Three Key Elements To Successful Service For The Lord. John 9 (Part I)

(I have been preaching through the book of John for a year now, and I am currently in John Chapter nine. Today, I will be posting some of what I will be preaching on this Sunday.)

We all know, to be successful in whatever field one works in, one needs certain skills. For instance, if you are employed as a salesmen, you need to be able to work well with people, to be convincing, as well as many other attributes to assist you. If you lack certain key attributes then it is best you find another line of work, or it is likely your current employer will fire you.

In our service for God, if we lack certain attributes, it is likely we will not be successful. All of us who are Christians are in the Lord’s service. If the Lord, was to come to you today and weigh your performance in His service, how would you fair?

In John nine, we see Jesus Christ showing the Pharisees, the truth that was brought up in John chapter one, and the Truth that Jesus proclaimed in John chapter eight. The Truth that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. The Jews were not at all accepting this, so Jesus demonstrates this truth through a blind man. We see Jesus, as always, successfully accomplishing His work for the Father. We need to learn from Him and pattern ourselves after Him.

Look at verses 9: 1-5. Verses four and five are key (Joh 9:1-5) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.(Joh 9:5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

After he makes this statement in verse 5, he then turns attention to the blind man and heals him. Keep in mind it is the Sabbath day.

Jesus miraculously heals this man and his life is changed forever. The rest of the chapter deals with the Jews denying this miracle showing Jesus to be the Messiah. The chapter concludes with the man who was blind putting his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

What do we see here in the life of Jesus that led to the healing of the blind man and his salvation. (If we want to be successful for the Lord, we will follow the pattern given to us by Jesus..

Three elements we see in the Life of Jesus here:

1) Considerate of Time - Understanding we have a limited Time, and thus using our time wisely (The only “C” I could come up with in relation to "Time" was Clock, but it just did not fit right.) :) vs4

2) Compassion vs 1, 5, 35

3) Courage (Boldness)

1-6 For this blog, I will only deal with the “Time” issue. Later, I will deal with the other two.

In verse four Jesus stresses how he must work “while it is day”, for the night cometh. At this point Jesus is only a few months away from the cross. The night here speaks of death. He knew he had little time and so what time he had he was going to make the best use of. (Oh, if we would do the same!)

We too have little time. Death is quickly approaching all of us. Too often we delay our service for God. We have many excuses has to why we can’t serve God now. None of these excuses will hold up on the Day of Judgment!

Oh to hear those words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” If we are to hear those words, then we must use our time wisely.

Here is some teaching the Bible gives us concerning our “Time.”

I Peter 1:17 - And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

We need to remember as Christians we are strangers/sojourners on this earth. Yet, we let the cares of this life take our time. (II Tim 2:4) We need to pass our time in fear. Fear? Why fear? Verses 18-19 answer that question, because we have been redeemed with the blood of Christ. This carries an enormous responsibility. Time is not mine to give away. I have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ. We are not our own!!!!

(Eph 5:16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We need to “redeem” the time. The devil is a master at getting us to waste our time. To put our efforts into things that don’t really matter. We need to do all we can to redeem the time. Not to waste time. Why? The importance of our work here! The days our evil.

For many it is Time to wake up!!! (Rom 13:11,12) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Many Christians need to wake up and cast off the works of darkness, and put there amour on. Get in the Battle!!! Many fail to realize the importance of their personal walk with God, and that of the local church.

In conclusion,how could you or I have used our time better this week?Time is short! I know when I was in the U.S. Air Force, my time belonged to them. They expected the best out of me. How much more does God Almighty deserve my time, and the best out of me!

Pastor/MissionaryTerry McGovern