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Sunday, December 31, 2017 pm                                                Song Index

 SERMONS FROM SONGS
More Like the Master, #138

 Tonight, as we bring 2017 to a close, we examine another hymn (5th Sunday evening).   I chose this hymn, because it serves as a reminder of our need to examine ourselves and continue to grow.   2 Corinthians 13:5 calls for examination.  Typically, with the New Year we make resolutions to better ourselves.  I am a strong advocate of this, but not just during this time of year.  So as you take a look at where you are and compare that to where you ought to be, let us take a few moments to consider how we ought to seek to be, MORE like the Master.

The song was written and composed by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856-1932).   Gabriel was a very prolific songwriter.  We sing many of his songs including: “God is Calling the Prodigal” (596); “I Will Not Forget Thee” (251); “Send the Light” (563); “Only a Step” (636); “O That Will Be Glory” (429); “I Stand Amazed” (303); “Where the Gates Swing Outward Never” (421); and “Higher Ground” (14); and others. 

 I.                     More Like the Master

a.       Jesus is the Master – His disciples called Him master and teacher (or Rabbi) -  Luke 5:5, 8:24, 8:45, 9:33, 9:49; Luke 10:13.  There was a realization of who He was and a desire to follow Him. 
He was also referred to as Lord – another indicator of His rule over us.   Acts 2:36, God made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

b.       As master, He is the one we must answer to and must follow. 

c.        He is also the one who is our teacher or leader.  Sometimes the word master is used to describe one who is highly skilled or one at the top of his craft.  A “master craftsman”, etc.  Jesus was the master teacher.

d.       We need to seek to be more like Him.  Philippians 3:8-11;

 

II.                   Vs. 1 – Like Him in attitude

a.       More of His meekness – Matthew 11:28-30.  Jesus was gentle and meek.  This kept Him in control even as he dealt with hostility and frustrations.  We too need meekness, looking to Him.  Matthew 5:5 tells us, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

b.       More humility – Philippians 2:5-8.  Jesus demonstrated the greatness of humility by coming to His earth.  He humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross. 
We need to strive to emulate this quality.  James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-6

c.        More of His zeal to labor –  Jesus did all that He did with zeal and fervor. 
John 2:16-17 – zeal for Your house has eaten Me up;
Titus 2:14 we are called upon to be zealous for good works. 

d.       More of His courage to be true – again, we see great courage and boldness in Jesus. 
John 7:26, some in Jerusalem recognized how Jesus spoke boldly. 
Matthew 22:16, on another occasion, in an attempt to entrap Jesus, the Pharisees sent men to question Him.  Among the things they acknowledged was that He was true and did not care about anyone (not compassion, but He was bold to say what was needed regardless…)
Matthew 23 – calling them hypocrites, etc.
Boldness was a quality of the early disciples – Acts 4:13, Peter and John spoke boldly before the council.
We need boldness as we approach Him and in teaching others – Ephesians 3:12, in Him we have boldness and access with confidence. 

e.       More consecration – the idea of consecration is to be set apart.  We need to set ourselves apart to do His will.  Jesus was very consecrated to the Father.  He did what the Father wanted – John 5:30. 
John 17:4 – Jesus finished the work the Father gave Him to do. 
We too are set apart to serve Him – Titus 2:14, we are His own special people.  We are sanctified – 1 Corinthians 6:11, etc.

 III.                 Vs. 2 – Like Him by our actions

a.       In my daily prayer.  Jesus prayed often. Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus prayed often.  We find Him praying in the morning (Mark 1:35), in the evening (Matthew 14:23), at times all night (Luke 6:12).  He prayed so much his disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.
We need to as well – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing; Ephesians 6:18.
I am fully convinced that prayer is a spiritual indicator in our lives.  How often and how we pray is commensurate to our strength as Christians.

b.       Strength to carry crosses I must bear – Literally, Jesus carried His cross to His death (John 19:17).  1 Peter 2:24 notes that He bore our sins in His own body on the tree…
He calls for us to be our cross (not a wooden implement of execution – including icons such as Jewelry, but a willingness to suffer whatever we must for Him).  Matthew 10:38 – He called for us to bear our cross.  Luke 14:27 whoever is not willing to bear the cross is not worthy of him
As I seek to serve Him, does that include the times of sacrifice, difficulty and suffering?

