Ten Sermon Outlines By Dino F. Mapa Copyright © 2012 Dino F. Mapa Published by Smashwords Table of Contents 1. The Call of Grace 2. The Fruits of Grace 3. The Power of Grace 4. The Workings of Grace 5. A Blessing for You for the New Year 6. Allowing God to Release your Potential 7. Encountering the Lord of Life 8. Kinds of Servant – I 9. Kinds of Servant – II 10. Positioned for Blessings About the Author 1. The Call of Grace Luke 5:27-32 I. Introduction a) Jesus, as we read in the verse in John 1:14, came in the fullness of grace and truth b) he is the embodiment of grace; in other words he is God's grace in human form c) so when Jesus calls, it is grace that is calling II. Here are 3 points about the call of grace in the life of a person called Levi 1. Grace calls the sinner a) who was Levi? he was a tax collector b) tax collectors were one of the most hated groups among the Jews during that time * they were subject to Roman governors (Rome ruled during that era) * they were given free reign on the collection of taxes so long as Rome received its share * so the tax collectors were wealthy men * they were considered thieves and thus some of the worst sinners c) and here we see Jesus calling Levi to follow him d) Jesus didn't call Levi because he was wealthy; Jesus called him because he was a sinner e) Jesus didn't call Levi because he was righteous; Jesus called him because he was a sinner f) what does this tell us? when we accept the call of grace, it's because we need the righteousness of Christ g) it means we are poor in spirit and we need the richness of the glory of Christ in our lives h) as we enter the new year, let us do with a thirst for righteousness and answer the call of grace 2. Grace calls the sinner into repentance a) verse 32 states that Jesus first calls the sinner and then calls him into repentance b) what's repentance? it's an about face from the world to God c) Levi left all; he left his job as a tax collector; he no longer answered to Rome d) the call of grace was sufficient for him e) here was grace standing before him and he wanted to embrace grace and be consumed by him f) this new year, in the midst of economic hardship, in the midst of challenges, who are we going to embrace? g) if there's going to be any new year's resolution, I suggest it would be to know Christ and his grace more and more 3. Grace changes the sinner a) Levi changed. he not only left what he had, but also who he was b) to exemplify this change, he was called Matthew c) this is the Matthew who wrote the Gospel d) what does this tell us? it is not new year's resolutions that change us, it is the grace of God e) but change comes only when we want change; and change occurs when we submit to the Lord of grace f) when grace changes us, it's always for the better; God doesn't make us worse people g) when we look back to 2008, let us not look back at the good times; nor because there was a better financial situation or even the blessings of God h) let's look back at what God was trying to teach us * we're we insensitive * we're we selfish * did we lack compassion * did we quench the Holy Spirit i) then let's go to the Lord of grace and say, "I need you to change me!" 2. The Fruits of Grace Ephesians 2:4-10 I. Introduction. a) the second of our series on grace b) the Greek word for grace is "charis," from where we have the words, "charisma," charismatic" c) it is a multi-faceted word - favor, blessing, giftedness, benefits d) the writers of the New Testament referred to "charis" whenever God did something in the lives of the saints as he built his kingdom e) so the first part last Sunday was about the Call of Grace * calls sinners * calls sinners into repentance * causes sinners to be transformed f) today we shall see another aspect II. The Fruits of Grace 1. We're Saved -v. 5 a) when we first answer the call of grace to repent, we are saved b) saved from what? the penalty of sin which is death c) the Bible puts it plainly: we were by nature objects of wrath d) opponents of the Bible question, if God is a loving God, why does he send people to hell? e) God doesn't send people to hell, it's people who send themselves to hell f) we were already dead, on the way to hell; we were enemies of God because we followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit of disobedience g) salvation resurrected us from the dead; it is a gift; if we had to work for it, it would be a salary 2. We're Seated in Heavenly Places - v. 6 a) in the spirit we're resting - Heb. 4:1-ff. b) there's no more struggling; there's no more question about the afterlife c) yes, we may be struggling in the physical realm; we may be in pain, we may be facing challenges left and right; we may be battling against principalities; but in the spirit God says we're at rest d) and we have to appropriate it e) that's why we have Sunday Services, because this is a manifestation of rest in our spirits; when we come to church, we're seated in