INTRO: Student at Bible College in the Philippines
-troubled over conditions of bathroom kept getting dirtier and dirtier
-young man was going to take matter into his own hands.
-went in and complained to the principal about the bathrooms.
-few days later the bathrooms started to shape up. This made the student happy.
-Awhile later the young man was surprised to see a man with a map and pail in his hands
just getting through with the bathroom, it was the principal!
Today, I’m going to talk about what it means to have a servant’s attitude.
I. A servant must understand authority.
II. A servant must understand self-denial.
III. A servant must understand service.
TITLE: Servant Attitude
TEXT: Romans 13:1-2 NIV
I. A servant must understand authority – Romans 13:1-2 (READ)
A. Know and understand (illustrate my story unloading truck).
-everyone (universal start)
-Submit, GK means placing oneself under someone else.
Interesting: Paul avoids using the stronger word to obey.
1. Circumstances may arise in which you can’t obey because it would cause you to sin.
Ex. Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than man.” (Disciples called before
Sanhedrin and told not to proclaim the name of Jesus. They refused.)
2. God has established every authority.
a. Tough thought – “God has established every authority or has allowed it to exist.”
Luke 4:6 – Satan makes the statement to Jesus when tempting Him in the desert and
showing Him all the kingdoms of the world. “I will give you all their authority and splendor for it has been given to me!”
b. Rebel against his authority, you are rebelling against what God has instituted, bring judgment on themselves.
Summarize what we looked at:
1. God has established every authority.
2. Everyone must submit to governing authority (good or evil).
Exception: If governing authorities go against God’s laws (you can disobey, but you still may be punished by man).
**But God will reward you. (Might have to wait until you get to heaven.)
B. Understand background of writing.
1. Scholars believe one of the reasons Paul wrote Romans was to warm the believers not to get
involved in any movement advocating rebellion against Rome.
2. Principle Paul is trying to show is God is in control of every authority in existence.
Illustrate: Caretaker (faithful and loyal)
Thought: If you can’t obey man and his laws, how do you expect to obey mine? Because I
will call you to do much harder things.
3. Story of David and Saul (Scriptures)
-Lord rejects Saul as king – disobedience.
-Samuel anoints Kind David.
-David kills Goliath.
-Saul becomes jealous of David.
-Saul tries to kill David with a spear (supper) heartburn.
-David runs off and is hiding in caves while Saul is hunting him.
-Saul goes into cave to relieve himself and David’s chance to kill him.
Refuses, cuts off en feels guilty and runs and falls prostrate in front of Saul.
-David again spares Saul’s life. Saul sleeping by fire. David and fellow soldier sneak up
and David and soldier wanted to kill him. David refused and stuck speak by head.
**David says – “Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless, the
Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come or he will die,
or he will go into battle and perish.”
-Saul gets critically wounded in battle with Philistines and he tries to kill himself. He
falls on his sword but it still alive, calls to an Amalakite to kill him
(didn’t want to be tortured).
-Man killed Saul (spared from torture, did what Saul asked).
-Man seized crown and ran and told David.
*David killed the man because he killed the Lord’s anointed.
C. America has lost it’s respect for authority.
1. Do what you want, “be free” attitude, just as long as you don’t hurt anyone. (Tom protest –
did not know what protesting)
a. Attitude of rebellion
1. Sam. 15:23 – “Rebellion is like the sin of divination.” Rebellion is like witchcraft
(God looks at it).
Note: Attitude of rebelling against authority. Not saying protest is wrong.
2. Paul in Romans 13:2 (READ) Bring judgment on yourself.
D. A servant must have a submissive attitude rather than a rebellious one. Hebrews 5:17 – “During the
days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one
who could save him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.”
1. Reverent submission to God and His laws.
**A servant must understand authority but also understand what self-denial means. (Felicia
cleaning room).
II. A Servant must understand self-denial.
A. You cannot be a strong Christian without understanding self-denial.
1. What does it mean: much more than self-control.
Self-denial – to treat self as non-existent not just simply to control it but to turn your back on it.
Treat it as though it does not exist.
Does not mean – that you don’t use your talents and skills or turn down riches and blessings!
Means – you turn down anything which is in competition with Christ (different for each one of
us).
B. Mark 8:34 (READ) Jesus telling them He is going to die and three days rise again.
1. Jesus knows His time is short so He is giving very important information.
a. Jesus gives them information. For those who want to follow Him must:
1. Deny self – first thing that must happen. Christ and self cannot reign together (either one
or other).
-Only the power of God can take self off the throne.
2. Take up the cross.
-What is the cross (trials, suffering, difficulties, a place to die).
a. These trials and difficulties must be divinely appointed, not self-imposed.
Point: Pharisee self-imposed restrictions and didn’t even do this to God (Lord cleaning house).
3. Follow me – this is more than just believing in Him, obeying His commandments,
trusting in Him for salvation. This means to become like Him, be directed by the Spirit
the way Jesus did, to go wherever the Lord commands.
4. Order – very important, we notice the order.
a. deny self
b. take up cross
c. follow me
Important: Cannot mix the order, it will cause problems. Maybe we want to follow Christ,
but we don’t want to deny ourselves or to take up His cross (prosperity, friends, Hagin,
Copeland).
Illustrate: Farming (plow, plant, harvest…what would happen if you plant the seed before
you plow (would not work out well).
**Same way in spiritual growth process…must deny self in order to follow Christ.
III. A Servant Must Understand Service
A. Story of Daniel and his family
-background: As a teenager Daniel’s homeland was invaded and he was captured along with many
others.
-King of Babylong, Nebuchadnezzar, wanted brightest one brought to his palace for special training.
-Trained for three years along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
-King found that they were the brightest young men in his kingdom.
-Daniel was made ruler over entire province of Babylon (interpreting King’s dreams) along with
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
B. Service: They obeyed or did the service of the king (no gorilla warfare, or at least would not help the
king in his affairs).
1. I believe they understood what it meant to follow the Lord.
a. Understood the principle of authority.
-God has established every authority. Hab. 1:6 – “I am raising up the Babylons that ruthless
and impetuous people, who will sweep across the whole earth.”
God brought the Babylons into power.
b. But they only obeyed until they were told to disobey God.
Ex. Fiery furnance.
c. Result: we’re allowed to worship their God, I’m sure they had many souls saved that day!
**God is more concerned with saving souls than your nationality!
IN CONCLUSION: A servant:
1. Must understand authority.
a. Know and understand.
b. David’s respect for God’s authority.
c. Hebrews, Jesus’ prayers answered because of reverent submission.
2. Must understand self-denial.
a. Jesus’ important words.
-Deny self.
-Take up cross.
-Follow me.
b. Order extremely important.
3. Must understand service.
a. Daniel and his three friends.
If you are wondering if you have a servant’s attitude, this question might help you find out. How do you act when you are treated like a servant?
Jesus says talking with disciples whoever wants to be great among you must be a servant. Just like Christ (came to serve, not to be served).
