Family Sunday - Serving God with Humility and Heart

Good morning.

I love the energy.

Can I just say glory to God.

Glory to God and, in case you haven't caught on, glory to God.

Amen for all that God has done in our body this summer.

Mark mentioned about seasons last week.

I think this has been a summer season of service, amen.

So we're just so thankful for that.

And it's not over, right To be continued.

We have lots of things coming on.

God's work never ends and we're just so thankful to be part of it.

We have the ladies' retreat coming up and one thing I'm pretty sure of is I don't think they'll be playing Ultimate Frisbee with a Cal Tom.

Pretty sure that's not going to happen, but that was a sight to see.

And yes, I did eat the Cal Tom.

But we're just so thankful to be able to serve God.

Are you ready for the word this morning?

All right, we're going to start out Luke 17, verse 7 through 10.

Luke 17:7–10

And this follows the parable of the mustard seeds.

So this is pretty good, all right.

We're talking about servant being a servant this morning.

Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep, will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field come along now and sit down to eat?

Won't he rather say prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink, and after that you may eat and drink?

Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say we are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty.

Wow, I kind of feel like the room just dropped.

But we are celebrating what God has done in our lives and being able to serve him, and it's such a blessing.

But it's so important to keep the proper perspective.

Yes, and I know that some years ago, when I read this scripture, it really kind of bothered me, because I loved serving God.

Serving God was great and I was very active in doing things and, to be honest, if I really was honest with myself, I'd have been saying you know what, god?

Yeah, we've got a good thing going here, don't we?

I bet you're really happy that I'm on board with this, because we're doing things, we're accomplishing things, and I read this as like well, wait a minute, am I not gaining some points here, god?

Am I not knocking things down and doing things for you?

And walls coming down.

And God's like, hey, you're only doing what you're told to do, but I've got to be able to go do more, don't?

We live in a society that's performance-based?

We go to work, we work hard, we get better pay, maybe we get a better office, maybe we get a promotion.

Everything in life is based on our performance, how well we perform.

And God's tell me it didn't matter, all that you were doing, you're only doing what you were told to do.

And I started thinking, well, what all was I told to do?

Maybe I can do more.

And you're like well, I'm to love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength.

Well, that's kind of hard.

Oh, and then, on top of that, I'm supposed to love my neighbor, as myself I've not completely done that.

Not to mention go into all the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, heal the sick, heal the lepers oh, let's not forget, raise the dead.

So I'm like, wow, I guess I'm not all that I thought I was.

And I think, as we get into serving God and in serving God as such a joy, it's such a blessing, it's such a wonderful thing that we have to remember that we have to still have humility.

We have to remember that it's not about us.

We can get tied up and all caught up in what we've accomplished, because God's ways are completely different than man's ways.

Like I said, everything else in the world, every other occupation, every other part of life is completely different.

God's saying put others first, don't put yourself first, put me first, above all, and don't be concerned about the notoriety and the being popular and all the things that come with that.

And it's just so unnatural for us to do that.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit to do that.

We need to remember that it's not by our works of righteousness, right but it's by God's grace, god's mercy, that we're able to accomplish anything.

And to think about being able to do all that God has commanded us.

It is impossible to do all that God has commanded us without the power of the Holy Spirit, right.

God has not only given us the things that we need to do, but he's given us Holy Spirit to give us the power to do the things we need to do for him.

So it all just comes back to God, the Father, and God the Son, god the Holy Spirit, and it's just such an awesome thing, and at that moment I realized that this is a relief.

I don't have to prove myself to God, I don't have to do lots of works and lots of activities, and it doesn't matter how many camps or retreats or sermons preached or mission trips or any of those things, which are all awesome, right, but none of that gained me one ounce of favor with God.

None of it, because it's all about him.

These are just things he's called us to do anyway, and having that proper perspective takes a lot of pressure off, because now I'm not serving out of a heart that needs acknowledgment or a heart that's trying to be satisfied with achievements, but I'm serving from a heart that truly loves God and that understands that all I am, all I have, all that's going on, is from God and that he's with us and he's empowering us to do that.

And it's a whole different way of serving God.

You're not upset when people don't recognize what you've done.

You don't get the proper acknowledgments or things like that, because you're serving from a heart of humility.

Let's look at another set of verses.

