SundaySermon
Pain or Pleasure, Which One Are You?
by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 20:24-28

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)

14If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Matthew 20:24-28 (Amplified Bible)

24But when the ten [other disciples] heard this, they were indignant at the two brothers.
25And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them].
26Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,
27And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave--
28Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free].

AS WE ARE BEING FORMED INTO THE CHURCH THAT WILL AFFECT THE WORLD, GOD IS SHOWING US FROM GLORY TO GLORY HOW TO LET THIS BECOME A REALITY. LINE UPON LINE, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT.

WE HAVE LEARNED THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE, WE MUST BE A CHURCH THAT REALLY KNOWS HOW TO PRAY AND GET ANSWERS ? BRING HIS WORD TO HIM .

WE LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE WE MUST RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF HIS LOVE IN US. WE ARE NOT JUST TO RECEIVE HIS LOVING FORGIVENESS, BUT ALSO RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OUR SALVATION WHICH ENCOMPASSES. HIS LOVING DELIVERANCE, HEALTH, RESTORATION, GIFTS AND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND WE MUST RECEIVE THE SPIRIT HIMSELF.

WE CANNOT JUST KNOW ABOUT HIS LOVE, BUT WE NEED TO RECEIVE IT IN ITS FULLNESS. WE CANNOT GIVE OUT WHAT WE DON?T HAVE.

THAN THE LORD SHOWED US THAT WE MUST PREPARE OURSELVES TO

COMPLETE THE THIRD GREATEST COMMANDMENT WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMISSION.
AND WHILE WE ARE DOING THIS SATAN WILL ATTACK US FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH. YES, HE CAN USE PROFESSING CHRISTIANS WITH FALSE DOCTRINES AND SELFISH, HATEFUL AND POOR ATTITUDES. WE LEARNED THAT SATAN'S MAJOR THRUST IS AGAINST THE CHURCH AND THAT HE HAS ALREADY LAID THE GROUNDWORK IN MOST CHURCHES FOR DISASTER. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT DISASTERS DON?T JUST HAPPEN, THEY ARE PLANNED, COVERTLY.

NOW WE WANT TO LEARN WHAT WE ARE TO BECOME DURING THIS PROCESS OF PREPARATION. AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS.

LOOK AT OUR FIRST SCRIPTURE:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)

14If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

YES, WE MUST BECOME HUMBLE, THAT IS ADMITTING OUR NEED OF GOD.
YES, WE MUST PRAY, THAT IS START CONVERSING WITH GOD EVERY DAY.
YES, WE MUST SEEK HIS FACE AND NOT HIS HANDS, SO THAT WE CAN SEE FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND UNDERSTAND THIS CRAZY WORLD.

BUT THE ONE THING PEOPLE MISS ALL THE TIME, AND THAT IS, TURNING FROM OUR WICKED WAYS. THAT IS OUR PET SINS THAT CHOKE OUT ANY GROWTH. SINS THAT BESET US AND WE HATE GIVING THEM UP. THAT IS PRIDE, ANGER, HATRED, SELFISHNESS, GREED, LUST AND UNFORGIVENESS.

MOST PEOPLE FORGET WHAT THEY ARE THOUGHT IN CHURCH IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. AND THE THINGS THEY REMEMBER, THEY NEVER PUT INTO PRACTICE. OH ! HOW WE HATE TO CHANGE ! WE DONE GOT STUCK ON OURSELVES. WE STUBBORNLY REFUSE TO CHANGE OUR WAYS.

OH ! THE MESSAGES GET PREACHED AND WE SAY AMEN AND HALLELUJAH. WE MAY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND CLAP, BUT DO WE MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR LIVES AND ATTITUDES? MOST TIMES THAT ANSWER IS NO. HUMAN NATURE IS TO PUT OFF ANYTHING WE REALLY DON?T WANT TO DO. IF I PUT IT OFF, I WILL PROBABLY FORGET ABOUT IT AND THAT?S TRUE, AND THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT BECAUSE CHANGING IS SO HARD. WE HEAR THE MESSAGE OR TEACHING, SAY YES AND GO HOME AND KICK THE DOG, THROW OUT THE CAT AND SHAKE THE CANARY?S CAGE.

TURNING FROM OUR WICKED WAYS SEEMS TO BE SO DIFFICULT FOR MOST PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE DON?T SEE OUR LIVES AS WICKED. ITS JUST ME AND THAT IS THE WAY I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. I DON?T DO BAD THINGS !!! I?M A GOOD PERSON, RIGHT ? AT LEAST THAT IS OUR OPINION OF OURSELVES.

