How to Measure a Man

Adrian Rogers was a motivator and encourager and a leader of the thing. He was also passionate about presenting scriptural application to everyday life circumstances.

You'll hear that in today's message, now let's join Adrian Rogers how would you take your Bibles and current reported working. There are serious and the book arrives and thought about old time religion so were trying not unnecessarily to modernize our church actually were trying to get our church back to the first century because that old time religion is also the new time religion about noontime religion therefore is the old time religion that old time religion all be the anytime religion and the anytime religion ought to be there every time religion. Where will find out really how we live and operate in these last days. Now we're going to read here in acts chapter 20 beginning in verse 36 and the scene is a very poignant scene. The apostle Paul is revisiting the mission field and it comes to Miletus and there he gathers with him the Ephesian elders and he has a time walking with them down memory lane. They talk about the good times that they had together how God had blessed and poured out his blessing. Paul rehearsed it all and then here's what happened in verse 36 and when he had just spoken. He kneeled down and prayed with them all and they all went sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him sorrowing. Most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more, and they accompanied him to the ship usual imagination. I mean, dear friend. They were one in the bonds of love.

They had been through so many prayer meetings evangelistic crusades together they'd seen so many victories in Jesus.

Their hearts were so melted together. Now they're having a prayer meeting.

They're all on their knees and God moves into that prayer meeting and is such a sweet spirit and then as they get the praying they realize this is the last prayer meeting owner will ever have with Paul the apostle and they began to weep not just a few tears there convulsing. The Bible says they wrap sore and then they began to huddle Paul's neck Bible says I just fell on his neck and there weeping and squeezing him in discarding him because they know. Never again will this earth will I see Paul and then they walked down to the war where the ship is there. Paul gets on that ship and it as it begins to say Elijah standing there just booing and just Joe weeping because Paul is leaving very dear, dear friend and he's going to be sorely missed.

Now question for you when you're gone. Are you going to be missed. I mean, other than by your family. Are you going to be missed.

Will it make any difference by the way you are going, you are going. I mean, you may move out of the city, which are going either by rapture are your going by Dan world going world going and the question is when you go, what difference will it make his life going to have any kind of an impact I heard of a man who had surgery and he woke up in the recovery room and all of the windows were covered with curtains. The blinds would roll call the nurses and nurse open the window.

I will see outside who close the blinds.

Anyway, she said, just calm down. She said I close them so there's a big fire across the street and I didn't want to wake up and think the operation was not a success. Some of us are going to wake up and find out that our entire life was not a success. We wasted our life we going to go out into eternity with a wasted life and by the way, when you go you're going to leave behind you all that you have in your going to take with you all that you all and I wonder really what you will take with you. Hello world when the world measures a man the world measures a man by brain are by brawl are Bible books. How do you measure Manley what really counts. I was on an airplane. I was reading an article about the Guinness world book of records what people do to make an impact on society and read about one man over in France. His name is Michael Lotito's claim to fame is eating glass and eating matter he grinds it up and eats it mixes them with his sweeties or whatever eats, and that's what accents 1966.

He's eaten 10 bicycles through the supermarket car in for half days. He ate six chandeliers PA Cessna light aircraft all whole airplane back. Can you imagine this fellow reporting into Jesus. My son wanted to do when you were down there on earth, Lord, I even airplane want to claim the thing. I mean what really counts. What really matters. How do you measure life. How do you measure a man. What if you will look back in this 20th chapter of the book arrives unified. Three things about the apostle Paul that I think are the measure of the man, how do you measure a man will first of all, you measure him by the manner of his life begin with me in verse 17 and from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and call the elders of the church and when they were come to him.

He said under them, you know, from the first day that I came into Asia after Wotan manner.

I have been with you in all seasons serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait to do now, what was the manner of his life will first of all his life was a life of humility look in verse 19 serving the Lord with all humility. I thought about this as I prepare this message and I'm prepared to say and I believe with all of my heart that nobody has a life worth living. Nobody has a life that can be called a great life.

There is no true greatness without true humility without true humility serving the Lord. He says with all humility and what is humility. Humility is not putting yourself down. Humility is not saying that you are no good because that is not true about you friend. As Chris cited saying Jesus paid too great a price for you to say that you know good. I'll tell you who you are friend you are a child of God.

If you say I'll tell you who you are you a prince and a king.

He has made us a kingdom of priest you are a holy priest how to you who you are.

