The Servants Creed - 3/22/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

sure to subscribe, follow, and share

with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

And he is faithful. Amen. thankful David

said, "The Lord is my shepherd." Amen.

And I appreciate his faithfulness and he

sure has been good to us. I appreciate

you being here this morning. And I love

each and every one of you. Thank you for

being in the house of God today. And I

hope you've had a good week. Amen. And

well, I take I always say this, act like

Sunday is the last day of the week, but

really it ain't. It's the first day of

the week. And Young and Y Liberty to go.

They done going, so Amen. They don't

need my liberty. Somebody say amen. But

I appreciate it. appreciate you being

here today and thankful I have this good

crowd here in spite. I'm telling you, if

you had many phone calls as I got

yesterday, you would have thought that

there wouldn't be anybody here this

morning. So, thank you for being here. I

mean that. I really do appreciate it and

I love each and every one of you. Thank

you for being in the house of God this

morning. John's Gospel chapter 12.

John's Gospel chapter number 12. And

I've been praying about these services

today. And I want to say this to you.

You know, you never know who you're

influencing

>> in this life. You never know what your

life has an impact uh on others. You

never know who's being impacted by your

life. And I was yesterday I was in a

meeting. I was in a meeting Friday and

Saturday, men's meeting down in South

Carolina and uh there was some young men

there. It was it was a men's conference.

What it was, there was over a thousand

men there, I guess, as far as I could

tell. It was a it was a big meeting and

we was there. just went to sit in on the

meeting and uh they it was a it's called

the pastors and his men of might

conference and uh we was there and some

friends of mine were there. They're

church folk. I just I just wrote down um

just due to everything been going on at

the church. I didn't promote it or push

it or anything like that. And so we I

just wrote down uh for the meeting and

they had a they had a time of prayer

after one of the sermons. Heard six

messages. They preached four preachers

on Saturday morning and every one of

them preached over 3540 minutes and it

was good man. I'm telling you I could

have stood to heard two more yesterday.

Amen. But it was good. And uh yesterday

they had a time of prayer um for the

pastors and the men of men that come

with them u would pray with their pastor

and I was there about on the on the

front row and there's three young boys

three preachers boys that I love dearly

and they wasn't able to get to the altar

with their their dads all their dad's

pastors and uh they come up there and

those three pre those three preachers

boys got around me and prayed with me. I

didn't know who was there. And uh I I

stood up. When I was finished praying, I

looked around. There was all three

around me praying for me. And they don't

go to my church. They just But I I was

just thinking about that. And I was on

the ride home with that preacher

yesterday. And and I told him, I said,

"Thank you for trusting me with your

children."

>> Amen.

>> And uh man, I'm telling you, you don't

know who's watching your life.

>> Amen.

>> You don't know who's impacted by what

you're doing. And let me say, don't

quit.

>> Amen.

>> Don't quit on God. Don't quit on church.

And uh I don't care how messed up your

life's been up to this point. You can be

an example from this day forward. Amen.

And don't give up on God. I'm telling

you, he's got a plan for your life. And

I do appreciate you being here. You find

your place. John chapter number 12. If

you would stand with us in honor

reverence to the reading of God's word,

John chapter number 12. And I hope

you've been praying for the service

today. Praying God would help us. And I

need his touch. You pray for me. The

Lord will give us uh uncction this

morning as we preach. John 12 verse

number verse number 20. John chapter

number 12 verse number 20. The Bible

says, "And there were certain Greeks

among them uh that came up to worship at

the feast. The same came therefore to

Philillip which was of Bethayed of

Galilee and desired him saying, "Sir, we

would see Jesus. Philip cometh and

tellth Andrew." And again Andrew and

Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered

them, saying, the hour is come that the

Son of man should be glorified. Verily,

verily, I say unto you, except a corn of

wheat fall into the ground and die, it

abideth alone. But if it die, it

bringeth forth much fruit. He that

loveth his life shall lose it, and he

that hateth his life in this world shall

keep it unto life eternal. Notice verse

number 26. It'll be our key text for the

message this morning. The Bible says

Jesus speaking, "If any man serve me,

let him follow me.

>> And where I am, there shall also my

servant be. If any man serve me, him

will my father honor." Verse 27, he

says, "Now is my soul troubled, and what

shall I say? Father, save me from this

hour. But for this cause came I unto

this hour. And he says in verse 28,

Father, glorify thy name. Then came

there a voice from heaven saying, I have

both glorified it and we'll glorify it

again. I want to preach this morning for

the help of the Lord out of verse number

26. Notice in that phrase in the first

part of the verse where he says, "If any

man serve me, let him follow me." And I

want to preach on this thought for just

a little while. this morning, the

servants creed. The servants creed. Now,

I was reading this text and before

you're seated, I want to say this to

every one of us this morning. If you've

been saved by the grace of God,

salvation in your life is a call and it

is a command to service. Amen. When you

got saved, God didn't save you to see

it.

>> He didn't save you to see it so sour, as

one preacher said. Amen. He saved you to

serve. And I want to preach on that

thought today with the help of the Lord.