heavenly places f) we sang that song a while ago, "so arise to your rest" g) some people change the line to “arise from your rest,” which is wrong h) the song comes from Ps. 132 - Zion is the place of rest for Christ, where he will rule i) the Book of Hebrews says that the church is the spiritual Zion j) so when we sing, arise to your rest, we are calling Jesus to be seated at the throne so we can worship him and commune with him 3. We're Shown the Riches of His Grace -v. 7 In what ways? * gifted us with salvation –v. 8 * we become His workmanship (masterpiece) –v. 10 * brought us near to God –v. 13 * reconciled us to God –vv. 14-16 * we have access to the Father –v. 18 * we become fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God –v. 19 * we are being built up as a dwelling place of God –v. 22 And much more Conclusion. a) all the fruits of grace have been produced by the Cross on Calvary b) Jesus died that we may enjoy the grace of God c) salvation is possible; it is a gift d) shouldn’t we then receive the gift by inviting Jesus into our hearts? 3. The Power of Grace Acts 6:8 I. Introduction a) continuing in our series on grace b) we've learned * the call of grace * the fruits of grace c) now we learn the power of grace in a man named Stephen d) Stephen was one of 7 chosen to minister to a growing number of believers while the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and the study of God's word e) then some Jews began to debate with him, "but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke" -v. 10 f) so they framed him and had him brought before the Sanhedrin or the Jewish court of law g) and in Acts 7:52-60, we find the power of grace II. 4 Points 1. The Power to Overcome Fear a) not only was he unafraid, he even preached to the Sanhedrin b) he preached the truth c) in contrast the Sanhedrin wanted to silence him * they covered their ears * they shouted so they could drown out the voice of Stephen d) they were enraged - v. 54, because they feared - 1 John 4:18 - when they heard Stephen, they were tormented e) fear can weaken, cause insecurity and can torment f) our fear can prevent us from doing what God wants us to do g) this is why the phrase, "Fear not," appears more than 200 times in the Bible h) God's grace is there to give us the power to overcome fear 2. The Power to Testify for Jesus a) what's keeping Christians from testifying for Jesus? b) rejection, not popular c) it didn't deter Stephen - he was speaking before the Sanhedrin; no doubt he knew he was brought before them on trumped-up charges d) there are many powerful forces that can give you reason not to talk about Jesus and they can seem overwhelming, but all you need is grace f) the secret: use everyday circumstances to talk about Jesus 3. The Power to See through the Hurts a) see God's hand in what we're going through b) we all go through pain - physical, emotional, spiritual and we can get caught up in our own pain and allow it to control our lives c) what did Stephen see? * he saw the glory of God * he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God - standing - taking notice; standing up for Stephen - right hand - exulted position * he saw heaven open d) sometimes it's difficult to fathom why God allows martyrdom when he could have saved Stephen e) but let me tell you about Rachel Joy Scott * was the first to be shot in Columbine * she was popular because she was kind and compassionate towards others and she talked about her faith in Jesus * her funeral drew the most televiewers, even more than the funeral of Princess Diana * her death drew thousands of teenagers to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ * her death inspired school programs all over America to deal with school-bullying by reaching out to students who are shy, who feel isolated f) we may not be called into martyrdom, but in our pain we can still see the glory of God; in our pain we still can see Jesus in our hearts - he's concerned about you; he'll stand up for you; and, whatever you're going through, he still has a marvelous plan for you g) call upon his grace and live in it; heaven will always open up to you 4. The Power to Forgive a) this is a sermon all by itself b) but let's read again vv. 58-60 c) it made an imprint on Saul - Acts 22:20 d) for Christians, forgiveness is not an option, it's a part of life - the giving and asking e) it's difficult at times, but that's why we have God's grace f) yet, forgiveness can impact yourself as well as others; it brings healing, reconciliation, goodwill, restoration, well-being and other benefits g) forgiveness is a prerequisite to seeing the divine; what does it say in Matt. 5:23-24: "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." h) again, we may not be called to such great sacrifice to compel us to forgive; many times the only thing we need to sacrifice is our pride 4. The Workings of Grace I. Introduction. a) today is our last installment of our series