DO YOU HAVE THE CHARACTER OF A SERVANT
What does the word servant mean? We use that term everyday in our lives. Some use the term to mean someone who serves the needs of their employer. This is true. This is one meaning of the word still others use the word to describe the service that a politician provides to his constitutes. But how does God use the word? What is God aim when He tells us to be servants? In ancient times all the subjects in a kingdom were the servants of the king and lords. They were bound to serve them in any way that they needed. In return the kings and lords were bound to protect their servants. Jesus is our King and Lord how are we going to serve Him. There are people that believe the Bible is just a book that it is not the infallible word of God. That it was not God inspired but the work of men. I fully believe that the Bible is the truth and that every word that is in the Bible was God inspired and that there are no mistakes our omissions in God Word. Amen. I believe that The Bible is where God speaks to me about how I am to live my life. It is the blueprint specifically designed to teach and inform me about the will of God. Amen. I believe that any deviation from what God teaches in the His Holy Word is a hearsy which is man’s idea and not God’s. Amen.
It is like the Old woman who was high up in the Government in Washington. She had been a ambassador and held several high position in our government. One day while rushing to an appointment she is in a accident and dies. When she arrives at the gates of heaven she where Jesus informs her that she would have to spend a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then make her mind up about where she wanted to spend eternity. Well she said she knew that she did not want to spend eternity in a place as terrible and horrible as hell so they could forgo the hell part. Jesus said no she had to spend a day in each. Well the lady decided to go to Hell first. Jesus puts her on an elevator and down she goes. Finally she reaches Hell where Satan meets here at the door and escorts her. What did she see. She saw many of the same people who she had worked with in government. People form all over the world. They were dressed in fine clothes standing around eating and playing golf just having a great time. At the end of the day she did not want to leave but went to spend her day in heaven. Jesus met her and showed her all the beauty and splendor of heaven. She saw everyone experiencing the most spectacular, glorious eternal life that you could imagine. But at the end of the day when she was asked where she had decided to spend eternity she said well Heaven was great but Hell seemed to be so much more fun than Heaven. As she descended to hell she planned all the fun she was going to have. When the elevator reached the bottom and the doors opened instead of seeing the splendor and fun she saw yesterday what she saw instead was everyone in torment and anguish. Satan was there waiting for her. She said everyone was having so much fun yesterday and they were so happy where is that now. Satan said yes but yesterday we were politicking for you.
Brother and sisters don’t get caught in the politicking of the world, the political correctness of the society. If it does not come from God’s Word than it comes from man and man’s thoughts are of the world. God Is Talking but are you Listening.
John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Jesus came to provide a bridge between sinful man and a holy God He also provides a change in our picture of God. No longer does God seem to be a God that is far off in Space somewhere unconcerned about man. Now He is a hands on God one who is there beside us, watching us, helping us, and loving us. In verse 18 Jesus gives a remarkable explanation of His relationship with God. He tells us that He is God’s son. Then in John Chapter 14: 8 Jesus states Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
What is Jesus telling us here? Jesus was God and God was Jesus. I can’t explain how God did this. All I know is that God did do it. But why would Jesus want us to know this? He wanted us to understand that just as God and He were one so is He with us. You see Jesus, when we accept Him as Lord and Savior, comes and dwells with each and every one of us. This is a unique relationship that every believer shares with Jesus. And because of this relationship we have access to God through Jesus. This means that we can call on Him directly, talk with Him, and walk with Him.
When Jesus tells us to love one another as we love ourselves He truly means that. Because He that is in us is also in all other of our brother and sisters no matter the color of their skin, or their sex, or what they might have done in their lives. So when we love others we are really loving ourselves because a part of us is in each and everyone of the them. This is something that many of us have lost in our Christian lives. And it is the reason why today many fail to carry out the work of a servant for the Lord. We are not loving ourselves and when we don’t this we can’t be a servant.
Since Jesus dwells within us we are to follow the examples of Jesus. These examples are laid out for us in the Bible but so many of us fail to have a daily study of the Word that we don’t know the examples that are there or they seem to be for another time and place and not for today’s world. This is a worldly view. Everything in the bible is for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It never will go out of date. We are the ones that are out of step with the Biblical view. One of the examples that so many Christians fail to perform is that of being a servant.
