Sunday, October 08, 2006
Beyond the Building, Part 2: Commitment, Not Comfort!
Introduction:
To accomplish God’s vision for our lives and our ministry, we must allow God to expand and enlarge our vision beyond simply what goes on in the church building. Of course, the equipping, encouraging, worship, and Bible Study that goes on at church is very important – but there are many people in our lives who might never set foot in a church building, and we are still called to reach out to them. We must commit every day, every moment, every interaction to God, to be used as ministry opportunities out in the world in our daily lives. To be effective in ministry, we must remember that God values obedient commitment above all else, and we must be willing to put our commitment to Him above other values like comfort or convenience. The idea of “commitment” scares people these days because of our selfish human desire to run our own lives – but is essential in following God. Today we’ll be examining some scriptures in Luke to help us get in the right mindset to effectively minister to others beyond the church building. We must know what to expect up-front so we don’t get discouraged as we commit our lives to ministry. God allows us to be tested to see if we will be faithful – He wants to entrust His important work in the hands of those who will be committed.
(Read Luke 9:57-58)
As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
1) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT COMFORT
When we think of a foxhole or a bird’s nest, we think of a safe, comfortable place where the bird or fox finds comfort and security. Following Jesus, however, puts us in a vulnerable position. It is not an easy road – it is a life of commitment and sacrifice. Ministry isn’t for the weak. It’s not about you and your comfort – it’s about following Him wherever He leads instead of settling into your comfort zone. It’s about enduring hardship and building character for the sake of Christ. When you put serving others above yourself, you will inevitably have times when you feel hurt, used, overlooked, let-down, and many other emotions – but don’t let that get you down or make you stop serving God, because these things are to be expected. If God’s own Son endured hardships for the sake of ministry, why should we expect any different? Do you think God called and equipped us just to burrow down into a comfy nest? We weren’t designed or intended to feel at home or comfortable in this world – in fact, the discomfort reminds us that the world is not our home, and the things of this world are not for us to get wrapped up in. In this society, you won’t ever really truly fit in. We are strangers passing through, on a mission – not worldly “birds” selfishly settling in to a comfortable worldly “nest.” There are much more comfortable lifestyles to choose than a life of ministry, but none more meaningful or eternally-rewarding.
(Read Luke 9:59-62)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
2) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE
When you are truly committed to God, life is no longer about what is convenient for you, what you want to do, or even what the world says you should do. Instead, it’s about the command to “go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” God is reminding you to keep first things first -- God’s business takes urgent priority over everything else. Your schedule is no longer your own. You don’t pencil God in like you are making a dentist appointment. You don’t tell Him that you have time for Him one day, but don’t have time for Him another day. Every hour of every day belongs to Him, and He deserves first priority, even over things that the world would consider extremely important. True discipleship requires instant, obedient action. Slow obedience is the same as disobedience. Notice here that He even comes before family obligations. A life of ministry is about commitment, not personal convenience. Think about Jesus – do you think it was convenient for Him to go to the Cross? Personally I can’t think of any day or time that I would want to schedule crucifixion in my DayPlanner – but thank God for the fact that Jesus was so committed to His Father’s will that He pushed comfort and convenience aside to live a sacrificial life and die a sacrificial death for you and me. What are the things in your schedule that are hindering your availability to serve God and to use your gifts to minister to others? I urge you to prayerfully examine your life and schedule, and ask God about it. What things are you trying to do “first” before fully committing to serve God? What are you “looking back” at, that is keeping you from moving forward in your commitment to follow Him? A life of ministry is about making God’s priorities your priorities – and the choices you make regarding your schedule speak louder than words. (Why do we call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ but then we don’t do what He says?) Jesus is looking for a full commitment. He wants us to keep our hand to the plow and stop looking back!
(Read Luke 10:1-3)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
3) MINISTRY INVOLVES URGENCY
We can’t afford to sit around forever letting time pass by, trying to decide if we are going to fully commit ourselves to God or not. Time is passing, and so are people’s lives and eternal destinies. The harvest is ripe, and we’ve been called to get out there and labor in the “harvest” for God. Think of what happens if the crop of fruit gets ripe, yet no one harvests it – it just turns brown and falls to the ground, wasted. Ministry should be an urgent priority in our lives. It is a privilege to be called to work in God’s harvest, and we should treat it that way.
