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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt

James Merritt - Here To Serve

June 1, 2025 | S25:E39

James Merritt - Here To Serve
Touching Lives is the international broadcast ministry of Dr. James Merritt.
#Faith #Help #Leadership #Faithfulness #ServantofGod #Serving #Religion #Ministry #WordofGod #inActive #Success #Eternity #Savior #JamesMerritt

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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt | James Merritt - Here To Serve | June 1, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: welcome to the international broadcast ministry
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  • Of "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
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  • Here at "touching lives," our mission is to touch the lives of
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  • The lost and enrich the faith of the found.
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  • And now, here is pastor, author, and speaker, dr. james merritt.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • James merritt: zig ziglar, some of you know that name, a lot of
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  • You don't, but he was, in my opinion, maybe the greatest
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  • Motivational speaker of the 20th century.
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  • And through a series of circumstances, we became very
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  • Fast friends.
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  • So, zig lived in dallas.
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  • He happened to be in atlanta doing a gig, and he called me
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  • Up, and said, "hey, we'd like to go to dinner with you and
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  • Teresa," 'cause his wife's called the redhead.
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  • So we made it for dinner, and he told me the story about one time
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  • He went to washington dc, and he wanted to visit the
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  • Washington monument.
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  • Now, if you know anything about the monument, it towers above
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  • The district of columbia.
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  • It's 505 feet 5 and 5/8 inches high.
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  • From the lobby to the observation level, it is 50
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  • Stories high.
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  • So to get to the top, you've got two ways.
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  • There's the elevator, which is, that's the easy way to get to
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  • The top.
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  • Or you can take the stairs and there's only 896 stairs.
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  • So, zig said he was walking up to the monument, and he said the
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  • Line to get up to the monument looked like it was a mile long.
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  • And he didn't want to really wait that long, but he noticed
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  • There was a guide up at the front.
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  • And he was saying something, so he walked up to hear what the
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  • Guide was saying.
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  • And as he got there, the guide said, "look, there's a two-hour
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  • Wait for the elevator to get to the top of the monument."
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  • However, with a big smile on his face, he said, "now, there's no
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  • Wait if you're willing to take the stairs."
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  • Nobody left, nobody.
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  • Zig said he couldn't believe it.
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  • Not one person said, "yeah, i think i'll take the stairs."
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  • And i get that and i understand that, but as i heard that story,
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  • It hit me.
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  • What we consider success and what we consider greatness on
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  • Earth is totally different than what god says success is,
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  • And what god says progress is, what god says growth is.
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  • There's a big difference between what success is on earth and
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  • Success in the kingdom of god.
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  • So, let me just kind of break the news to you.
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  • You don't get to take the elevator to greatness in the
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  • Kingdom of god because there isn't one.
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  • You have to take the stairs of service.
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  • In god's eyes you, if you're gonna be great in his kingdom,
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  • If you're gonna get the trophy in his kingdom, if you're gonna
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  • Get the accolades in his kingdom, you gotta serve.
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  • One of the most remarkable things jesus ever said that
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  • Every time i read it, i still can't believe it, was when he
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  • Said this, "for even the son of man did not come to be served,
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  • But to serve."
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  • The one human being, the only human being that deserves to be
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  • Served came to serve.
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  • "i didn't come to be served," he said, "i came to serve."
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  • The great 19th century evangelist, dwight l. moody,
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  • Said this, he said, "the measure of a man is not how many
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  • Servants he has, but how many men he serves."
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  • Let me just tell you this.
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  • If you've been a believer any length of time at all, a year,
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  • Two, five, ten, twenty, maybe like me, you've been a believer
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  • For decades.
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  • Let me tell you one way you can know you're growing in the lord.
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  • Let me tell you one way you can know you're going forward,
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  • Not backward.
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  • Let me tell you one way that you know you are really maturing the
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  • Way god wants you to mature.
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  • Because if you are a spiritually mature believer, listen to this
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  • Next statement.
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  • You don't look at serving as something you have to do, you
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  • Look at serving as something you want to do.
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  • Can i get an amen to that?
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  • I'm gonna tell you in five words what i'm gonna be saying to you
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  • In different ways this morning.
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  • Are you ready?
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  • We are saved to serve.
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  • You were not saved to sit, soak, and sour.
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  • You were saved to serve.
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  • Jesus said, "i did not come to be served."
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  • One day when we get to heaven, you know what we're gonna be
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  • Doing for all eternity?
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  • We're gonna be serving jesus, and i can't wait to do that.
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  • My attitude when i get to jesus is gonna be very simple.
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  • Just tell me what you want me to do, done.
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  • Tell me where you want me to go, i'm there.
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  • I want to serve jesus, but he said, "i came to serve you."
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  • So, what we're gonna learn today is why service is a big deal to
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  • God, and why it ought to be a big deal to you.
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  • Why it's important to god, why it's important to you.
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  • I'm gonna say three super quick things this morning about
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  • Serving, ready?
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  • Number one, god positively expects us to serve.
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  • God positively expects us to serve.
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  • Now in ephesians 4, paul is talking to the church.
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  • Let me tell you what's going on.
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  • When you read the new testament to these letters to the church,
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  • Just keep in mind the church is just getting started.
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  • Most of them are made up of new believers.
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  • There's never been a church in the history of mankind.
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  • The church is on training wheels.
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  • They don't even know what they're supposed to do.
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  • So, paul wrote these letters to tell the church, "this is how
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  • Church operates.
