August 7, 2016
Morning Worship
Text: James 4:7
Subject: Servanthood
Title: The Cost of Servanthood
We’ve been talking for a couple weeks now about the subject of servanthood. You know it’s not a particularly popular topic in the world today. Most people are looking to what others can do for them and how they can benefit themselves rather than looking for ways to serve others.
In John chapter 13 we see Jesus giving a perfect example of what it means to be a servant by washing the feet of His disciples. And what He did was the lowest of the low as far as being a servant goes. Washing someone’s feet meant you had to stoop down and wash off all of what they might have stepped in during the day’s travels.
John 13:12-17 (NIV2011)
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Oh I like verse 17, …you will be blessed if you do them…
In our first sermon we talked about how the servants of God should expect to receive revelation or prophetic words or visions or dreams from the Lord.
Joel 2:28-29 (NIV2011)
28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
If you claim to be a servant of God and are not looking for the promises given through this prophecy you are missing out on what the Lord wants for you.
Last week then I asked the question “Who is Your Master? Roman’s 6:16 says you can be a servant to either sin or righteousness but not to both. It is a choice we have to make.
Today we want to look at the cost of servanthood. Now we have seen already that it involves service to others. But the thing that it seems is the most difficult in being a servant is to submit yourself to another’s will.
James 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
I believe this is God’s word…
I believe it is for me…
I accept it as mine…
I will appropriate it to my life today…
But he gives us more grace…
In order to get the fullness of what James is saying here we have to back up a few verses.
James 4:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
Who then receives more grace? Those who are not in friendship with the world. You can’t have it both ways.
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
Which would you rather have; resistance from God or grace from God? Humility brings grace… pride brings resistance. But how to you get that humility? Well, that’s what follows in verse 7. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
You can’t have grace until you submit to God. You can’t resist the devil until you submit to God. So what does submission look like?
The word submit means “to make yourself a subordinate or to place yourself under someone else.” It is a military term. You place yourself under another’s authority. The root word means “to arrange yourself in orderly manor.” Like an army in its ranks. It only performs well as long as everybody stays in rank. The whole army is under authority to the General and there are majors and captains and lieutenants and sergeants all with people under their authority.
In the world…
Romans 13:1 (NIV2011)
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
That means submitting to the Office. Those in authority over us. The courts, the police, the schools, your bosses… They may not always be right and they may not always act the way you think they should, but they are still in authority over you so you must submit. The only time that we would resist them is when they attempt to force a Christian to do something they know is biblically wrong.
In the church…
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV2011)
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
The writer of the book of Hebrews was writing to Jewish Christians so this is for the church. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority… I have heard it said before, not in this church, but in others, “why should I have to do what the pastor says? I have the Holy Spirit just as much as he does.” And that is so true. You may be smarter, older, wiser, more outgoing, more talented, speaking in tongues more, operating in the other gifts more… but you are still to submit yourself to the leaders in the church. Why? Because the Lord has ordained it to be so! Listen, don’t you ever think that I am saying this because I want to be able to force you to do something you don’t want to do. All I want is for you to get more grace…
In the family…
Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV2011)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
We seem to have entered into a generation where respect and submission have been tossed out the window. Now respect for the authority of government or the police or the church. And I believe it begins in the family. It starts as soon as a child learns the difference between right and wrong and parents tell a child to do something and they say, “NO!” And parents say, “Well it’s just their age… they’ll grow out of it”. And then they start using inappropriate words and mom and dad says, “Isn’t that cute?” And before long they have lost control of the child. Listen, it’s not all right. If you allow your children to rebel against you, then you are allowing them to rebel against God. 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Is submission a bad thing? No because it brings grace into your life.
It is submission that allows the spirit of the servant to rise up in you. Servants cannot be a servant unless they submit to the Him and to all those He has placed over you. You see it’s the struggle that is warring in you between the spirit man and the flesh. The flesh always wants its way. I don’t care how long you have been a Christian, or how much you pray or read your bible every day, your flesh will always try to do everything it can to have its way.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
the obedience of Christ…
Did Jesus ever war between the spirit and the flesh? Did He ever have the same struggles that we have in submitting to another?
In the Garden of Eden, Jesus went through that same struggle.
Luke 22:39-44 (NKJV)
39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.
40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
What was the agony that He experienced. He was submitting Himself to the will of God and His flesh was crying out “NO. I don’t want to do it!” …nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Submission will cost you something. You have to be willing to give your whole self to the Lord, but in return you get everything from Him.
Communion:
In communion we celebrate submission; The Lord’s submission to the Father and our submission to God through His son Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:28-31 (NIV2011)
28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJV)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Remember My submission – how in the flesh I didn’t want to go through with it – but I resigned myself to the Father’s will.
1 Corinthians 11:25 (NKJV)
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
As every lash was administered to Jesus’ body I wonder if He was thinking, “What have I done?” Every stripe, every piece of flesh that was removed, every drop of blood that was spilled was because Jesus said, “Not my will but Your will be done.”
His submission cost Him something. His life!
But it gained our eternal life.
Your submission will be the same. Maybe not leading to your death but submitting to the Lord so that you can say, “My life is not my own. I was bought with a price.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.
Lord, I submit to You till You come in glory!