on grace; next month our series will be on love and relationships, because its the love month b) by the end of the series you'll either know how to love your spouse more or want to know how to have your marriage annulled c) so far, what have we learned about grace? * grace calls * grace saves * grace seats us in heavenly places * grace shows us the richness of His kindness * grace shows us to the world as His masterpieces * grace gives us the power to overcome fear * grace gives us the power to testify for Jesus * grace gives us the power to see through the hurts * grace gives us the power to forgive II. Today we'll discuss more workings of grace 1. Grace is apportioned a) Eph. 4:7 - But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it b) when we answer the call of grace through faith, God apportions us grace c) question is, what are we going to do with it? this is why we have such parables as the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Coins d) in 2 Cor. 6:1, the Apostle Paul warns his readers not to take the grace of God in vain "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain." e) when we do nothing with the grace of God, we receive it in vain; like the man in the parable who hid his pound in his handkerchief; let's look at that - Lk 19:11-26 f) when we're before the Bema judgment, God will ask us what we did with His grace g) what are you going to answer? 2. Grace abounds a) 2 Cor. 8:9 - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." b) 2 Cor. 9:8 - "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." c) but grace will only abound if we do something with it; let's look at 2 Cor. 8:1-9 d) yet, this is not only about money; it's also about your time and talents and willingness to grow in the spirit e) in this time of impending financial crisis or slowdown, it is not the time to take the grace of God in vain f) we can claim the richness of God by making our tithes, time and talents available to God 1 Pet. 4:10 - "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. " 3. Grace strengthens a) 2 Tim 2:1 - "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." b) the word, "strong," comes from the Greek, endynamo, which gives us the word, dynamo c) it speaks of inner strength d) why did Paul exhort Timothy to be strong in the Lord? e) because of 2 Tim. 1:8 (read it) f) when we make use of the grace of God in serving others, we become vulnerable; the more we love, the more we expose ourselves to hurts; that's just the way it is g) but God always provides the grace to see us through - Heb. 4:16 - "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" h) and it's abounding grace that He provides 4. Grace awaits us in heaven a) 1 Pet. 1:13 - "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." b) grace came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ; grace was upon Him as he ministered on earth; grace was with him as he ascended into heaven; grace will be with him as he is revealed in glory and majesty when he returns c) grace is not only for us here on earth; it also awaits us when Jesus comes for us III. Conclusion. The grace of God is upon you. Make use of it, live in it, grow in it and glory in it! 5. A Blessing for You for the New Year Introduction a) this being the first Sunday of the new year, I would like to pronounce a blessing upon all of you b) for this I will use the text found in Gen. 27:28-29: “May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness-- an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." c) this was a blessing pronounced by Isaac to his son, Jacob, who disguised himself as Esau d) although it seemed that Jacob received it by deceiving his father, God nevertheless meant it for Jacob e) this tells us that, although, we may have been unfaithful, disobedient, rebellious towards God, God still desires to bless us f) so I use this blessing for you; it is the word of God, thus we can claim it as our own g) there are 3 elements to this blessing 1. Satisfaction -v. 28 a) here we have heaven and earth coming together to bring blessings of satisfaction b) first, heaven’s dew (I like this term); to understand this we must look at what dew is c) in a desert country such as where Isaac lived, dew was very important d) dew is a blanket of water droplets left when the evening cools the heat that radiates from the surfaces of plants e) in desert country where water is scarce, dew is a blessing because it keeps crops fresh and alive; dew gives fullness of life f) in this blessing, we read about heaven’s dew; so this tells us of spiritual satisfaction coming from God; spiritual satisfaction that brings refreshment and life in the inner man g) many times we find our spirits withered and dry because of the challenges of life; so I speak satisfaction in your spiritual life this new year h) what else do we see here? an abundance of grain and new wine i) this speaks of fruitfulness; not only materially, but also emotionally