Supper Is Ended ..... Time To Serve Pastor: Adron Wheat
Introduction: God allows us time to grow up and mature. There is a time for the "Milk" as New Born babes in Christ. He even lets us enjoy the "Meat" for a season to get healthy and strong. But there comes a time when Supper is Over, and it becomes time to Serve. We need to get all we can and can all we get and take on the role of a Servant.
The Disciples were about to have a "reality check!" Until now they had been "dining" with Jesus on the fishes and loaves. Depending on Jesus to take the lead, teach, and train, but now it time to put in practice all they had learned. Its time for them to take the role of a Servant. Supper Has Just Ended ------- Time To Serve !* Supper: ( Gr. Dipe'non: the chief meal ) (Root word: Dap-an'ay: to devour or consume)
* You may want to stay at the table, close your eyes and ears, but once you have heard you can never refuse to be a servant and claim to follow Christ.
(1) God May Use Unpleasant Trials To Get Us To Realize "Supper Has Ended."
** Illustration: Being a young Christian is like attending a supper such as this. You are careful to make the right impression. You are so impressed you hardly notice others at first. Gradually you begin to notice others "imperfections." Behind the suits and smiles you begin to see some scars, wounds, and flaws you never realized were there. Supper time is coming to an end !
(A) When you are betrayed by some you loved and trusted........ Supper has Ended!
(B) When the hand that shook yours, dips the sop, joins the enemy...... Supper is Ended!
(C) At the Transfiguration, Peter said; "Let us build three temples and stay up here!" But Jesus knew there was a father and son that needed help....... Supper is Ended !
(D) Peter tried to go back fishing when supper ended, but Jesus said; "Peter do you love me?" Feed my sheep ! .......... Supper is Ended.......... Time to Serve !(2) Jesus Rises From Supper, Laid Aside His Garments.
** Explain the atmosphere: There was anything but unity among the Disciples. Disputing over who was the "greatest." The mother of James and John was requesting "positions" for her son. (Everybody wants a Position but nobody wants to serve) One was wondering what John was going to do, afraid he might have the easiest job, or one with more glory than his. ( Sound like any church members you know?) Jesus said; "What it to you?" You follow me!............Supper is Ended.............. Time to Serve !
(A) Real "ministry" begins when you lay the garments aside, stop trying to impress others.
(B) This generation is not moved by our "suppers", "building" and "religious phrases." They are looking someone who "serves" the one they say they love.(3) We Are Speaking A Language The World Is Not Hearing.
(A) We don't "talk", we "share."
(B) We don't "visit", we "fellowship"
(C) We talk about being "born again", but they see the same old creature.
(D) We talk about the "anointing", "prayer languages", but they hear the same old tongue.** At the Tower of Babel: Men were building their own way to Heaven, doing whatever they set their mind, so God "confused" their language, stopped their building, scattered them throughout the earth.
** At Pentecost: God gave them a new language, it was noised abroad, multitudes came together, every man heard them speak in his own language, ( Note: The nationalities listed represented all the known world at that time !) When they heard their language, souls were saved, 3,000 then 5,000 heard the message and repented !
** Jesus: Spoke the "language" of the Samaritan woman at the well ! She was "thirsty" in more ways than one and he gave her "living water." He didn't say you are Hell bound because you have had five husbands and "shacking up" with a man now, NO, he spoke the language and she understood that this was the Messiah the world was looking for !
** To Nicodemus: A man knowledgeable in Spiritual things, he said "Ye must be born again" (begotten from above) with a Spiritual birth as well as a natural birth. The woman at the well would not have understood that language.
** To The Rich Young Ruler: Who said: "I know the Ten Commandments", kept them all, what do I have to do to follow you ? Jesus said; " Go sell what you have, give to the poor, then come back. He went away sorrowful! Jesus will speak your language whether you want to hear it or not.
** To The Condemned Adulteress: He had to do his first writing, first to her accusers, got their attention, then he spoke her language, "neither do I condemn you, go sin no more !"** You need to get up from your church pew you have warn out, get up and start serving somewhere in the church and community. You need to quit condemning Saint and Sinner alike and if you remember the Gospel that Jesus saves, go out and speak the language somebody would like to hear !
(4) The Church Has An "Image" Problem ! (I'm Not Talking About Failed Ministers)
** Sinners Cannot Relate: We act so "lofty", will not admit "faults", "failures" our "imperfections." You turn up your nose, act so high and holy when they know you're not ! We like to "anoint" one another, "lay hands" on one another, "pray for one another to be healed, but we forget the same verse says; "confess you faults one to another!"
** Our Pews Are Full: Of broken hearted, struggling people, trying to smile and impress us that "all is well." while you try to impress them with your "God like Act." They see something that they cannot attain and give up. You don't tell them about the Grace and Mercy of God that will help them grow and mature.
** Ministry Begins: When you lay aside your garment, forget your ego trip, your Titles, Reputations, and "Get Down" to wash the tires feet of those walking through this dirty, rotten world.
Supper Is Ended .................... It Is Time To Serve Back To Index