Introduction:
Matthew 6:33 says to seek first the kingdom of God. We are being taught to seek first what is good for ourselves every day. But the kingdom of God is not all about us. Yet, we must be all about the Kingdom of God; revealing it, accessing it, and getting others to join it. We are not called to serve ourselves, but to Serve God and by his calling and heart, serve others.
Transition to the first point: An essential to our mission is the method by which we go about it and our method is service. This morning I propose that there are three essentials to service in the Kingdom and to the world: Holy Spirit, Humility, and Hard Work.
Point 1: Humility
Explanation: Rather than looking to serve ourselves, we are being called to serve others. When you hear the word serve, what do you think of? Do you think of a waiter serving food? That’s a curious picture painted by the Greek word diakoneo, used in the following verse: Matthew 20:28. The implication of this word is to wait on someone else. It invokes images of being a servant/attendant, a domestic for hire offering food or drinks to a guest. It can also mean to relieve one’s necessities, to provide for or take care of.
The Washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-7)
Illustration: In 1878, when William Booth's Salvation Army was beginning to make its mark, men and women from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of becoming a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. Samuel Brengle left a fine pastorate to join Booth's Army. But at first General Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." And in order to instill humility in Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of other trainees. Discouraged, Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then, as in a vision, he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "you washed their feet; I will black their shoes."?(K Hughes, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, Tyndale, 1988, p. 45)
Application: Others. That is the point of service. Our method is to die to ourselves, offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and serve others. But we can rest assured because as we give more and more of our lives away, we have this promise of God building a life for us. It’s all in his head, it’s his story, his plan. We can trust him.
Transition to the next Point: Humility is key when serving others. But it isn’t easy. It can be hard. And we need to be prepared for the second essential to our missional method….
Point 2: Hard Work
Explanation: The last biblical definition of service is different, but completes the picture painted by these beautiful languages. In Exodus we find out that the Israelites are faced with hundreds of years of slavery and hard labor, serving the Pharaoh and the country of Egypt. The word often translated to “service” is `abad meaning to serve another, sometimes in bondage or out of debt. But the picture always includes intensive labor. We see Jacob laboring for his wife for 14 long years. When we think about serving others, we ought to expect to work hard at it. We can’t do God’s part, but he won’t do ours. We’ve got a hand in this.
Illustration: Movie clip from “Faith Like Potatoes”
Application: We aren’t to be like a farmer who prays for rain and doesn’t prep the fields. Our field prepping is the exhibition of our authentic hope that the rain will fall! Our labor is a depiction of our authentic hope that lives will be changed. We have to get some skin in the game! We need to carry the burden of others.
Transition to next Point: Our method is almost complete. We need humility, hard work, and Holy Spirit.
Point 3: Holy Spirit
Explanation: Before we can serve the Kingdom of God, we must be a member. In our last meeting I talked about the message that we have within us. Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension paved the way for Holy Spirit to get involved in the mission. He comes to lead, comfort, and empower. Without Holy Spirit, we are not only overwhelmed by the task at hand but utterly incapable and without the proper tools.
See Acts 6:1-7, The seven are selected, pending on their being filled with the Spirit of God.
Illustration: How many of us would go out to dig a hole without a shovel, build a chair with no saw, or trek a mountain with no map? Even, read a book with no eyes? You need a tool for the task.
Application: The Lord calls and he equips. It would be unwise for us to neglect the power and need for the Holy Spirit in our lives. It was the Spirit of God that gave them the fortitude, love, and missional heart needed for the job.
Conclusion:
Summarize all points:
If we don’t humble ourselves, how can we hope to pay any mind to anyone else long enough to help them? Don’t we realize that we aren’t any better? We are mere beggars telling other beggars here the bread is! Getting that bread can be hard work. We ought to sweat and get uncomfortable for the good of another if we hope to change in anything in this world. And without Holy Spirit, we can’t do much but feed our own egos in a circle of material mass and spiritual emptiness.
Apply all points: What is holding you back from serving others? Is it your pride? Is it your fear of losing your things? Is it that you are tight on money? Is it that you just don’t really like people? What does it benefit you to understand that you are a person too?
Invitation: I invite you to ask God for a humble spirit. I pray that you ask God to give you a heart like his, one that cares about and seeks others. The church is here to serve the world and make an appeal to the Gospel. I invite you to my office this week to ask how you can make a difference. We do a lot here and there is plenty for you to get involved with. Let’s pray.
Prayer Chorus: “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath
References
Biblica Inc, . (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011). Holy Bible New Internation Version. Biblica.
Gaebelein, F. E. (March 1979). The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Vol. 10: Acts). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Mounce, W. D. (2006). Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
Swindoll, C. (1989). Living Above Mediocrity . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