as symbolized by new wine j) the word is contentment; you‚Äôre satisfied because you‚Äôre contented k) I speak this blessing on you 2. Success a) v. 29 says, May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. b) this speaks of leadership, not power; leadership because you are successful c) the secret of success is leading others to also be successful d) so it begins with service to others e) Jesus led by serving others - Mat 20:28 - “…Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” f) Jesus didn’t come for lordship; he came for servanthood g) so I speak upon you the blessing of success for the new year founded on service 3. Security a) v. 29 – “May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." b) this is not about retribution; it’s about security in God c) there are several promises in the Bible we can claim: * Romans 8:31 - What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? * 1John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. d) we do not have the right to curse others, but we have the power to bless others e) when we bless others, we in turn attract blessings; when others bless us, they too will be blessed f) this new year I pray that we are always given the opportunity to bless others; this is why I challenged you with missions pledges * your pledges go to our internal missions funds, because it is my desire that we send out missionaries whether it be short or long term * it doesn’t even have to be outside of our country g) that’s something we’d like to get involved with, amen? h) let me tell you something: faith arises not when we have the resources to give; this is not faith; this is philanthropy i) faith arises when we don’t have the resources to give, and yet we give j) thus I speak the security of God around you this new year that he will be your protector and source of blessing based on your faith to be a blessing to others How to process this pronouncement of blessing for the new year? Behavioral scientists have discovered that we usually see things that we are prepared to see. This is all centered in a network of nerve cells called the "Reticular Activating System." Everybody has this system. The "Reticular Activating System." works like this: Once something has been brought to our attention, and we have been prepared to see it, we’ll see it virtually everywhere we go. For example, you decide to buy a new car. You make up your mind that you are going to buy a certain brand, a certain body style, and a certain color. Now, you’ll see those cars everywhere. You’ll see them on the roads, in TV advertisements, in newspapers and magazines. They’re everywhere. Now what has happened? They were always there, but the moment you were prepared to see them, your Reticular Activating System kicked in, and suddenly you saw them everywhere. It happens in other areas of life, too. We see what we are prepared to see. If we are prepared to see doom & gloom this year, then that’s what we’ll see. If, on the other hand, we have prepared ourselves to see sunshine & opportunities, then that’s what we are going to see. It’s really about attitude. What are you prepared for this new year? Conclusion Receive the blessing and live it! 6. Allowing God to Release Your Potential Judges 6:11-12 Introduction a) we've been talking about being a blessing to others; essentially this means being used by God to impact other people's lives b) I want to go further with this and say that the more we allow God to fulfill his purpose in us, the more we can impact the world c) the key to God fulfilling his purpose in us is to allow him to release our potentials d) why do I say that? because it’s only God who knows us true and through e) we were fearfully and wonderfully made and it’s only God who can bring out our full potential f) another word for potential is possibility g) what’s possible with you? you can’t determine that; only God can h) sometimes we see terrific singers on television and we think, that singer has reached her potential; but that’s not true - we reach our full potential when we let God use our potential for his glory i) in our Bible reference this morning, we will see a man, Gideon, who allowed God to release his potential, but we will also what can hinder God from releasing our potential 1. What can hinder God from releasing your potential? a) a limited view of yourself -vv.11-13 b) the Israelites were under siege again because they backslid for the umpteenth time; but they cried out to God to be saved from their enemies the Midianites; so God was going to raise up a leader in Gideon; God knew Gideon’s potential c) so look at how the angel greeted him: "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” d) he was called a mighty warrior e) but what was Gideon’s response: v. 15 - "But Lord, " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." f) talk about low self-esteem! g) indeed, apart from him we can do nothing, but let us be reminded of this verse: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. - John 14:12 h) what else can hinder God from releasing your potential? i) a limited view of your situation j) before Gideon said he was the least in his family, he said this: v. 13 - "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." k) in other words, God can’t do anything now, the situation is hopeless * Lord, I’ve got this problem right now, It's bad timing * Lord, I’ve got this financial crisis that I need to solve first * God is not going to use me because he’s punishing me l) how can we remove these hindrances and allow God to release our potential? 