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From Serve-us To Service Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. “Workmanship” – you were made to make a contribution…to make a difference. Message bible 1Pe 4:10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...” Matt. 20:28 (LB) 1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE. “Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.” Matt. 20:30-32 (NIV) “Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.” Prov. 3:28 (TEV) There Are Three Barriers To Availability: 1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”Phil. 2:4 (MSG) 2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM “If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.” Eccl. 11:4 (NLT) 3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM 1

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“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." Luke 16:13 (NIV) In October of 2002, Elvis’ album of greatest hits had been the number one album in the nation for three weeks, 25 years after the guy died! Now in spite of enormous success, Elvis was, according to friends, an unfulfilled and unhappy man. He died at the age of 42 of a drug overdose with his head in a toilet a multi millionare and award winning superstar. in an interview with his wife, Priscilla, she said this about her husband: “Elvis never came to terms with who he was meant to be or what his purpose in life was. He thought he was here for a reason, maybe to preach, maybe to serve, maybe to save, maybe to care for people. That agonizing desire was always with him and he knew he wasn’t fulfilling it. So he’d go on stage and he wouldn’t have to think about it.” Elvis didn’t have a clue where to begin to look. In a sense, he was lost.

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Jesus offers a fresh and much needed invitation to our “me-first” generation – “Be a servant, give to others!” A. Without question it IS attainable. Philippians 2:3-5 - Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in 2

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Christ Jesus: 1. Let “nothing” mean just that – NOTHING! a. We need to stop letting the two strong tendencies of selfishness (strife) and conceit (vain glory) control us and our actions. b. Turn the statement around… “if we do it through strife or vainglory, it is NOTHING” 2. We must replace them with “humility of mind”. How? a. By regarding others as more important than ourselves. b. By looking for ways to encourage, support, build up, and stimulate others. 3. This requires an attitude that would rather give than receive. a. It is that attitude, that frame of mind that determines ahead of time to give rather than receive. B. First, let’s look to see if this unselfish lifestyle is Biblical. Romans 12:10-13 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him 3

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which died for them, and rose again. Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. In dear abby this article was written we had a daughter who was always needing stuff clothes food toys everytime we turned around we were having to spend money, at times it was very frustrating and we complained but one day we no longer had to spend one dime on this beauriful little girl you would think that this would have been a joyous occasion A child that no longer required so much from a parent but our dear little girl died unexpectedly, don’t fuss about your church asking for money, because needs are a sign of life.

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JESUS SPOKE MORE ABOUT MONEY IN THE N.T. THAN HEAVEN, HELL, OR ADULTERY!

• 16 of the 38 parables deal with money • 1 of every 10 verses in the Gospels deal with money and how to handle it • There are 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith, but over 2000 verses in the Bible that deal with money, possessions and how to handle them tithing is not a financial issue, but a faith issue, because if you can’t trust God with your money, how can you trust Him with your soul? And, so, if Jesus thought it important enough to spend the majority of his time on, and God impressed holy men of old to write over 2000 scriptures on money, then I can’t shirk my responsibility to preach on money in this pulpit. 4

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And, if I’m going to preach it like Jesus did, I also must preach the benefits of giving sacrificially. Luke 6:38

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. i Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. One verse in every four in Mt. Mk, Lu, and Jn, and one out of every six in the New Testament deals with the question of money and covetousness. Nothing that we possess is exempt from the law of Christian stewardship. Giving needs no more apology than does praying. In the Bible there are 1539 passages which refer to giving while there are only 523 passages which refer to praying. The average church is suffering from "Partial Participation Paralysis. Many want to receive much with little pay---"A certain family had gone to church, on the way home the father criticized the sermon, the mother found fault with the organist, and the

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6 eldest daughter talked about the singing. But the subject was suddenly dropped when the small boy of the family spoke up @ said, "Daddy, I think it was mighty good program for a nickel." the number one tenet of the law concerning the survival of the fittest, is the law of self-preservation.

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Servants give of themselves 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; (2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. (3) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; (4) Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. A. In this account, Paul is collecting money for a hurting congregation in Jerusalem. 1. Specifically, he is in the region of Macedonia. a. What is significant is that Macedonia was a very poor region to begin with. b. Yet the Macedonians were so concerned over their brethren in Jerusalem being in need that they truly gave.

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Let’s look at the characteristics of their giving that demonstrated authentic servanthood. A. A great proof of true servanthood is anonymity. (not giving to make a name for yourself) 6

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A second part of giving is expressed in “that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.” (NAS) 1. When they gave, they overflowed in the process. Vs. 3 2. They gave liberally and sacrificially – beyond their ability. a. They gave with sacrificial generosity. 3. This giving involves more than money. a. It includes us – our time, energy, compassion, strength, love, hope, and even at times our possessions. 4. The second aspect of unselfish living is a willingness to give generously and sacrificially. C. 2 Corinthians 8:3 – 4 - “I can testify that they did it because they wanted to, and not because of nagging on my part. The begged us to take the money so they could share in the joy of helping…” 1. They gave voluntarily, without prompting and pushing. 2. A true giving servant reaches out without having to be invited. a. They sense deep hurts without being told and reach out to help b. They sense hidden needs and respond without being told. 3. A true servant looks for ways to give without being asked. 2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 7

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The fourth characteristic of a true servant is personal involvement. 1. It is impossible to give ourselves to others at arms’ length 2. Personal involvement is essential, not optional. 3. It usually involves adapting ourselves, schedules and ways to fit into the needs of others. 4. Personal involvement is the proof of our authentic desire to serve and to give. a. TALK IS CHEAP, ACTIONS COST!

How much does giving cost? Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. A. Following Jesus Christ is a costly, unselfish decision. 1. It calls for a radical examination of our selfcentered lifestyle. a. First, those who desire to follow MUST come to terms with self-denial. b. Second, this decision to give ourselves must be a daily matter. 1 Corinthians 15:31 - I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. c. Third, it means we must walk the path He walked and live the life He lived. 2. It calls for a commitment. 2 Corinthians 8:9-11 - For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (10) And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. (11) Now therefore perform the doing of it; that 8

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as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. B. Once begun, we MUST finish…we MUST obtain. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. V.

IS IT WORTH IT? A. Paul said, “God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver…” 2 Corinthians 9:7 B. God’s promise to those who give bountifully… Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. WE ARE NEVER MORE LIKE GOD THAN WHEN WE GIVE. “For God so loved the world; that He gave…!”

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