4) MINISTRY INVOLVES FACING OPPOSITION HUMBLY
A life of ministry WILL bring opposition, and we must accept that and face it humbly. God sends us out to minister, like “lambs among wolves” – we can expect opposition. I’m not a zoologist, but they tell me that wolves have been known to EAT lambs. It doesn’t say “lambs among kittens” or “lambs in a petting zoo.” It’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s not going to be easy, and there will be risks, dangers, and attacks – but it is for an eternally-meaningful purpose and it’s worth it. We’ve got to get out of the safety of our lamb pen and go beyond the building to touch lives for God. If the lamb stays in the pen, sure, he will be safe from wolves – but he will not be getting his important work done. Yes, we will come under attack and sometimes even suffer from “wolfbites” while out actively serving God – but the Great Shepherd will be right there to comfort us, heal us, and get us back out on the mission field. As I said earlier in this message, ministry will inevitably and necessarily lead us out of our comfort zone. Lambs are not comfortable among wolves. However, we must get out of our comfort zone to get involved in the harvest. And when we face opposition, we must not respond with aggression like the world does, but continue to be kind and loving (like a lamb) so the world can see God’s love and character reflected in us. That’s one major way that God can use us as “salt and light.” Lambs are not intimidating creatures, and are not meant to be. (God didn’t say for us to be “wolves among lambs” and to growl and chew people up!) We must stay humble, keep the right attitude, and let God’s strength operate through our “weakness.” And we must stay dedicated to keep serving, no matter how much opposition we face!
(Read Luke 10:16)
“He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
5) MINISTRY INVOLVES REJECTION – BUT DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY
Unfortunately, not everyone we share with will accept Christ – some will choose to reject the gospel message. It breaks God’s heart, but He has given everyone free choice. When rejection comes, don’t take it personally and let it make you want to give up. In fact, it would be arrogant to take it personally, because that would be to put yourself in God’s place. It is Him that they are rejecting, not you. You are simply the messenger. So don’t get discouraged if you encounter rejection as you go out to minister and spread God’s Word beyond the church building. Those who oppose you have a problem with God, not you!
Conclusion:
I really want to encourage you to persevere in ministry – in obediently, urgently following the calling that God has placed on your life, to actively use your gifts to serve others and build God’s Kingdom. Don’t ever get so hung up on your own comfort, your own convenience, your own plans, or even your own fear of rejection, to the point that you miss out on God’s amazing plans to use your life for His glory. There is nothing greater that you could be doing with your life, than God’s instrument to serve others and touch lives. What a privilege, and how dare we take it lightly, treat it cheaply, or push God’s priorities to the side in favor of our own short-sighted ones. Daily, we must constantly remember why we are here and what life is all about. What is your response when Jesus says, “Follow Me”?
To accomplish God’s vision for our lives and our ministry, we must allow God to expand and enlarge our vision beyond simply what goes on in the church building. Of course, the equipping, encouraging, worship, and Bible Study that goes on at church is very important – but there are many people in our lives who might never set foot in a church building, and we are still called to reach out to them. We must commit every day, every moment, every interaction to God, to be used as ministry opportunities out in the world in our daily lives. To be effective in ministry, we must remember that God values obedient commitment above all else, and we must be willing to put our commitment to Him above other values like comfort or convenience. The idea of “commitment” scares people these days because of our selfish human desire to run our own lives – but is essential in following God. Today we’ll be examining some scriptures in Luke to help us get in the right mindset to effectively minister to others beyond the church building. We must know what to expect up-front so we don’t get discouraged as we commit our lives to ministry. God allows us to be tested to see if we will be faithful – He wants to entrust His important work in the hands of those who will be committed.
(Read Luke 9:57-58)
As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
1) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT COMFORT
When we think of a foxhole or a bird’s nest, we think of a safe, comfortable place where the bird or fox finds comfort and security. Following Jesus, however, puts us in a vulnerable position. It is not an easy road – it is a life of commitment and sacrifice. Ministry isn’t for the weak. It’s not about you and your comfort – it’s about following Him wherever He leads instead of settling into your comfort zone. It’s about enduring hardship and building character for the sake of Christ. When you put serving others above yourself, you will inevitably have times when you feel hurt, used, overlooked, let-down, and many other emotions – but don’t let that get you down or make you stop serving God, because these things are to be expected. If God’s own Son endured hardships for the sake of ministry, why should we expect any different? Do you think God called and equipped us just to burrow down into a comfy nest? We weren’t designed or intended to feel at home or comfortable in this world – in fact, the discomfort reminds us that the world is not our home, and the things of this world are not for us to get wrapped up in. In this society, you won’t ever really truly fit in. We are strangers passing through, on a mission – not worldly “birds” selfishly settling in to a comfortable worldly “nest.” There are much more comfortable lifestyles to choose than a life of ministry, but none more meaningful or eternally-rewarding.