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  • This is how church is to run."
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  • And so he says in ephesians chapter 4, "so christ himself
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  • Gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
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  • Teachers," that's me, that's our staff, "to equip his people for
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  • Works of service."
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  • So, i know something about you.
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  • If you're a follower of jesus, i know something.
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  • The very moment that you got saved.
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  • The very instant you gave your life to jesus, at that moment,
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  • God says, "i want to equip you for the work of service."
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  • You were created to serve.
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  • Because you see, when god creates anything, he creates it
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  • On purpose, he creates it with purpose, he creates it
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  • For purpose.
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  • I mean, you see this everywhere you go, right?
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  • Birds, they were created to sing.
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  • Bees, created to give honey.
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  • Cows, created to give milk.
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  • Fish, created to swim.
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  • Bulldogs, created for national championships.
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  • God has a purpose.
  • 00:07:01.370 --> 00:07:03.206
  • God has a plan-- and gators to die.
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  • God has a purpose for everything and everybody.
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  • Well, we were created for service.
  • 00:07:09.846 --> 00:07:12.415
  • Because let me tell you something, there's some of you,
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  • You know, people, i find people all the time, so they suffer
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  • From low self-esteem.
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  • So, let me just say something to you that i hope will really perk
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  • You up today.
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  • When you came out of your mother's womb, you were
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  • Custom built.
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  • You were divinely designed.
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  • Why did god do that?
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  • God made us the way we are so we could serve him the way he wants
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  • Us to serve and make a difference in the lives
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  • To others.
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  • So, you're unique, i'm unique.
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  • You're one of a kind, i'm one of a kind because we all have a
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  • Unique purpose.
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  • We all have a unique function.
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  • We all have a unique service to fulfill and to perform.
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  • And god didn't just create us to serve.
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  • God called us to serve when jesus called you to be saved.
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  • He called you to serve.
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  • When god created, when god called me to be saved in that
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  • Theater 30 miles from here when i was a 9 year old boy, god
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  • Said, "i'm also calling you to serve."
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  • I'm gonna make a statement here that may sound a little bit
  • 00:08:08.604 --> 00:08:11.340
  • Confusing, but i hope it really clarifies something for you.
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  • Not every follower of jesus is called to full-time ministry,
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  • But every follower of jesus is called to minister full time.
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  • Everybody got that?
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  • No, i'm up here and you're down there.
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  • You know why?
  • 00:08:29.625 --> 00:08:30.993
  • Because you've not been called to do what i do.
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  • I've been called to do what i do.
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  • Some of you will get up in the morning, and you'll go down to
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  • A business.
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  • God called you to business.
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  • God called you to be a lawyer, school teacher, ditch digger,
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  • Truck driver.
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  • God didn't call me to that.
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  • God called you to that, so you're not a full-time minister.
  • 00:08:43.739 --> 00:08:48.544
  • But if you're a christian, you're in full-time ministry.
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  • It's a 24/7 deal.
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  • We are all there.
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  • So, it's kind of like when you give your life to jesus, you
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  • Know, the bible calls us soldiers.
  • 00:08:59.455 --> 00:09:01.123
  • When you give your life to jesus, it's like you joined the
  • 00:09:01.123 --> 00:09:03.426
  • Army of god.
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  • Well, guess what?
  • 00:09:04.760 --> 00:09:06.095
  • When you join the army of god, you never take the uniform off.
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  • There are no holidays.
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  • There are no part-timers.
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  • There are no half days.
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  • There are no 9-to-5 hours.
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  • You can't go on strike.
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  • There's no retirement.
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  • We're on call 24 hours a day to serve the lord and to serve
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  • Others wherever we can, whenever we can.
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  • By the way, you may probably don't realize this, but the next
  • 00:09:27.617 --> 00:09:29.652
  • Time you're reading your bible, if you come across the word
  • 00:09:29.652 --> 00:09:32.521
  • Minister or ministry, and then you come across the word service
  • 00:09:32.521 --> 00:09:37.226
  • Or servant, in the greek language, those are exactly the
  • 00:09:37.226 --> 00:09:41.464
  • Same word.
  • 00:09:41.464 --> 00:09:43.366
  • In other words, a servant, if i were to say to you, "are you a
  • 00:09:43.366 --> 00:09:46.469
  • Servant of the lord?"
  • 00:09:46.469 --> 00:09:47.803
  • You'd say, "yeah, i'm a servant of the lord," then you're
  • 00:09:47.803 --> 00:09:49.605
  • A minister.
  • 00:09:49.605 --> 00:09:51.173
  • You say to me, "well, you're a minister of the lord?"
  • 00:09:51.173 --> 00:09:53.109
  • "well, yeah."
  • 00:09:53.109 --> 00:09:54.477
  • "well then, you're a servant."
  • 00:09:54.477 --> 00:09:55.811
  • A servant's a minister, a minister is a servant.
  • 00:09:55.811 --> 00:09:57.480
  • That's why, by the way, when you give your life to jesus, god
  • 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:00.316
  • Just doesn't say, "okay, let's just go ahead and take you
  • 00:10:00.316 --> 00:10:02.518
  • To heaven."
  • 00:10:02.518 --> 00:10:03.853
  • Why does god leave you here?
  • 00:10:03.853 --> 00:10:05.221
  • You've got service to do.
  • 00:10:05.221 --> 00:10:07.590
  • You've got a function to fulfill.
  • 00:10:07.590 --> 00:10:10.226
  • You've got a purpose in your life.
