John 21:18-25
March 17, 2002

Encouragement for God's Servants

Introduction: President John F. Kennedy made a famous speech many years ago, and his words are still remembered today: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." In other words, he was saying that good Americans are generous, giving and willing to serve their countrymen. It's the same way with the Christian Faith. We do not save ourselves. We do not earn salvation. BUT, we are grateful to Christ for what He did for us, and now we are willing and ready to be His servants. Every Christian must be a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Young people can serve Jesus.

A. Peter was about thirty years old at this time, in his full adult strength. He could run. He could fish all night long. He could take up a sword and fight.

B. In our middle years, from 30 to 65, we have the most strength, the best health, and the most resources for serving Christ. We need to particularly remember what Jesus said about the first commandment: Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

C. Even children can be servants of Jesus.

1. John 6:5-10. Remember the story of the little boy who had five loaves of bread, and two fishes, and how Jesus fed 5000 men, plus women and children?

2. 2 Kings 5:1-4. The young serving girl in Syria, which led to Naaman's cure from leprousy and the glory of God.

3. I Sam. 17:32-37 David the boy, fighting Goliath the giant.

4. God can use you without your knowledge. Illustrate: 2 little girls on the Bethel Bible Village Calendar.

II. The elderly can serve Jesus, too.

A. Peter would glorify Jesus by his death (John 21:18-19). Tradition says that both Paul and Peter were killed by Nero in a great persecution in Rome around 67 AD. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down.

B. Simeon, and Anna the prophetess were old, but they served God (Luke 2:25-38).

C. Zacharias the high priest, and his wife Elizabeth, served God, and fathered John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-7).

III. Some Important Principles About Serving God

A. The way to serve God is to use whatever talents, gifts and opportunities God has given to you; not to sacrifice your talents gifts and opportunities to do something else. God can make great use of a consecrated biologist, nurse, mathematician, musician, secretary, accountant, janitor, lawyer, housewife, physician, bank teller or factory worker; just as much as he can from a pastor or a missionary. You don't have to be a pastor or a missionary to serve God. You don't have to preach to people to serve God. If God has called you to be a farmer, and you quit farming to study to be a preacher, you have taken a step down, not up.

B. You don't need to have GREAT talents, gifts or opportunities to be God's servant. Remember the little boy with only 5 loaves and 2 fishes? Remember, Peter was just an uneducated fisherman. The little girl in Syria just said one little sentence, but God used it to heal Naaman.

Just giving a glass of water, or a bowl of soup, is serving Jesus.....Matthew 25:34-40:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

C. Don't compare your calling to someone else's calling. Peter was wondering about John. Jesus told Peter, "Don't worry about him. It's none of your business. YOU, follow me!" Sometimes we get discouraged because we think others are better than we are. Sometimes we get proud because we think we are better than others.

D. Service to Jesus is not burdensome. Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." If you are trying to serve Jesus, but your heart is troubled, and your service is just a burdensome striving, then something is wrong.

Conclusion: President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." Ask not what Jesus can do for you. Ask what you can do for Jesus. Jesus died for us on the cross. He has purchased our salvation. He has done so much for us, certainly we should be happy and willing to serve Him however we can.