Pre-launch
Sermon Transcript
Praise God for this opportunity that I've been given by Pastor Stucky to be able to share the word of God. The title of my sermon is "Seven Reasons Why We Serve the Lord."
Our scripture reading was from Malachi chapter 3. In Malachi 3:18, the Bible says, "Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." So why are we serving the Lord? Because there is going to be a time of reckoning — things are going to be made manifest between the people that serve the Lord and the people that serve him not. There are many reasons why we serve the Lord, and I want to share seven of them today.
Reason 1: The Judgment Seat of Christ
We read about a day of reckoning in the Bible when all of us are going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We are not going to be judged together with the world. The great white throne judgment is where the world is going to be judged — those that have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 3:18, "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." And that is why we are not going to be condemned with the world. But we will be judged, and that is why it is called the judgment seat of Christ.
Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:5. The Bible says, "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." So we know that God cannot lie. We have confidence about our salvation. We know that when we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord.
Verse 9: "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him." There is actually a desire in the Apostle Paul's life to be accepted of the Lord Jesus Christ. People might ask, "Why am I thinking about being accepted if I am already accepted in the beloved?" There was something in Paul where he wanted to stand before God with the things that he had done, and the Bible says we should desire to be accepted of him.
Verse 10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." So we must all appear — every saved person is going to stand there. Is the judgment seat of Christ something that is on your mind? Because it was on the Apostle Paul's mind. It was a driving factor in his labour for the Lord. We serve the Lord because there is going to be a day of judgment.
Imagine a workplace where you are working and you know the boss is going to come back at the end of the day, expecting you to have finished certain things. You are not going to just slack all day and then try to quickly make up for it before he arrives, because he knows he has given you a full day. In the same way, God has given us a lifetime to serve him, and it is going to be a day of reckoning at the judgment seat of Christ. That is what motivates us — having something to show him when we stand before him. That was the attitude of Paul.
Verse 11: "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." The work of Paul and the disciples was seen by God, and these things were also seen in the consciences of the brethren who were listening. Paul took these things seriously, and it was a motivation for them.
A lot of people use this verse to tell others about the terror of hell waiting for those who are not saved. But in this context, we actually see Paul saying, "We know that it is a terrifying thing to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and that is why we persuade men to labour, to do things for the Lord, to serve." This day should make you nervous. It should motivate you — but it is also a terrifying day.
God has already prepared things for you to do — things that only you can do. As we read in Ephesians 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." He has given us work to do. The works God has ordained for me are not my wife's to walk into — they are mine. And Jesus is not going to question me about what God has ordained for her. Every single person is going to be questioned about what they were meant to do with their life and what they did with the commandments of God.
Paul knew the terror of the Lord. Does this day make you nervous? It ought to. Paul knew about it and he persuaded those around him to keep these things in mind.
Reason 2: God Created Us
Turn to Psalm 139:14. The Bible says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." David's motivation to praise the Lord came from the fact that God was the one who created him. That is why he wanted to serve God — to recompense the goodness of God toward him.
Have you ever stopped to look at your hands? Put your hands in front of you and actually realise that you are created by the Lord. You have control over these hands. God is the one who formed you. God is the one who actually made you. And this is another reason why we serve the Lord.
Psalm 100:1–5: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
What can help us serve the Lord with gladness? It is because we know that God is the one who made us — we did not create ourselves. We should be thankful for this and recompense God with our service. Showing him that you serve him is another way you show thankfulness to God.
His truth endures to all generations. God promised us the promise of eternal life, and Jesus made all things and died for us. So this is another reason why we should serve him — because his mercy is everlasting. It is not going to deplete, as many false religions teach, as though God's mercy is only temporal and he will destroy people who die with an unconfessed sin. God's mercy is everlasting for his servants and for his children. Regardless of whether you serve the Lord or not, going to heaven is not of works. It is still eternal life because it is a gift of God.
Reason 3: God Loved Us First
We saw that God's mercy is everlasting — it lasts forever. And reason number three is that God loved us first. This should motivate you to keep God's commandments, because God is the one who actually loved us first.
In Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That shows he loved us first. He was not waiting for us to do anything before he loved us. He did not wait for us to turn from our sins, because going to heaven is not through turning from your sins. The Bible says that turning from our evil way is actually works, and God is not requiring works for us to be accepted of him. God is requiring the shed blood of Jesus Christ for us to be accepted of him, and that is through faith in him that we receive that atonement.