  • 00:10:10.226 --> 00:10:12.561
  • And one of the reasons why you ought to want to be in a church,
  • 00:10:12.561 --> 00:10:15.364
  • Frankly, is so you can serve the god who's over the church and
  • 00:10:15.364 --> 00:10:19.235
  • Serve the people in the church.
  • 00:10:19.235 --> 00:10:20.970
  • And the primary way you do that, the primary way you serve god is
  • 00:10:20.970 --> 00:10:24.974
  • By serving others.
  • 00:10:24.974 --> 00:10:26.809
  • And that's why it's every day, not just sunday.
  • 00:10:26.809 --> 00:10:29.445
  • So, it doesn't matter whether you're helping an elderly person
  • 00:10:29.445 --> 00:10:31.914
  • Across the street, you give a cup of cold water to a thirsty
  • 00:10:31.914 --> 00:10:34.884
  • Person, you give a listening ear to someone that's lonely.
  • 00:10:34.884 --> 00:10:37.386
  • You're not just doing it for them, you're doing it for
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  • The lord.
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  • When you serve others, you're serving him.
  • 00:10:40.990 --> 00:10:42.324
  • So, god positively expects us, all of us, to serve.
  • 00:10:42.324 --> 00:10:49.565
  • Now, that said, to meet that expectation, god does
  • 00:10:49.565 --> 00:10:54.170
  • Something else.
  • 00:10:54.170 --> 00:10:55.938
  • God purposely equips us to serve.
  • 00:10:55.938 --> 00:10:59.909
  • He doesn't just possibly expect, he didn't just say, "hey, go
  • 00:10:59.909 --> 00:11:02.545
  • Serve, go find someone to serve."
  • 00:11:02.545 --> 00:11:03.913
  • He doesn't do that.
  • 00:11:03.913 --> 00:11:05.247
  • He also equips us to serve.
  • 00:11:05.247 --> 00:11:07.650
  • Now, you can kinda chill out just a minute because i've been
  • 00:11:07.650 --> 00:11:11.520
  • Spending the last six or seven minutes talking to you
  • 00:11:11.520 --> 00:11:14.156
  • About you.
  • 00:11:14.156 --> 00:11:15.991
  • Now i'm gonna talk to me about me, because what paul's about to
  • 00:11:15.991 --> 00:11:21.097
  • Do now is shift gears.
  • 00:11:21.097 --> 00:11:23.165
  • He's been sharing so far that this is what god expects of the
  • 00:11:23.165 --> 00:11:26.135
  • People in the chair.
  • 00:11:26.135 --> 00:11:28.537
  • But what about the guy that's up here telling you, "you ought to
  • 00:11:28.537 --> 00:11:31.240
  • Be serving?"
  • 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.575
  • What does god expect of me?
  • 00:11:32.575 --> 00:11:33.943
  • Paul tells us.
  • 00:11:33.943 --> 00:11:35.544
  • "so christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the
  • 00:11:35.544 --> 00:11:37.880
  • Evangelists, the pastors and teachers," that's me, that's
  • 00:11:37.880 --> 00:11:40.516
  • Mike daniels, that's austin drummond, that's micah, that's
  • 00:11:40.516 --> 00:11:43.152
  • Ryan, that's jenna, that's megan, that's all of our staff.
  • 00:11:43.152 --> 00:11:47.223
  • Why, why are we here to equip you, his people, for works
  • 00:11:47.223 --> 00:11:53.796
  • Of service?
  • 00:11:53.796 --> 00:11:55.264
  • Now, what you're actually reading here are two
  • 00:11:55.264 --> 00:11:57.466
  • Job descriptions.
  • 00:11:57.466 --> 00:11:59.368
  • You've got your job description.
  • 00:11:59.368 --> 00:12:01.971
  • I got my job description.
  • 00:12:01.971 --> 00:12:04.807
  • So, in effect, here's what he's saying, it's god's people who
  • 00:12:04.807 --> 00:12:09.545
  • Have to assume the works of service.
  • 00:12:09.545 --> 00:12:11.347
  • That's your job.
  • 00:12:11.347 --> 00:12:13.048
  • So, here's what paul is saying.
  • 00:12:13.048 --> 00:12:14.383
  • I didn't know this when i first got called to preach, but i had
  • 00:12:14.383 --> 00:12:16.385
  • To learn it.
  • 00:12:16.385 --> 00:12:17.753
  • What paul was saying was now he's talking to the pastor, and
  • 00:12:17.753 --> 00:12:19.655
  • He says, "now pastor, your job is not primarily to do the
  • 00:12:19.655 --> 00:12:24.360
  • Ministry of the church.
  • 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:26.428
  • Your job is primarily to give ministry to the church."
  • 00:12:26.428 --> 00:12:31.033
  • Now, that probably shocked the early church, and it may very
  • 00:12:31.033 --> 00:12:35.037
  • Well shock you.
  • 00:12:35.037 --> 00:12:36.739
  • So, let me just make this as plain as i can.
  • 00:12:36.739 --> 00:12:39.008
  • The ministry of the church doesn't belong to the pastor, it
  • 00:12:39.008 --> 00:12:43.579
  • Belongs to the people.
  • 00:12:43.579 --> 00:12:46.448
  • Now, don't misunderstand, you say, "so, you don't have
  • 00:12:46.448 --> 00:12:48.584
  • To serve?"
  • 00:12:48.584 --> 00:12:49.919
  • Sure, i have to serve.
