Sermon # 22 Series: Matthew
Title: TEN IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM THE MASTER
Text: Matthew 10:16-42
Subject: Christ’s Instructions to His Servants
Scripture Reading:
Office – Rex Bartley Aud. – Bobbie Estes
Date: Tuesday Evening – December 13, 1994
Tape: # Q-77
Introduction:
The title
of my message tonight is Ten Important Lessons From The Master. In these
verses of Scripture our Lord Jesus Christ gives his servants words of
instruction to sustain and comfort them as they endeavor to serve the interest
of his kingdom and the souls of men in this world. These words of instruction,
in their primary application, were given to the apostles of our Lord.
However, they are equally applicable to every gospel preacher in this
world. And they are just as properly applied to you who seek to serve
the Lord Jesus Christ in your day by day lives. We are, after all, all of us
who believe God’s servants.
To the
selfish and unbelieving, who care for nothing but their own ease and comfort,
these verses of Scripture are meaningless. To you who serve God and the souls
of men, they will be great interest. To serve God and do good to men’s souls
in this world is hard work. Satan fights to maintain his kingdom. The hearts
of men are far more wicked that any
of us imagine. Our Lord Jesus knows this. Therefore, he takes care, when
he sends us out to do his service, to supply us with instructive and
encouraging words, that we might be prepared for the trials, temptations, and
troubles we must force in this world.
Proposition:
God’s servants in this world are sheep in the midst of wolves, needing wisdom, grace, and strength that only God can give, to do his will.
If I had
setting before me a house full of aspiring young preachers, I know (after
25 years of experience) that I could not give them wiser instruction than I
will give to you tonight. But what I have to say is just as important to you as
it would be to a house full of preachers. So give me your attention. Here are
ten lessons that we must learn, as we endeavor to serve God and our generation
by the will of God.
I. We must be
modest in our expectations – (vv. 16-23).
If we serve
God, if our object is the glory of God, we must not imagine that we will be
ravingly successful in this work. Indeed, we must not make success our goal.
“Beware of men.” We are “as sheep in the midst of wolves,” If you set your
heart to serve God you must make up your mind to be hated, abused,
misunderstood, slandered, and persecuted by men, even your nearest relations
will oppose you if they do not know God.
Illus: Young
men at Spring Lake.
Whether you
preach, or teach, or visit, or pass out tracts, or write, or give witness to
others, whatever you do, for Christ, you must expect nothing from the world
but opposition.
Many who once seemed full of zeal have
turned back because they had extravagant expectations. Many a preacher
has been taken in satan’s snare of “success” and has compromised the gospel to
get it!
II. If we would
serve God in this world, we must be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (v.
16).
That simply
means we must pray for God to give us wisdom, good sense, a sound mind, and
sincerity of heart. The word “harmless” means “simple.” We are to be simple,
honest, sincere as God’s servants. Yet, we must have wisdom and good sense.
A. We must never
seek to avoid persecution by cowardice, compromise, or intimidation.
B. Yet, we must
never foolishly court persecution by being obnoxious, arrogant, or even out of
order and place.
NOTE: The Lord allows his servants to flee from one city to another. But he
does not allow us to hold our tongues.
NOTE: There is a proper time and place for witnessing – It is not when you are
being paid to work!
NOTE: Our God does not require us to throw out common sense when we are
engaged to do his will. The offence of the cross we must bear. But we are not
to be offensive. Let us “strive to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as
wise.” (Eph. 5:15).
III. We must
never expect to be treated better or to receive better in this world than our
Savior did – (vv. 24-25).
If we leave
men alone, they will probably leave us alone. But we dare not leave men
alone. We must, as our Savior did…
If we follow our Master, we will, in the ordinary course of
events, experience what he experienced.
A. He was slandered
and rejected by those among whom he ministered.
B. Men “called him
Beelzebub,” a devil, a glutton, a winebibber, and a sinner.
C. Few believed his
message.
IV. We must be content to wait for him whom we serve to
vindicate us in the day of judgment - (v. 26).
God will
bring everything to light in his time. Vengeance belongs to him. If I am his
servant, he will both vindicate and avenge my name and my work in the last day.
Either here or there God will vindicate his servants – He will do it by
judgment.
V. If we would
serve God we must fear God rather than man (vv. 26-28).
Like Daniel and his friends, we must be willing to surrender anything, and everything, even life itself, rather than compromise the glory of God, violate the truth of God, or go against the Word of God.
NOTE: What God says is right!
NOTE: The wrath of man may be hard to bear, but it is infinitely easier to
bear than the wrath of God!
VI. We must trust
the providential care of God (vv. 29-31).
The path of
duty may lead us into danger. Our lives may seem to be in peril if we go
forward. But we must realize that everything is in God’s hand. Whatever
fearful thing we meet, as we serve our God, we may say to it, “Thou
couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from
above.”
VII. If we would
serve God in this world, we must constantly live in the anticipation of
judgment and eternity (vv. 32-33).
It may cost
you the sneers and frowns of men to confess Christ in this world. But it will
cost you the frown of God in eternity to refuse to confess him – That is what
it is to deny him! Baptism – Witnessing – Identification.
VIII. If we would
serve our God and the souls of men, we must understand the gospel of Christ is
the cause of constant irreconcilable divisions among men – (vv. 34-36).
Wherever
Christ comes, there is a “division because of him.” Unity, peace, and harmony
are great blessings. We ought to earnestly seek them, pray for them, and
sacrifice anything to obtain them – anything except the truth of God! Peace
that is purchased at the expense of truth is purchased at a rate that ought
never to be paid!
IX. If you and I
would serve Christ, if we would do the will of God, we must take up our cross
and follow him every day (vv. 37-39).
Faith in and obedience to Christ is nothing less than the surrender of my life to his rule!
X. If we would be the servants of God in this world, we must never expect our reward in this world, but in the world to come – (vv. 40-42)
Three things need to be noticed from these verses.
A. That which is done to God’s servants in this world, good or evil, is treated by our Lord as being done to him – (v. 40).
· Matthew 25:32-46
B. The least service done for our Lord is observed by him and shall be honored by him (vv. 41-42).
· I Samuel 2:30
NOTE: There is always something you can do for Christ, if you are willing. – “A Cup of Water!”
C. The reward of God’s saints in heaven is an equal reward and completely full reward to one and all – A matter of grace!
Our Lord will say to many on the resurrection day, who never imagined it – “I was hungry and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink.”
Application:
Are we helpers or hinders in the cause of Christ? Do we assist God’s servants, or do we impede their labors? Do we aide his little ones, or do we stand in their way? These are serious questions that ought to be considered by us. God give us grace, as often as we have opportunity, to give a cup of cold water,” or “receive a prophet,” or “receive a righteous man,” in the name of Christ, laboring together in the Lord’s vineyard to gather in his harvest!
We should, each of us, make it our business to leave this world better than it was when we entered it. If we follow Christ, if we serve God, if we serve the souls of men, we shall.
Happy is that servant who can leave this world
· As Christ did – (John 17:4).
· As Paul did – (II Tim. 4:6-8).