If you received Jesus is not ashamed to call you his brother so your next of kin to the holy Trinity don't get the idea that humility is not loving yourself for the Bible says we are to love others as we love ourselves. And if you will love you. I'm afraid because you don't know how to love me where to love others as we love ourselves. What is humility is not degrading yourself is not putting yourself down to what humility is humility. Is that honest estimation of yourself that says about you. What God says about you and it results primarily in serving notice and adversity says serving the Lord with all humility. Look at the word serving the Lord serving is the verb form of the noun due to loss which means bondslave. You know what the market humility is your service serving others on a humble person is a person who serves other people serving the Lord with all humility, when God measures a man's life. He does not measure the man's life by how many service.

The man had but by how many men, the man serves serving the Lord with all humility and focus a lot of you whose life is going to amount to little more than a zero with the edges trimmed off and I'll tell you why you never learned to serve you come to church on Sunday morning is six-hour and so what you don't serve. You need to find a place of service in this church, and in this community and in your home and you need to say Lord God made the assignment because unless your servant. You're not going to be truly missed. When your jaw Allison. Not only was there a life of humility, but it was also a life of heartache because he says in verse 19 serving the Lord with all humility and to the apostle Paul had a broken heart. The apostle Paul was a compassionate man. The apostle Paul knew how to we. He knew how to enter into the sorrows and the hurts of other people. That's a way to be missed. You live for cell phone, and self-loathing you try to insulate yourself from the cares and the toils and the problems of this world you be missed, but you show me a person who knows how to sympathize a person who knows how to empathize, person who has the compassion of the Lord Jesus in his heart and his life. I will ask you question do the things that break the heart of Jesus break your heart be allowed to we went to last time you shed a tear over some soul. It was mortgage to the devil. Now when you read about the ministry of Paul you'll read about in weeping know what you know about it as he told you he I believe most of the time he wept in pride. I can say for my own life ice. I shipped far more tears in my study than I do my poop but I'm telling you, dear friend, that Jesus was a man of tears and Paul's amount of tears and Jeremiah was a man of tears and we are the people of the apostle Paul said, I serve the Lord with humility. I serve the Lord with Hardy and then he said I serve the Lord with hardship.

He speaks there in verse 19 of the many trials that be filming. King James uses the word temptations, but it literally means trials here literally means that there were people who disliked him there were people who opposed him. There were people who literally bodily physically harm him because of the stand that he took for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no way no way that you can have a life that will count and make an impression on this world without making some in knowing dear friend and last you all willing to those three things to be in your life, humility, heartache and hardship. You're not going to have the kind of life that Paul had and is not going be the kind of life that counts squeeze out all that kind of life or maybe you don't. Maybe just want you all wrapped up in your little self, but I wanted to be free when you're gone is not make much difference. Nobody in this world would say that's a way to have a great life. I don't believe that the Hollywood logos would say that's a way to have a great life. Humility Hardy and hardship.

Nobody wants that do know they think a great life or something else, but different. I want a that is a great life that is that is the matter will send you know manner of my life I was a measure of his life. Now let me say not only was his life, measured by the manner of but also his life was measured by the message of because you see not only do we live a certain way, but we say a certain thing that is where to leave behind us a message.

Everyone of us will be known for something when were going, they will think about us here what I want to think about when I think about me, the gospel of Christ. I wanted to say that man's life was centered in the only message that really matters. Now notice the apostle Paul. Paul says in verse 20 he says and how I can make nothing that was profitable and you would have shown you and taught you publicly and from house to house that is in every place, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, every person, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

That was the content of his message that encapsulates his life repentance and faith and repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ always known primarily as a gospel preacher.

It was an error message.

He didn't start Reagan's family didn't equivocate On preaching that message.

That was the continent. I want you to notice the conviction of notice in verse 22 and now, behold, I go bound in the spirit.

Under Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there except that the Holy Ghost witnesses that in witnesses in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me pulses I'm going back to Jerusalem the Spirit of God wants me to go bound in the spirit that is I know it's God's will for me to go and I know I get there I'm going to heartache and trouble bonds and afflictions abide me but now what's verse 24 will, but none of these things move me, that is, I don't get stampeded by any of these things, neither count I my life dear to myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received of the Lord Jesus Christ and testify the gospel of the grace of God, you will life it counts dear friend, you don't have to have a message that has the right content and the right conviction balls and I'm bound in the spirit.

He said these things move me to stop me all had a golden dull grip on certain things are you that way. It was wrong. The average Baptist. He has opinions and not convictions. Paul had convictions. He said I'm bound in the spirit. I am going to finish my course with joy.

I will base and I know what I'm going to it eventually led to his day, but Paul would rather die with a conviction than live with the compromise about you.

Most of us have far rather live with the compromise than to die with conviction, but you can understand why Paul was a man that he was and how this shames me as I think of the content of his message has I think of the conviction of his message. But then I think of the confidence of his message. Paul die confidently.

Notice.

