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BEING GOD’S SERVANT
MATTHEW 20-24-28
AIM
To help believers to understand what Jesus taught His disciples about the meaning of being the greatest in God’s kingdom by being God’s servant.
INTRODUCTION
Let’s take a few moments to set the stage for today’s message.
First of all, Mark records the story a little differently than Matthew.
Mark never mentions the mother of James and John with this story.
Mark 10:
Matthew teaches us the mother of James and John was the one who approached Jesus with the question about hers sons.
Matthew 20:20-24
Perhaps the disciples were reacting to some previous words spoken by the Lord Jesus which are recorded in the nineteenth chapter of Matthew.
They may have taken very seriously what Jesus said about the disciples sitting “upon twelve thrones.
James was the first disciple to drink from the martyr’s cup.
Acts
The thinking of James, John and Salome created some problems, but it gave Jesus a wonderful opportunity to teach them and all of us how true greatness comes from being God’s servant.
THE MISUNDERSTANDING IN BEING GOD’S SERVANT
Warren Wiersbe had some interesting thoughts about Salome’s request for her two sons when he wrote,
Matthew 20:
In the unbelieving world, it is assumed that power and authority define greatness.
Warren Wiersbe had some interesting thoughts about Salome’s request for her two sons when he wrote,
Warren Wiersbe had some interesting thoughts about Salome’s request for her two sons when he wrote,
there were several things wrong with their request.
To begin with, it was born in ignorance.
“Ye know not what ye ask,” Jesus replied.
Little did Salome realize that the path to the throne is a difficult one.
James was the first of the disciples to be martyred, and John had to endure hard days on the Isle of Patmos.
These three believers wanted their will, not God’s will, and they wanted it their way.
But there were several things wrong with their request.
To begin with, it was born in ignorance.
“Ye know not what ye ask,” Jesus replied.
Little did Salome realize that the path to the throne is a difficult one.
James was the first of the disciples to be martyred, and John had to endure hard days on the Isle of Patmos.
These three believers wanted their will, not God’s will, and they wanted it their way.
These two brothers did drink from the cup of suffering for the Lord Jesus.
James was the first disciple to drink from the martyr’s cup.
James was the first disciple to drink from the martyr’s cup.
John drank from the cup of suffering when he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos.
We are sure they failed to understand the suffering about which Jesus taught just prior to mentioning the ten thrones.
Matthew 20:17-19
Many believers want a crown without a cross.
In Christian life, the cross always comes before a crown.
DISPLEASURE
RESENTMENT
ANGER
THE MISUNDERSTANDING IN BEING GOD’S SERVANT
In the unbelieving world, it is assumed that power and authority define greatness.
THE ERROR OF THE WORLD
Another factor was their lack of heavenly direction.
They were thinking like the world: James and John wanted to “lord it over” the other disciples the way the unsaved Gentile rulers lorded it over their subjects.
Their request was fleshly (sensual), because they were selfishly asking for glory for themselves, not for the Lord.
No doubt they felt relieved that they had gotten to Jesus with this request before Peter did!
Being God’s servant is often misunderstood by those who choose to follow Jesus.
DESIRE
DEFINING GREATNESS
THE MINISTRY OF BEING GOD’S SERVANT
Matthew 20:26-27
Jesus did not condemn their desire to become great.
He redirected their thinking about how to become great.
Each of us should want to be the best we can be and the greatest we can be for the glory of God, but our thinking needs to be in line with God’s Word.
The person who is truly great, by heaven’s definition, is the one who chooses an attitude of submission to others in the family of believers.
It is interesting to know Jesus used a little child to teach who “is the in the kingdom of heaven.”
It is interesting to know Jesus used a little child to teach who “is the in the kingdom of heaven.”
THE EXAMPLE
Most children are willing to humble themselves to serve others, especially their parents.
DELIBERATE
Jesus taught His disciples the way to become great is through humility and the willingness to serve others.
No believer should consider service to others as degrading.
The Lord is honored when we are helping others bear their burdens.
Galatians 6:2-
We are also taught to never be discouraged or grow weary with the results of serving others.
Galatians 6:
God will always honor the service of His people.
Many of our rewards for service will be received after our departure from this world when we stand in the presence of Jesus.
This should motivate us to take advantage of the opportunities we have and continue serving all people, “especially those who are of the household of faith.”
The ministry of being God’s servant is considered great in the mind of God.
THE MODEL OF BEING GOD’S SERVANT
Jesus offered Himself and His all sufficient, sacrificial, substitutionary, atoning work as a model of being God’s servant.
Jesus was also the model servant during the entirety of His earthly ministry.
What greater servant model could any of us provide who would be greater than Jesus?
CONCLUSION
Have you misunderstood the meaning of being God’s servant?
Are you involved in the ministry of being God’s servant?
Are you following the Model of being God’s servant?
God is always looking for people who are willing to serve Him by serving others.
He wants you to be great, but He wants you to be great His way.
Matthew 20:2
Prepared for First Baptist Church Oakdale - September 17, 2017
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