Servanthood 2020
Finding where we belong
John 13:1-17
Introduction- Good morning- if you would turn to John chapter 13
I have been praying for this day and desiring to see us back in worship. It is good to see everyone.
I know that we will not have normal as we knew normal, but that can be a good thing.
I desire much more than our normal. I am praying for the Lords spectacular!
Something fresh and new that would send God’s people into revival and the lost to find Jesus! Amen.
I believe that when nothing seems to be happening, that my God is up to something!
When things seem to be uprooted and taken, that God is up to something with His people.
I hope that you have taken time to think while you have been in isolation and quarantine on what God is up too in your life.
It seems like there are a lot of things out of our control- things we would like to see changed but have not.
It has given me a new appreciation of “When you have done all that you know to do- stand firm”
That was a scriptural phrase that has been our motto here at Rosedale for a long time-
We must do all we know to do and when we have done all that- stand firm that God is doing something even when we don’t see it.
Also during this pandemic;
I have been praying that God would work in my life and in your life so that others would see Jesus - in us and through us, that we would be a voice.
I would get a better grasp of where I fit into the plan of God for where He has me.
That I would be a solution finder.
I understand all of us have busy lives. I understand the responsibilities of life. I have a few of my own.
Some people think the pastor lives in an ivy tower, but I assure you Becky and I feel the pressures of life just like everyone else.
I am not asking, and I am for sure not begging for people who are doing much to do more.
I am not even addressing those who enjoy the ministries of the church to be on a guilt trip for not helping.
I am simply asking;
What does God’s Word say about Serving?
What is Servanthood? What does God say about our responsibility to the Kingdom?
Can you and I be a bystander when it comes to caring for other people?
Can we as believers get caught up in the moments of life and miss what we are suppose to be doing for the Kingdom of God?
John 13:1-17 read
You may ask, what does that have to do with anything? I am going to show you.
Jesus had just about completed the journey to the cross.
Judas had already sold Him out and they would soon take Jesus.
Jesus after the meal, the last supper, prepares to wash the disciple’s feet.
Peter objects that his Lord would wash his feet. Why?
Because in his mind Jesus is above washing feet- that was for someone of lower standard.
Jesus says that you don’t get it, but if you don’t let me wash your feet, you have no part of me.
Jesus was sent as a servant- He is telling Peter, if you are not a servant, you are not one of my disciples.
Peter, who is not always know for getting it right right away- not only my feet, but my whole body.
I want to be all in!
The culture was that people of low standard in the house would wash the feet of a visitor entering a home. The road was dusty and it was a sign of welcoming.
Jesus gave the leaders one more example of what He expects from those that claim the name of Christ.
Jesus lets us know that if you are to live a life pleasing for the Lord, we will live a life of service.
When I say a servant, who do you think of?
Maid. Butler.
Someone of a lower standard than you.
Mary Poppins, Mr. Belvedere, Hop sing,
Shoeshine man at the airport.
Do you get spiritual and think of Mother Teresa.
Someone you would control because you hold their paycheck. Someone that works for you.
You don’t think of movie stars, presidents, high CEO’s, because we have raised them above the class of servant.
They have servants, they are not servants.
Jesus turned the whole idea of being a servant upside down. He did because it was not based on position, wealth, or popularity.
Just like Jesus to mess up a good thing! So they thought.
The Son of God, the one that made the universe,
The one who was going to redeem the world says “Not my will, but my Father’s will be done”
“The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve”. Mark 10:45.
Jesus put a towel around his waist and took that humble role as a servant.
Kind of different than James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who wanted to sit on the right and left side of Jesus in heaven.
Wanted to be exalted for all to see that they had special favor with God.
Jesus gave us a challenge. He shows us that when we have a servant heart:
We serve by humbling ourselves.
We serve by leading others.
We serve by loving God, and by loving others.
The world is focused on taking, Jesus says that you have to be focused on giving.
Jesus shows the more you understand His Word, you will be serving others.
The world says the higher up the ladder you go, the more arrogant and selfish you get. Evidenced by their attitude.
The Bible says that the heart is deceitful, its wicked, its selfish.
Jesus says that once there is transformation. Halleuejah!
A change of heart when you come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, you should be different.
You are not a robot, but your allegiance is changed.
“Don’t conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.”
You don’t think the same.
You get joy from helping someone.
The world reaction is, I have worked hard to get where I am at, everyone needs to take advantage of breaks they get in life.