Notice what he says in verse 25 and now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God to see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am sure from the blood of all men, for I am not shown to the Clearview all the counsel of God. Praise God always confident both you see me anymore. I'm going to heaven was a one thing I am pure from the blood of all men what they mean by that.

I'm pure from the blood of all men. We know what Ezekiel said that we are like watching up on the wall and we see the enemy, and we do not warn the people inside the city about the enemy they going to die, but their blood will be required in our deceased talking about soul winning. If we don't tell our friends, our neighbors, our brothers or sisters about the Lord Jesus Christ they die and go to hell their blood on our hands merely strike. Suppose your child gets sick with a nameless disease that disease was gnawing away at his life, and you knew that your child was going to die and then suppose you met a doctor that Dr. prescribed particular medicine for your child and your child radically dramatically got well and then suppose an epidemic of that same disease broke out in your city and you know the name of that Dr. and you know that that Dr. could prescribe the medicine that would save the lives of those two and you did nothing to tell anyone and those children died would not their blood be on your hands effortless.

If we know the only message that this world needs, and we don't tell me we are guilty of high treason against heavens King and we're going to meet the Lord with bloodied hands. The apostle Paul knew that before long he was going to have to report to and he said I am sure I'm free from the blood of all men. I'm not going to face my Lord with bloodied hand.

Listen close listen.

Some of you. Some of us are going to face the Lord with blood on our hands souls that we should witness to have died in go to hell and it's our phone's article. Paul had a confidence about his message, he said I'm not shown to the Clearview the whole counsel of God.

I'm from the blood of all men. I want how many can say that I see the apostle Paul.

He's in his sale the time for his execution is, a burly God comes to us out of all, where we going we are going to the chopping block. Paul we good execute you. Paul becomes with the chain divine Paul pulses.

You only put the chain on me. I can walk Sarai were less go so the guard takes Paul and they began to walk down toward the Tiber River thereto. Execution place that River that will soon drink the blood of the great apostle Mary goes the greatest Christian who ever lived. Can you see little hope back to hobbling along his body been broken scar from the whippings the starlings the imprisonments being tickled in the Mediterranean Sea little gray haired squinty eyes. He's walking along the guard says dryer music are you are you humming is holy. I know you were listening to me just a little Saul that we love the saying it will be worth it all.

When we see Jesus regards as your your strange will and and and and they bring him down there and the executioner says well to the chopping block, which is usually the time he is all right and he kneels down and puts his neck on the chopping block is in charge of rape.

Always that I've done this before, but you can always as I die daily pencils basically put his head on the chopping block any last words Paul or yes I'm glad you asked. Here my last words Jesus Christ is Lord Max falls his head rolls over into the best the next scene is heaven is looking into the face of Jesus Mrs. Lord Jesus, you know I wasn't strong.

I was ugly. I didn't have a good voice, Lord, I Think I finished my course, Lord. I fought a good fight Lord. These hands up, you from the blood of how you like to meet the Lord.

That way, many of us are going to meet the Lord with bloodied hands. I believe the Lord Jesus would say to him. Well, thou good and faithful servant now into the joy of thy Lord.

Thank you, Paul. True to me. My friend that's a measure of a life lesson not only the manner of a life. But the message of the life only to the third thing.

I believe it made the miss the apostle Paul so much. Here's the way you measure manned by the manner of his life. You measure manned by the message of his life and then you measure a man by the motto of his line, every man has a motto for his life. Maybe he's put it into words. Maybe he has to whether something that impels him is something that motivates him is something that drives him is something that constrains him here was Paul's constraint. Look, if you will, beginning in verse 33.

I have coveted no man silver are gold our apparel, ye yourselves know that these hands administered under my necessities under them, and I have showed you all things, how that so laboring he ought to support the week and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it is more blessed to give than to receive a photo that is not yet underline in your Bible, please underline remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said is more blessed to give than receive. This was the motto Paul's life remembering the words of Jesus. It is more blessed to give than to receive. The apostle Paul was a great man because he spent life, not primarily as a receiver but as a never therefore his life was blessed life is divided the people in life are divided into two categories. The takers and the give the takers eat better. The givers sleep better is more blessed, more blessed to give than receive. When you die. All you going to take with you is what you give away a friend what you spend is gone forever.

What you did not spend will be left for others, but what you gave away is yours forever does more blessed to give than receive not want to see what that motto bid for him. I want you to see what that that philosophy did to him. Number one. If freedom from covetousness. Look, if you will, in verse 33. I have coveted no man silver. Our goal, our apparel, one of the 10 Commandments is thou shalt not covet.

