PAUL, I CAN SERVE GOD PART 7 of 10

TEXT- ROMANS 12:1-8

INTRODUCTION

TODAY IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF AUGUST AND ALSO THE DAY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE TO EMPHASIZE OUR 1993 CHURCH GOALS AND THEME.

THIS YEAR OUR THEME IS, "THE CAN DO CHURCH" AND OUR THEME VERSE IS FOUND IN PHILIPPIANS 4:13 WHICH SAYS, "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME."

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR EACH ONE OF US WERE ENCOURAGED TO FILL OUT A SPECIALLY PREPARED GOAL COMMITMENT CARD.

THIS CARD WAS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL GOAL AS WELL AS A CHURCH RELATED GOAL.

IT WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO HELP EACH ONE OF US DECIDE WHAT WE CAN AND SHOULD BE DOING FOR THE LORD.

A SALESMAN WENT INTO A SMALL GROCERY STORE TO BUY A BOX OF SODA. THE SHELVES OF THE ENTIRE STORE WERE FILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF JARS OF MAYONNAISE. IN ORDER TO GET THE SODA THE OWNER OF THE STORE HAD TO GO TO THE BASEMENT. THE SALESMAN WENT WITH HIM AND COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN HE FOUND THAT EVERY WALL IN THE BASEMENT WAS STACKED WITH CARTONS OF MAYONNAISE. "HEY," SAID THE SALESMAN, "YOU MUST SELL A LOT OF MAYONNAISE." "NO, NOT RALLY," ANSWERED THE GROCER, "I CAN'T SELL MAYONNAISE AT ALL. BUT THAT FELLOW WHO SELLS ME MAYONNAISE! BOY! CAN HE SELL MAYONNAISE!"

I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD WANTING TO BE A SALESMAN.

THE HOUSE WHERE OUR FAMILY LIVED HAD A ROCK DRIVEWAY. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS PLAYING I NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE ROCKS WERE VERY PRETTY.

I DECIDED THAT IF I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY, THEN MAYBE OTHERS WOULD THINK SO ALSO AND WANT TO BUY THEM.

SO I GATHERED TOGETHER AS MANY DIFFERENT ROCKS AS I COULD FIND AND SET UP A STAND IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE, MADE A SIGN AND SHOUTED, "ROCKS FOR SALE" EVERY TIME A CAR PASSED BY, WHICH WASN'T VERY OFTEN SINCE WE LIVED ON A DEAD END STREET.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DIDN'T SELL VERY MANY ROCKS.

I REMEMBER ANOTHER OCCASION NOT LONG AFTER MY ROCK BUSINESS WENT BELLY UP THAT I WAS LOOKING THROUGH A SEARS MAGAZINE AT ALL THE PRETTY ITEMS.

I DECIDED THAT IF I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY, MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE WOULD THINK SO ALSO AND WOULD WANT TO BUY THEM.

SO I GOT OUR SEARS CATALOG AND BEGAN GOING DOOR TO DOOR ON OUR DEAD END STREET ASKING PEOPLE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO BUY AN ITEM FROM THE CATALOG AND GIVE ME THE MONEY.

WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDN'T SELL ANYTHING THAT DAY EITHER.

I GUESS WHAT I LEARNED FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES WAS THAT I WASN'T A SALESMAN; AND TO THIS DAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN A SALESMAN.

WHILE NONE OF US CAN DO EVERYTHING, ALL OF US CAN DO SOMETHING BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL GIFTS AND THE TALENTS TO SERVE HIM.

THIS MORNING THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "I CAN SERVE," AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN ROMANS 12:1-8.

AS WE EXAMINE THIS PASSAGE I’D LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT THREE WAYS TO SERVE GOD EFFECTIVELY.