Qualities Of An Effective Servant Of Jesus Series

Introduction

I recently finished reading John Geddie’s biography titled Missionary Life Among the Cannibals: Being the Life of the Rev. John Geddie.

It is an astonishing story of a man committed to making Jesus known to the cannibalistic island people of the South Pacific.

He was incredibly industrious and died when he was only fifty-seven years old.

He translated the entire Bible into Aneiteumese, the language of the people.

He produced books for the people.

He taught them to read and write.

He helped stamp out cannibalism on the islands.

He built homes and church buildings.

He clothed the people.

Most of all, he taught them about the love of God that is found in Jesus.

After John Geddie’s death, a wooden plaque was prepared in Sydney, Australia, and placed behind the pulpit in the church on Anelcauhat.

The inscription on the plaque was in the people’s language of Aneiteumese and reads as follows:

“In memory of John Geddie, D.D., born in Scotland 1815, minister in Prince Edward Island seven years, missionary sent from Nova Scotia to Anelcauhat, Aneiteum, for twenty-four years. He laboured amidst many trials for the good of the people, and taught many to read, many to work, and some to be teachers. He was esteemed by the natives, beloved by his fellow labourer, the Rev. John Inglis, and honoured by the missionaries in the New Hebrides and by the Churches. When he landed in 1848 there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen. He died in the Lord in Australia, 1872. 1 Thess. i. 5” (George Patterson, Missionary Life Among the Cannibals: Being the Life of the Rev. John Geddie, n.p.)

Thousands of islanders learned the good news about Jesus through the service of John Geddie.

What about John Geddie made him so effective in his service to Jesus?

I propose that John Geddie possessed the same qualities as Paul and Barnabas when they made Jesus known on the first missionary journey recorded in the Book of Acts.

Acts 14 does not explicitly teach God’s requirements for effective service.

However, it shows us Paul and Barnabas, who exhibited several qualities of effective servants of Jesus.

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 14:1-28:

1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.