People Owned by God

People Owned by God

Submitting Our Will to His

2003046

Topic # 1004

Introduction:

A. 1 Pet. 3:14-16

1. Did you catch first part of 3:15?

2. Each Christian to place Jesus on the throne of his heart.

a) Jesus alone is Lord.

b) We are to allow Him control of our life through the influence of the word of God.

3. We give our hearts to Him. In doing so we become servants of God.

B. Christianity is all about service.

1. Surrendering our wants/desires to God’s.

2. Rom. 12:1-2 “reasonable service” NKJV

3. Do we truly have an idea of what reasonable religious service is?

a) Have we let culture be the judge?

b) As culture changes – our concepts & understandings of reasonable service change.

C. We must allow Jesus to show us how to serve God.

1. Through a detailed look at His life – we can see what it means to be God’s servant.

2. To be successful – we must fix our eyes on Jesus! Heb. 12:1-3

I. Psa. 123 conveys the concept of a servant.

A. 123:1 – this verse conveys the concept of a servant.

1. to whom did the psalmist life up his eyes? Where was this one?

B. 123:2 – observe how the psalmists looks at God.

1. Good servants knew what their master wanted w/out being told.

2. Good servants readily & quickly functioned just as the master wished.

3. Good servants knew their role & fulfilled their role.

4. Good servants knew & accepted their utter dependence upon the Master!

II. Jesus – as God’s servant – never too His eyes off of God’s hand.

A. John 5:19-20

1. Context: Jesus heals lame man of 38 yrs on Sabbath @ pool of Bethesda.

2. 5:8 - Jesus tells him to pick up his bed & walk.

3. 5:9-10 – According to Pharisees – this violated the Sabbath.

i. Man in serious trouble – could have faced death.

4. 5:16 – Jesus was persecuted by Jews for doing these things on the Sabbath.

5. 5:17-18 – in their thinking – Jesus made Himself equal to God – so now they sought to kill Him.

6. 5:19-20 – His response.

B. Jesus could do nothing w/o the Father.

1. Everything He did was because He looked to the hand of God as a good servant.

2. 5:19 – only thing Jesus did was what He saw the Father doing.

C. 5:20 – the bond between the Father & Son

1. It = bond of love.

2. Jesus served God because He loved the Father & the Father loved Him.

3. Christians today can & must understand precisely how God wants to be served.

4. Spiritual service can exist ONLY if it is founded on love!

a) What is the motive behind our service?

D. 5:30 – look at what Jesus could not do.

1. Anything on His own initiative.

2. Everything Jesus did was exactly what God wanted Him to do.

a) He is the perfect example for us.

3. Look again at how He judged & why His judgment is just.

a) Did not originate in Him – but in the Father who sent Him.

4. As a true servant; He set aside his personal deductions; conclusions; & reasoning’s.

a) So must we – if we wish to be pleasing to Him.

b) So often we left self get in the way!

c) Pride & elevated opinion of self DESTROYS spiritual service!

d) We can throw Jesus off throne of heart & replace Him with self!

III. John 6 – Doing the will of the Father.

A. According to other gospel accounts – sometime after this; days; weeks – Jesus told about John’s death. Crowds pressing upon Him.

1. So…He goes to other side of Sea of Galilee. Here he feeds 5000 w/little food.

2. Luke: this took place near end of day in desolate place.

3. Later this night – Jesus would walk on water & meet up w/the disciples on the sea. Peter would walk to Him.

B. Next morning – Jesus in Capernaum.

1. 6:22-25 – people searched for Him – couldn’t find Him. Finally some do.

2. 6:26 – why they sought Him.

3. 6:27 – why they should have sought Him.

a) 6:32-33 - this begins a conversation between Jesus & the people.

b) People: Moses fed our ancestors manna from heaven.

c) Jesus: God fed them; not Moses. Now God sending the true bread out of heaven….which gives life.

C. A close-up of 6:35-38

1. 6:35 – Jesus is the bread of life.

a) He will perfectly satisfy our life needs.

b) He is our spiritual lifeline! He makes life in God possible!

c) Jesus is our light in darkness; He is our guide; protector; He is our hope in death; He is our certainty in perplexity; He is our spiritual sustenance!

2. 6:36-37 – As God’s servant it was His job to receive those who come to Him.

a) Those who talking w/not His disciples. Following for material benefits.

b) 6:37 – if one comes to the Father’s house for refuge – he is assured of a place of rest!