Let's pray if we could please. Father,

thank you so much for allowing us to be

in the house of God today. And Lord, it

is my privilege to be here. Thank you

for the opportunity to share the word of

God. Know it's been different today, but

God, I'm thankful that you're the same

and your spirit's the same. Your word's

the same. And God, you're never going to

change. And I can say thank you to for

that fact today. Lord, though it seems

as many things are changing around us.

God, I'm thankful that you're always

consistent and consecutive in our life,

you're always faithful, and I bless your

name for that. God, I thank you for

these people, Lord, that's come out to

be a part of this service. I pray you'd

add a blessing to them today. God, I

thank you for them. I pray if there's

one here lost today that they would be

saved before this service is over. God,

I pray if there's somebody out of the

will of God, not right with you, I pray

they'd get right with you today. And

Lord, I ask you, God, as a result of

this service, Lord, may every soul leave

closer to you than we were when we came

in. And I pray more than anything that

you would get glory this morning out of

the preaching of thy word. Save the

sinner, God, that's nearest hell. Exalt

your son. We pray. Help our church in

these days. We pray for these many

needs, God. You know, every situation,

every heart in life, every burden that's

on the heart of your children this

morning, God. I pray you give them

strength, Lord, for the days to come.

and we'll be sure to thank you for what

you do because we ask it in Jesus' name.

And all God's children said, thank you

for standing. You can be seated this

morning and I appreciate it very, very

much. This morning we come to John's

Gospel, chapter number 12. We're coming

up on this year already. Hard to believe

Easter is less than three weeks away.

That's crazy, ain't it? And it's going

to be here on top of us before we know

it. But I was thinking about this text,

of course, this text, John 12. If you

know anything about your Bible, this

begins, this marks the beginning of our

Lord's passion week. You notice chapter

12 and verse number one. The Bible says,

"Then Jesus, six days before the

Passover, came to Bethany." So Bethany

in your Bible is that town where Jesus'

friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived.

And he's coming there to have fellowship

with them. And I preached a message some

time ago here at the church. And we

talked about that time of fellowship and

those people that were sitting around

the table there with the Lord. And as he

comes there, he comes to their home. And

then he heads from there into Jerusalem.

Where is the triumphal entry? That what

we recognize on Palm Sunday. The Bible

says in verse number 13 that they took

branches of palm trees and went forth to

meet him and cried, "Hosana, blessed is

the king of Israel that cometh in the

name of the Lord." And so Jesus comes in

there riding on that donkey and all of

the men of Israel. Watch prophecy unfold

before their very eyes. Amen. As Jesus

rode in on that colt, the fo of an ass,

and he presented himself there to the

Jews. But as I said in Sunday school

this morning, one more time they

rejected him. And the sad thing is

that's what men have been doing down

through the ages. Even since he came and

even before that, Jesus would present

himself. Let me say this to you. He's

presenting himself this morning. But the

sad thing is there'll still be somebody

that leaves rejecting him. Though he

reveals himself time and time and time

again, THERE WILL STILL BE THOSE who

refuse to accept his free gift of

salvation. But I'll say this, that

doesn't make him any less king.

>> Amen. He's still God. He's still on the

throne. He's still King of Kings and

Lord of Lords. Amen. And I believe soon

and very soon we'll see him high and

lifted up and exalted. Amen. But I'll

say this for the text this morning. The

Pharisees here in the text, they've

watched Jesus come in here. And the

Bible says that as he's entered into

Jerusalem, there's many people that's

come up to the feast there. You can

study history and you'll find that

people came from all over the world to

be here in Jerusalem during this time of

the year, that Passover week. And the

Bible says there in the verse number 20,

and there were certain Greeks among them

that came up to worship at the feast.

And the Bible tells us, history tells us

as well that there was in that that

court, that tabernacle, there was a

court for the Jews. And then there was a

court for the Gentiles, those that would

come in there and worship that had

really no right to the things of God.

But there was still a place for them to

get in and worship there during that

week. And the Bible says they had came

up, but they had been hearing about

Jesus. And they'd been hearing about how

Lazarus had been raised from the dead.

And they'd been hearing about all the

miracles that Jesus had done. And I said

it in Sunday school this morning. But

the Bible says in verse number 37 that

though Pharisees, the Bible says, though

he had done so many miracles before

them, yet they believed not on him. And

in spite of everything that he did, in

spite of everything that he said, AND IN

SPITE OF EVERYTHING that he was, they

refused to believe. But boy, there was

some people that wanted to see him.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. These Greeks had come up and the

Bible says in verse number 21, they same

came therefore to Philillip which was of

Bethaya of Galilee and desired him

saying sir we would see Jesus. Amen.

They wanted to see him. They wanted to

hear about this miracle working man that

proclaimed himself to be the Messiah.

And they've come to see him. And the

Bible says that his disciples Philip and

Andrew come and tell him. And the Bible

says in verse number 23, Jesus makes

this statement to them. Jesus answered

them saying, "The hour is come."

>> Basically, in essence, what he was

saying, he says, "It's time for me to go

to the cross." And what you're going to

find through this passage is is Jesus is

talking about Calvary. From verse number

23 all the way to verse number 28, Jesus

is talking about the cross. You see, the

Jews wanted a Messiah to come and rule

over them and deliver them from the

bondage of the government that they were

under. But you see, Jesus didn't want to

deliver them from the bondage of the

government, but he wanted to deliver

them from the bondage of their sin.

