WHY CAN’T WE SERVE GOD THE WAY WE WANT?

NUMBERS 16:1-11                                           

Pastor Rick Jackson

I knew a woman that wanted to become a preacher, so she divorced her husband, left her family, went to cemetery, er, seminary, and got her liberal denomination to ordain her. When I was surprised at this turn of events some professing Christians questioned, “why can’t she serve God the way she wants?” Well, there are at least 3 reasons why we can’t serve God the way WE want.

 

I. WE CAN’T SERVE GOD THE WAY WE WANT BECAUSE OF OTHERS

1. Timing -Joseph’s Brothers [Gn. 50:20]

- But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

2. Training –“Not a novice” Paul, Barnabas and John Mark

3. Tribulation –Apostles [Acts 5:17-20]

-Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

 

II. WE CAN’T SERVE GOD THE WAY WE WANT BECAUSE OF OURSELVES

1. Sin Disqualifies Some [1 Tm. 3:1-7]

2. Standards Discourage Some [1 Tm. 3:1-7]

3. Self Diverts Some [Jonah, Moses, Peter]

 

III. WE CAN’T SERVE GOD THE WAY WE WANT BECAUSE OF GOD

1. It Must Be God’s Way [2 Sam. 6, 1 Chr. 15:2]

Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

2. It Must be According to God’s Word [Num. 20:7-12]

3. It Must Be God’s Will [1 Tm. 2:12-15] some jobs are for certain people

 

BASICALLY, IT’S NOT ABOUT US, IT’S ABOUT HIM.