In 1 John 4:19: "We love him, because he first loved us." That is another reason why we serve the Lord. What does it mean to love? Take God's example: "For God so loved the world, that he gave." He first loved us by doing something for us — by giving himself as a sacrifice, by dying on the cross for us.
Now, how do we love God? In John 14:21, Jesus said: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." We love him because he first loved us. And why do we serve the Lord? Because it shows that we love him.
Matthew 20:28: "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." He loved us first. He served first. He did these things first. That is why this is another reason why we serve the Lord. To minister means to serve.
Keeping God's commandments takes effort. It takes sacrifice. It takes work. This is why serving God will never save us from hell — salvation requires far more than our effort could ever provide. The Bible says all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags before God. But after salvation, how does someone serve the Lord? We are a soul-winning church, and we are clear and right on the gospel. The Bible says he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. It is by humbling ourselves and trusting in Jesus Christ alone that we receive salvation. We call upon the name of the Lord to receive the gift of eternal life. Now, after salvation, we are called to serve. God created us unto good works that we should walk in them.
Have you heard of the term "pay it forward"? I remember when I was younger, I went through a McDonald's drive-through and the person at the counter said, "Someone has already paid for your meal." And I thought, well, I'll pay for the person behind me. That is called paying it forward — people get inspired by the service and kindness of others. Jesus loved us first, and this ought to motivate us to serve. This is another reason why we serve — because God loved us first.
Reason 4: Eternal Rewards
Reason number four is eternal rewards. I am not sure how much you think about eternal rewards, but that is definitely a great motivation for you to serve the Lord.
Matthew 20:25–27: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." So you want to be great in the kingdom of heaven? This is another way — and it is by serving, by ministering to people.
In the world, if someone is a boss, he expects people to serve him. The Gentiles lord it over others. But God does not want it to be like that with us. God actually wants us to be servants. It is the opposite in the Christian life — God will reward those who serve most. This is another reason why we serve: because of the eternal rewards that God has promised.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Sometimes you might think, why am I doing this? Is it even worth it? But the Bible says your labour is not in vain in the Lord. We are not to let anything derail us. You see someone like the Apostle Paul — the Bible says he finished his race. He said, "I have run a good race. I have finished my course." Peter finished well. John finished well. Consider the end of Job. These people were able to finish well.
We also see people falling out of the race — pastors caught up in grievous sin, getting out of the race. That just lets you know that there are things that could derail you in the Christian life. Do not look at the people in the Bible who failed and make excuses for yourself. Look at those who finished well. Take as your example people like Paul who actually finished his course.
The Bible says, "Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Why? Because you are going to be rewarded for what you do. Our soul-winning today is not going to be in vain. God has promised he is going to reward us for it. Jesus worked to save souls, and we follow him — he makes us fishers of men. This is why this is a soul-winning event, and you are in the right place if you want to get motivated to go out and preach the gospel.
Many churches have made soul-winning not a priority. They have put it to the back burner. But we need a group of people here in Melbourne who are going to keep the first works first. Why? Because there is going to be a time when we are given eternal rewards, and we want to maximise those eternal rewards.
I know soul-winning is not easy, and obviously labouring is not easy. Whether you are a man labouring in the workforce or a woman labouring at home with the children, you understand that labour is not easy. In the same way, in the Christian life, we have to be disciplined to continue doing a good work for the Lord. That is why we are praying for labourers — people who are actually going to be working to do a great work for the Lord. Our labour is not in vain. We only have one life, and we should think about eternal rewards.
Hebrews 11:24–26: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." What type of treasures would those have been? We are talking about the greatest wealth imaginable — up there with the Pharaoh. Moses was able to disregard the riches in Egypt. What motivated him? He was thinking about the reward in heaven. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. That is what motivated him to leave those pleasures — he was thinking about something that would only be realised in the future. That is why it says, "By faith Moses did these things." And we also have to do it by faith.
Unfortunately, there are Christians who do not want to labour or sacrifice, and they are going to suffer loss. In 1 Corinthians 3:13–15: "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." Even if everything you have done gets burnt up, the Bible says he himself shall be saved — yet so as by fire. Why? Because salvation is not of our works. Salvation is by grace alone. It is a free gift. But it is going to be a very sad day for those who have nothing to show. Moses had respect unto the reward. This is why he sacrificed. This is what motivated him. And this is another reason why we should serve the Lord.