The Bible says that covetousness is my dollar what is wrong with pari-mutuel gambling. You were given a brochure when you came in talking about wagering gambling horse racing where going to be this Montana and horrendous battle here in our city. What is wrong with gambling. Gambling is built primarily upon the principle of covetousness, which is wanting what somebody else has been getting that into your possession.

Let me tell you why gambling is wrong. I will put it in a simple sentence.

I want to get it get a big plane. Get it straight.

Why gambling wrong. Gambling is wrong because it is built on this principle gambling is profit and pleasure at cost of someone else's loss and pain. Did you understand that gambling is profit and place at the cost of somebody else's loss and pain. Remember this if you will remember anything else. No one can win it gambling without someone else losing big understanding is so simple. People say what's wrong with you are trying to get what belongs to somebody else without a fair exchange. That's what's wrong is based on covetousness when you're waiting gambling. You lower yourself and you victimize your neighbor Paul say I remember the words of Jesus is more blessed again and receive their five coveted nothing that belongs to someone else. If freedom from covetousness but not only did refrain from covetousness. If freedom from idleness like you will in verse 34 ye yourselves know that these hands he held up his hands administered under my necessities.

That is, I work for my meeting and to them that were with me and I have showed you all things, how that's so laboring you want to support the week I was Paul say Paul said there people who will we be people who can't work there. People have knees and say so that I might help any. Now the Bible says that a man won't work me the Chevy whether some people can't work and those of us who can work the to help those who are weak something else about pari-mutuel gambling was so wrong with it. It surmises those who can least afford to be victimized. They say well it's a form of voluntary tactics, a regressive tax status before is the media who consistently spend the greater part of their income on gambling, yet it produces no well here is only a transfer of wealth primarily from the hands of the poor and the needy into the hands of the more wealthy.

There are some people who will make money will pari-mutuel gambling but not many and not before, and not the needy and the spirit of Jesus is is more blessed to give than to receive. You want help maybe people don't build a race track. Give them something they call in the name of Jesus can help but will build a system based on three. What was the motto of Paul's life more blessed to give than receive it saving from covetousness it saving from idleness and friend it saving from selfishness. Nobody, nobody has a great life that is a selfish life. Nobody apostle Paul lived a life of giving, not taking on helping not hurting, loving and lifting and carrying World War II in a Polish village. The Nazis came in the village argues all of the Jews in that village of crimes against the state brought them out of their houses brought about a particular field and made MD ADH, that would later become the grave. Then they strip them of all of the clothing they line those Polish Jews against the wall, they got their machine guns and began to mow them down just just going after bullet flying intellect, quivering flesh, and the people felt like cordwood head over heels into the grave a little 10-year-old boy make it was standing there with his mother, his daddy no blisters and their bodies open and the blood splattered everywhere as they fell little boy. Phil also but he was not touched by one bullet he fell in the grave and lay still. They assumed he was dead because he was splattered with blood and they began to push the dirt over these people and bury that little 10-year-old boy alive. His face was in such a position that he called a pocket of air and there was that the ground was not pack that and he could actually breathe under the ground, lying only mutilated bodies of his loved ones. After several hours, was now dark. He began to dig out of his own grave and clawed and dug his way to the surface actually dug his way out of his grade. He was naked clotted with blood clot. He went to the house neighbor and knocked on the door and when he came she saw that little boy that covered with blood and dirt.

Okay with the remains of his grave. She recognized him as one of the Jewish boys and knew that he been marked for death. She screamed at in Galway and slammed the door in his face little boy dragged himself to another door knocked on the door and Rachel and the same thing happened with woman and Tara said no I cannot help.

He went to one third door knocked on the door when the woman opened the door she looked at him and her face froze, but before she could say anything he said to her goal you recognize me I am good Jesus that you say you love, she broke in with, and said come in, come in at the risk of her own life. She sheltered that 10-year-old child.

Jesus said it is not as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren under me is no easy way to have a great life. I'm tell you different. It is more blessed to give than it is to receive and some of us when were gone when I don't mean this is when were gonna go to weep softly, those who know the things that count.

And primarily, you measure land you measure the man by the manner of his life.

The message of his life. The motto of his life is more blessed to give than to receive.

I will remind you one more time.

My friend, when you die you going to leave behind all that you have and you go to take with you all that you are whispering father. As I look at the life of the apostle Paul, and I realize Lord truly was a life that has impacted eternity. I pray God that you help me in some measure to live the same kind of life. Help the school Lord I pray now for those who not save it today will come to know Jesus's name amen. If you would like to learn more about how you can know Jesus or deepen your relationship with him.

Simply click the distemper Jesus link on our website LWF.org for copy this message or additional resources, visit our online store@lwf.org or call 1-800-274-5683 thank you