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Title: Becoming a Servant Text: Eph 4:1-13 The Msg. Date: 1-22-06.am In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk--better yet, run!-on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline--not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people. It's true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. (MSG) Introduction: What picture comes to your mind when you think of the word servant? On the Back To The Bible radio program last week it was mentioned that when we think of servant we think of being controlled or being told what to do. The picture of forced slavery comes to mind. I think we would probably all agree the idea of being a servant is out of step with a modern world view. You could say it is an offensive idea. Humans aspires to a great many things, but few of us set out to becoming servants. Even among Jesus’ own disciples there was a lack of understanding about being a servant. In Mark 10 James and John the son’s of Zebedee, came to Jesus and asked that they be allowed to sit on his right and own his left when He came to power. The places of prominence. Of course this created an uproar among the other disciples, who also wanted the place of prominence. Jesus had to call them together and explain to them one of the great principles of the kingdom, “ whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” And as shocking as that might have been He said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mk 10:42-45 I. BEING A SERVANT IS NOT A MATTER OF POSITION Jesus Himself demonstrated that servant-hood is not a matter of position. It doesn’t depend on how important or unimportant you may be or think you may be. It is not about power or about wealth, it is about humility. It’s about humbling ourselves before a God who loves us. II BEING A SERVANT HAS A HIGHER MOTIVATION Not compulsion but love Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (NAS) III BEING A SERVANT HAS A HIGHER PURPOSE It’s done for the purpose of strengthening the body of Christ on earth it is a matter of stewardship 1 Pet 4:10 As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (NAS) IV. BEING A SERVANT IS A NECESSITY FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE This is what we’ve been talking about in the last couple of messages concerning the use of our gifts. Never be too big to do something small: 1. Love the Overlooked- the lonely, hurting, unpopular - Bobby White 2. Waive the White Flag - resist stubbornness - goats 3. Everyday do something you don’t want to do - neighbor Helen Keller - “I wanted to do great things and could not, so I decided I would do small things in a great way.” 1 Cor 15:58 my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. (MSG) Does the word servant apply to you? It should, it must become a matter of priority in our Christian walk. Jesus said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Our challenge this morning is that each of us would become willing servants. Whether that needs to begin at the cross trusting Christ with your life for the first time, or whether you need to recommit yourself to being a faithful servant. We invite you this morning to come serve the Lord with gladness. |