Serving
Serve – Week 3
AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE BIGGER THAN OURSELVES
YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN AND LIVE WITH A “ME” MENTALITY
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:3-8 NLT
“…Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah 1:3 NLT
“Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, (not the car 😉) during the twentieth year of King Artexerxes reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. So the king asked me, “why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” Then I was terrified, but I replied, “long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” The king asked, “well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of Heaven, I replied, “if it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” The king, with the queen sitting beside him asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.” Nehemiah 2:1-6 NLT
WHAT WOULD OUR CHURCH, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY, WORLD LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE THAT CONCERNED ABOUT SOULS GOING TO HELL EVERY DAY?
GOD WILL EQUIP YOU FOR THE IMPACT HE WANTS YOU TO MAKE
IF GOD CALLED YOU TO IT TRUST THAT HE WILL EQUIP YOU TO DO IT!
“I also said to the king, “ if it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah. And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests because the gracious hand of God was on me.” Nehemiah 2:6-8 NLT
GOD ALWAYS MAKES A WAY
“IF GOD GAVE YOU THE VISION HE WILL GIVE YOU ACCESS TO THE PROVISION” – T.D. JAKES
“The king asked, “well, how can I help you?” Nehemiah 2:4 NLT
“You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace.” Nehemiah 2:17 NLT
“Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, lets rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work” Nehemiah 2:18 NLT
“The Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate…the fish gate was built by the sons of Hasenaah…meremoth son of Uriah…repaired the next section of the wall…The old city gate was repaired by Joiada…next to them were Melatiah…next was Uzziel…who also worked on the wall.” Nehemiah 3:1-8 NLT
“Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samaritan army officers, “What does this bunch of poor feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap – and charred ones at that?” Nehemiah 4:1-2 NLT
“Tobias the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “ that stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” Nehemiah 4:3 NLT
“ANYONE WHO STEPS INTO THE ARENA OF LEADERSHIP MUST BE PREPARED TO PAY A PRICE. TRUE LEADERSHIP EXACTS A HEAVY TOLL ON THE WHOLE PERSON AND THE MORE EFFECTIVE THE LEADERSHIP, THE HIGHER THE PRICE!” – CHARLES SWINDOLL
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in Heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12 NLT
- HAVE A HEART FOR YOUR JERUSALEM
“…Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these. “ Mark 12:31 NLT
- HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO SHARE WHAT GOD HAS PUT ON YOUR HEART
“IF GOD GAVE YOU THE VISION HE WILL GIVE YOU ACCESS TO THE PROVISION” – T.D. JAKES
- GATHER YOUR FELLOW STONE-LAYERS
“Discover creative ways to encourage others and motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.” Hebrews 10:24-25 TPT
- PURPOSE IS GREATER THAN PERSECUTION
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in Heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12 NLT
- REJOICE