Peter also cared about the rewards. In Matthew 19:27–29: "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Jesus is trying to motivate people — even if you have made sacrifices that cause suffering in this life, you are going to receive a hundredfold. There will be a reward for it.
Jesus knew that it takes sacrifices to serve the Lord. He did not rebuke Peter for thinking about rewards. People sometimes have a holier-than-thou attitude where they think, "I just serve the Lord because I love him." But having an outlook of eternal rewards is something that should motivate you, and Jesus said, "Hey, this ought to motivate you." It is a strange mentality when people say they do not think about rewards — we all go to work and think about the pay cheque. But when it comes to spiritual things, people try to be overly spiritual. Jesus is the one who motivated us with eternal rewards.
Matthew 5:11–12: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Our great reward in heaven should make us happy. We are going to be rewarded greatly when we suffer for his sake. When people persecute you for the standards you hold because they are found in the word of God — if they revile you, if they speak evil against you falsely just because you believe something in the Bible — know that great is your reward in heaven. That is something that will also motivate us to continue serving the Lord and obeying his word.
Reason 5: Serving Makes You Happy
Reason number five is that serving the Lord makes you happy. Serving the Lord brings happiness.
John 13:13–17: "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." If we know what we ought to be doing in the Christian life, and we do it, we are going to be happy. Jesus served and is calling us to serve, saying, "You are going to be happy when you do these things."
A lot of people lack happiness and joy, and God is actually telling you in his word how to be happy. You are actually going to be blessed when you serve. Just having a mental assent — knowing what you should be doing and not doing it — will not bring blessing. James 1:25 tells us how you are going to be blessed: "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
There is rejoicing to be had when you win someone to the Lord. When you know you should be going soul-winning, and then you actually do it — you get out there with the team, you faithfully learn how to share the gospel, and you actually get someone saved — you are going to be rejoicing. My wife led a Buddhist woman to the Lord. We ended up at the next door and I had not read the sign properly, but it said not to knock, and my wife knocked on the door. The man came and was incredibly rude. He said, "Can't you see the sign? What are you doing?" He even said, "Now you've got to give me money." I stepped in and said, "Look, it's Anzac Day — we are just preaching the gospel and handing out church tracts." He gave me a horribly dirty look and we walked away. It was peaceful because my wife said a soft answer turneth away wrath. You do not need to stir someone up if he is already angry. And it works. The Bible speaks about how a soft word can even break a bone — if you speak softly, it is very effective.
As we walked away, I was a little unsettled by it — as a man, I did not appreciate it. But my wife was not phased at all. Why? She was so happy about the salvation that had just happened. That is what it is — it gives you such joy, and making your life about soul-winning is something you are going to rejoice in. The Bible says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." There are things in this life that give you temporary joy, but as my wife said, nothing compares to getting a soul saved. It is unexplainable.
If you know what you ought to be doing and you are doing it, it will make you happy. Do not doubt it and say, "I don't think this is for me." It is for everyone. The great commission is for every person, and it is going to make you happy. And as Pastor Stucky said recently, soul-winning is addictive. There are people who go out for the first time, they share the gospel, and it leaves such a mark on them that they just keep wanting to go. Serving the Lord can be addictive.
If you are like this, you are not alone. In 1 Corinthians 16:15: "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth." To submit yourselves to someone means you are getting alongside the work. You are looking at those people who have addicted themselves to the ministry and saying, "I am going to be a fellow labourer with them." Look at someone who is soul-winning, doing a great work for God, and just get alongside them and do the work as well. Pastor Stucky and like-minded pastors have clearly addicted themselves to the ministry. That is what their existence consists of. You do not call yourselves Soulwinning Baptist Church if you are not addicted to soul-winning. And that is something we want to emulate as well.
Reason 6: Life Is Short
Reason number six is that life is short, and this is another reason why we should serve the Lord.
Revelation 14:13: "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." We only have one life to serve the Lord, and now is not the time to be resting. Now is the time to work. There will come a time when we will rest from our labours. The same way you would not start thinking about working only after you have already retired, do not leave the work of the Lord until it is too late. Work now, while you are young and fit and able.