  • 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:51.287
  • "you don't have to minister?"
  • 00:12:51.287 --> 00:12:52.621
  • Sure, i have to minister.
  • 00:12:52.621 --> 00:12:53.989
  • In fact, you're right, i don't get a free pass.
  • 00:12:53.989 --> 00:12:56.859
  • But the primary way i'm to serve you is to equip you to
  • 00:12:56.859 --> 00:13:01.263
  • Serve others.
  • 00:13:01.263 --> 00:13:02.631
  • See, my number one job, the number one job of our staff is
  • 00:13:02.631 --> 00:13:05.501
  • To equip you to do the work of the ministry because some people
  • 00:13:05.501 --> 00:13:08.938
  • Have this idea that the way the pastor and the staff serves the
  • 00:13:08.938 --> 00:13:13.075
  • Church is by doing the ministry of the church.
  • 00:13:13.075 --> 00:13:16.679
  • Here's the problem.
  • 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:18.013
  • If i were to step before you today, and say, "hey, all we
  • 00:13:18.013 --> 00:13:22.051
  • Want you to do is just come.
  • 00:13:22.051 --> 00:13:23.886
  • Just show up, help us pay the bills, but just show up.
  • 00:13:23.886 --> 00:13:29.391
  • We'll take care of everything else."
  • 00:13:29.391 --> 00:13:32.194
  • We wouldn't be helping you.
  • 00:13:32.194 --> 00:13:35.264
  • We'd be crippling you.
  • 00:13:35.264 --> 00:13:37.666
  • Because then we would be doing what you're supposed to be
  • 00:13:37.666 --> 00:13:41.337
  • Doing, and you would be neglecting what you're supposed
  • 00:13:41.337 --> 00:13:44.773
  • To be doing.
  • 00:13:44.773 --> 00:13:46.141
  • When i mentor young pastors, i say, "young pastors, let's
  • 00:13:46.141 --> 00:13:48.344
  • Get started.
  • 00:13:48.344 --> 00:13:49.712
  • Let me tell you the biggest decision you and your church are
  • 00:13:49.712 --> 00:13:52.114
  • Gonna have to make and here it is."
  • 00:13:52.114 --> 00:13:55.384
  • Who is going to give leadership to the church and who's going to
  • 00:13:55.384 --> 00:13:59.021
  • Do the ministry of the church?
  • 00:13:59.021 --> 00:14:01.190
  • You and the church have got to get that decided.
  • 00:14:01.190 --> 00:14:05.127
  • Because if our church or any church is going to be all that
  • 00:14:05.127 --> 00:14:07.696
  • God wants that church to be, here's what has to happen.
  • 00:14:07.696 --> 00:14:11.500
  • I gotta give up something, and you got to give up something.
  • 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:16.405
  • I got to take something, and you got to take something.
  • 00:14:16.405 --> 00:14:20.109
  • Here's why it has to work.
  • 00:14:20.109 --> 00:14:23.812
  • I've got to give up the ministry of the church.
  • 00:14:23.812 --> 00:14:28.183
  • You've got to give up the leadership of the church.
  • 00:14:28.183 --> 00:14:31.787
  • You've got to take the ministry.
  • 00:14:31.787 --> 00:14:33.822
  • I've got to take the leadership.
  • 00:14:33.822 --> 00:14:36.759
  • You see, that's what god has called the people to do, to
  • 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.895
  • Minister, and god's called the pastor to lead.
  • 00:14:39.895 --> 00:14:42.965
  • I deal with this almost every month.
  • 00:14:42.965 --> 00:14:44.300
  • I deal with the pastor of a church.
  • 00:14:44.300 --> 00:14:45.901
  • They don't get along, they're having troubles, they're
  • 00:14:45.901 --> 00:14:48.137
  • Having issues.
  • 00:14:48.137 --> 00:14:49.505
  • And i can't tell you the frustration i've seen with
  • 00:14:49.505 --> 00:14:51.307
  • Pastors and churches.
  • 00:14:51.307 --> 00:14:52.675
  • And i'm gonna tell you something, 99% of the time this
  • 00:14:52.675 --> 00:14:55.577
  • Is what's happened.
  • 00:14:55.577 --> 00:14:57.346
  • They make the pastor do the ministry, and they do
  • 00:14:57.346 --> 00:14:59.782
  • The leading.
  • 00:14:59.782 --> 00:15:01.350
  • And, you know, why do you think the bible calls the pastor the
  • 00:15:01.350 --> 00:15:04.253
  • Sheep--the shepherd?
  • 00:15:04.253 --> 00:15:06.288
  • Because when the shepherd feeds the sheep, and leads the sheep,
  • 00:15:06.288 --> 00:15:10.726
  • And loves the sheep, and takes care of the sheep, and then the
  • 00:15:10.726 --> 00:15:14.263
  • Sheep follow the shepherd, guess what?
  • 00:15:14.263 --> 00:15:16.865
  • Everybody's fulfilled because that's the way god
  • 00:15:16.865 --> 00:15:19.401
  • Intended for the church to operate.
  • 00:15:19.401 --> 00:15:20.936
  • In fact, i don't know what you know about sheep and
  • 00:15:20.936 --> 00:15:22.438
  • Shepherding, but you'll figure this out real quick.
  • 00:15:22.438 --> 00:15:24.907
  • If you ever have a shepherd and a sheep, listen to me
  • 00:15:24.907 --> 00:15:27.443
  • Carefully, if the sheep ever decide to start leading the
  • 00:15:27.443 --> 00:15:30.913
  • Shepherd, they're not gonna last very long.