We're looking at Philippians, chapter 2, and we're going through verse 3 through 5.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

We're talking about a servant's heart.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.

Is that a popular worldview?

I don't think so.

Not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others and your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Alright, so again, completely contrary to our natural man, you know, and serving God is a wonderful thing, but you may not realize this.

But sometimes Christians don't agree.

I don't know if you know that or not.

Sometimes you can be in the midst of serving God and not everyone's happy, right?

Not everyone's in agreement with what's going on, and that can be frustrating and difficult to deal with.

Right, because you're supposed to be serving God and we allow our own selfish interests, our own opinions, the way we think things need to be done, to enter into the equation.

And God's telling us here no, put others first.

Right.

In a servant's heart, the servant puts others first, puts his master first right Before he eats, before he drinks.

He's making sure the work of the master is done right.

And Derek mentioned this that we had multiple churches involved.

When we went to New River we had at least four, maybe more.

We had people from Trinity, we had people from Housanna, we had people from Harborview, all the way in Washington state, we had people from Illinois and I don't know, rob, if we had more or not, but a lot of people working together.

And, as Rob said, at first it was like oh, and then it was like yeah, and then I was like oh, because you have a lot of people that you have to make sure have enough things to do and coordinate all that, and they did a wonderful job of that.

But it was just so wonderful to be able to serve with these people and to see that everyone had the common goal was to serve Jesus and to serve others and to be with these people who you do not know, from different states, different occupations, different walks of life, all kinds of different things.

There maybe some different opinions on different things, but because we had the mindset of Jesus, that we're there to serve Jesus and to serve others, things were going well.

They didn't even drink sweet tea, you know, and I know for most of you that would have just ended the relationship right there.

For me, I was like yes, oh, yes, no one's making fun of me for not ordering sweet tea, but we were serving God together and it was a wonderful thing and you saw some of the video.

There was a lady there that we were able to work on her home and it was not an easy task but everyone stuck to it and to be able to serve with your brothers and your sisters from different places.

It was just neat to see how, when God is part of it, it's great.

You know God is in the midst of it and we're putting Him first.

Everything flowed well In a teen camp, having three different churches, three different youth groups, different youth leaders and youth pastors from multiple churches all involved in activities.

Not always a good thing it's not always a good thing, but it went so well and it was so great because the heart of all the people were to find God that week, to let the Holy Spirit move in our heart and in our lives, and the kids were just so intertwined with each other.

It was just an amazing thing to see a lot of times when you get people together from different churches and different things and youth groups and all of a sudden you know you have your little click here.

Here's this group.

You know they're still mingling together, they're doing activities, but they're all together.

But no, they were all intertwined doing things and you would see kids from our church hanging out with other kids from a different church and it was just a wonderful thing because we see that we're all part of the body of Christ.

You know, we're all saved by Jesus'.

Blood.

We're all redeemed by His blood and we don't need to have all the little hang-ups.

Imagine if the church in general, what all would happen if we could put aside all of our little pettiness and all the little things that we disagree on.

You know the world does not have a great view of the church in general, the Christian church.

It's sad to say that, but you know we have a reputation for being condescending, to be judgmental and all those things, and we can't even get along with each other.

How are we supposed to share the gospel with other people?

Are they seeing things in our lives that they want?

Like, why do I need to be a Christian?

I don't see any difference.

You all argue with each other, you all fight, you can't get anything done, but God is telling us to be a servant.

We need to have that heart of Jesus that is willing to put others above yourself.

Is Jesus not the perfect example of that Right.

He is the perfect example of that Jesus, creator, savior.

God came to serve mankind.

It's just such an act of humility, such a wonderful thing to see there and it's just such a blessing to know that when you have the right perspective and you have that humble attitude and you're putting others first to watch and see what God just does, it's just so amazing, it's such a miracle.

You saw a lot in the video of people being baptized and kids being baptized and families being ministered to, and this is all part of what God wants to do.

And so many times I think we can just get caught up in our own agenda and our own things that we want to see accomplished and forget about what God wants to do.

And he just steps in and says hey, watch this.

I love reading the Old Testament.

You see, the Israelites are going to have the victory and the armies defeated.

And God steps in Like you know what?

I'm going to send some hail and wipe out twice as many people as you did.

And they're like hey, you know we're battling here, but God is supreme right.