In our society where our worth is measured by how much money we make and the things we have being a servant is looked down upon. It makes us seem weak in the eyes of the world when we do things for others, in other words when we serve others. People see servants as not as worthy as someone with a lots of money. Why is this? Did not Jesus serve the apostles by washing their feet even though they complained that He should not. What was Jesus answer to them John 13:5-15 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Jesus tells us that we should do this example. But because of the attitude toward servitude today whenever preachers across America stand in their pulpits and preach about being servants of Christ and what it means to be a servant the congregation goes deaf. They are not servants they are better than that. The greatest call that we have as Christians is to be servants. The greatest reward we have as Christians is to be servants. And yet so many today fail to answer that call and to receive that reward. I have news today if Christ dwells in you then you are a servant and it is time that we get back to being servants. So what exactly does it mean to be a servant?
A servant is someone who serves. Jesus served and that would become the trademark of his life. Our trademark in life should be that we serve also. But what is a servant. Lets look at five portraits of Christ as a servant.
1. A servant touches (Matt. 8:1-3 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.)
Jesus touched the Leper. He could have healed him without touching so why did he touch him. By touching him Jesus showed his love for him. In that day lepers were set apart from the healthy people. No one would aid them or touch them for fear of catching the disease. So by touching the leper Jesus immediately shows loves and compassion. He shows a willingness to help. It was not just merely words that He spoke but it was physical contact, a contact that showed all the love, compassion, and servitude of Christ. So a servant does not sit on their hands and say do this or do that. But a servant goes forth and has contact with those who they are to serve. There are no Monday night quarterbacks here. They are on the playing field serving others.
2. A Servant Meets Needs (Matt 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
1 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.)
Jesus was filled with compassion for them. He filled their needs. This is what a servant does. He fills the needs of those who he serves. He has compassion for others. Whatever the needs are Jesus is there to fill them. And this is what we need to be doing. We need to fill the needs of our brother and sisters here at home as well as in the far corners of the world. We are to pray for them, because this is a need that we all have. We need to relieve their suffering where we can, provide for their physical needs where they are needed.
3. A Servant Gets Dirty (John 13:1-17 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.)
What does this act of servitude show us? It is an example for us to follow. It shows us that we are expected to get next to those who we are to serve. Jesus washing of the disciple’s feet shows us that not any of us is too important to be a servant. He expects this of his servants. He expects us to get into the trenches and get dirty. If we are clean then we are not doing that which He wants us to do. He wants to us go and meet the needs of others. Jesus washed the disciples feet even though it wasn’t His job. And this is what we are to do. We are to serve others even though it may not be what we consider our jobs or our responsibility.
4. A Servant Challenges (John 5:1-15 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.)
Jesus sets another example here for us. Not only did He heal the man but also He challenged the man. He asked him do you want to get well. You know some people want to stay crippled in their lives. They want to have a reason to complain. Later Jesus met the man in the temple and told him not to sin no more. When we serve others we are to challenge them. If those we are aiding are not Christian then we are to challenge them with the gospel. If they are Christian then we are to challenge them to draw on the strength of the Lord, to turn their problems over to the Lord, to walk with the Lord, to get back into a close relationship with Lord or whatever spiritual need they may have.
5. A Servant Lays Down His Life ( John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.)
Does this mean that we are to literally die for Christ? Some of us may have to face this. But for most what this means is that we are to give our lives to Jesus completely. By doing this we will serve Jesus to the fullest. The greatest potential of our spiritual life will be fulfilled. We will become the servants that He calls us to be.
Brothers and sisters we are called to be servants. We are called to be on the front lines and not depending on someone else to do the job for us. It is not just the responsibility of the pastors, deacons, or missionaries to go forth and serve the needs of those who are lost or to serve God it is the responsibility of everyone who claims to be a Christian. We can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch the game unfold. We are a key player in this battle and each of us has a role to play. Some of us are called to be ministers, others singers, others missionaries but each and every one of us is called to be a servant of Jesus Christ first.
So my question is this are we true servants? Do we have all of these characteristics, which Jesus exemplified? If we don’t, it is time to get right with God. If we are saved but we have lost that personal relationship with God due to sin in our life then it is time to make it right. Jesus wants us to have a servant’s attitude. He wants us to be willing to serve others. For to long many Christians have been guilty of the sin of omission by omitting the role of servant from our Christian character. Maybe you want to rededicate your life to the service of Jesus Christ or maybe you never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit may be striving with you. Don’t wait; don’t put it off any longer. You are not promised tomorrow or even the next second. You may not get another chance. For whatever reason the Alter is open come as Sister Tami leads us in a song of invitation.