(Read Luke 9:59-62)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
2) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE
When you are truly committed to God, life is no longer about what is convenient for you, what you want to do, or even what the world says you should do. Instead, it’s about the command to “go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” God is reminding you to keep first things first -- God’s business takes urgent priority over everything else. Your schedule is no longer your own. You don’t pencil God in like you are making a dentist appointment. You don’t tell Him that you have time for Him one day, but don’t have time for Him another day. Every hour of every day belongs to Him, and He deserves first priority, even over things that the world would consider extremely important. True discipleship requires instant, obedient action. Slow obedience is the same as disobedience. Notice here that He even comes before family obligations. A life of ministry is about commitment, not personal convenience. Think about Jesus – do you think it was convenient for Him to go to the Cross? Personally I can’t think of any day or time that I would want to schedule crucifixion in my DayPlanner – but thank God for the fact that Jesus was so committed to His Father’s will that He pushed comfort and convenience aside to live a sacrificial life and die a sacrificial death for you and me. What are the things in your schedule that are hindering your availability to serve God and to use your gifts to minister to others? I urge you to prayerfully examine your life and schedule, and ask God about it. What things are you trying to do “first” before fully committing to serve God? What are you “looking back” at, that is keeping you from moving forward in your commitment to follow Him? A life of ministry is about making God’s priorities your priorities – and the choices you make regarding your schedule speak louder than words. (Why do we call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ but then we don’t do what He says?) Jesus is looking for a full commitment. He wants us to keep our hand to the plow and stop looking back!
(Read Luke 10:1-3)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
3) MINISTRY INVOLVES URGENCY
We can’t afford to sit around forever letting time pass by, trying to decide if we are going to fully commit ourselves to God or not. Time is passing, and so are people’s lives and eternal destinies. The harvest is ripe, and we’ve been called to get out there and labor in the “harvest” for God. Think of what happens if the crop of fruit gets ripe, yet no one harvests it – it just turns brown and falls to the ground, wasted. Ministry should be an urgent priority in our lives. It is a privilege to be called to work in God’s harvest, and we should treat it that way.
4) MINISTRY INVOLVES FACING OPPOSITION HUMBLY
A life of ministry WILL bring opposition, and we must accept that and face it humbly. God sends us out to minister, like “lambs among wolves” – we can expect opposition. I’m not a zoologist, but they tell me that wolves have been known to EAT lambs. It doesn’t say “lambs among kittens” or “lambs in a petting zoo.” It’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s not going to be easy, and there will be risks, dangers, and attacks – but it is for an eternally-meaningful purpose and it’s worth it. We’ve got to get out of the safety of our lamb pen and go beyond the building to touch lives for God. If the lamb stays in the pen, sure, he will be safe from wolves – but he will not be getting his important work done. Yes, we will come under attack and sometimes even suffer from “wolfbites” while out actively serving God – but the Great Shepherd will be right there to comfort us, heal us, and get us back out on the mission field. As I said earlier in this message, ministry will inevitably and necessarily lead us out of our comfort zone. Lambs are not comfortable among wolves. However, we must get out of our comfort zone to get involved in the harvest. And when we face opposition, we must not respond with aggression like the world does, but continue to be kind and loving (like a lamb) so the world can see God’s love and character reflected in us. That’s one major way that God can use us as “salt and light.” Lambs are not intimidating creatures, and are not meant to be. (God didn’t say for us to be “wolves among lambs” and to growl and chew people up!) We must stay humble, keep the right attitude, and let God’s strength operate through our “weakness.” And we must stay dedicated to keep serving, no matter how much opposition we face!
(Read Luke 10:16)
“He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
5) MINISTRY INVOLVES REJECTION – BUT DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY
Unfortunately, not everyone we share with will accept Christ – some will choose to reject the gospel message. It breaks God’s heart, but He has given everyone free choice. When rejection comes, don’t take it personally and let it make you want to give up. In fact, it would be arrogant to take it personally, because that would be to put yourself in God’s place. It is Him that they are rejecting, not you. You are simply the messenger. So don’t get discouraged if you encounter rejection as you go out to minister and spread God’s Word beyond the church building. Those who oppose you have a problem with God, not you!
Conclusion:
I really want to encourage you to persevere in ministry – in obediently, urgently following the calling that God has placed on your life, to actively use your gifts to serve others and build God’s Kingdom. Don’t ever get so hung up on your own comfort, your own convenience, your own plans, or even your own fear of rejection, to the point that you miss out on God’s amazing plans to use your life for His glory. There is nothing greater that you could be doing with your life, than God’s instrument to serve others and touch lives. What a privilege, and how dare we take it lightly, treat it cheaply, or push God’s priorities to the side in favor of our own short-sighted ones. Daily, we must constantly remember why we are here and what life is all about. What is your response when Jesus says, “Follow Me”?
