Serve Like the Servant
Notes
Transcript
ILLUST: Dirty Jobs show - they make decent money, pretty good
What about a CNA today? Asked to do seemingly thankless job, a job families don’t even want to do
Takes a special, humble person to do that well
READ John 13:1-20
Why did God save you? The reason? To serve!
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
SAVED TO SERVE
A Life of Service
A Life of Service
Following the example of Jesus
1) Acknowledging the Father’s Will
1) Acknowledging the Father’s Will
Jesus knows His hour has come
He knew what was coming
He knew why He had to fulfil this Will
Because the Father loved the world
So the Son loved the world
Including you
He is willfully resigned to the mission
Now clearly focused on those who will believe and follow
Following the Father’s will is going to cost Him His life
It’s not that He WANTED to do what He needed to do
It’s that He was WILLING to do it
2) Demonstrating Service
2) Demonstrating Service
Humility - the key
CULTURAL CUSTOM - Setting this up
A host of a supper like this would have a servant, washing feet of guess when they arrived
Sandals, dirt, feet, hot, nasty…
Humble work, done by the servant
Guests were honored, this refreshed them
The servant served the others, not self
This was a private dinner
There is no servant
And Luke’s gospel indicates right before this that they are arguing about who is the greatest among them
So Jesus serves
They all know that it is customary for their feet to get washed - nobody wants to be the one to do it
It’s beneath them - that’s servant work!
Jesus serves, doing the work of a servant
Peter thinks he gets it…oh, Peter….
Bathing vs feet washing - Peter
Nothing more to this than Peter says, “clean all of me”
No need to totally bathe, already clean
Jesus uses play on words, not talking about a bath
Practically - once clean, you’re good, but feet still get dirty
The disciples are clean, have ben humbly cleansed
One of them is not clean - Jesus knows
They need to accept the cleansing Jesus offers, and now do likewise
3) Service of a Disciple
3) Service of a Disciple
The disciples have huge, important work to do
Jesus will serve, ultimately serve, selflessly giving His life
The disciple serves from a position of love - selflessness
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.
We are free to live to feed our flesh, but God calls us to live in service to Him, and to each other
He asks us to give our lives, spiritually
Serving God
Actually, surrender to Him, live for Him
…BY SERVING OTHERS
If Jesus washed your feet
You go wash others’ feet
If Jesus humbly served you
You go humbly serve others
ASIDE - We are NOT commanded to wash feet
Some churches do this as an example of humility
But it’s not practical, it’s not an act of servitude in our culture
I know what it says, what does it mean?
Jesus stoops to a low level to offer and show service
How can we do that?
Service is not water, soap and feet
Jesus gave His life in humble service
He asks us to do the same
Die to self, bear your cross, surrender
But how does that show up in the life of a believer, a surrendered believer?
Doing the right thing - always
When you put aside what you want to do, or what you WANT to happen, to do what needs to be done
Illustration - Nicest thing you could do to help someone feel comfortable and welcome, which would also be uncomfortable for you?
Some examples in the church
Most opportunities to serve are related to fellow believers
Awana, VBS, cleaning after a meal
Making a meal for someone in need
Sometimes just getting to church or serving in general means delaying something you really want to do instead
At home - nurturing the kids when the big game is on, or when there is something more “fun” to do
Sharing the Gospel - yeah, it takes humility to do that
Trusting Christ in the first place, then walking in obedience to Him
Thing is - you KNOW when you see humble service, dropping everything to help someone
POINT - Service costs you something, it’s not something you do for YOU
Costs time, money, energy, effort
POINT - Service, humble service, brings JOY and FULFILLMENT to the believer
That person you help might not thank you
That time you spend serving might not pay much, or anything at all
That activity you skip or miss in order to serve is really not as important, big picture, after all
JESUS’ SERVICE
Cost Him His life - because your life, eternal life, was more important than His comfort
Makes it possible to live for Him, shown by a life of humble service here
If you need personal glory - the surrendered Christian life is not for you
Selfless Christian service is confusing to the lost person, or the “Christian” who is only out for himself or herself
It’s OK - keep serving
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
EVERY thing we do here, now, should be in service to the King
For HIS glory
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
KEEP, or START, Serving
Don’t worry who sees or notices
God knows, and is pleased - that should keep you motivated
You’ll get tired - God will strengthen you
People can be frustrating, difficult - YEP!
Serve like the Servant, out of love.
He loved, He served
IF you love the LORD, you will serve. (BIBLE)
KEEP, or START, Serving
And when people DO see, and DO notice, point that glory right to the LORD
What a great example we have in our Savior!
Thank you, Jesus!