"You've Been Served"

Improving Our Serve

Mark 9:31-42

31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Short Prayer…

Introduction- This type of thinking is strictly of the flesh and prideful nature of man when your walking with the Lord. It stems from living in a world that is full of vanity lust.

You know, the things that Jesus had to deal with in His time with His disciples are still things that need to be dealt with today with His disciples. (Disciples meaning disciplined followers of Christ.) And your one of His disciples if you are doing these things)

In the world where we live today there are constantly marketing things that causes us to have:

a. The lust of he eyes

b. The lust of the flesh

c. The pride of life

Testimony…I can remember as far back as the early sixties for myself, when TV was telling America.

a. Be bigger

b. Be better

c. Be first

(In the sixties there was a Kennel ration dog food commercial that used to run on TV all the time, that went like this “The my dog is bigger than your dog”, commercial in which I believe has had a subliminal impact of the conscience of our generation. The things that have been perpetuated by this type of mentality is everyone and everything has to be bigger and better than everyone else’s unless it’s just not going to be good enough. So we are made to believe.

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

It is typical of a person that has drive and leadership qualities and abilities to want to be the best.

But to be the best…for all of us who claim to be disciples (disciplined followers of Jesus Christ) means to humble ourselves and become a servant (Deacon) Greek Word: diakono"

Transliteration: diakonos

Phonetic Pronunciation: dee-ak’-on-os

Root: probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf )

—Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary to wait on others)… If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all

In other words it is typical of a good leader to want to be his best, But what we must remember as leaders that there is only one function to follow, that is to serve God’s people with love patience and without grudging.

The qualifications for the position of a Disciple or a servant of Christ are,

a. To become last

b. To be a servant to all

c. Become like Him (and the servant is not greater than his master)

If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all..

To be noticed or to stockpile credit in oneself for what the Spirit of God is doing through him, will always disqualify us from entering into the fullness of what the Spirit of the Lord is doing. There is much more that God can do if we get out of His way and let Him.

There are three things that I would like to cover tonight that I hope will help us to become better servants of the most high God. And in desiring to become a leader we truly desires a good thing. Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and their wives

1 Tim 3:1-13 (KJV)1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.