Servant Leadership: The Victory and The Motive

2nd Corinthians 2:14- 4:16; Acts 13:1-5

Servant leadership is not a remedy to never facing trials

It could become a common thought of why am I having a hard time in my servant leadership

This is too difficult I should do something else

Well our first directive this week is how we can find victory in times of trial in servant leadership

The Victory (2nd Corinthians 2:14- 4:16)

Continue in gratitude

Christ is everything

Ministry lessons from the New Testament

Effective Ministry

Continue in gratitude ( 2:14-16)

Thanksgiving is key to victory

When we focus on all the wrong we already are claiming defeat

1 Corinthians 15:57 “57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In everything we are to give thanks to remind us of god’s power and goodness

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Situations cannot determine our gratitude

Acts 16 ( Jail)

Helps us answer the question in verse 16 - who is sufficient

We will experience human emotion in ministry

be honest- lets not pretend we need to be perfect

Christ is everything (3:4-6)

Servant leadership is never about self sufficiency, that we are everything

Servant leadership is all about Christ being all we need

Vs 6- Yield to God’s plan not the other way around

We are in a new covenant with God

The OT was a tutor the NT is the new covenant of grace

Jeremiah 31:31 “31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,”

Romans faith

Ministry Lessons from the NT (3:6-9)

The work is completed (law said do- spirit says done - law shows our need for Jesus

Life giving work of the spirit

Gives righteousness not condemnation

Share the good news (message of grace)

How do we have a NT effective ministry (3:6)

being steadfast- Satan has a primary tool- discouragement and being useless (4:1)

never compromising the truth - faithful in teaching the word (not manipulation) (4:2)

Time to shine (4:3-9) Good news about Jesus- share it

pour it out

(vs 8-9) to close for comfort

Pot may be broken - God greatest tool is humbling us

Trials- (4:10-14)- result is we become more like Christ

Galatians 2:20–21 “20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.””

Results are evident

vs 15-16

grace

God’s glory

gratitude

The Motive (Acts 13:1-5)

Minister to God

Antioch- characterized by prayer, fasting, and seeking to hear from God through the prophets and teachers

Liturgy

Service at house of worship Luke 1:23 “23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.”

Spirit prompted giving - 2 Cor. 9:12; Romans 15:27;

Sacrificial Service- Phil. 2:17;

Greater ministry of Christ (The new High Priest)

Hebrews 8:6 “6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”

Better covenant (grace vs law)

Better promises (eternal realtionship with God v Promised land)

Better motive (love v fear)

I know we have all have a passion to serve others

We cant do this until we have ministered to the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:3 “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”

before they went on mission they ministered to the Lord

Why does the church exists

primarly to minister to the Lord

become a worshipper not just a student

Mary and Martha- Being with Jesus is first then we serve Jesus by serving others

A structure Biblically is built

As we minister to God, He guides us and directs our lives or minsters to us

Luke 2:36–38 “36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

What makes it right

Consider our motive to minister to Lord

1 Corinthians 3:12–15 “12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

The motive to our works will be tested

God is after our hearts and minds- there is no hiding (it is with fire) the purest metals rise to the top

Does the Bible offer us wrong motives… yes

Praise from People

Matthew 6:1–4 “1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Felling guilty

serve to give not recieve (indebted)

drawing others to yourself - draw others to Jesus

Power, position, promotion or profit

Not a corporate latter

1st Timothy 3)

Does the bible offer the right motive .. yes

Love ( 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:8)

Love for Jesua and for others

We are known by our love

John 13:34–35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””