YET IN OUR OWN FAMILIES WE MISTREAT OUR SPOUSES AND KIDS. SPOUSES ARE TREATED LIKE SLAVES. DISRESPECTED BY WHAT WE SAY AND PUTTING THE BLAME FOR WHAT GOES WRONG ON EVERYONE ELSE BUT YOU.

WE CURSE OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING THAT ANNOYS US. SOME OF US MAY BE MARRIED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE EASY TO BE PUSHED AROUND. ITS EASY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SERVANTHOOD MENTALITY. WE NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT PAUL SAYS IN 1 COR 9:19 ?

1 Corinthians 9:19 (Amplified Bible)

19For although I am free in every way from anyone's control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ITS TIME FOR US TO WAKE UP! OUR ATTITUDES CAN BE WRONG CONCERNING EVERYONE ELSE, AS LONG AS WE ARE THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. AS LONG AS WE ARE HAPPY. NO ONE ELSE MATTERS.

WICKED WAYS ARE NOT JUST KILLING AND STEELING FROM OTHERS, BUT, IN MOST CASES IT?S THE WAY WE TREAT PEOPLE. WE DON?T SEE THEM THE WAY GOD SEES THEM. WE NEED TO SEE THEM THROUGH SERVANT?S EYES.

GOD CONVICTED ME YEARS AGO AND STILL HAS TO REMIND ME EVERY SO OFTEN ABOUT HOW I TREAT MY WIFE. MOST PEOPLE WHO KNOW CATALINA, KNOW SHE HAS A SERVANT?S HEART. IT CAN BE EASY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PERSON WITH THAT TYPE OF DISPOSITION. HOW YOU TREAT THEM IN PUBLIC MAY NOT BE THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM IM PRIVATE. I AM IN HER LIFE TO MAKE HER A BETTER PERSON.

I BELIEVE GOD TOLD ME TO VIEW MY WIFE AS A LITTLE FILIPINO LADY WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD. AND THAT SHE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW I HAVE TO BE. NOW, WHEN SHE DOES SOMETHING THAT I DON?T CARE FOR, I MUST SAY TO MYSELF ?SHE IS JUST A LITTLE FILIPINO LADY JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE WORLD.?

BUT I QUICKLY TOLD HER THAT IF I DID SOMETHING SHE DIDN?T LIKE, SHE NEEDED TO SEE ME A LITTLE FAT GUY FROM RHODE ISLAND JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT IN LIFE. ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING THIS? THIS MAY SOUND FUNNY BUT IT WORKS. WE NEED TO SEE OTHERS AS GOD SEES THEM.

WICKED WAYS CAN BE HOW WE PERCEIVE AND TREAT PEOPLE. BE MADE AWARE THAT WHAT YOU SAY AND DO TO THEM CAN CAUSE PAIN THAT YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. REMEMBER THAT JESUS CAME THAT WE COULD HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDTLY (JOHN 10:10) THAT MEANS THAT WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO HAVE IS LIFE THAT IS BLESSED AND ONE THAT SATISFIES.

MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, ARE YOU A PLEASURE OR PAIN GIVER? PEOPLE WHO HANG OUT WITH YOU SHOULD BECOME BETTER PEOPLE FOR JUST KNOWING YOU!!!

LETS GO TO 1 CHRONICLES 4:9-10 ----

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (New King James Version)

9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,[a] saying, ?Because I bore him in pain.? 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ?Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!? So God granted him what he requested.
JABEZ WAS LABELED A GIVER OF GRIEF AND SORROW OR PAIN BY HIS MOTHER. BUT HE RECOGNIZED WHAT HIS NAME MEANT AND PRAYED TO GOD THAT HE WOULD NOT CAUSE PAIN TO ANYONE AND THAT GOD WOULD EXPAND HIS TERRITORY. WHAT ARE WE LABELING OURSELVES IN THE EYES OF OTHERS ?

JUST MAYBE SOME OF US HAVE NOT HAD OUR TERRITORIES EXPANDED AND THE REASON MAY BE THAT WE ARE PAIN DISPENSERS PEOPLE BECOME VICTIMS OF YOUR PAIN DISPENSING AND YOU DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY! BECAUSE YOU DON?T SEE YOURSELF AS A PERSON WHO DISPENSES PAIN. OF COURSE, YOUR JUST BEING YOURSELF, RIGHT ?

