Title: Life Basic Training # 2 ..Moses -- The Making Of A Servant
Text: Acts 7
Intro: Last week we began a series of messages that deals with our values.
Values - is the lifestyle by which we truly live our lives by. For what we live is what
we truly value.
-- Last week we looked at the values of the 12 disciples and how they where in total
contrast to Jesus’ values.
- The disciples’ values said they followed Jesus to be great in the land - to rule and
to reign in His physical kingdom He would establish when He overthrew the
Romans.
- Jesus’ values said to lead, to be first, to be great among people -- is to be a
servant.
- Biblical Leaders in the body of Christ are servants to the body.
Last week we learned the way we lead people is to serve people at Life Church!
- Willing to wash the feet of your brothers and sisters.
- For in serving, God will use you to influence others.
- Biblical Leaders are submitted, they serve, and they influence others through their
servants life.
-- Why are we to be the servants of the Lord? What is God’s great plan for us?
- Life has no greater meaning and purpose - than to be involved with God’s plan.
- Life -- is lived fullest when we set our value system to be involved in serving Him.
-- We do not like to here about servanthood, especially we in America, we are
taught that we must be in control of our own destiny, we must be the king over
our own kingdom.
- Success is defined with power, and money.
- God’s model for Servanthood -- does not fit into the mold of the American
doctrine.
-- The role of a leader in the body of Christ -- is to be a servant. My role as the
pastor of this church, the role of the LifeCell Leader of this church -- is a servants
role to serve this church.
- The role of a Believer in the body is the role of a servant.
- Jesus said in Mark 10:45,
"…I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a
ransom for many"
- Jesus is the greatest leader of all times -- He is the greatest servant leader of all
times.
- His value system is to be a servant
- Life has its fullest meaning -- when the Believer learns to serve.
Illus. 0 -- The word servant does not have to have negative connotations. Servanthood
brings life joy. Remember back when you took that family a Turkey dinner,
when they would have had can soup if you would not have. Remember when
you saw that person who needed your help and you help - then and how good it
felt to serve them. Remember back when you serve someone, just because you
loved them. Your life was filled with joy. Why? Because in serving, you fulfill
the Will of God.
- Jesus came to serve.
- Life has its fullest meaning -- when you learn to serve.
Illus. 0 - Last week I spoke of a pastor who wanted to get rid of a local drug dealer in town
who drove a Yellow Cadillac. Another pastor challenged him to serve this drug
dealer and to wax his car. The other pastor said, "we will never reach the world
until we learn to serve and love them - like Jesus did". Well, the local pastor
never waxed his car, but the drug dealer became very ill and was bed
ridden for several weeks. Every week the local pastor came to his house and
mowed his lawn as an act of service to this man. The drug dealer came to know
the love and compassion of Jesus -- and came to know Jesus as Lord and
Savior.
- This local pastor showed us the life of a servant of the Lord -- and God’s purpose
for life became real to this drug dealer.
T.S. - Today, we will look at a man who was a "Somebody" in himself -- and God molded
him into a servant.
I. The Somebody, Called Moses, Acts 7:17- 36
1) Moses Was A "Somebody", v22.
Ex. - Moses grew up a "Somebody". Exodus chapter 2 begins the story of this man.
Acts 7:22 -says he was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in
words and in deeds. He wasn’t born on the right side of the tracks, but he sure
grew up on the right side of the tracks. While Hebrew children his age were in
slavery, and daily hard labor for the Pharaoh, Moses was being pampered by the
servants in Pharaoh’s house. He had all the food he could have ever wanted. He
was schooled in the Harvard of the day. Egyptians were not ignorant people. They
were very intelligent and understood geometry that still baffles mathematicians and
scientist today. Scientist today are still not quiet certain how the pyramids were
built. Many theories, but no true facts. He not only received a great education but
verse 22 says he was mighty in deeds. He used his talents and was a "Somebody"
to all around him.
- He walked in privilege, and royalty. The sky was the limits - for his future.
2) Moses, Acted Out On His Own, v23-28,
-Moses saw the oppression of his Hebrew brothers and sisters. He saw how because
of their culture and race they were treated unjustly and beaten as slaves.