I’ve clawed my way to the top of the ladder, nobody gave me anything.
I have the scars to prove it.
Where I am going with this?
That Jesus is our example of serving others.
Jesus says we are to be humble
Mandate:
Our mandate is not to simply hold on for dear life, but to hold life dearly.
You are holding on this world like this is all there is… this is the starting point, not the finish line.
We must value others. Be grateful for what God has given us, instead of constantly wanting more. There has to come a point that we say okay God use me to be a blessing to someone else.
Every wise person is marked with scars from trials.
Some have scars from climbing corporate ladder, some have from pursuing the things of God.
Jesus has the ultimate scars of humility on his hands.
Some only seek wisdom and God after we face crisis. We get humble in a crisis.
People know they need Jesus but they refuse to humble themselves before God.
Sometimes God’s people forget where they came from and what God did for them.
We forget how stubborn we were and how hard it was for us to kick a habit or change an attitude.
We forget that we are still struggling with issues, they are just not the big ones that gets all the attention of others.
We forget that if it was not for the good shepherd coming into our lives that we would be as bad or worse than the ones we are fighting against.
By example, Jesus tells us to take an interest in others
He tells us and shows us how to use our God given blessings for others.
Ephesians 4:28-
“He has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
God did not create us to be average. He created us to be uniquely His.
It is about those that realize everything that we have has been given to us by God.
You give back and not just take.
Oh That the Men would take back their authority in the family as leaders- to serve Christ as leaders of their homes.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
Transformation and change-
You cannot walk with Jesus and not be changed.
Often it is the little things we lose until we have lost the original focus, which should be pleasing God with our life.
Having the eyes and ears of Christ to make a difference in someone’s life.
If you think that you have to wait until you have everything you need before you help someone else, you probably will never serve.
If you wait until you have the time, you will probably never serve.
The church is where the sacred and the secular come together. It is where believers journey in their quest of knowing God.
In every church are all kinds of people- at every stage of life journeying to find purpose and where we belong in the kingdom of God.
The church is a place for the world to come and experience God.
It is where the world should get a glimpse of hope.
It is a place for hypocrites, because it is where God changes lives.
Servanthood (service for the Lord) is a lifestyle.
It is a decision of faith that you care what is going on in other people life.
It is where you look out into the world around you and decide that you will make an impact.
It is not waiting for someone else to do it, you will do it.
It is not criticizing others ways of doing it, but getting along side of them to help make it happen.
It is about not worrying about who gets the credit, but getting it done.
If you are struggling right now because you are thinking of how this is going to affect you. You are missing the point.
It is about what you can do for others.
It is about taking time to make an impact on society.
It is about leaving a legacy. What will people remember about you when you are gone.
How did you make someone’s life better because you were in it.
Last point:
Application- how can I take what God’s word says about serving;
mix that with the responsibilities I have for my family.
be productive in the kingdom of God.
Christ invites each one of us to join Him in serving.
“You my brothers (and sisters) were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love”
Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even death on the cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Your God
Your Church
Your brothers and sisters
What impact are you going to make?
Morning star pregnancy agency, Bountiful Blessings, all started here because someone decided that they will not wait on someone else to do it.
Rather, they took it upon themselves to let God work through them.
Rather than keep searching, they decided they would stay and build and be used instead of looking for someone else to do it for them.
Instead of moving on because the church did not have certain ministries, they invested in the church so they could have those ministries.
God is looking for a few to get outside the box of comfort.
To claim new ground for Jesus Christ.
Closing:
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart and reverence for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is Christ you are serving.
Many people in life have no purpose, because they never get plugged in.
They pursue wealth and pleasures, desire influences and positions.
Never plant themselves long enough to make a difference.
What legacy are you going to leave? I pray that you seek God’s will and surrender to his leading. You will be amazed at what He will do in you and through you in your life.
I have been praying for a long time that we would get new families here with a hunger and thirst to serve God and we would take this community for Jesus Christ.
Someone who would say my purpose in life is to serve God and make an impact like never before.
Make such an impact that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, that Satan shudders and says “everyone quiet, he/she is awake”
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in it’s various forms.
Altar Call:
God, I want to be open to your leading.
I desire to be used and make a difference.
Jesus, I pray that each one of us gets plugged in, takes time for spiritual growth.
Instead of thinking what others can do, what can I do Lord.
I am praying that new families even outside of the family of God now would invest in the ministry at Rosedale and feel the call of God to serve.