MOST PEOPLE DISPENSE PAIN BECAUSE THE DON?T HAVE LIFE MORE ABUNDTLY. THEY HAVE EITHER GUILT OR SOME PAST EXPERIENCE THAT WEIGHS THEM DOWN AND TO GET PAST THEIR PAIN, THEY START DISPENSING PAIN TO OTHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF IT IN THEIR LIVES. THE PAIN IS DISPENSED BY THE WAY THEY TALK OR TREAT OTHERS. SOME UNRESOLVED CONFLICT IN THEIR LIVES HAUNTS THEM AND THEY?RE ONLY REACTION IS TO ATTACK AND STRIKE EASY TARGETS. ARE YOU GETTING THE POINT? SOMETIMES WE CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO BECOME PAIN DISPENSERS BY NOT FORGIVING THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID IN THE PAST. SO, THEY STRIKE BACK.

WELL, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS MIND SET AND BEHAVIOR?

FIRST, YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE A PAIN DISPENSER AND YOU HAVE GOT TO WANT TO BE DELIVERED.
WITHOUT KNOWING, YOU HAVE LABELED YOURSELF AS A PAIN GIVER AND NOW OTHER PEOPLE SEE YOU THE SAME WAY.

WE NEED TO SEE SOMETHING IN WHAT JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 20:24-28 ?
His life a ransom for many.?

Matthew 20:24-28 (New King James Version)

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ?You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave? 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.?

WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS THAT WHEN WE FUNCTION AS SERVANTS TO EVERYONE, WE START BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. HE WAS ALWAYS OUR EXAMPLE IN EXAMPLES OF WHAT HE SAID AND DID IN JOHN 13:12-17 ?

John 13:12-17 (Amplified Bible)

12So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you?
13You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am.
14If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet.
15For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.
16I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.
17If you know these things, blessed and happy and [a]to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them].

I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE A FOOT WASHING SERVICE TODAY BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT SERVANT MENTALITY TO EVERYONE YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITHIN LIFE. WHAT A HUMBLING THOUGHT !!

YET WE SEE IN CHURCHES PEOPLE WHO CANNOT GET ALONG, LET ALONE WASH THEIR FEET. WHAT ELSE DOES JESUS HAVE TO DO TO CHANGE THE HEARTS OF SOME PEOPLE. WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE AND WE NEED TO SEE AND ACCEPT THAT AS A FACT.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS SAID IN MT 20:24-28 ABOUT BEING A SERVANT AND WHAT HE DID IN JOHN 13:12-17 AND MAKE THOSE SCRIPTURE A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES.

WHEN WE SEE 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 BECOME A FULL REALITY IN OUR LIVES THE ROAD BECOMES A LOT EASIER TO TRAVEL. REMEMBER:

HUMBLE - RECOGNIZE NEED.
PRAY - ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION.
SEEK HIS FACE - TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WANTS FOR US.
TURN FROM WICKED WAYS - STOP PAIN DISPENSING AND BECOME SERVANTS TO ALL.

IF YOU WANT TO BECOME GREAT, YOU MUST BECOME A SERVANT

WHEN YOU RECEIVE GOD?S LOVE IN ITS FULLNESS, JOY AND PEACE ARE ALMOST AUTOMATIC.
THE REMAINING FRUIT SYMBOLIZE THE CHARACTER OF A SERVANT.

LETS GO TO GALATIANS 5:22-26

Galatians 5:22-26 (Amplified Bible)

22But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[a]that can bring a charge].
24And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
25If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [b]we have our life in God, let us go forward [c]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

26Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FIRST THREE (3), LOVE, JOY, PEACE, BEFORE YOU MANIFEST THE REMAINING SIX (6).
WHEN GOODNESS, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL AND PATIENCE AND FAITHFULNESS BECOMES YOURS, YOUR PAIN DISPENSING DAYS DIE AND FADE AWAY. YOU NOW CAN SERVE.

YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE PEOPLE AS GOD SEES THEM. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE WORLD.

WE WANT TO BECOME PLEASURE DISPENSERS. AND THE WAY TO GET THAT DONE IS TO ALLOW GOD TO MAKE YOU A SERVANT FOR IN SERVANTHOOD THERE IS TRUE HAPPINESS. REMEMBER WHAT GAL 5:13 SAYS.----

Galatians 5:13 (Amplified Bible)

13For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for [a]selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.