God is the one that we serve and it's his agenda, it's his will that we need to be seeking after, not our own, and to be part of the summer of service was just such an awesome thing to see what it's like to truly have a servant's attitude and servant's heart and follow after the things of God and know that you're walking in the right path.

It was just such a blessing.

Moving on and we are zipping through this today 1 Peter, 4, 8 through 11, and this is just an awesome passage of Scripture.

Above all, I think that means, above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling or complaining.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

I'm going to hold up on there for a second, but each of us are to use the gifts that God has given us.

Paul told Timothy do not neglect the gift that's been given you, each one of us created by God, and I love the way God created us.

You know he's spoken.

There were trees and he's spoken.

There were fish and he's spoken there was sky.

But when it came to us, the hands of God reached into the soil, grabbed the soil and formed man, took the time formed him in the image of God, you know, special time.

He set us apart from the rest of creation in that way, and he placed within each of us special gifts, talents, abilities, things that he placed in us so that we can serve him right Things that he's placed in us and given us the Holy Spirit to give us the power to use the things that he's placed within us to serve him.

Are we using them?

Are we using all the gifts and all the abilities and all the talents that God has placed within us?

Are we just sitting on them?

Maybe we think they're not important, maybe we think they're not big enough, but we shouldn't feel that way because they're from God.

These gifts were from God, no matter what it is, and I know people, I've talked to people.

I'd love to serve at the church, I'd love to do things, but I just I'm nothing special, I have nothing.

I have nothing to offer, and that's not true.

It's not true.

God has placed the gift within the side of you.

I don't know what it is.

You know what it is.

Maybe you need to find out what it is and we have ways you can do that right.

We have our fit classes that help you find out what your gifts are and the direction you should be serving in.

But don't think that your gift doesn't matter, don't think that it's too small.

Remember when Jesus fed the 5,000?

5,000 men plus women and children.

A lot of people, a lot of people.

He fed, right?

The disciples came to him and said all the people are hungry.

And Jesus said well, feed them Didn't seem that complicated to Jesus, did it?

We see people's needs and we're like how are we going to do?

He's like well, feed them seemed pretty easy to him and of course, they had to have a discussion about it.

How are we going to do it?

What's going to happen?

How are we going to make this work?

And Jesus is like just feed them.

So they go out.

And what happens?

A young boy steps up.

Small little lunch five loaves, two fishes is that enough to feed 5,000 plus people?

No, did that boy know that?

He didn't care.

Jesus asked what do you have?

And he said this is what I have, this is what I give you, right?

Jesus took that gift, blessed it and fed the multitude with 12 baskets left over, took that little gift that the boy, with a childlike faith, that mustard, seed of faith, gave to Jesus and multitudes were blessed because of that.

And this isn't in the scripture, but I just envisioned sitting there that day and I see all these people, 5,000 plus, and I'm thinking.

I don't really think that boy was the only one who had food that day he brought his food, but that many people, somebody had to have a piece of fruit, I'm just thinking.

Or somebody had to have something else that they could have offered for Jesus, but they held on to it.

They held on to it because they thought I'm pretty hungry and what's this going to do?

It's one piece of fruit.

What's this going to do with all these people?

I need it for my family, I need to keep it for myself, for my family.

And they didn't offer it, they didn't give it to Jesus.

And I can't help but thinking what was in their mind when they saw Jesus blessed this little bit of food and the multitudes are fed.

They're like, oh man, I should have gave my little.

I could have given my little and Jesus would have used it and blessed it and others would be blessed by it, but I held on to it.

And I know in my own life how many times I've held back, thinking, oh, this is so insignificant, this isn't important, I shouldn't.

You know what's the big deal on this?

And I've seen as Jesus has used others in different ways and I'm like, oh man, I missed it, I missed it again.

But thankfully, jesus is faithful, he's forgiving, he's patient with us and he's giving us opportunities again and again to serve Him.

You know, it's such a wonderful thing to see that.

And I'm reminded that sometimes I don't offer my gift or I don't offer my service or I don't offer my abilities because I'm afraid.

I'm afraid that maybe I'll mess it up and I don't know, did anyone else ever feel that way?

That what happens if I say the wrong thing?

What happens if I get on stage and worship team's not done yet?

Yeah, some of you were here that week.

Right, we mess up.