The Bible says, "Six days shalt thou labour." God wants us to work. God does not want us to be lazy slackers — that does not set a good example. In Philippians 4:4–5: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." We do not know when we are going to die. The Lord is at hand because tomorrow is not promised. When we go and talk to people and ask, "Are you 100% sure that if you died today you would go to heaven?" — that person knows it is a real possibility for everyone. You could die at any moment. We do not know when our time is up. Life is short — that is why we ought to be serving the Lord with our lives.
Paul gives instructions to the church at Philippi in verse 9: "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." I have learned and received and heard and seen Pastor Stucky make soul-winning a priority. Paul told the Philippians, "Whatever you have seen in me, just do it." That is what is so encouraging about these events — I have already seen someone do it, I have been alongside it, and I can just do what I have seen.
James 4:14: "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Understanding how short life is gives you the right priorities. The Bible says we are meant to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness — that is the first priority. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and strength. These things are given to us as instructions so that we can have the right priorities. We cannot afford to mix them up.
Psalm 90:9–12: "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." It is important to understand how frail we are, how short life is. The psalmist is asking God that he would have the right attitude regarding his life. "Teach me to number my days, that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom." If you have the right perspective in life, you will apply your heart unto wisdom.
And who is wise? Proverbs 11:30: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." This is why we are a soul-winning church — a group of people who put this as a priority in life. And we see there: "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner." There will come a time when it will be made clear who served God and who served him not. Jesus will return and these things will be made manifest. You do not have as much time as you might think. Life is such a vapour.
If anyone in heaven could look down and think back, I am sure they would say, "I wish I had done more with my life. I would do so much more than I did." We should live our lives for the Lord because our life is short. We should have the right perspectives in mind.
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: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." It is not even meant to be our life any more. This is another reason why we should serve the Lord. He died for us that we would walk in newness of life — a new perspective, a new direction, to be ambassadors for the Lord, to live for him.
Have you seen those games with a timer where you have to gather as much as you can before time runs out? You see people running and putting in every effort because they are looking at the clock. The things of earth are temporal, but the things of heaven are eternal. We are only here for a short time to gather up treasures in heaven, and the time is going to run out. Those running in the game do not care how funny they look on the video — they are just there to gather as much as they can. And with our lives, we need that same eternal mindset. Moses had respect unto the recompense of the reward. We need that same respect.
John 15:12: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners. And he is telling us to love one another as he has loved us. It is not our righteousness that moved Jesus to love us. Let us love the lost out there while they are still in their sins, while they are still unsaved. Jesus is telling us to love them as he has loved us. If they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, they are going to hell, and it is an eternal hell. We should want to snatch people out of there.
1 Corinthians 15:17: "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." By believing the right thing, you are no longer in your sins. You have the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. When God sees you, he sees the Lord Jesus Christ — his blood is put to your account. These people out there are still in their sins, and we should love them as Christ has loved us. He gave himself — he sacrificed himself for us. Our desire should also be to sacrifice ourselves for those who are yet in their sins.
John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." This verse is on the Anzac Day memorial. These people laid down their lives for their friends. They sacrificed their time, their families, and their lives to save others from death. Thousands upon thousands of people gave up their lives — and that is on the memorial: greater love hath no man than this. We are trying to lay down our lives. We are giving up our time. We are sacrificing so we can save people from death — and it is that second death that we are saving people from.
Verse 14: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Jesus is saying you can become God's friend if you are actually putting these things into practice. Don't you want to be the friend of Jesus Christ while you are on this earth? Well, it takes obedience to the great commission.
Verse 15: "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." You can become a friend of God when you are a faithful servant. You go from just a servant to someone God actually calls a friend.
In James 2:20–23, the Bible tells us: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." The faith is how you receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. The works is how you become the friend of God. Abraham had such perfect faith that even when God told him to sacrifice his son, he believed God — and he was called the Friend of God. First it is salvation — the righteousness we receive because of our faith. Then it is friendship with God — when we obey his commandments, when we obey even the great commission. You can become the friend of God when you add works to your faith, when you do what you are commanded.
Reason 7: It Is Our Duty
The final reason today — reason number seven — is that it is our duty. Why are we serving the Lord? Because it is our duty to serve him. It is expected of us.