- Moses saw one of the Hebrew men beaten by an Egyptian. Seeing this unjust, the
"Somebody", the power, the educated, the mighty Moses -- took it upon himself --
in own power to deal with the situation.
- Not only did Moses disobey the Lord, but he turned the very people he was trying
to help against him. "Who are you to defend us? You just think your better than
us slaves because you have gold on your fingers and tailored clothes on your back.
Illus. 0 -- (Joke)Kind of like the man that has a $1000 suit on but walk out of the
bathroom with toilet paper dragging from his leg.
Who do you think you are to understand the injustice done to my Hebrew people?"
Illus. 0 - It is like us, we watch a movie about starving children on TV. We feel for them,
our hearts grieve for them, so we feel somehow that we can understand their pains
for hunger. We can hurt for them, but unless you have been without food for
weeks, you probably can not totally relate to their pain.
0 - As the old Indian saying goes,- "Don’t judge me, until you have walked a mile in
my moccasins"
App. A - You see -- the Somebody called Moses, thought he could help out in his own
intensions, after all -- he was a man of great achievement -- he could cure the ills
(the injustice) of the world in His power alone. He did not need God’s help for
this.
A - We all, at times, take on the identity of a "Somebody". "Step aside God, I can
handle this one on my own. If I need You I will call You, but I can do it because I
have Bible school training, I have been in church for forty years, I have learned
from my mistake -- Just sit back God and watch me work for I am a Somebody".
A - You can admit it or not, but we all deal with the "Somebody" syndrome at times in
our lives.
T.S. -
II. The Definition Of A "Somebody", Exodus 2:12
1) A "Somebody" is a person that believes that his power, influence, wealth, or fame
is solely based upon his own achievements and his own actions, "I am where I am
because of me, mot God " A person who places him or herself on a pedestal.
a) All of us based upon this definition would probably say - that he is not talking to
me, for we all seek the will of the Father in our lives.
b) But we all, if we could admit it, probably weekly -- seek influence, fame, wealth
and power, based on our own achievements and action.
c) Perhaps not in large areas of our lives, but often in daily decisions that we make.
2) Moses, the Somebody, did not hear from God to kill this Egyptian for the injustice
on the Hebrews.
a) Moses took it upon himself to solves the injustice of his people. (He did not seek
God’s will)
b) Perhaps, Moses even knew that God wanted him to deliver the Hebrew people --
so Moses stepped out into his actions to do it.
3) The Actions Of A Somebody,
a) "Somebodies" care deeply what people think about them. They want their friends
to like them. They base their actions upon public opinions and what would best
please others -- even if it is in contradiction to their values and God’s values.
Illus. 0 - Moses cared about what people thought, Ex 2:12 - he looked around to make
sure no one saw him.
Illus. 0 - We see this a lot with our Politicians. If the Opinion poll says that Texas favors
pro-choice views
-- Our Politicians have a pro-choice agenda -- even it defies their own values.
-- They vote one way and then when it is politically un-safe to vote that way, they
do what the polls say.
0 - But we too - also see this "Somebody mentality" coming out in our own lives,
-- We care what people think about us.
-- Someone may say a racist joke at work, it offends us, but we keep silent
because we don’t want to feel left out.
-- The Lord may press upon us to share your faith with a friend, but we don’t want
to come across as a "Bible Thumper" so we keep our faith a secret because the
opinion poll says that they would back off from you if I share.
-- We all have a little of the "Somebody mentality" in us.
b) Somebodies, make their own decisions for life, instead of hearing from God.
-- But SERVANTS hear from God and carry out the wishes of the King.
Illus. 0 - Moses had another problem in Exodus 4. The Covenant with God and the Hebrew
people was sealed by every male being circumcised. Moses fled Egypt and
married Zipporah in Midian. Because Midianites did not circumcise their boys,
Moses did not circumcise his young men. The Midianites probably would have
thought Moses was a little off the rocker, So Moses chose not to obey the
Lord’s command for His Hebrew children. This action angered the Lord. For
Moses cared more about the opinions of man, then he did with the obedience to
God..
App. A - Moses lost all he had when he fled Egypt. He lost his power, his influence, his
prestige.