Amen. And in order for that to happen,

Jesus before he could ever sit on a

throne, he first had to be hung on a

cross. Amen. And the Bible says in the

text when these Gentiles come to Jesus,

he says to these men, he said, "The hour

has come that the son of man should be

glorified." And you SAY, "PREACHER, WHY

DID Jesus not reveal himself unto them?"

Why did Jesus not present himself as

king unto them so that they could

worship him? You see, Jesus is not so

much concerned with the presentation of

himself to you and I this morning so we

can say something about him. Jesus wants

to help you.

>> Amen. Right?

>> And here's the thing. Jesus could do

nothing for those Gentiles at this point

in time. You say, "Preacher, but he was

Jesus. He could do anything until the

sin debt was taken care of." Until the

cross. You see, Jesus, Matthew chapter

number 10, he told his disciples, he

said, "You go to the lost sheep of the

house of Israel." He presented himself

to those Jews. And because they rejected

him, because blindness happened to them,

they rejected the offer of the

leadership of the Messiah on this earth.

Jesus then turns and realizes, hey, the

cross really is going to happen. And he

knew it was going to happen. It was for

it was for ordained in the mind of God.

Christ was crucified in his mind before

the foundation OF THE WORLD. BUT HE

OFFERED IT TO THE JEWS. They rejected

it. And so because of that, he begins

his journey toward Calvary. The book of

Luke tells us that he set his face as he

would go toward Jerusalem because it was

at Jerusalem WOULD BE WHERE HE WOULD

DIE, where he would present himself and

there he would die for the sins of the

human race. And so he begins telling

them number one about his death. In

verse number 23, his death is realized.

You say, "What do you mean by that?"

Well, he says, "The hour has come that

the son of man should be glorified."

Now, you remember what Jesus told

Nicodemus.

He told Nicodemus in John chapter number

three, he said, "As Moses lifted up the

serpent in the wilderness, what did he

say? Even so must the Son of man be

lifted up." Amen. And when that serpent

was lifted, all the judgment of God was

upon that servant. And when a man looked

to that brazen serpent on the pole, he

could live. Amen. And so Jesus had to be

lifted up on that cross and take ALL THE

JUDGMENT OF GOD. What did he say? And

die if I be lifted up, I'll draw all men

unto myself. Amen. And because he was

lifted up on Calvary, he would DRAW ALL

NATIONS, NOT JUST JEWS, BUT GENTILES AND

ALL people unto himself so that they

could be saved. And Jesus says in the

text, "The hour has come that the son of

man should be glorified." YOU SAY,

"PREACHER, BUT GLORY DOESN'T THAT

DOESN'T TRANS TRANSLATE TO THE CROSS."

YOU UNDERSTAND Jesus was never more

glorified.

>> That's right.

>> Oh, friend.

>> Amen.

>> Than he was on the cross.

God was exalted in the sacrifice of his

son. The time of his glory was there,

hanging between heaven and hell. He

would hang there for the sins of all

mankind and bring deliverance and

salvation. And he tells these boys,

"Hey, it's time, boys. He's ready to go

to the cross." The

death is realized in verse number 23.

But then in verse 24, his death is

revealed.

You see, they don't know that he's

talking about his death. Listen to what

he says. Verily, verily, I say unto you,

except a corn of wheat fall into the

ground and what? Die. So, you see, these

boys didn't know what he meant. And even

after verse 24, they didn't know what he

meant. But you know what he was telling

them? He said, "Look, I'm going to have

to die."

And the thing about it is this morning,

if your salvation did not come across

from a c if it your salvation did not

come into your life from a cross or from

a bloody Calvary for Jesus that was

crucified and then risen again. I tr I

submit to you salvation's invalid.

Somebody say amen. Hey, we we believe in

a bloody cross. Amen. The sacrifice of

Christ was a sacrifice of death for the

without the shedding of blood there is

no remission of sins. Amen. And so his

death was revealed unto them. And he

revealed it by this illustration. What

is this illustration that he gives?

Well, it's the planting of this wheat

seed. Look what he said. Except a corn

of wheat fall under the ground. And then

it's the death, the dying of this seed.

Not only the planting and the dying, but

it is the raising. Look what he says. He

said, "But if it die, it bringeth forth

much fruit. And then there is the

bearing of this seed." This seed was

fruitful. And what do we know about

Jesus? Him and his death. He offered

salvation to everyone that would

believe. And because of his death on

Calvary, he has reached the nation since

then through the preaching of the word

of God. And it was his death that would

bring forth much fruit. You understand

this morning that for a seed when it's

planted in the ground, when that seed is

there by itself, that thing's alive. But

when it goes into the ground, what

happens? That seed has to die. And when

it bursts forth, what happens? The plant

rises up out of that. And then on that

stalk there's many more seeds. Somebody

say amen. And so you know what? He's the

firstborn among many brethren. And when

he was planted, friend, he was planted

not to stay planted, but he was planted

to rise up again. And what was he? The

first begotten from the dead. He's the

first fruits of them that ra would be

raised from the dead. Jesus is the one

that was planted INTO THE GROUND. HE

DIED THERE. BUT THANK GOD, HE GOT UP

AGAIN. AMEN.

