THE Four“S”s OF A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE
1.
SERVING
SERVING- One of the greatest responsibilities of a
Christian is to serve others. If we are
not servants, we are not Christians!!!
Jesus served!
“And
whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
“For
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that
sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth.” (Luke 22:27)
“But he made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7)
We are to serve!
“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.” (Deut. 10:12)
“Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:43,44)
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:2,10
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptable with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Other Important
Scriptures related to serving:
Serving others- Matthew 25:31-46; Serving in secret- Matt. 6:1-4
Washing feet- John 13:14; Serving demonstrates love- John 21:16;
Bearing burdens-Galatians 6:2,10; Serving in little things-Matt. 10:42;
Serving in humility –John 12:3; Serving immediately- Mark 1:16-20;
Serving strangers-Luke 10:25-37; Hebrews 13:2
Serving DOES
NOTqualify us to enter eternal heaven:
Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:4,5; II Timothy 1:8,9
Serving DOES allow
us to enter the kingdom of heaven:
Matthew 7:21; Matthew 25:13-30; 25:31-40; Luke 14:12-14; Rev. 22:12-14.
SACRIFICING-Being a Christian requires us to make daily sacrifices! We are to sacrifice our natural desires for spiritual things, setting our affections on things above rather than on things on the earth. We are to sacrifice loving the world and the things in the world for loving God. We cannot love or serve both! We have to make sacrifices in possessions, time, energy, even family sometimes to follow God’s will rather than our own. We have to sacrifice self-glory, prestige, and honor to be a Christian. We have to sacrifice our thoughts and ways for God’s word and ways.
Jesus
sacrificed!
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” Ephesians 5:2)
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16.)
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)
We are to
sacrifice!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” (I Corinthians 10:24)
Other
Important Scriptures relating to sacrificing:
Sacrificing possessions- Matthew 19:21; Sacrificing time-I Thess. 2:8,9;
Sacrificing fleshly desires- Galatians 5:21; I Cor. 9:27; Romans 8:13;
Jesus stressed sacrificing- Matthew 16:24-28; Luke
14:26; Phil.2:5-8;
Moses sacrificing-Exodus 32:31,32; Hebrews 11:24-28;
Abraham sacrificing- Hebrews 11:8-10,17-19; Genesis 12:1-6; 22:1-14;
Ruth sacrificing- Ruth 2:11; Esther sacrificing- Esther 4:16;
Apostles sacrificing- Mark 1:16-21; 10:28-30; Paul- Phil. 3:7-15.
Remember: US sacrificing is necessary to enter the
kingdom of heaven!
JESUS’ sacrifice is the reason we will enter the eternal heaven!
SUFFERING- There are many ways Jesus suffered here on earth, and if we are Christians, we too shall suffer! Suffering is sometimes physical pain; while at other times, it may be mental, emotional, or heartache. Suffering may be internal or external. Suffering may be a result of friends or family hurting and deceiving, or it may come from declared enemies. Sometimes, suffering comes from just denying the flesh what it wants. Serving and sacrificing (the first two “S”’s we have studied,) will usually result in suffering. May God help us to be a follower of Jesus in every way, understanding that suffering will always be a part of our Christian lives, but the blessings and rewards of suffering make everything worthwhile.
Jesus
suffered!
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” (I Peter 3:18)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
See also: Isaiah 50:6; 53:3-10; Luke 22:44; Hebrews 2:10; I Peter 1:11; 2:21.
We are to
suffer for well doing!
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (II Timothy 3:12)
“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” (James 5:10)
“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” (I Peter 2:20)
“For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” (I Peter 3:17)
Other
Important Scriptures related to suffering:
The Apostles Suffered for Christ’s sake- Acts 5:41; 9:16;
Paul Suffered- Acts 9:29; 13:50; 14:5,19; 16:22; 18:12; 21:36; 22:22; 23:10; I Corinthians 4:12; II Cor. 4:9; 11:24; II Timothy 2:9; 3:11;
Moses Suffered- Hebrews 11:24-28; Prophets suffered- James 5:10;
Peter writes much about suffering- I Peter 2:19-24; 3:14-18; 4:1-5,12-19;
Rewards for suffering- Matthew 5:10-12; I Peter 4:12-14; II Cor. 1:4-10.
SUBMITTING- Being
Submissive to God’s will and God’s ways is essential to being a Christian. Jesus proved His submissive attitude to the
Father in everything He did. Though the
will of the Son of God was the same as the Father’s will, the will of the Son
of man, the flesh of Jesus, had to be conformed to the Father’s will. The flesh in each of our lives must be
brought under subjection to (become submissive to) the will of God. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts
are not ours. It is in looking to His
word, and fervent prayer that we come to know the Father’s will. Then, we are to submit to His will. Submission must come from the heart,
not just with outward obedience or lip service!!! Outward submission without humility will lead
to rebellion and anger!
Jesus was
submissive!
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)
“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)
We are to be
submissive!
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:13)
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble.” (I Peter 5:5)
Other important
Scriptures related to submitting ourselves:
Moses resisted- exodus 3:10,11; 4:1,10; then submitted- Exodus 4:19,20.
Paul submitted to the thorn in the flesh- II Corinthians 12:7-10.
Apostles submitted to the call- Mark 1:16-20;
Ninevah- Jonah 3:5-10;
Wives submitting to husbands- Ephesians 5:21-24;
Children to parents- Ephesians 6:1-3;
Employees to employers- Ephesians 6:5-9
***David was submissive to King Saul even though Saul’s heart was not right. David was honoring God’s authority and the authority of the king’s position, not merely obeying a man- I Samuel 18,19, 24:4,5