Brother Bill Hayen Sunday Evening 1/27/13

Brother Bill Hayen Sunday Evening 1/27/13

Being a servant: My heart’s desire is to be a servant.  Being a servant is not being up here.  It is being God’s tool in the little and in the big things.  Just being instruments for God.

Mat 25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

Mat 25:15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Mat 25:16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

Mat 25:17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Mat 25:19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Mat 25:20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat 25:22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Mat 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Mat 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

There are some points that I would like to bring out in this.  I can only bring out a portion because there is a depth to the scriptures. 

Use what you have.  As you are walking with God then make yourself available.  When there are work parties or works of the church going on: outreach, when they have the Vacation Bible School… Make yourself available. 

These servants added to their talents.  I remember the time years ago when we were having children’s services.  They announced that whatever saints would be willing to come and help, come at this specific time.  I came not because I knew anything about children services, but I came.  I didn’t have that talent but I made myself available. 

I ended up bringing some lessons at the children’s services.  Because I made myself available I added the talent.  I didn’t have it already.  Because I made myself available, I added a talent. 

If you make yourself available, then you will add talents to yourself.  Not that you will become an evangelist or preacher… they too did what God had asked, they were able to produce and they added talents.  Make yourself available and you could keep providing more talents to God. 

An evangelist didn’t start out with not having any talents it was a building themselves up in being available to God.  They builded themselves up just by making themselves available.  Then it wasn’t some overwhelming thing but they had added talents.

The word ‘few’ means puny, little, small.  I’ve noticed in life that in serving God and being a servant for God it consists of a lot of little things.  We can have the attitude, “God I want to be an evangelist.”  Wait, don’t forget the little things. 

This saint needs help, this one is sick, this little child needs encouragement.  Sister so in so needs her walk shoveled.  Don’t be concerned with reaching for something big and forget the little things.  What may appear little in your mind is big to God.

We have a number of saints, probably all the saints, that do things that no one knows about.  There are times when I was working in the fields in the school system, maintenance and I look at the rest home and see one of the saints walking with an older person, quietly bearing forth fruit, never sounding the trumpet. 

I’d rather be a turtle than a chicken.  A turtle can lay hundreds of eggs and never make a sound just go back into the water.  A chicken lays an egg and clucks around, bragging.  We just want to go our way and be as good as we can be for God.

Luk 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Be faithful in that which seems to be least.  God will be pleased with your faithfulness.  Having your devotions is not the least, it is a big thing.  It may appear least to human eyes, but be faithful to have good devotions.  How many people have fallen away from god because they haven’t been faithful to do the small things to take care of their souls! 

Be faithful in the little things.

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Sometimes a person could look at these portions of scriptures and say, this is talking about the end.  God is such that he’ll come and check on you so I doubt it is taking about the end.  Throughout our lives he will come and check on us, “My son or daughter how are you doing with what you have?” 

Be faithful to do what is before you, do what you can.  God will not ask you to do what you cannot do.  God didn’t require that Sister Darla be out there at the handle of the shovel when we were digging for the footings of the handrail.  Do what you can do.

Do what you know to do.  “Thou knewest…”

Ecc 9:7  Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Ecc 9:8  Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Ecc 9:9  Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Ecc 9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Whatever your hands find to do, do it.  Make yourself an available vessel for God and God will use you.

The example of Mordecai and Haman:  Most of you know the story.  Haman was a man that the king had set in authority.  Haman had a head problem.  He wanted to be elevated and lift up.  Mordecai was a man that was a good example.

Est 2:21  In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

Est 2:22  And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

Est 2:23  And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

As I looked into this I found that people waited in the king’s gate to await the king’s call.  Mordecai was sitting there just awaiting the king’s call.

Pro 27:18  Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

He that waits on his master shall be honored.  “Lord I will just wait on you.  What my hands find to do I’ll do, not for reward, I’ll do the little and the big, whatever you want.  Just what you want me to do, I’ll do.”

Mordecai told on these men that were conspiring against the king.  At that time Mordecai didn’t get any recognition.  He didn’t say, “Hey you forgot about me, I saved the king’s life.”  He just went back to waiting at the gate doing his job.  Not for reward, he was just waiting on the king.

His efforts were for the consideration of the king, to do for God without praise of man or looking for or getting reward from man.  If we could get to the place where our greatest satisfaction is not when men recognize but when God is pleased.  I’ve seen situations where Brother Gary is bringing the word and someone is looking out the window and distractions will come and Brother Gary just keeps preaching. 

The best place to be is where our satisfaction doesn’t come from or our influence, and doesn’t come from whether we get praise from man or whether we are looked down upon by men, but comes from if the Lord is pleased.  Whether it appears to be a flop or turns out good, “Lord I did my best, you are pleased with that.  I did my best.”

Mordecai need not receive recognition from man.  He was okay with that. 

Another man that I admire:

Mat 27:57  When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

Mat 27:58  He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

Mat 27:59  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Mat 27:60  And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

He really did a great thing.  He took care of the dear physical body of Jesus.  He lovingly took care of it.  He did this and you didn’t hear a peep out of him.  He quietly departed without sounding the trumpet.

Mat 6:1  Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 6:2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:3  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Mat 6:4  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

If we don’t do it right then we will lose our reward with the father.  That reward is the one that counts. 

If you will do it right then God will reward you.  God’s word is true.  It doesn’t lie.  God will reward you.

Est 6:10  Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

Est 6:11  Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Est 6:12  And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

Mordecai came again to the king’s gate.  The story went, Haman said, “To the man that you delight, do this and this.”  He thought it would be him that would be elevated.  The king said, “Good you do this to Mordecai.” 

After it was all said and done, instead of it going to Mordecai’s head, he just went back to the king’s gate.  That is what we want to do.  Just go back to the king’s gate and be that vessel for God.

Est 10:3  For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

He was a man that he sought the wealth of the people.  His attitude as a servant was to seek for the wealth of the people.

1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Seek that you excel to the edifying of the church.  Not to destroy the body or tear them apart, but seek that you edify the body.

Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

God won’t forget it. 

Act 10:1  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Act 10:2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Act 10:3  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Act 10:4  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

The angel said, “thy prayers and thine alms, that what you’ve been doing, God remembers and is aware of that.”

2Ti 1:16  The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

2Ti 1:17  But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

2Ti 1:18  The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

P 180 in the hymnal:

1 Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”
For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.

Refrain:
Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.

2 Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;
Winning the smile of God brings its delight!
Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest,
All that we think or do, be it the best. [Refrain]

3 Night soon comes on apace, day hastens by;
Workman and work must face testing on high.
Oh, may we in that day find rest, sweet rest,
Which God has promised those who do their best. [Refrain]

Can you do for God even if it seems small?

Whether people laud or don‘t care: what they have to say is not to motivate us.