>> His death. He revealed his death to him.

I need to move on quickly this morning.

I'd say not only we see his death in the

text, but we see his demand in the text.

Verse 25. He that loveth his life shall

lose it, and he that hateth his life in

this world shall keep it unto life

eternal. Jesus here is revealed to them

his death. These men have come wanting

to see Jesus. And Jesus tells his

disciples here in the text, he says,

"Everybody that's going to come unto

me," he said, "they're going to have to

lose their life." Say, "What does it

have to do with?" Has to do with your

priorities. Notice the text. The Bible

says in verse 25, "He that loveth his

life shall lose it." You see, Christ's

demand is seen in his statement

concerning man in his life. There must

be denial of self. What Jesus say in

Matthew 16:4?

Matthew 16:4

If any man will come after me, what do

he say? Let him deny himself. Take up

his cross and follow me. You see them

Greeks wanted to see Jesus. But you know

what? They couldn't go where Jesus was

going.

>> You know what? Nobody could go where

Jesus was going.

>> But what was he telling them? He was

telling them, "Boys, it's going to take

more than just looking at me.

>> You have to deny yourself." I notice in

the text not only he speaks of the

priorities but he speaks of the prospect

in verse number 25. He that loveth his

life shall lose it. If the priority is

placed more upon a man's life and his

possessions and his operation of his own

life, then he will lose all of that. But

he says he that hateth his life in this

world, what's your Bible say? Shall keep

it unto life eternal. The prospect of

his demand shows us shows you and I this

morning that Jesus when he offers

salvation it causes about a turning.

You're not going to come to Christ

without repentance.

>> You're not going to live for God without

being right with him.

>> You're not going to live for God and

hold your life in one hand and try to

hold him with the other. You going to

have to turn loose of all that and grab

hold to him lock, stock, and barrel.

Amen. You going to have to take

everything that Jesus has to give. I'm

saying you have to get your priorities

straightened out because he demands it.

He said, "He that loveth his life shall

lose it. If you hang on to what you've

got, you'll surely lose it and it'll all

go away." He said, "But if you hate your

life, that means to esteem it less

valuable than that which Christ has

given. He that hateth his life in this

world shall keep it unto life eternal."

You see, self-denial leads to this

promised soon deliverance. Look what he

said again. He that hateth his life in

this world shall keep it unto what? Life

eternal.

That self-denial is just for a time, but

deliverance is for eternity.

>> I'm not even at the message yet. Amen.

We'll get there in a minute. All right.

His death, his demand. I see his desire.

Verse 27. I'm moving quickly. All right.

His desire. You see, there was he was

going to present his grace to the world.

Verse 27. Now is my son trouble. What

shall I say? Father, save me from this

hour. But for this cause came I unto

this hour. What was the cause? He came

to this hour so he could die and offer

salvation to the world.

>> He said this is the reason I'm here. He

didn't come to work miracles. HE DIDN'T

COME TO PREACH SERMONS. HE CAME TO DIE.

>> AMEN.

>> AMEN. That was his purpose to present

the grace of God to the world. Not only

his desire was grace to be presented to

the world, but his desire was God's

glory to be proclaimed. Because in verse

28, look what he says. Father, glorify

thy name. Exalt yourself.

That's why we say, Lord, more than

anything else, get glory to yourself.

>> That was Jesus desire. And then God

spoke from heaven saying, I have both

glorified it and will glorify it again.

Notice the message this morning. And

we've considered his death, his demand,

his desire. But I want you to see his

delight in verse 26. You see Jesus here

in the text, he puts this little

statement here, and I I skipped over it

for this reason because this is who

Christ wants us to be. You see, if you

are saved, God has divinely

orchestrated. The Bible says Ephesians

Ephesians 2:8

2:8, "For by grace are you saved through

faith, and that not of yourselves is let

not of yourself. It's the gift of God,

not of works, lest any man should

boast." And what does he say in verse

10? For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto what? Good

works, which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them. God didn't

save you to sit. He saved you to serve.

>> He saved you to work for him. HE SAVED

YOU TO WITNESS FOR HIM, TO WIN SOULS FOR

HIM. HIS DELIGHT is when his children

serve him. Paul said it this way in

Romans 12. HE SAID, "I BESEECH YOU. I

BEG YOU, BRETHREN, THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR

BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY,

ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, which is what? Your

reasonable service." Listen to what he

says. Four things and I'll be done this

morning concerning his delight. And I'm

talking about the servants creed this

morning. This is who we are. This should

be who you are this morning. First of

all, I would say this. Number one, there

is an opportunity that is a is

available. Notice verse 25, verse 26.

What's that first phrase, church? If any

man serve me, if any man serve me. You

see, Christ through his death on the

cross, this event is consuming the text.

And so, he is still revealing the proper

life of his servants and the delight of

that life in in light of the cross. You

see, if it wasn't for the cross, we

wouldn't have no ability to serve.

>> We have the opportunity to serve because

of the cross. And when Jesus says, "If

any man serve me," what is he presenting

to us? Well, number one, this

opportunity reveals that the candidate

is open to anybody. Look what he says.