  • 00:15:30.913 --> 00:15:35.050
  • So, you've got this situation where, okay, you got the sheep,
  • 00:15:35.050 --> 00:15:38.020
  • You've got the shepherd.
  • 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:39.355
  • Here's what the deal is.
  • 00:15:39.355 --> 00:15:40.723
  • The shepherd says to the sheep, "you're gonna serve me.
  • 00:15:40.723 --> 00:15:44.426
  • You're gonna serve the lord.
  • 00:15:44.426 --> 00:15:45.761
  • You're gonna serve in the ministry, and i'm going to
  • 00:15:45.761 --> 00:15:47.730
  • Shepherd you."
  • 00:15:47.730 --> 00:15:49.064
  • Now, again, i'm supposed to serve like you serve.
  • 00:15:49.064 --> 00:15:52.201
  • I'm supposed to minister like you minister.
  • 00:15:52.201 --> 00:15:54.737
  • There's not a day that goes by in my life, i'm not joking, even
  • 00:15:54.737 --> 00:15:57.439
  • On vacation.
  • 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.807
  • There's not a day in my life i don't go without serving or
  • 00:15:58.807 --> 00:16:01.210
  • Ministering to somebody.
  • 00:16:01.210 --> 00:16:02.544
  • Maybe a phone call, maybe an email, maybe sharing the gospel,
  • 00:16:02.544 --> 00:16:06.181
  • Maybe praying with somebody.
  • 00:16:06.181 --> 00:16:07.516
  • There's not a day in my life.
  • 00:16:07.516 --> 00:16:08.851
  • I'm a pastor 24/7.
  • 00:16:08.851 --> 00:16:10.285
  • I don't get a day off and i don't mean that to complain.
  • 00:16:10.285 --> 00:16:12.287
  • I love what i do.
  • 00:16:12.287 --> 00:16:14.089
  • But the point of the matter is this, and what paul is trying to
  • 00:16:14.089 --> 00:16:16.492
  • Get us to understand is this.
  • 00:16:16.492 --> 00:16:18.260
  • I don't care if i'm superman.
  • 00:16:18.260 --> 00:16:20.462
  • I can't do all the ministry of the church.
  • 00:16:20.462 --> 00:16:23.699
  • I can't minister to everybody.
  • 00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:26.402
  • I can't minister for everybody.
  • 00:16:26.402 --> 00:16:28.237
  • I can't minister with everybody.
  • 00:16:28.237 --> 00:16:30.039
  • It takes the people to do the ministry of the church.
  • 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:32.574
  • So, god says, "look, i positively expect you to serve,
  • 00:16:32.574 --> 00:16:38.947
  • And i purposely equip you to serve."
  • 00:16:38.947 --> 00:16:42.217
  • This is what the pastor is here for.
  • 00:16:42.217 --> 00:16:44.219
  • This is what the staff is here for, to equip you, to enable you
  • 00:16:44.219 --> 00:16:47.523
  • To do the work of the church.
  • 00:16:47.523 --> 00:16:48.891
  • But here's the best part.
  • 00:16:48.891 --> 00:16:51.160
  • What i love about god is this, god does something great.
  • 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:55.764
  • God never gives you the responsibility to do something
  • 00:16:55.764 --> 00:16:59.835
  • That he does not give you the authority and the power to
  • 00:16:59.835 --> 00:17:03.105
  • Do it.
  • 00:17:03.105 --> 00:17:04.440
  • So not only does god positively expect you to serve, not only
  • 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.944
  • Does god purposely equip us to serve, here's the last thing.
  • 00:17:08.944 --> 00:17:14.016
  • God personally empowers us to serve.
  • 00:17:14.016 --> 00:17:18.554
  • See, god's given pastors, what's my major job to you?
  • 00:17:18.554 --> 00:17:22.191
  • To equip you to do the work of the church.
  • 00:17:22.191 --> 00:17:24.626
  • But here's the wonderful thing.
  • 00:17:24.626 --> 00:17:26.662
  • So, i come to you, and i say, "okay, now i'm gonna, i need you
  • 00:17:26.662 --> 00:17:29.631
  • To help minister for me.
  • 00:17:29.631 --> 00:17:30.999
  • I need you to do this.
  • 00:17:30.999 --> 00:17:32.334
  • I need you to minister to your small group.
  • 00:17:32.334 --> 00:17:33.869
  • I need you to visit sick people.
  • 00:17:33.869 --> 00:17:35.237
  • I--blah, blah, blah," whatever the ministry is.
  • 00:17:35.237 --> 00:17:38.607
  • And i'm gonna teach you how to do that.
  • 00:17:38.607 --> 00:17:41.310
  • Well, you need tools.
  • 00:17:41.310 --> 00:17:43.479
  • If i hire you to be a carpenter, i gotta make sure you got hammer
  • 00:17:43.479 --> 00:17:46.281
  • And nails.
  • 00:17:46.281 --> 00:17:48.784
  • Well, god says, "you know what?
  • 00:17:48.784 --> 00:17:50.119
  • I know you need tools.
  • 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.221
  • I know you need equipment.
  • 00:17:52.221 --> 00:17:53.689
  • I know you don't just need somebody to tell you you need to
  • 00:17:53.689 --> 00:17:55.757
  • Be doing or even to kind of tell you how, you need the tools to
  • 00:17:55.757 --> 00:17:58.894
  • Do it."
