The Bible and Servanthood (pt. 2)

Good morning and welcome to the Panhandle, I'm glad you dropped by. As you can see from the title of this blog we are continuing to look at “The Bible and Servanthood.” I'm looking forward to practicing a little serventhood ministry tomorrow. Tomorrow is our turn to take and share a meal at the local college. It is always a lot of fun to visit with our BCM director and get reacquainted with the students. 

Many years ago in a Moscow theater, matinee idol Alexander Rostovzev was converted while playing the role of Jesus in a sacrilegious play entitled Christ in a Tuxedo. He was supposed to read two verses from the Sermon on the Mount, remove his gown, and cry out, "Give me my tuxedo and top hat!" But as he read the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted," he began to tremble. Instead of following the script, he kept reading from Matthew 5, ignoring the coughs, calls, and foot-stamping of his fellow actors. Finally, recalling a verse he had learned in his childhood in a Russian Orthodox church, he cried, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!" (Luke 23:42). Before the curtain could be lowered, Rostovzev had trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

J.K. Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, p. 121.

Last week in looking at a fresh perspective on servanthood we looked at the Bible and Servanthood. As we considered how the Bible impacts servanthood we saw that we gain new and fresh insights from the bible. We also look at how our past experiences come into play as we look to the Bible for wisdom and insight.

Emotional response, what does that mean to you? Can you think of a time when reading the Bible you were moved emotionally? Tonight we see that just as each of us has a personal inventory of life experiences, so each of us has a range of emotional responses to God’s Word.

1. Emotional Response

Not everybody’s response is the same. You may feel overjoyed or encouraged after reading a passage of Scripture. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52).

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; (Acts 11:22-23)

Another person may respond to that same passage with conviction, questions, or fear.

When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped... and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:27, 30)

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4)

They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. (Mark 5:15)

No one emotion is the “right” emotion to feel. Except the emotion of unbelief, it is always wrong. "For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.” (Matt 21:32)

Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts 26:28)

Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:5)

Face your emotions honestly. Learn to share your emotional responses with others as candidly and as thoroughly as you can. You will learn more about yourself, and also more about the way God intends for emotions to operate for your benefit.

Service to others can be a very emotion–laden topic. There are those who feel great compassion for others and can hardly keep from crying when they hear about needs, or from moving to respond to them. There are others who are much more stoic and objective—they see a need, they address it, they do their utmost to resolve it—solely because they know it is the right thing to do. In both cases, people are serving God in their service to others! Successful service is not limited to highly emotional people or to those who can show great empathy.

Emotional responses do not give validity to the Scriptures, nor should we trust our emotions as a gauge for our faith. Faith is to be based on what God says, not on how we feel. We must remain balanced in our understanding of emotions. On the one hand, we each have an emotional response to God’s Word and to our having a relationship with God and others. On the other, we must not let our emotions rule our interpretation of God’s Word or limit us to reading only those passages that make us feel happy and hopeful.

I strongly believe that in small–group Bible study; such as Sunday school; it is easier for participants to express themselves, emotions included; than in large group settings. I think you would agree that some of the ways in which God speaks to us through His Word are nonverbal. The Holy Spirit often communicates with us through the unspoken language of intuition, emotions, desires, and longings. When we share feelings with one another, we not only open ourselves to insights into God’s Word, but we also grow closer to other members of the body of Christ. A sense of community develops, and we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be “one in the Spirit.”

It is through the sharing of joys and sorrows, assurances and doubts, hopes and fears, that we mature as individuals and as a church. A small–group Bible study is not just a forum for exchanging information; it is also an opportunity to be open and honest as you strengthen your faith within a community of believers.

G. Walter Hansenin – theologian and author, said in Christianity Today. I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus' emotions: Not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger; not a silent tear, but groans of anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus' emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle. How about you?

Now I’m not saying you gotta be shouting to high heaven every time you come into the worship service or jumping pews. However we must not become a as the Methodist preacher Carlyle Fielding Steward III says, “mausoleums for the dead rather than coliseums of praise for a living God.” We must not loose our joy for Christ Jesus and find ourselves suffering from "Institutional and Spiritual Dry Rot." After all why should sports fans be the only ones allowed to shout for their teams. GO TEAM JESUS!

Thanks again for dropping by, I pray that you have a great week. And as always my our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus bless you abundantly.

Biblesurfer