"If any man," Now, I know that's simple

this morning, but it's the truth. The

candidate is open to all. If any man

serve me, not only the candidate, but

there is the calling. What is that

calling? What does he say? if any man

serve me. You see, our service this

morning is the calling of God. And you,

yes, you, you're a candidate.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, well, I'm not

available."

Well, the opportunity is available,

>> right?

>> Amen.

>> Because you're not available doesn't

mean the opportunity is not there.

Here's what I'm finding. People feel

like the opportunity is not there. But

here's the truth about your life and

mine. There is always an opportunity to

serve.

>> And I'll say this, in light of the fact

that that opportunity is there, God's

saying, "Look, the opportunity is open,

but I'm calling you.

Serve me. This is your purpose. This is

who I've made you to be. This is where

you are supposed to be." You see, Christ

knew his audience. Christ knew the

diversity. He knew the Greeks were

there. He knew the Jews were there. He

knew the disciples were there. But he is

revealing this new dispensation as an

opportunity to all to what? To serve.

For he himself was a servant. Listen to

what he said. Matthew chapter number 20.

Matthew chapter number 20. I encourage

you to put it in your margin. Listen to

what Jesus said. Matthew 20 verse number

28.

He says this. Even as the Son of Man

came not to be ministered unto, listen

now, but to minister

and to give his life a ransom for many.

Even as the son of man came not to be

ministered unto, but to minister. Jesus

was a servant. Paul said it this way. He

said in Philippians chapter 2 verse

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

number 7, he made him he made himself of

no reputation but took upon himself

what? The form of a servant. You know

what we need a revival of in Meadows

Baptist Church? Servants.

>> People want to serve. YOU SAY,

"PREACHER, I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS."

SERVE. You say, "What does that

constitute, preacher?" Anything that

furthers the work of God. It goes all

the way from preaching a sermon to

cleaning the toilets to taking care of

the grounds.

>> And I just feel led to do this right

here. And I would never do this. I'm not

going to bury you. But how how long you

been mowing the grass here? 38 years. 36

>> 36 years. Never asked for a dime.

>> That's service.

He didn't ask for a thing. 30 37 years.

Let me ask you, what are you doing for

God?

>> That's right.

>> The son of man came to minister. He

didn't come to be ministered unto. He

came to minister.

You know what? So many people they come

to church, this their mindset. What can

it do for me? I

>> heard people say this, what do you have

to offer for the kids?

>> Let me ask you, what do you have to

offer for the church?

>> Why should we allow you to be a member?

Are you saved? Number one, somebody say

amen.

>> Do you even want to live for God?

>> Brother Josh said it here in revival

meeting. He said there's some people

they just want to go to church just

because it's right thing to do in the

south.

>> That's right. Hey, there's an

opportunity.

It's available. is you can be a

candidate. There is a call and he said,

"Serve me." We are called to be

servants. Romans 12:1 already said that.

Romans 12:1

Notice this. Second of all, not only the

opportunity that is available, but

consider second of all the obedience

that is acceptable. Notice this verse

number 26.

If any man serve me, what's them next

four words, church? Let him follow me.

The opportunity that's available, it's

open to all. If you want to serve, there

is a work for you to do in the work of

God. But you understand there's a

criteria.

You see, you can't serve without doing

it his way.

>> That's right.

>> You can't serve without doing it

the book's way.

>> That's right.

>> You see, service has a criteria. Number

one, I'll say this about the obedience.

There's a choice. Look what he says. If

any man serve me, let him. You know what

that means? It's on you.

It's dependence on your choice. Let him

then not only the choice but there's the

conforming. Let him follow me. Who's he

following? He's following Christ.

>> Amen.

>> Romans 12 verse number two. We always

quote verse one. What does he say in

verse two? Be not conformed to this

world. Be ye transformed by the renewing

of your mind that you may prove what is

that good and acceptable and perfect

will of God. You know what that means?

That means you are conforming to Christ.

>> Amen. You are being made like him. You

are drawing yourself. He is drawing you

unto himself. And you know what you're

doing? The more the closer you get, the

more like him you become.

>> That's right.

>> Obedience is imperative. Let me remind

you to follow Christ means complete

submission.

Think about where he's headed to when

he's telling them this. He's headed to

the cross. Calvary is in view. just few

short days away, probably less than

seven days, probably like 5 days, Christ

is going to be hanging on a cross. And

he knows this.

>> What's he telling him? If any MAN WILL

SERVE ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME.

JESUS WAS FULLY PERSUADED THAT GOD WAS

GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. LET ME SAY

THIS. YOU NEED TO BE FULLY PERSUADED

THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

>> That's the only way you'll submit to

him. FOLLOWING CHRIST, SERVING CHRIST.

OBEDIENCE MEANS complete submission to

follow Christ as he was headed to the

cross. Let me let me give you this

truth. He was headed to the cross. And

to follow Christ means we must go to the

cross.

>> Matthew 16:24 again. If any man will

Matthew 16:24

come after me, let him deny himself and

take up his cross and follow me. When

you serve Jesus, it means the death of

sin in your life.

>> Romans chapter 6 says, "Shall we that

Romans 6 · chapter mention

are dead to sin live any longer therein?

