Serving Servant

Mark 10:42-45 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle’s sermon focused on the godly purpose of serving others. There always seemed to be an unhealthy desire for attention and fame in our culture. The modern age platforms of movies, radio, television, social media have created broader and faster avenues of reaching the world audience to the point of not knowing who or what is really important. Today, the website YouTube allows anyone, at any time, to spread their views immediately. There is so much information at our fingerprints. But, our significance is not found there. Life is not about greatness or being served, but connecting our life to God’s great purposes. According to Jesus, in the verse above, the path to significance is found in servanthood.  

Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

 

Jesus gives us a different and better path and process to keep us humble. The key for us is to be re-directable. Kyle gave us three things we need to know to serve effectively in God’s kingdom. (1) We have hidden agendas and motives, Some serve only when convenient, but everyone has certain desires, wishes or perceived needs behind the scenes. That desire should be for the glory of God. (2) We have spiritual gifts. God’s gifts are to be used for His glory. If not used, then it’s like burying them in the ground. (3) We are called to minister to others through serving. Have this mindset and live the obedient life we were called to. Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork,  created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” and applies to all work in our life.

 

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

 

Have we lost our joy in serving? Kyle told us four keys to keeping the joy in our service to the Lord. (1) Confront our ego. We are all nose-blind to our own stink when it comes to our egos. Pride is a grievous sin to God. (2) Create and maintain a sustainable pace. Without margins in our lives, we end up taking care of ourselves as the burden becomes overbearing. (3) Keep it a priority. Never forget why you are doing what you are doing. Never say. I’m going to drop this because I’m not feeling it anymore. Keep serving from becoming a routine. (4) Look for God stories. God stories are happening all the time. Something that you are going through that God is working with. Many encounter God through someone serving in ministry and touched their life. You could be a part of someone else’s God story.   

Philippians 2:5-11 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God  something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death - even death on a 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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.

 

In Christ, Brian