- He lost everything that made him a "Somebody", because God wanted to make him
a servant.
A - We, at times, act like "Somebodies". We act in our own strengths, in our own
powers, with out ever going to the Father to hear his will.
- We behave like a "Somebody" - and God wants us a servant.
A - A Chinese Believer once said,
"Not until we take the place of a servant, can He take His place as Lord."
A - When you become the servants of the Lord, when you yield your life to His will,
God then entrust you with His power.
T.S. -
III. The Life Of A Servant,
- Somebodys are not submitted to the will of God. You do not have to be wealthy, or
have position to carry the "Somebody Syndrome" -- you just have to have a heart
that thinks you are of position and pride.
- For God does not want us to be a people who based their self-esteem on their own
strengths, power, prestige, or influence.
- God wants us to be a servant. As a servant of the king, joint heirs with Christ. -- we
are special to God.
- As servants -- through Christ’s power, through His authority -- we are Important,
we have purpose.
Illus. 0 - Most third world nations do not have the conveniences of our society. Most hand
wash their own clothes. Most meals are done from scratch - with no ready mix
packages. In Belize most homes, hand wash. One of Robyn’s easiest meals to
make hear is tacos. You cook the meat, cut up the veggies, heat up the taco shells
and you have the meal. In Belize they told us that it is one of the hardest meals
that takes lots of work, because they make their taco shells from scratch. Many
missionaries in foreign lands hire servants (or Hired hands) to help with all the hard
work we are not use to.
0 - A Missionary family in Singapore had hired a young man who came three times a
week to mow the lawn, clean the water drains, and to do most of the gardening.
His name was Wahab, he was a Malay. The missionary family loved him and his
family. Over time they found themselves counseling his brother and wife with
some marriage counseling, they help get his son into the hospital when he became
ill, they help other family members get jobs, they spent countless hours after
Wahab’s work schedule spending quality time with him. Praying for him, loving
him. Wahab was the servant, and they were his boss. But they spent countless
hours serving this young man and his family. They worked for him more than
Wahab, the servant worked for them. They gave him more time, than he worked
for them.
- This is what our Heavenly Father does for us. We are to be His servant -- and He is
to be our Master.
- As we serve the Master, our Heavenly Father, serves us more than we could ever
give Him.
- He served us with the greatest gift -- eternity with Him,
- He paid a price He did not owe, We owed a debt we could not pay
-- The Father serves us more than we could ever give back.
-- We are important to the Father. We have value and purpose in His kingdom.
- Not in ourselves, but through Him.
1) The Motto Of A Servant:
a) It is my business to do the will of God.
b) It is God’s business to take care of me.
c) Therefore, I do not ever have to be afraid of anything.
2) For If We Live As A Servant Before The King, there is fulfillment in life.
a) If we live our Christian life -- not as a servant -- we are living out of His will for us
b) But when we live as a servant before the King, we find JOY in life.
c) John 15:13 - "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s
life for a friend"
App A - Jesus shows us the life of a Servant.
- The greatest love you can do for another -- is to serve them.
Conclu:
We all deal with the ’Somebody Syndrome" in our life.
- This is what the world tells us to do.
- This is the lie of the devil - you are your own god, your are a Somebody.
- We all are tempted, we all, at times, have a "Somebody Syndrome"
God wants us to walk as servants.
- "Not until we take the place of a servant, can He take His place as Lord."
- When we become the servants of the Lord, when we yield our lives to His will, God
then entrust you with His power.
God wants us to be servants.
- As servants -- through Christ’s power, through His authority -- we are Important,
we have purpose
Appeal:
Are you struggling with the "Somebody Mentality"?
Is your Self-Esteem dependant upon your own personal achievements?
God wants a servant.
God wants your self-esteem to be based on who He is in you.
- He made you a child of God, a joint heir with Him
- The Head and Not the tail, more than an overcomer, a saint, ambassador, a new
creature in Christ, a friend of God.
For you have purpose in the Kingdom as a servant to the King.
Other needs.:
Salvation,
Healing, - Our God is a healing God and wants you healed.
Hurts, Needs,…………..