God forbid.

>> It means death to sin. It means

self-denial.

IT MEANS DEPARTING FROM THOSE WHO ARE

WICKED in your life. It means being

directed by the sovereign. IT MEANS YOUR

LIFE being defined by the scriptures.

How many of our lives, if we really

matched them up,

would fit?

My life. Would it fit? You know what? I

know it wouldn't fit perfect, but I hope

it fits better tomorrow than it did

today. Let me ask you, does your life

fit?

How close are you to this book? Your

life, your service is defined by the

scriptures. It's directed by the

sovereign spirit of God in your life. He

gives you direction, but the scriptures

is the guidelines that you go by. He

says, "If any man serve me, let him

follow me."

You see, we are directed and this the

will is involved in this.

The choice, it's a choice. It's a

calling, but it's a choice. You must

choose to serve Christ. And works

involved.

Let me say this. It ain't going to be

easy being a Christian.

>> You say, "Preacher, well, I I need

something that's easy." Well, you're not

going to find it here.

>> When you get saved, you know what you're

doing? You're placing your life in his

hands. But you know what he commands you

to do the rest of your life? To take his

hand and allow him to lead you.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "Preacher, but he said he said

my yoke is easy." Let me ask you

something. What do you think it Why do

you think he described it as a as a

yoke?

It's a burden.

>> I'll tell you this, his yoke's a lot

easier than the yoke of this world.

>> That's right.

>> But it ain't going to be easy. But it's

a whole lot better with him. Somebody

say amen.

>> The obedience that is acceptable.

There's the will of man is involved. The

work is involved. It's laborious to be a

servant. If any man serve me, let him

follow me. Thirdly, moving quickly. The

opportunity that is available, the

obedience that is acceptable. Notice

this. Thirdly, notice the orientation

that is absolute.

Say, what do you mean? Notice the verse.

Verse 26. If any man serve me, let him

follow me. What's that next phrase? And

where I am, there shall also my servant

be. Now, two sides of this. There is a a

practical look at this. There the

practical orientation is this. All

right. Number one, the Bible says, look

what he said. Where I am, where's Jesus

at?

He's in our heart. Amen.

>> He's in our church. Hallelujah.

>> Where I am, what's he say? There shall

also my servant be. Yeah.

>> How many times are you where he is?

>> I'll tell you where he's at. He's in

this Bible. When you get up in the

morning, it's time to crack the pages on

and talk to him. That's where you'll

find him.

>> Amen.

>> He's in your prayer closet. When you get

in there and you got needs that you

don't know how to fix,

>> you talk to him. He's there. He's at

church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and

Wednesday night and revival meeting.

>> Amen.

He's here.

Where I am, there shall also my servant

be. You can judge your life by how

faithful you are to these things

practically speaking. But it gets

better. You see, this text does not mean

practically where I am, there shall also

my servant be. That's not what he's

talking about practically. It's a good

application, but it's not the truth. All

right, about this text. You ought to be

where he is. Somebody say amen.

>> But this this text really means it's a

prophetical

implication. Now notice the phrase

again. And where I am, there shall also

my servant be. Now what's he been

talking about? He's talking about

Calvary, ain't he? He's headed to the

cross. And what does he tell these boys

in John chapter number 14 and verse

number three? Listen to this verse with

me for just a minute. John 14:3. And if

John 14:3

I go and prepare a place for you, I will

come again and receive you unto myself.

What's that last phrase? That where I

am, there you may be also. this text,

Jesus is telling them, boys, I'm going

to the cross. If any man serve me, let

him follow me. Where's he headed? He's

headed to the cross. Look what he says

in the verse again. If any man serve me,

let him follow. And where I am, there

shall also my servant be. What is he

saying? If you will follow me to the

cross, when I get on the other side of

the cross, you'll end up where I'm at.

>> All right, let me give you this. All

right, the orientation that is absolute.

Number one, there's the present

dwelling. Verse 26, where I am. Christ

physically was standing before those

men. But let me remind you something.

Christ was somewhere else at the same

time.

Notice John 3. I love this. John 3. John

3:3. Jesus says this. And no man hath

ascended up to heaven, but he that came

down from heaven, even the son of man,

listen to it now, which is in heaven.

That's present tense. So you know what?

As Jesus was on the earth, where was he

at still? In heaven. You know what?

Because I'm saved, I'm present here in

what is this? Meadows, Danbury, whatever

you want to call it. Walnut Cove. Amen.

It's somewhere in there. Amen. I'm here

right now

>> at the Meadows Baptist Church. But you

know where else I'm at?

>> I'm in heaven.

>> Amen.

>> Notice the verse again.

Where I am, there shall also my servant

be. There is a present dwelling. Christ,

as he was on this earth, he was also in

heaven because he's God. And because he

is God, he is going to the cross. And he

is telling them that the cross, hey,

it's just temporary. You know what he's

telling them? I'm going to get up, boys.

You know what we're going to do? And

when I get up on the other side of this

thing, you're going with me.

>> John 14. Again, we always talk about

this, and I hate to have to preach this,

but I'm gonna have to do it anyway.