  • 00:17:58.894 --> 00:18:00.262
  • Well, guess what?
  • 00:18:00.262 --> 00:18:01.597
  • God's not only giving us equippers to do it, he's given
  • 00:18:01.597 --> 00:18:04.333
  • Us the equipment to do it.
  • 00:18:04.333 --> 00:18:05.701
  • So, what's the equipment?
  • 00:18:05.701 --> 00:18:07.035
  • The equipment is spiritual gifts.
  • 00:18:07.035 --> 00:18:09.671
  • That's the equipment.
  • 00:18:09.671 --> 00:18:11.607
  • Because god never asked us to serve him without giving us the
  • 00:18:11.607 --> 00:18:14.309
  • Power, the ability, and the tools.
  • 00:18:14.309 --> 00:18:16.044
  • So, paul to another church, talking to the christians in
  • 00:18:16.044 --> 00:18:19.281
  • Rome, paul wrote these words.
  • 00:18:19.281 --> 00:18:22.084
  • He said, "we have different gifts, according to the grace
  • 00:18:22.084 --> 00:18:25.821
  • Given to each of us."
  • 00:18:25.821 --> 00:18:28.090
  • Now, again, if you kind of suffer from low self-esteem, or
  • 00:18:28.090 --> 00:18:31.126
  • You're sitting out there right now, and you're kind of blowing
  • 00:18:31.126 --> 00:18:33.595
  • Me off by saying, "man, you just don't--i can't do anything.
  • 00:18:33.595 --> 00:18:37.299
  • I don't even know where i'd serve.
  • 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.667
  • You don't need me.
  • 00:18:38.667 --> 00:18:40.302
  • You know, there's somebody else that can always do the job
  • 00:18:40.302 --> 00:18:42.271
  • Better than i can do.
  • 00:18:42.271 --> 00:18:43.839
  • I don't really know what i can do."
  • 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.275
  • Listen to me carefully.
  • 00:18:46.275 --> 00:18:48.810
  • If you don't believe anything else i've said today, i want you
  • 00:18:48.810 --> 00:18:50.779
  • To believe this.
  • 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.481
  • If you are a follower of jesus, i don't care if you've been a
  • 00:18:52.481 --> 00:18:55.350
  • Follower of jesus an hour, a day, a week, a month, or 50
  • 00:18:55.350 --> 00:18:58.921
  • Years, i don't care.
  • 00:18:58.921 --> 00:19:01.290
  • If you are a follower of jesus, you are gifted.
  • 00:19:01.290 --> 00:19:08.463
  • You are a gifted child.
  • 00:19:08.463 --> 00:19:12.601
  • We all have different gifts.
  • 00:19:12.601 --> 00:19:14.069
  • No, we don't all have the same gifts, but we're all equally
  • 00:19:14.069 --> 00:19:17.306
  • Gifted in the sense that god's given us the abilities and the
  • 00:19:17.306 --> 00:19:20.576
  • Gifts that we need to do whatever he wants us to do in
  • 00:19:20.576 --> 00:19:24.646
  • The church, outside the church, with the church, and for
  • 00:19:24.646 --> 00:19:27.482
  • The church.
  • 00:19:27.482 --> 00:19:28.850
  • Let me tell you why i know that.
  • 00:19:28.850 --> 00:19:30.185
  • See, there's so many ways that god's different from you and me.
  • 00:19:30.185 --> 00:19:32.721
  • Let me tell you one way god's different.
  • 00:19:32.721 --> 00:19:35.757
  • Everyone in this room is guilty what i'm about to tell you,
  • 00:19:35.757 --> 00:19:38.060
  • Me too.
  • 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:39.428
  • We all waste things, right?
  • 00:19:39.428 --> 00:19:42.531
  • How many of you have ever had bread mold in your house?
  • 00:19:42.531 --> 00:19:47.069
  • You bought a loaf of bread, didn't eat it.
  • 00:19:47.069 --> 00:19:49.705
  • One day you went to go make a sandwich and it looked like
  • 00:19:49.705 --> 00:19:54.276
  • Pimple face.
  • 00:19:54.276 --> 00:19:56.311
  • Just mold, you can't eat it.
  • 00:19:56.311 --> 00:19:59.281
  • We all waste things.
  • 00:19:59.281 --> 00:20:01.550
  • God never wastes anything, ever.
  • 00:20:01.550 --> 00:20:05.921
  • Every spiritual gift, every natural ability you have, every
  • 00:20:05.921 --> 00:20:09.591
  • Single one is god-given to be used in ministry.
  • 00:20:09.591 --> 00:20:14.429
  • Here's what i've learned about gifts.
  • 00:20:14.429 --> 00:20:19.434
  • No matter how great a gift is, no matter how much it cost, no
  • 00:20:19.434 --> 00:20:25.274
  • Matter how wonderful it might be, if it remains unopened, it
  • 00:20:25.274 --> 00:20:32.748
  • Might as well not exist.
  • 00:20:32.748 --> 00:20:35.183
  • And you know what i'm looking at right now all over
  • 00:20:35.183 --> 00:20:37.486
  • This building?
  • 00:20:37.486 --> 00:20:39.988
  • What do you think?
  • 00:20:39.988 --> 00:20:41.857
  • A lot of unopened gifts.
  • 00:20:41.857 --> 00:20:44.660
  • Serving others is not primarily for the benefit of others, it's
  • 00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:48.096
  • Primarily for the benefit of you.
