Such as pride or self-centeredness
a. As when self-pity affected Elijah - 1 Ki 19:13-18
b. As when some preached Christ out of envy - Ph 1:15-18
c. As when some seek for recognition, praise - Mt 6:1-4
Humility and unselfishness are basic prerequisites for servanthood

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