John 14, we always say, "Man, Jesus has

been he built the earth in six days,

rested on the seventh. He's been

building my mansion for over 2,000

years." And that sounds real good, but

the truth is it ain't biblical.

Notice John 14.

Let not your heart be troubled. Verse

number one, you believe in God, believe

also in me. In my father's house are,

notice that word, in my father's house

are, not will be, but are. In my

father's house are many mansions. If it

were not so, I would have told you. Hey,

look, if ain't a home up there for you,

ought to let you know that.

>> Notice it again. I go to prepare a place

for you. You know what he's still

talking about in verse two? He's not

talking about heaven. He's talking about

the cross.

>> What was preparing a place for us in

heaven? The cross.

>> How do we get to heaven? John 14:6.

John 14:6

Jesus said to them, "I am the way, the

truth, and the life. No man cometh unto

the father but by me."

>> The cross. Ain't that right? Notice

verse three again. And if I go and

prepare a place for you, I will come

again. What's he telling? He's not

saying he's not telling them, "Hey, I'm

coming back in the second advent." No,

he's saying, "I'm going to get up."

>> He's saying, "I'm going to get up out of

the grave, boys."

>> Amen.

>> Notice it again. I will come again and

receive you unto myself. Now, you don't

have to believe this this morning. You

don't have to. I know it messes up a lot

of good preaching, but what I believe

that is is when Jesus comes back, you

know what he does after he gets up

again? What does he do to those men

after he is risen from the dead? You

know what he does in the upper room? He

meets with them. What does he tell them?

He breathes on them and they receive the

Holy Ghost. Notice the verse. I will

come again and receive you unto myself.

He breathed on them, receiving the Holy

Ghost. Notice the phrase again, that

where I am,

there you may be also. After he breathed

on them, it was just a few short days.

And what did he do? He ascended, didn't

he?

So in John chapter number 12, what's he

telling them? Where I am, there shall

also my servant be.

Prophetically speaking in heaven as he

is there we will be there as well.

>> We'll be there with him where I am. You

say, "How is that, preacher?" Well, he's

already given the prerequisite. The

Christian life is summed up in the first

two phrases. If any man serve me, let

him follow me. If you spend your life

following him, you know what you going

to do? Just like Eno, one of these days,

God's going to tell you, you're closer

to my house than you are to yours.

>> Come home. Amen. IF YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE

FOLLOWING HIM, you know what you're

going TO FIND ONE OF THESE DAYS? If

you've been with him, you're going to

end your tenure on this side, but you're

GOING TO START ONE OVER THERE. AMEN.

HEY, let me let me just back up again on

that. It's already started.

>> That's right. Amen.

>> You're just going to step out of this

life to be in that life.

>> Amen.

>> That'll help you if you let it. Amen.

>> The orientation that's absolute. Hey,

where I am, there shall also my servant

be. settled where he is. If you serve

him, that's where you going to be.

>> That's right,

>> man. I'm thankful. I ain't got a doubt

in my mind.

>> Amen.

>> I'm telling you, the devil has beat me

all to pieces over the last few days.

But I can tell you this right now, it

feels good in my soul. Amen.

>> I say fooy on that old rascal. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> He's a liar and the father of it.

>> Notice this. I'm done. Verse the fourth

thing. The orientation that's absolute.

Notice fourthfully, notice the objective

that is anticipated in the verse. Verse

number 26. I, he said, where I am, there

shall also my servant be. Thank God for

heaven.

My home is just around the bend going to

be there for long. Verse 26, if any man

serve me, him will my father honor. I

love this, brother Mike. I love this.

You see, Jesus is telling them, hey,

look, if any man serve me, let him

follow me. And one of these days, if you

follow me to the end, where I am, there

shall also my servant be. You're going

to end up with me. If any man serve me,

him will my father honor. So that

service is the precipice of this

thought. Number one, in the objective,

there is the prerequisite. If any man

serve me, this is founded upon what you

do for Christ. Now, you say, "Preacher,

if I don't serve him, does that mean

that I'm not going to go to heaven?" No.

Here's what here's here's the thing

about it. All right? You can be saved

and not serve him. It's very possible.

But I'll tell you this, you're going to

live your life in misery because you're

not going to be sure about it. Number

one. Number two, when you get there, you

ain't going to have nothing to give back

to this back to him. Amen.

I notice not only the prerequisite in

the text, but notice also not only the

prerequisite in the objective, but

notice the praise. Him or my father

honor. That that word honor means to

esteem highly.

>> Means to place worth upon.

How much God think you're worth?

How much God think I'm worth?

Him will my father honor. What does he

mean by that? Well, number one, this

honor the father is earned.

It's earned honor. Listen to what Jesus

said. John Luke chapter number 14.

Luke 14 verse number 10. He gives this

this parable. Verse number eight. When

thou art bidden to of any man to a

wedding, sit not down in the highest

room, lest the more honorable man than

thou be bidden of him, and he that bathe

thee in him come, say unto thee, give

this man place, and they'll begin with

shame to take the lowest room. But when

thou art bidden, go and sit down in the

lowest room, that when he that bathe

thee cometh, he may say unto thee,

friend, go up higher, then shalt thou

have worship in the presence of them

that sit and meet with thee. Verse 11,

for whosoever exalteth himself shall be

abased, and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.