2. Be encouraged by God’s word a) part and parcel of reaching your potential in God is reading his word b) actually the reason why we have a limited view of ourselves and our situations is we spend little time with God’s word c) Gideon started to listen to what God was saying d) to be able to see an eagle’s view of ourselves and our situation is to see it the way God does - and that’s through his word e) over 300 times in the Bible God says, “Fear not!”, because he knows our capacity to fear, our capacity to back down, our capacity to give up; and that’s why we have his word e) but encouragement does not come only by reading, but by applying God’s word in our lives; this is how we acquire wisdom f) in applying God’s word in our lives, we prove the authenticity of his word and that builds our faith and confidence g) not only that, we also begin to see what God is doing in our lives; many people want to see God’s demonstration of power; but for me the best encouragement is being able to see what God is doing in me and through me h) this is why discipleship is so important, because your discipler will help you apply God’s word into your life 3. We need to rely on God’s resources a) Judges 7:2 - The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her… b) when Gideon started to raise his army, God wanted to use only 300, so that Israel will not boast c) what does this mean? it’s God who moves through us and in us d) we can’t reach our full potential unless we let God take full control; because, as I said, it’s only God who knows us true and through and thus knows our potential illustration: When I was growing up I never wanted to come before an audience. I never wanted to speak before a crowd. But people were telling me I have a good speaking voice, but for me that was more of a curse than an asset, because my teachers kept on urging me to join speech contests. And I never won. Not one. Talk about encouragement. Oh there was a time I won second place, but we were only 3 contestants and the 3rd-placer had a hair lip. But I’m preaching to you now. e) which brings me to my last point; why am I preaching to you now? 4. Be available a) I finally stopped resisting God’s call on my life and said, “Here I am Lord, use me” b) Gideon was available and he was willing. He could have argued all the way to kingdom come that he was the least and he was in a bad situation c) but he made himself available and willing d) the best prayer we can offer to God is, “Lord, I am willing, let your will be done” 7. Encountering the Lord of Life Luke 7:11-17 Introduction a) there were two processions just outside the gate of a town named Nain b) one was going out of the town, the other was going in c) at some point there was an encounter between the two d) this story will tell us that, hopefully, we can have the same kind of encounter, because it was an encounter with the Lord of Life 1. The Procession of Death a) what are the key elements of the procession of death? -v. 12 b) a dead person was being carried out from the town, obviously to be buried; an only son of a widow * grief and sadness * potential for loneliness; widow who lost her husband and now her only son * potential for poverty because the widow’s bread winners were now gone * a picture of compounding problems - first her husband dies and now her son * potential for hopelessness and despair c) many times in the course of our lives we walk in the procession of death * in the midst of negative circumstances * in the midst of deep need * in the midst of compounding problems * and there is the potential for hopelessness and despair d) and we’re walking out of Nain; do you know what Nain means? Beauty * we may be walking out of the beauty that God has in store for us * there is this verse I like: O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth .-Psalm 96:9 (KJV) * in the procession of death, we may be walking away from the beauty of God’s holiness, perhaps of God’s joy, of God’s purpose for us 2. The Procession of Life a) led by Jesus -v. 11 b) Jesus is the Lord of Life - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” - John 11:25 c) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10 d) Jesus was entering the town; and at that point between beauty and the ugliness of death, there was an encounter - death meeting life, despair meeting hope, mourning meeting joy 3. The Encounter a) v. 13 * his heart went out to her - Jesus’ heart easily goes out to people, especially to the broken-hearted - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psa 34:18; he is the God of compassion * don’t cry - how many times God has said that to my heart; but he goes beyond that * he says, “don’t be over-burdened;” “don’t despair;” “don’t give up;” “don’t worry” b) v. 14 * he touched the coffin. why? To stop the procession of death * the Lord of Life wants to stop our sadness; he wants to arrest our despair; he wants to deal with our pain * God doesn’t want us to be in the procession of death; he wants us in the procession of life - But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. -2Corinthians 2:14 * get up - Jesus speaks words of life; in the Bible we find words that bring life c) v. 15 - life was restored to the man and the man was restored to his mother; our God is the God of restoration! d) For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. - Luke 19:10 - this speaks of restoration Conclusion a) after the encounter, the procession of death was conquered by the procession of life and it became a celebration of praise -v. 16 b) was this a chance encounter? I don’t think so because God is not a person of chance c) so we can safely conclude that the Lord of Life desires an encounter with you and I, especially when we’re walking in a procession of death d) and we can have that encounter by seeking him with all our heart; we can have that encounter here in church; in our prayer meetings; in our prayer closets; in the gardens of our homes e) the Lord of Life wants to cross your path. Let Him 8. Kinds of Servant - I Colossians 4:7-13 Introduction a) in one of my readings, I came upon this passage; normally many people would gloss over this passage thinking it is insignificant b) but I looked closely at this passage and realized that nothing is insignificant in the Bible c) here was the Apostle Paul writing about certain people and what they did for Paul and, in effect, what they did for God or how they served Him d) here we see different kinds of servant and get a glimpse of the different parts of the Body of Christ e) this is by no means a complete list of the different kinds of servant, but we can see how the Lord through Paul uses his people 1. Servant-encourager a) Tychicus -vv. 7-8 b) name means "Fateful," which can mean ominous (as in that fateful day I met my mother-in-law) c) yet, we learn that his message was not ominous, but encouraging, for that was the very reason he was sent -v. 8 d) the word, “encourage,” in the Greek is parakleo, which also describes the work of the Holy Spirit e) he was to tell of Paul’s circumstances -in that he was imprisoned‚ yet he was to encourage them f) you know what he was doing? He was going to turn a discouraging circumstance into a reason for encouragement g) and that’s the work of the Holy Spirit - transformation h) in this world that easily brings discouragement, we need to be servant-encouragers i) but to do this, we need to constantly rely on the Holy Spirit 2. Servant-son a) Onesimus -v. 9 b) name means "Useful" c) why do I say, servant-son? Philemon 1:10-12 - I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him-who is my very heart-back to you. d) this means that Onesimus was saved through Paul and thus became his spiritual son e) see how Paul describes him - who is my very heart f) Onesimus was a man transformed in two ways: he was a slave and now a brother; he was a thief and now a follower of Christ g) Paul sent him to be a testimony of a transformed man, from a son of the world to a son of God, just as Paul was h) in serving God, do we reflect a transformed person? Do people see us as people who have been taken out of the darkness and placed into his wonderful light? i) Onesimus was sent to tell about Paul’s imprisonment, yet to show the believers that, in spite of his imprisonment, God was still moving and Onesimus was a result of that moving j) in the course of my ministerial life, I’ve seen many people come to the Lord because they’ve seen the transformation of their children, their spouses, their friends k) a servant-son is one who reflects the Son in his/her life 3. Servant-companion a) Aristarchus -v. 10 b) name means "Best ruler" c) Aristarchus accompanied Paul and was arrested along with him d) but look at what Paul says about him - v. 11 - and they have proved a comfort to me e) you’d think that being in prison he’d rather look out for himself; yet he sought to comfort Paul instead f) we can surmise that he was an example of the passage in Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. g) perhaps his name is apt, because he has ruled over his self, in that he considered Paul more important than himself h) a servant-companion seeks the benefits of others before his own 4. Servant-wrestler a) Epaphras -vv. 12-13 b) name means “Lovely” c) perhaps