A Servants Heart

Matthew 20:20–28 ESV

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Recap

This is our last week in our series, “What the church needs today.”

During this series we’ve been talking about a few different elements that the body of christ needs today if we are going to see God accomplish his will in our lives.

Faith

We started by talking about a renewed faith..

How we need mountain moving, dart shielding faith

That enables us to see the impossible

Fire

Then we talked about how we need a fresh fire..

a Firey, spirit empowered, zeal for the lord

That enables us to share Jesus with others…

Love

last week we talked about a fresh love..

and how God has called us to love others, both in and out of the church, with an unconditional christ like love..

Servant

Today, were going to talk about one final element..

Another element that is crucial to our walk with God..

And that being, “What the church needs today is a servants heart.”

One that will enable us to go and DO what gods has called us to go do.

A Mothers request

In Matthew 20:20 we find an interesting encounter between Jesus and the mother of two of his disciples..

Salome, the mother of James and John (Known as the sons of zebedee) has come to Jesus..

And she has come to ask a favor..

Recognizing who Jesus is as the Messiah..

She makes a power play if you will..

And asks Jesus to proclaim that her two boys will sit at the right and left hand in the kingdom..

in positions of power..

She’s wants Jesus to set them as important people of title and status in the kingdom..

Chastise

Jesus asks the two.. Are you able to drink from my cup?

Can you endure what i’m about to endure, and walk in my purpose..

And rather arrogantly they respond.. We are able..

Jesus though tells them, that even thought they will drink from the cup of suffering..

its the fathers place to decide who takes those seats of power..

All

Then Jesus addresses the heart of the matter..

and he turns to the entire group and teaches them a lesson..

look what he says..

Matthew 20:25–28 ESV

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

He says listen..

You have the wrong concept of the kingdom..

The world..Thats represented by the gentiles here.. seeks power and titles..

they climb all over each other to get to the top..

they want to be the big dog and they want to rule..

BUT THE THATS NOT HOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD WORKS..

AND MORE SO.. ITS NOT HOW YOUR GOING TO ACT..

IN THE KINGDOM..

If you want to be great.. then you have to be a servant..

Just like the son of man exemplified..

for even the son of man came to serve, not to be served…

Today

We live in world today, that just like in this story, is still trying to make a name for themselves..

People step on each other climbing the corporate ladder to get ahead

they cheat each other, stab each other in the back, and turn on each other just to take another step towards power..

People want titles, power, authority and rule and fame…

Church

and even in the church we find the same thing..

people want titles and positions..

even though most of them don’t want to do the work thats associated with that title..

why?

Pride

because of the pride of the heart…

thats what the problem was in this story.. pride..

a mothers pride for her sons..

and two sons pride for themselves..

People in the church want to say they are a somebody.. failing to recognize that anyone who is in christ is already someone.. a prince and princess of the king.. a son and daughter..

The self

OUr culture said the world revolves around us..

it teaches us to be selfish, self centered and self seeking..

to get all we can get..

BUT KINGDOM CULTURE SAYS ITS ALL ABOUT OTHERS..

AND WE ARE TO GIVE ALL THAT WE CAN GIVE…

Jesus

But Jesus says..

thats not how we act in the kingdom..

Your not going to act like the gentiles..

because the kingdom isnt marked by titles.. its not marked by exerting authority over somone.. those things dont make you great..

rather, its marked by humility and a servants heart…

so what does it mean to be a servant?

What does it mean to be a servant

The word scripture uses in Matthew 20:26 that is translated servant is the greek word Diakonos

its usually used to refer to a hired worker

one who helps to maintain another persons household

or a servant

someone who serves a master.. or another..

Waiter

You can also think of a waiter who takes care of a table..

and they care for the needs of the people they are incharged too..

Servants

these were people who took orders from other people

they were lower class.. nobodies.. with no title of importance

And both in Jesus and our day.. they are positions few people desire because they dont bring recognition or power..

but they are vital positions in both our culture and the church..

Minister

Even more interesting..

the word diakonos can also be translated minister of deacon..

one who cares for the needs of others around them..

Jesus

so what Jesus is saying..

is in the kingdom..

greatness is not about being served or ministered too.

its about serving and ministering to others..

Im reminded of the words of paul in acts 20:35..

who quoting Jesus said..

Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

As kingdom people..

our mindset should not continually be.. what can I get..

What can I get when I go to church..

what can I get when I help with the egg hunt..

what can i get when I go to work or the store..

WE SHOULD LIVE AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MINDSET OF WHAT CAN I GIVE..

HOW CAN I HELP SOMONE ELSE..

HOW CAN I SERVE SOMONE ELSE..

HOW CAN I MINISTER TO OTHERS AROUND ME..

JESUS SAID THIS IS THE MINDSET OF THE KINGDOM..

Matthew 20:26 ESV

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

This is the command of Jesus on our lives as his disciples..

But Jesus didnt Just say this.. he didnt just comand this.. He exemplified this..

Jesus exemplified service…

Look at verse 28

Matthew 20:28 ESV

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus didnt just expect this out of his followers..

He lived this in his life..

He showed us how to live as servants..

Examples

He washed feet..

He fed the hungry..

He healed the sick..

He loved the unlovables..

He cared for others and gave of himself..

Total reason

but ultimately He sums up the entire reason he comes to earth right here in this verse..

For the son of man came to give his life as a ransom..

to Serve humanity..

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a reminder that Jesus did Just that..

On Palm Sunday we celebrate the day he willingly rode into the city, knowing he would not ride out..

Knowing in just a few short days..

He would be arrested..

falsely accused and imprisoned..

beaten to within an inch of death..

crowned with thorns..

humiliated and rejected by those he came to serve..

and ultimately he would give his life on the cross for us..

WHY?

BECAUSE HE CAME TO SERVE..

HE CAME TO CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF HUMANITY..

the main need being freedom and redemption from sin..

and he did that..

Could have.

as the creator of the universe..

and rightful king he could have came and taken up an earthly throne..

and forced people to worship and serve him..

but he didnt..

instead he came to serve..

and if CHRIST, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS CAME TO SERVE..

AND CHRIST COMANDED US TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS AND BE SERVANTS..

THEN WE BETTER BE ABOUT THE FATHERS BUSINESS AND SERVING

We are called to be servants like our lord and savior was a serve..

holding nothing back

So what will it look like to have the heart of a servant

What will it look like for us to have a servants heart?

I want to talk about three quick traits we should see in our lives if we are going to be a servant..

We have to humble ourselves..

Jesus was humbled.. and chose to humble himself..

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If were going to live as servants in the kingdom..

it starts by us lowering our own importance in proximity to others..

We have to take on the mind self that others are more important than ourselves..

Caviaot..

now im not advocating poor self esteem..

we should be confident in who we are.. but it should be in who we are in christ.. not in the world..

Humble..

Simply put we have to put others first..

but pastor.. what if they take advantage of you?

They will..

and that ok..

we take advantage of JEsus everyday..

yet he humbled himself for us..

We have to be marked by humility..

We have to be willing to do whats needed..

Jesus wasnt just humble..

he was willing to do what it took to care for others..

to his own self sacrifice..

John 10:18 ESV

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus did just lower himself..

He was willing to do what it took….

If your going to serve.. your going to have to do some thing you dont want to do..

because its not about you and I..

Jesus did just that..

we have to be willing..

not because were going to get glory..

but because its whats needed..

Finally, we must be people of action..

Talking about humility and willingness is great..

but until you take a step out and act it means nothing..

JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE..

He didnt just talk about it..

he gave it..

and followed through..

Today

I think this is where most people in the church are today..

We know we are to be servants..

we know we are to be humble..

and we know we are to be willing..

but we are dorment in the seats..

not acting on any of it..

and if your not actually going to serve..

then it doesnt matter if your humble of willing..

you have to get up and move..

Dave

the first time pastor dave came to me when we got here a number of years ago..

he had been sitting on the pews..

and he came to me and told me..

the lord told me to get off my but and get working..

and he did..

he showed up and was willing to do whatever..

and through the years weve dont whatever together..

and I appreciate that..

Can I sayd this..

You have to get off your butt and serve..

why?

Because Jesus told you too..

not because pastor did..

but Because Jesus said we are going to be servants in the kingdom..

we must be humble.. we must be willing.. we must act..

Jesus gave his life..

as we close though..

I want to go back and remind you..

This is all possible because Jesus himself already served..

He gave his life..

why?

Because as romans says. all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god..

and

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

have you accepted the give Jesus gave to you in service?