3. 6:38 – He did not come to do His own will.

a) We must follow His example.

b) Learn from His teachings.

c) Seek to develop His heart & his attributes.

IV. Important applications for us:

A. Have we clearly seen the focus of Jesus’ life?

1. Look again at 5:30; 6:38

2. Look also at Lk. 22:42

B. What does this mean about you & me doing God’s will?

1. Is doing God’s will our food?

2. Is doing God’s will – not our own – the focus of our existence?

3. Is there a genuine commitment behind doing His will?

4. When crisis comes – do we ask God to do His will – even if that results in physical harm/death? Or…verbal abuse?

C. Mt. 6:10 – look at Jesus’ illustration on how we ought to pray.

1. How is God’s will done in heaven?

a) It is done w/o opposition.

2. If God’s will do in the same way on earth as in heaven – what would Christians do?

a) There would be humble obedience to His law in every part.

b) Remember, we are His servants. - Created for good works – Eph. 2:10

D. Doing God’s will as people owned by God.

1. How many days end where I can say – I was really the person God wanted me to be today?

2. Teenagers: when you get home from date and lay head to sleep – can you say, I was really the person God wanted me to be on that date.

3. Husbands: I was the husband God wanted me to be today.

4. Wives; parents

5. How many times as an employer; customer; stranger; friend; neighbor can you say you were the person God wants you to be?

6. What about after entertainment?

a) “winding down time”; “having fun time”; “going out with friends”;

b) Can you say you were what God wants you to be?

7. Can we say at the end of the day – My life served God’s purposes today?

E. Contrast this to how many days in our lives are NOT about God.

1. How many things that I do are not about God?

2. Are we consciously trying to serve God? Isn’t this supposed to be our focus?

Conclusion:

A. What words do we wish to hear on judgment? Mt. 25:21; 23

1. Are you a servant of God?

2. Is my love for Him motivating me in my service?

3. Do you constantly have your eyes on God’s hand?

B. Don’t let culture/society/human logic be the judge of what reasonable service is.

1. Look to Jesus – the perfect example of a servant. Let us seek to emulate Him.

C. 1 Pet. 3:15a

1. It all starts here. Is He the Lord of your life?

2. He can be if you will make a commitment to follow Him!

D. I N V I T A T I O N



People Owned by God *Submitting Our Will to His* 2003046 *Topic # 1004* Introduction: A. 1 Pet. 3:14-16 1. Did you catch first part of 3:15? 2. Each Christian to place Jesus on the throne of his heart. a) Jesus alone is Lord. b) We are to allow Him control of our life through the influence of the word of God. 3. We give our hearts to Him. In doing so we become servants of God. B. Christianity is all about service. 1. Surrendering our wants/desires to God’s. 2. Rom. 12:1-2 “reasonable service” NKJV 3. Do we truly have an idea of what reasonable religious service is? a) Have we let culture be the judge? b) As culture changes – our concepts & understandings of reasonable service change. C. We must allow Jesus to show us how to serve God. 1. Through a detailed look at His life – we can see what it means to be God’s servant. 2. To be successful – we must fix our eyes on Jesus! Heb. 12:1-3 I. Psa. 123 conveys the concept of a servant. A. 123:1 – this verse conveys the concept of a servant. 1. to whom did the psalmist life up his eyes? Where was this one? B. 123:2 – observe how the psalmists looks at God. 1. Good servants knew what their master wanted w/out being told. 2. Good servants readily & quickly functioned just as the master wished. 3. Good servants knew their role & fulfilled their role. 4. Good servants knew & accepted their utter dependence upon the Master! II. Jesus – as God’s servant – never too His eyes off of God’s hand. A. John 5:19-20 1. Context: Jesus heals lame man of 38 yrs on Sabbath @ pool of Bethesda. 2. 5:8 - Jesus tells him to pick up his bed & walk. 3. 5:9-10 – According to Pharisees – this violated the Sabbath. i. Man in serious trouble – could have faced death. 4. 5:16 – Jesus was persecuted by Jews for doing these things on the Sabbath. 5. 5:17-18 – in their thinking – Jesus made Himself equal to God – so now they sought to kill Him. 6. 5:19-20 – His response. B. Jesus could do nothing w/o the Father. 1. Everything He did was because He looked to the hand of God as a good servant. 2. 5:19 – only thing Jesus did was what He saw the Father doing. C. 5:20 – the bond between the Father & Son 1. It = bond of love. 2. Jesus served God because He loved the Father & the Father loved Him. 3. Christians today can & must understand precisely how God wants to be served. 4. Spiritual service can exist ONLY if it is founded on love! a) What is the motive behind our service? D. 5:30 – look at what Jesus could not do. 1. Anything on His own initiative. 2. Everything Jesus did was exactly what God wanted Him to do. a) He is the perfect example for us. 3. Look again at how He judged & why His judgment is just. a) Did not originate in Him – but in the Father who sent Him. 4. As a true servant; He set aside his personal deductions; conclusions; & reasoning’s. a) So must we – if we wish to be pleasing to Him. b) So often we left self get in the way! c) Pride & elevated opinion of self DESTROYS spiritual service! d) We can throw Jesus off throne of heart & replace Him with self! III. John 6 – Doing the will of the Father. A. According to other gospel accounts – sometime after this; days; weeks – Jesus told about John’s death. Crowds pressing upon Him. 1. So…He goes to other side of Sea of Galilee. Here he feeds 5000 w/little food. 2. Luke: this took place near end of day in desolate place. 3. Later this night – Jesus would walk on water & meet up w/the disciples on the sea. Peter would walk to Him. B. Next morning – Jesus in Capernaum. 1. 6:22-25 – people searched for Him – couldn’t find Him. Finally some do. 2. 6:26 – why they sought Him. 3. 6:27 – why they should have sought Him. a) 6:32-33 - this begins a conversation between Jesus & the people. b) People: Moses fed our ancestors manna from heaven. c) Jesus: God fed them; not Moses. Now God sending the true bread out of heaven….which gives life. C. A close-up of 6:35-38 1. 6:35 – Jesus is the bread of life. a) He will perfectly satisfy our life needs. b) He is our spiritual lifeline! He makes life in God possible! c) Jesus is our light in darkness; He is our guide; protector; He is our hope in death; He is our certainty in perplexity; He is our spiritual sustenance! 2. 6:36-37 – As God’s servant it was His job to receive those who come to Him. a) Those who talking w/not His disciples. Following for material benefits. b) 6:37 – if one comes to the Father’s house for refuge – he is assured of a place of rest! 3. 6:38 – He did not come to do His own will. a) We must follow His example. b) Learn from His teachings. c) Seek to develop His heart & his attributes. IV. Important applications for us: A. Have we clearly seen the focus of Jesus’ life? 1. Look again at 5:30; 6:38 2. Look also at Lk. 22:42 B. What does this mean about you & me doing God’s will? 1. Is doing God’s will our food? 2. Is doing God’s will – not our own – the focus of our existence? 3. Is there a genuine commitment behind doing His will? 4. When crisis comes – do we ask God to do His will – even if that results in physical harm/death? Or…verbal abuse? C. Mt. 6:10 – look at Jesus’ illustration on how we ought to pray. 1. How is God’s will done in heaven? a) It is done w/o opposition. 2. If God’s will do in the same way on earth as in heaven – what would Christians do? a) There would be humble obedience to His law in every part. b) Remember, we are His servants. - Created for good works – Eph. 2:10 D. Doing God’s will as people owned by God. 1. How many days end where I can say – I was really the person God wanted me to be today? 2. Teenagers: when you get home from date and lay head to sleep – can you say, I was really the person God wanted me to be on that date. 3. Husbands: I was the husband God wanted me to be today. 4. Wives; parents 5. How many times as an employer; customer; stranger; friend; neighbor can you say you were the person God wants you to be? 6. What about after entertainment? a) “winding down time”; “having fun time”; “going out with friends”; b) Can you say you were what God wants you to be? 7. Can we say at the end of the day – My life served God’s purposes today? E. Contrast this to how many days in our lives are NOT about God. 1. How many things that I do are not about God? 2. Are we consciously trying to serve God? Isn’t this supposed to be our focus? Conclusion: A. What words do we wish to hear on judgment? Mt. 25:21; 23 1. Are you a servant of God? 2. Is my love for Him motivating me in my service? 3. Do you constantly have your eyes on God’s hand? B. Don’t let culture/society/human logic be the judge of what reasonable service is. 1. Look to Jesus – the perfect example of a servant. Let us seek to emulate Him. C. 1 Pet. 3:15a 1. It all starts here. Is He the Lord of your life? 2. He can be if you will make a commitment to follow Him! D. I N V I T A T I O N