we can say his name fits him because he was a man of prayer d) he wasn’t just praying, as in uttering words; he wrestled in prayer e) he didn’t stop until he knew God was moving in the lives of those he was praying for f) he didn’t stop praying until he saw results: that people would stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured g) in other words, he wanted to see the fruit of people he was praying for h) a servant-wrestler relentlessly prays for others until he sees the fruit of his prayer in those he prays for i) every Friday evening gives us the opportunity to be a servant-wrestler Conclusion a) we can best sum this all up with how Paul ends his letter to the Colossians - v. 18 Remember my chains. Grace be with you. b) in other words, be mindful of others, not just ourselves; thoughtfulness for others is an attitude worth cultivating, for it is the mindset of a servant of God c) and we can cultivate this attitude with the grace of God, which means to abide with God always 9. Kinds of Servant - II 2 Colossians 4:7-13 Introduction a) last Sunday I shared with you the 4 kinds of servant b) this morning I want to go back to that topic but with a different twist c) we’re going to look at the 4 kinds of servant in Jesus Christ d) Jesus said, Mat 20:28 - “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." e) Jesus is a servant-leader, an obedient son, a faithful shepherd and the best example of how we are to lead our lives f) so allow me to once again to bring you the 4 kinds of servant but now seen in Jesus 1. Servant-encourager a) Tychicus - vv. 7-8 b) John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." c) if there’s anything about Christianity that sets us apart from the rest of the world, it’s the peace of Jesus Christ d) the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. e) the peace of Jesus is the peace of God f) translation: the tranquil state of a soul g) contrast against conflict, but also unaffected by conflict h) we who serve God, let us pray that we bring peace to others as Jesus brings peace to us 2. Servant-son a) Onesimus - v. 9 b) Jesus addressed himself as the “Son of Man” and the “Son of God” c) He came to reveal God to us, but he came to reveal man as he truly is d) yet he was to become the bridge between sinful man and a holy God, that through him we, the sons of men, can become the sons of God e) in serving as a son, he sacrificed himself on the cross - Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! f) we’re not called to die for another, although that is the most ideal expression of love, but we are called to serve one another in love, just as Jesus did g) a servant-son is one who reflects the Son in his/her life 3. Servant-companion a) Aristarchus - v. 10 b) Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." c) Aristarchus accompanied Paul and was arrested along with him d) but look at what Paul says about him - v. 11 - and they have proved a comfort to me e) you’d think that being in prison he’d rather look out for himself; yet he sought to comfort Paul instead f) Aristarchus did not leave nor forsake Paul even in the most trying time of his life; and Aristarchus was just a man g) here is a promise from God himself; everyone knows the poem, “Footprints in the Sand.” That’s a beautiful illustration of this promise: Footprints in the Sand One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you." Mary Stevenson h) a servant-companion serves others with gladness and humility 4. Servant-wrestler a) Epaphras - vv. 12-13 b) Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. c) Jesus wrestles in prayer for us d) whwn others can get tired praying for us, Jesus lives to intercede for us 10. Positioned for Blessings Genesis 26:1-12 Introduction. a) let me begin with the last verse of this passage - v. 12: Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. b) I like that line - reaped a hundredfold c) in business parlance, that's 100% profit d) don't you want to be blessed a hundredfold this New Year? e) why have I been talking about blessings this month of January? Because I sincerely want you to be blessed this year; and I will constantly pray for it f) but I have an ulterior motive. I want you to be blessed so that you will, in turn, bless the work of the Lord g) and so I pronounced a blessing to you on the first Sunday; I then spoke last Sunday about seeing the blessings in 2010; and now I want to talk about being positioned for blessings h) why positioned? Because we need to be where God wants us to be to receive His blessings; just as in basketball, we need to be in a position to receive the ball so we can score I) so allow me to share with you 5 requirements to being in position to receive God's blessings 1. You must go where God tells you to go a) vv. 1-3a b) now why will God tell Isaac to dwell in the land where there is famine? * famine is a state of difficulty; of trial; of challenging circumstances * and God