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THE
SWEET SMELL OF SERVICE Introduction:
(Ills. of man running for elected office - 365 signed petitions,
147 who said they voted, and 26 who actually did). It is indeed sad, but
we have that kind of commitment in the Church today. In the modern day
Church we have a lot of folks interested, but few are involved! A lot that
are curious, but few that are committed! There are a lot signed- up, but
few that are sold-out! So
important is this issue of service and servant-hood, that the word servant
or service is recorded over 800 times in the Bible. If we are saved, we
are to be servants (Rom.1:1)! “Servant” = Bond-Slave. In this brand
new year, we should want our lives to be a sweet smelling service to God.
What is a true servant of God? Three words that classify a servant of God: I.
A SERVANT OF GOD IS A GIVER
A.
Complete SELFLESSNESS (vv.3; 6; 9) Her name is not important. (Woman
(1), she (6), her (3) (Mark This lady was going to anoint the
Lord Jesus now matter who got the credit. She wasn’t famous, a great
speaker, or talented in many ways, but when Jesus saw her service He took
a big whiff and said, “That’s some sweet smelling service!”
B.
Complete SURRENDER (v.8) God makes one demand on the life of
the believer -- That you do what you can do! The greatest danger in the
Church is not that you won’t do what someone else will do, but that you
won’t do what you can do! Two words that are killing the
Church -- “I can’t” (Ills. Object lessons in SS class. Candle -light
of the world, Bread- Bread of Life, Banta Egg- “she hath done what we
could”) I want to challenge you to do what
you can. To say, “I can’t”, is an insult to the God who indwells
you. II.
A SERVANT OF GOD IS A LOVER
A.
More Than The COST (v.3; 5) (1 John 4:19)
"We love him, because he first loved us." -- (Ills.
Watchman Nee, “Thank you Jesus, that I can sacrifice my hands to
you”). The greatest need in the church today is a revival of our love
for Jesus! Jn.12:3 -- “costly” -- Nard =
liquid perfume, Spikenard = PURE, liquid perfume. How costly was it?
(V.5), “pence” = denarii (one days wages). 300 pence = a years wages!
In spite of the cost she gave it up. What was the key to this woman’s
love for the Lord? --
Lk.10:38-40, expound. Martha was being distracted by the work. Martha
wasn’t handling the work, the work was handling Martha. She was fretful
and agitated. If we just work, work, work for the Lord and never sit and
worship at His feet, we will become discouraged and distraught and
Christianity will become endurance instead of an enjoyment. We must never become so consumed by
the work of the Lord that we forget the Lord of the work! If you’ve
become fretful and agitated in your church work there is something wrong
with your personal relationship with Jesus. Grumbling Baptist, (v.40) -- Martha
wasn’t concerned that Mary hadn’t done enough to please Jesus; she
hadn’t done enough to please her! (V.39) “which also sat at Jesus’
feet” -- “also” suggest she had already done her work and she was
know worshipping at the feet of Jesus! -- Worship without work is
exhausting, work without worship is exasperating, but worship with work is
exciting!
B.
More Than The CRITICISM (V.4-5) “murmured” = to snort You make up your mind that you are
going to serve Jesus and you will be criticized. In your own home, by your
own family, and sadly, in your own church. When you sell out to Jesus,
there are no REVILES and no RETREATS. (Ills. Sam Houston’s defeat of
Santa Anna’s army at the General Jesus has sounded the march
and because we love Him more that the cost and more than the criticism, we
say, “yes sir”, the bridge is burned, we will not go back, but will
keep on marching! III.
A SERVANT OF GOD IS A INVESTOR A servant doesn’t only do what
they can do, but they do what they can do while they can do it! Two questions:
(1) Are the things you are living for right now worth Jesus dying
for? (2) When the mountains
crumble and the stars fad from the sky what investment will you have made
in eternity? None of us are promised tomorrow.
In light of eternity, what are we doing for the cause of Christ? You mean
this thing is an investment? Look at verse 9, bless God, 2000 years later
in Palatka, Fl. they are still talking about it! Conclusion: “She hath done what she could...” Doing what you can do is all that the Lord asks of you. We have before us a new year, what are we investing
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