  • 00:20:48.096 --> 00:20:51.266
  • Because what you learn is, is there's nothing more fulfilling
  • 00:20:51.266 --> 00:20:54.403
  • In life than when you're doing what you believe you were made
  • 00:20:54.403 --> 00:20:57.039
  • To do, and you do it in a way so others can be blessed.
  • 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:00.208
  • Because you find with blessings, there's this boomerang effect.
  • 00:21:00.208 --> 00:21:02.544
  • There's a boomerang effect to serving, and here's the effect.
  • 00:21:02.544 --> 00:21:06.882
  • When you serve others, the greater blessing comes back
  • 00:21:06.882 --> 00:21:11.320
  • To you.
  • 00:21:11.320 --> 00:21:12.854
  • Firefighters are taught this.
  • 00:21:12.854 --> 00:21:14.222
  • So if you know this or not, if a person ever gets electrocuted,
  • 00:21:14.222 --> 00:21:18.827
  • There will always be an exit wound, always, why?
  • 00:21:18.827 --> 00:21:22.864
  • Because that energy will not stay in the body.
  • 00:21:22.864 --> 00:21:25.267
  • It has to exit somewhere.
  • 00:21:25.267 --> 00:21:26.835
  • In other words, the energy doesn't dissipate, it has to
  • 00:21:26.835 --> 00:21:29.871
  • Create an outlet, has to, has to come out.
  • 00:21:29.871 --> 00:21:33.008
  • Well, a former firefighter made this application.
  • 00:21:33.008 --> 00:21:37.112
  • He said, "your spiritual gifts are an expression of what
  • 00:21:37.112 --> 00:21:39.247
  • Jesus's power looks like through you.
  • 00:21:39.247 --> 00:21:40.949
  • It's jesus with your skin on?
  • 00:21:40.949 --> 00:21:42.951
  • Through our gifts, the world sees jesus in action."
  • 00:21:42.951 --> 00:21:47.556
  • Now, whenever i preach a sermon, i'm always trying to come up
  • 00:21:47.556 --> 00:21:50.192
  • With real expensive illustrations that cost a lot
  • 00:21:50.192 --> 00:21:54.029
  • Of money.
  • 00:21:54.029 --> 00:21:55.731
  • And i'm good at it, so i wanna show you this.
  • 00:21:55.731 --> 00:22:00.836
  • What is that? what is that?
  • 00:22:00.836 --> 00:22:03.972
  • It's a pencil, everybody see the pencil?
  • 00:22:03.972 --> 00:22:07.376
  • So, that's a simple illustration.
  • 00:22:07.376 --> 00:22:09.644
  • Oh, it's a powerful illustration.
  • 00:22:09.644 --> 00:22:12.581
  • You know why?
  • 00:22:12.581 --> 00:22:14.649
  • Did you know there's never been a human being born that all by
  • 00:22:14.649 --> 00:22:19.821
  • Themselves knows how to produce a pencil?
  • 00:22:19.821 --> 00:22:24.826
  • Never.
  • 00:22:24.826 --> 00:22:26.928
  • To get that pencil, somebody had to know how to mine
  • 00:22:26.928 --> 00:22:30.132
  • The graphite.
  • 00:22:30.132 --> 00:22:32.834
  • Somebody else had to know how to process the wood.
  • 00:22:32.834 --> 00:22:38.940
  • Somebody else had to know how to manufacture the rubber.
  • 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:43.912
  • Somebody else had to know how to manufacture the paint.
  • 00:22:43.912 --> 00:22:48.150
  • Somebody else had to put it all together.
  • 00:22:48.150 --> 00:22:51.219
  • And somebody else had to market it.
  • 00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:53.188
  • And somebody else had to distribute it.
  • 00:22:53.188 --> 00:22:54.823
  • And somebody else had to sell it.
  • 00:22:54.823 --> 00:22:56.792
  • And if somebody else, and somebody else, and somebody
  • 00:22:56.792 --> 00:22:59.161
  • Else, and somebody else had not done all that together, we
  • 00:22:59.161 --> 00:23:01.830
  • Wouldn't even have a pencil.
  • 00:23:01.830 --> 00:23:05.267
  • And i'm here to tell you today that what is true of a pencil is
  • 00:23:05.267 --> 00:23:08.103
  • True of the church.
  • 00:23:08.103 --> 00:23:11.173
  • Jesus said, "i didn't come to serve--" i mean "be served, i
  • 00:23:11.173 --> 00:23:15.310
  • Came to serve."
  • 00:23:15.310 --> 00:23:16.678
  • Here's my last shot.
  • 00:23:16.678 --> 00:23:21.950
  • If jesus loved us enough to serve us
  • 00:23:21.950 --> 00:23:28.957
  • By dying for us, can we
  • 00:23:28.957 --> 00:23:34.162
  • Not love jesus enough to live for him by serving others?
  • 00:23:34.162 --> 00:23:40.936
  • With heads bowed, with eyes closed, i want to just say one
  • 00:23:40.936 --> 00:23:45.540
  • Last thing, we're gonna be done.
  • 00:23:45.540 --> 00:23:48.810
  • You cannot serve jesus till you know jesus.
  • 00:23:48.810 --> 00:23:52.113
  • You can't serve jesus till you love jesus.
  • 00:23:52.113 --> 00:23:57.352
  • And for some of you, the greatest thing you could do
  • 00:23:57.352 --> 00:23:59.788
  • Today to serve yourself, the greatest way you'll ever serve
  • 00:23:59.788 --> 00:24:03.658
  • Yourself, is when you give your life to jesus christ.