c.        More earnest effort His Kingdom to increase – while on earth, Jesus was always seeking to increase His followers.  He was busy – Acts 10:38 – He went about doing good; John 9:4 – I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
The great commission begins with the word, “Go” – Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19.
We need to be about reaching others – 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.  We know the way God intends for the kingdom to increase is though each one teaching one (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2)
Furthermore, we need to help increase within Him kingdom – continually we are called upon to admonish one another – Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-13 – exhort one another daily.  James 5:19-20 – if one wanders from the truth, we seek to restore them (Galatians 6:1-2, etc.)

d.       More of His Spirit, the wanderer to win!   See the previous point about increasing His kingdom. Jesus was so concerned about the lost!  He was moved compassion and called us to pray the Lord of harvest send forth laborers.  Matthew 8:36-38
That applies to us as well.  I do mention this: Be reminded how we are going to make the world better – one soul at a time! Romans 8:1 no condemnation to those in Christ who walk according to the Spirit.

 IV.                 Vs. 3 – Like Him by sharing with others

a.       I would live and grow – we must be growing!  Just like we desire to see to increase the kingdom, we need to be growing personally.  2 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 5:12, 2 Peter 1:5ff, etc.

b.       More of His love to others I would show – we are reminded that the Christian life is about love. 
There is no greater example of that love than our Master. 
God loved us – John 3:16, Romans 5:8, etc.
Jesus demonstrated His love by dying for us – John 15:13, He laid down His life for His friends (us); 1 John 3:16 – because He loved us, we also ought to lay down our lives for our brethren (in love).
We care enough to sacrifice for what is best.  This applies to every relationship we are in as Christians.  Matthew 22:37-39; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. 

c.        More self-denial, like His in Galilee – Jesus taught us that to be His disciple we must deny ourselves – Matthew 16:24.
Again, there is no greater example of self-denial than Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-8 - He left heaven and died for us.  1 Peter 2:21-23 – He is our example being willing to suffer.
A big part of the life of a Christian is his willingness to give up the things and ways of this world.  Titus 2:11-12 – God’s grace teaches us that we deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, etc.  Galatians 2:20 – we are crucified with Christ.  Romans 12:1- we present our bodies a living sacrifice.

d.       More like the Master, I long to EVER be – This is not a part time job, or something we can quit. 
We must be faithful to death (Revelation 2:10). 
Jesus Himself taught that no one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

1 Corinthians 15:58 – be must be steadfast, immovable…  Hebrews 10:36-39 calls for our endurance.

 V.                   Chorus – Where it begins – in the heart

a.       Take Thou my heart – this is about surrender.  Of course, the heart is our inner man that governs our thoughts, will, emotions and mind.   It is that which makes us who we are. 
Jesus taught that where you heart is there you treasure will be – Matthew 6:21. 
We must surrender our hearts to Him if we are to be more like Him – Hebrews 10:22, we draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith; Matthew 22:37 – we are to love God will all our heart, soul and mind; Matthew 5:8 – it is with a pure heart that we see God.

b.       I would be thine alone – none other.  Again Jesus taught you cannot serve two masters – Matthew 6:24; 1 John 2:15 – do not love the world and the things in the world…Matthew 16:24 – to come after Him, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.

c.        Thake Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own – see the previous point.  The only thing I would add here is an attitude that says he ought to rule in our hearts and lead us. 

d.       Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore – make me pure so that I can be useful to You.  Matthew 5:8, it is the pure heart that will see God.  Psalm 24:3-4 – it is he who has clean hands and a pure heart that may ascend into the hill of the LORD.  James 4:8 calls for us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts so that we may draw near to God.

e.       Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore – Acts 22:16 – in baptism we wash away our sins; Romans 6:3-4 – in baptism we come in contact with the blood of the lamb; Revelation 1:5
Even as Christians, our forgiveness comes through His blood – 1 John 1 5.

 

And thus we see another song we sing from time to time.  It is a reminder that we are here to be more like our Master.  How are we doing?  If you find that you are falling short, why not resolve right now to change that.  Think about it.