>> Amen.

>> You know what the measure of your

service is? One preacher said it was

this way. The way with God, the way up

is the is down.

The way up with God's down. And if

you're going to be exalted, you're going

to have to first be humbled in this

life.

>> I'm talking about the menial things,

things nobody else wants to do. I'm

talking about this this this service,

this honor is earned.

It's earned by your service.

It's not only earned honor, but it's

exclusive honor. Notice the verse again.

Him will my father.

Who's that?

It's God the Father, isn't it?

>> I want God to honor me

>> when I get to heaven.

>> Amen.

You know, you've heard it said before.

Why would he say, "Well done," if you've

not done well.

I want to hear him say, "Well done, thou

good and faithful servant."

It's exclusive. John said it this way in

1 John chapter number two verse number

28. He said, "My little children abide

in him that when he shall appear that we

may have confidence and not be ashamed

before him

>> at his coming." You can be ashamed

before him. Notice this. I'm done. This

is earned honor. This is exclusive

honor. But this is eternal

honor. The text, if any man serve me,

him will my father honor. Now, that's in

the perfect present tense, but I that's

not the proof I'm going to give. Listen

to what Peter says. First Peter chapter

1 Peter 5 · chapter mention

5,

the crown of glory.

Most preachers say this is the pastor's

crown.

A lot men smarter than I am. They say

that. But I I think any any shepherd

that

leads God's people pastor or no. First

Peter chap 5. Listen what he says in

verse number one. The elders which are

among you I exhort who also am also an

elder and a witness of the sufferings of

Christ and also a partaker of the glory

that shall be revealed. Feed the flock

of God which is among you taking the

oversight thereof. Not by constraint but

willingly. Not for filthy lucer but of a

ready mind. neither as being lords over

God's heritage, but being in samples to

the flock. Verse four, and when the

chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall

receive a cl crown of glory that fadeth

not away.

The reward of your service is eternal.

>> Let me ask you this as she begins to

play. Why in the world would you give

your life to something that's going to

blow up?

It's going to go back to dust. You waste

your life doing everything else, but

you're not faithful to the one thing

that's going to last from here to there.

One preacher put it this way in that

meeting this week. Love the way he put

it. He said, "So many people have common

sense, but they have no eternal logic.

They have sense about life here and now,

but they have no

eternal logic.

They never think about what's over

there. They never think about what's to

come. They're always living for now.

And you know what? Here's what you're

going to find. People that live that

way, you know what they do? They always

end up empty.

But the servants creed

is I just want him to honor me.

No doubt in my mind, a servant of God

wrote this.

He said, "My soul is living. My life I'm

giving to serve others willing at

Christ's own bidding to help those

crying know of Christ dying. to know of

our cleansing and of his rising that

they might believe in answer God's

calling.

Let me ask you, are you a servant?

Servants creed is

Lord, I'll follow you.

And one of these days when I followed

you the last mile of the way and that

close of the day comes, I'll stand in

his presence

and I pray to God, he'll say, "Well

done." But if I don't finish, if you

don't finish, we'll not hear it. Every

head bowed and every eye closed. Some

are praying this morning. Others need to

come. Let me ask you, you have eternal

logic today? You ever thought about

what's after this?

You say, "Preacher, I

preach I never have give too much

thought about what's

after this. Church is about the only

thing makes me think about death.

Try not to think about it, preacher. It

makes me uncomfortable."

Maybe you hear today and you lost. Be

honest between you and God say,

"Preacher, I'm not saved. Would you pray

for me? Just slip your hand up. I'll

pray for you. Hey, sir. Hey, ma'am. God

knows your heart.

Slip your hand up. I'll pray for you.

God knows.

You can fool all of us. You don't You

ain't going to fool God. Let me ask you

this, child of God. Are you serving him?

The servants's creed is Lord, I'm

submitted. Lord, I'm surrendered.

Lord, I'm settled. that this is the life

that you've called ME TO LIVE AND

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

If we could get that in our mind, you

say, "Preacher, would you pray for me?

God, help me

to be a better servant."

God sees that.

Maybe you're here today and you say,

"Preacher, I don't know that I've ever

served God, but I really want to start.

Would you pray for me?" And preacher,

help me pray that God will show me what

I need to do.

Anybody like that day? Preacher, I never

served God, but I want to start today.

Just slip your hand up. I'll pray for

you. God God wants to help you.

He'll help you do it. Let me ask you

this.

If Jesus were to come back today,

would you be satisfied with your

service?

Paul said when he got to the end this

life, he said, "I fought a good fight.

I've finished my course. I have kept the

faith." What'd he say? Henceforth is

laid up for me a crown of righteousness,

which the Lord shall give to me in that

day, not to me only, but to all them

also that love his appearing.

Father, I pray in Jesus name, God, for

every heart that's here this morning, I

pray you give grace.

I pray you give mercy. And Lord, I ask

you would help us today. Help us to

serve you.

Cuz Lord, we deserve nothing. God, we

have nothing without you. And Lord, I

pray, God, that you'd help us to serve

you and surrender to you in these days.

Lord, we'll be sure to thank you for

what you do. Save that when it's near as

tail today in Jesus name. Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you'd join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988 Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.