wants us to have the inner strength and wisdom to receive His blessings so we do not become frivolous with them * and it's the challenges of life that build inner strength and wisdom; in other words, character and fortitude c) God had a purpose for Isaac and He wanted to build up Isaac; it's the same with us d) when God uses you, blessings follow e) does this mean we start looking for difficulties and challenges to receive blessings? f) no, but when we find ourselves in these situations, it means God is positioning us for blessings g) we can respond in either two ways: It makes us more sensitive to God, and more aware of our weakness and dependence upon God; or It makes us dull and insensitive, and self assertive; the latter makes us lose our position h) going where God tells us to go means going where God can use us: in our place of work, in school, in the ministry, in the mission field or to your neighbor illustration: When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service. "And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary," he asked one. "I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, was the reply. Another said, "I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ. Others gave different answers. Then Hudson Taylor said, "All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testing, trials, tribulations, and possible death. There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ. A missionary in Africa was once asked if he really liked what he was doing. His response was shocking. “Do I like this work," he said. "No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonable refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse...But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to "Go,? and we go. Love constrains us.' 2. You must believe that the time is now a) v. 2 - live in the land; in other words, be, exist, do; don't live in the past, don't think about the future b) I mentioned last Sunday that God is the God of the now c) so you must believe that the fulfillment of God's blessing for your life is now; and you must live as if God is blessing you right now d) we can't make deals with God by saying, “if you bless me, I will support missions or the work of the church” e) it has to be, I'm supporting the work of the church right now because you're blessing me right now f) this is what living by faith is all about g) unless you know the reality of God blessing you now, you won’t know the reality of God blessing you later h) turn to your neighbor and say, “God is blessing you already” i) how can we begin to believe that the time of blessing is now? daily count your blessings 3. You must give God room to move a) God blessed Isaac the way God wanted b) we can't place God in a box and say, this is the way I want God to bless me c) be specific in your prayer, but be flexible in your expectations d) let God, not your prayer request, be the object of your desires e) obey God, don't expect God to obey you; which brings us to the 4th requirement 4. You must do what God says to do a) God told Isaac to live in a land of famine b) he could have argued with God or disobeyed c) and what God says may seem irrelevant to you, but God does work in mysterious ways d) in the Bible, we see many ways God seemed to be irrelevant: * ask Naaman to dip himself 7 times in the river * take away the stone for Lazarus * fill the water pots with water when Mary his mother said there was no more wine * walk around the walls of Jericho and shout e) I myself am a walking testimony of God's seemingly irrelevant promptings and I've told you about them before; but when I obeyed, God blessed me f) all these are God's ways of placing people in a position for blessing Conclusion a) God wants to bless us b) God wants us to see the blessings that are in store for us c) but we must be in a position to receive the blessings d) what this means is, if we want the blessings of God, we must be orepared to be used by Him and have Him fulfill His purposes in us About the Author My real name is Manuel Enrique Mapa. I was nicknamed, Dean, by my aunt when I was born. Dean was then turned into Dino by siblings and friends. I am an ordained minister of the Church of God World Missions, based in Cleveland, TN. I am now retired from pastoral work and pursuing my passion for writing. My other books: How to Raise Funds for Your Ministry In Heavenly Realms: Sermons from the Book of Ephesians Sermons from the Psalms Inspired by the Psalms All of the above can be found via my Amazon.com author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/dfmapa Allow me to ask a favor from you. Kindly write a short review, good or bad, of this book on the page where you purchased it. It would mean a lot to me to know how my books affect my readers. Here are places where you can follow me: My site: http://www.dinomapa.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/achristianauthor Twitter: @dinomapa