Luke 17:7–10: "But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
Sometimes in our culture we are very keen to thank people. Jesus is saying, does a boss even thank a worker for simply doing what was expected of him? Not necessarily. We put the cart before the horse sometimes. We are just doing our duty — not expecting special thanks, just doing what we are commanded. And what is our duty? You are not doing this for me, and you are not doing it for Pastor Stucky. We are doing it for the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who died for us. Keeping that perspective means you will not be discouraged when great men of God fall, because you realise it was not them who died for you. As Paul said, was Paul crucified for you? No. Jesus is the one. He is the Master and Lord, and we are meant to do what is our duty.
Do not expect a thank you for things you ought to be doing. If you receive one, appreciate it, but do not expect it — because you are just doing your duty. The Bible gives us a reality check: we are just meant to do our duty. Even if you have done everything commanded of you, you should still have this attitude: "I am just an unprofitable servant. I am just doing my duty." This is the type of servant that Jesus likes — one who has the right attitude.
The question today is: are you reliable? Are you doing what is commanded of you with the right attitude? God is expecting us to do the work he has called us to do.
Proverbs 25:19: "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." If you are unfaithful, you are unreliable. Something that just cannot be relied upon in times of trouble. You cannot rely on a broken tooth — it is going to disappoint you. A foot out of joint is also going to let you down. We are to do what is our duty. Can God rely on you? Are you faithful in the work of the Lord?
We should not be holding people back from serving the Lord. In Matthew 20:20–23, the mother of Zebedee's children came to Jesus, worshipping him and desiring something from him. She said, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom." Do you think this mother was holding back her children from serving the Lord? You can see that she would have wanted the very best for her children. Praise God for mothers like this who actually desire their children to serve the Lord. Mothers who want their children to be great. How about wives who want their husbands to be great? How about husbands who want their wives to be great in the kingdom of God? Not dragging someone back, but actually encouraging them and wanting them to have a high position in the kingdom of God.
Think of Timothy's mother and grandmother — Eunice and Lois — another great example of a mother and grandmother who invested in their child and grandchild so that he could actually be great, and he served the Lord.
Verse 22: Jesus answered, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said unto him, "We are able." I love this attitude from the sons of Zebedee. They said, "We can handle the persecution. We can do this." Verse 23: "And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." Jesus said, "Yes, you are going to suffer — you are able to go through these things, but I cannot decide the great positions in heaven. The Father will decide those things." These people understood that duty would sometimes cause suffering. They were like, "We are able to go through this." Have you heard the saying, "Duty calls"? When we serve the Lord Jesus Christ, duty calls.
2 Timothy 3:10–12: "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." If you want to serve the Lord, you are going to experience persecution. But God delivered Paul from all of it, and that should give us confidence that even if we go through persecution, God is also able to deliver us.
Matthew 13:20–21 speaks about those who, in time of persecution, are just not able to withstand it: "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Why do these persecutions happen? It is because of the word — because of what you believe. Because of a little or great persecution, some people just get offended and do not want to deal with it. They endure for a while, and then by and by they are offended. They cannot handle the Christian life. They cannot handle a bit of persecution, and so they compromise on their beliefs, their values, and the right place where they ought to be going to church.
We see all these brethren who have gone through persecution and are still steadfast, still serving God, still soul-winning. We have examples of pastors today who continue regardless of persecution. They knew it was promised. Paul reminded others of his persecution and encouraged them — God delivered him from everything at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.
Acts 14:19–22: "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Paul was stoned, and the next day he was already going somewhere else — preaching the gospel. He was not offended. He just got up, continued preaching, then returned to the very places where he had been so severely persecuted, to confirm and exhort the believers.
The Bible also says, "Be thou faithful unto death." God does not want us to be afraid of death. He does not want us to be afraid of those who kill the body. Paul said, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." He encourages believers not to quit. It is our duty to serve the Lord. This is reason number seven — it is our duty.
Conclusion
Continue in the faith and understand that we are going to suffer as servants of God. Let us continue serving the Lord.
Just to recap the seven reasons I have preached today:
The Judgment Seat of Christ
God Created Us
God Loved Us First
Eternal Rewards
It Makes You Happy
Life Is Short
It Is Our Duty
I hope that motivates you to continue serving the Lord and doing the great work for the Lord — because it motivates me.
Father God, thank you so much for this time that we've had this morning to hear from your word. Thank you, Lord God, that you've given us a lot of motivation to serve you, and a lot of commandments through which we can serve you. It is all going to be worth it when all this is finished. I pray that you bless the remainder of our day. We pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.