  • 00:24:03.658 --> 00:24:07.929
  • If you'd like to give your life to jesus, would you just right
  • 00:24:07.929 --> 00:24:10.298
  • Now pray this prayer?
  • 00:24:10.298 --> 00:24:11.666
  • "lord jesus, i am a sinner. i'm lost.
  • 00:24:11.666 --> 00:24:17.172
  • I need a savior.
  • 00:24:17.172 --> 00:24:19.341
  • And i'm helpless.
  • 00:24:19.341 --> 00:24:21.476
  • Without you, i'm hopeless.
  • 00:24:21.476 --> 00:24:23.778
  • I cannot save myself, but i believe you died on the cross
  • 00:24:23.778 --> 00:24:28.049
  • For my sins.
  • 00:24:28.049 --> 00:24:29.417
  • I believe god raised you from the dead.
  • 00:24:29.417 --> 00:24:30.952
  • I believe you're alive right now.
  • 00:24:30.952 --> 00:24:34.256
  • And i ask you to come into my heart.
  • 00:24:34.256 --> 00:24:36.925
  • I ask you to save me.
  • 00:24:36.925 --> 00:24:39.060
  • I ask you to forgive me of all of my sins.
  • 00:24:39.060 --> 00:24:44.065
  • I trust you as my savior.
  • 00:24:44.065 --> 00:24:46.201
  • I surrender to you as my lord.
  • 00:24:46.201 --> 00:24:49.504
  • Help me to live the rest of my life just like you, serving you,
  • 00:24:49.504 --> 00:24:55.844
  • Serving others."
  • 00:24:55.844 --> 00:24:57.212
  • Male announcer: to watch an extended version of today's
  • 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.448
  • Message from dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
  • 00:25:00.448 --> 00:25:04.953
  • James: here in america, we are truly blessed to live in a
  • 00:25:09.124 --> 00:25:11.326
  • Nation built on the foundation of the freedom to worship god
  • 00:25:11.326 --> 00:25:14.963
  • And share our faith.
  • 00:25:14.963 --> 00:25:16.431
  • But these freedoms didn't come by chance.
  • 00:25:16.431 --> 00:25:18.600
  • Our founders fought, sacrificed, and carefully crafted the
  • 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:22.604
  • Guiding documents that continue to shape our nation today.
  • 00:25:22.604 --> 00:25:26.041
  • That's why we want to offer you a very special gift this month,
  • 00:25:26.041 --> 00:25:30.545
  • A customized bill of rights booklet.
  • 00:25:30.545 --> 00:25:32.914
  • It has the preamble and the bill of rights.
  • 00:25:32.914 --> 00:25:35.450
  • It's yours for a gift of any amount donated to
  • 00:25:35.450 --> 00:25:37.986
  • "touching lives."
  • 00:25:37.986 --> 00:25:39.354
  • This powerful resource reminds us of the freedoms that were
  • 00:25:39.354 --> 00:25:42.023
  • Hard won must never be taken for granted and must be protected.
  • 00:25:42.023 --> 00:25:47.128
  • Read through it, keep it with you as a reminder.
  • 00:25:47.128 --> 00:25:49.831
  • Or it's a great tool to share with your children,
  • 00:25:49.831 --> 00:25:51.800
  • Grandchildren, or anyone who wants to better understand the
  • 00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:54.502
  • Rights we enjoy as americans.
  • 00:25:54.502 --> 00:25:57.172
  • And we'd love to send you a beautiful three-book documents
  • 00:25:57.172 --> 00:26:01.009
  • Of freedom collection featuring the declaration of independence,
  • 00:26:01.009 --> 00:26:05.380
  • The bold statement that declared our freedom and outlined the
  • 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:07.816
  • Principles of liberty, the united states constitution, the
  • 00:26:07.816 --> 00:26:11.653
  • Framework that defines our government and the freedoms we
  • 00:26:11.653 --> 00:26:14.222
  • Cherish, and the bill of rights, the first ten amendments that
  • 00:26:14.222 --> 00:26:18.259
  • Protect our most essential rights from free speech to
  • 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:21.096
  • Religious liberty.
  • 00:26:21.096 --> 00:26:22.664
  • These documents of freedom are not only a reminder of our
  • 00:26:22.664 --> 00:26:25.767
  • Heritage, but an important addition for your home
  • 00:26:25.767 --> 00:26:28.703
  • Or office.
  • 00:26:28.703 --> 00:26:30.071
  • It would also be an inspiring gift for someone you know, like
  • 00:26:30.071 --> 00:26:32.707
  • Us, who loves this country.
  • 00:26:32.707 --> 00:26:35.744
  • Your support enables "touching lives" to continue sharing
  • 00:26:35.744 --> 00:26:38.446
  • Biblical truth and the hope of the gospel far and wide, so
  • 00:26:38.446 --> 00:26:42.050
  • Please call now or visit us online.
  • 00:26:42.050 --> 00:26:45.520
  • Let's stand together in faith and gratitude for the freedoms
  • 00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:50.191
  • We all hold dear.
  • 00:26:50.191 --> 00:26:52.193
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:52.193 --> 00:27:02.237
  • Male announcer: touching the lives of the lost and enriching
  • 00:27:05.106 --> 00:27:07.676
  • The faith of the found, this is "touching lives"
  • 00:27:07.676 --> 00:27:11.079
  • With dr. james merritt.
  • 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:12.480
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:30.001