We're not perfect, but God is and remember this that our God is greater than our mess ups.

It's the Holy Spirit not able to use us in spite of ourselves, because he's such a gracious God, such a forgiving God.

You know, we don't need to be unprepared, we don't need to just go out and do things on our own abilities.

We need to seek the Lord, we need to be diligent in seeking the Lord, but he's so faithful and forgiving that when we mess up, he's got this Right.

He's like, ah sorry, I got this, no problem.

You know, and that's such a relief when you're serving God that you don't have to rely on your own abilities, because if we're relying on our own abilities, we accomplish nothing, right, because it's all about the power of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

So I encourage you guys today to look at the gifts you have, look at your talents, look at your abilities.

How can you use them to serve God?

Come to us, ask us here.

You know there's multiple things we can be doing.

It's not just all what happens on this stage.

In fact, this is like that much that happens on stage compared to the rest of our weeks and the rest of our lives, right?

So we need to be serving God in those ways.

People can be blessed by what you have.

And I want to think about Jesus, and I know it's kind of like we've said we're unprofitable servants, and does God really need me?

He doesn't, but he wants to use us.

Is that not a special thing to see?

And I'll remind it of time with your children.

Maybe you have children, maybe you've been with children's and you start a project.

I used to start projects when my kids were napping right, because it's easier to get things done when they're napping right, because you start to do something and kids come up oh, can I help, let me help.

And you're like, you know, you're like, ah, one of those occasions when you say you know what?

Yeah, you know, come help and you let them help you paint the fence, or maybe you're making a batch of cookies or something right, and you pull up the chair and they stand on the chair and are able to reach the countertop and you start letting them throw ingredients in and, you know, maybe you even let them break an egg or three or however many it takes to get it into bowl and they start helping you and serving with you and communication starts opening up right, and it's a special time and you're there with your child, your child's, with the parent or whoever they're with, and it's a great time of fellowship.

Do we need that child to help us do that project?

No, is it going to be a little bit messier in the kitchen?

Yeah, it's gonna be a little bit messier, but the joy of seeing your child serving with you during that time.

It's just a wonderful thing.

And that's how God looks at us.

Does he need us?

No, but he wants us.

He wants that fellowship with us.

He wants to use us to minister to other people and see other people come along in their faith.

He wants to see us grow together.

There's times of fellowship.

That's what really causes growth in our lives.

You know, you think back at those times when you were able to spend with your kids, or even now, maybe, when you have little kids.

There's special times and you remember that, you know, and the child remembers that.

Oh, I remember making cookies with my mom, or I remember helping my dad and whatever.

Right, it's special time.

And that's the vision I have of when I'm serving Jesus.

Does he need me?

No, but he wants me.

He wants me there.

He wants to build that communication, that fellowship, and it's just special.

And I know we talked about it being unprofitable and God just has that way of bringing us the truth and then putting love on top of it, so that we feel loved and we feel part of his family, and it's just such an awesome thing.

And I just want to read through this passage one more time, peter, I'm going to read the whole thing this time, and I really believe that Peter, through the Holy Spirit, just really sums up everything that we're talking about today, and I'm just going to end in that verse.

I'm not going to try to explain it, we're just going to read that verse and let it sink in, and we have one other thing to do after that.

But, above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each of us 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 forever and ever.

Amen.

Let's do that last part one more time.

To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever.

Amen.

Let's pray.

And we have one more thing.

Lord, we're just so thankful that we serve a risen Savior today.

God, we are just so thankful that you loved us before we could even think of loving you, god.

I just pray, through the power of the Holy Spirit, lord, that you would give us that strength to go against the natural and to put you first, to put others before our own needs, god, so that we could be servants that are pleasing in your sight.

Jesus, I'm thankful that, with all our imperfections, with all my faults, with all the things that we need to deal with each and every day, that you still love me, that you still love all of us, and that you want us by your side and you want to build that relationship with us.

I'm so thankful for that.

So, holy Spirit, just give us the strength and the desire to use our talents and our gifts and our abilities to serve you.

Holy Spirit, just show us the power that is really within us through the blood of Jesus.

We're so thankful for that, god, that we would have that boldness that we need to step out of our comfort zone, to get away from the things that we're familiar with and really just be totally dedicated to serving you, and we're so thankful for that and thank you for all that In Jesus' name amen.