#blessed Servant

Introduction

As we take time this morning to recognize and remember those who gave their lives that we may have freedom, several words come to mind…sacrifice, service, humility. Yesterday, as I was mowing my lawn, I was listening to a podcast that highlighted a youtube page called Legends of WWII. This youtube channel was filled with interview after interview of veterans from WWII. Every interview I watched was remarkable. It was men, telling of their experiences and sharing their stories. Every one of them talked about their friends and fellow soldiers. Every one focused on others and not really on their own accomplishments. When you think of our brave men and women in the military, when you remember them, you remember their service. You thank them for their service. You respect them for their selfless service. They exemplify sacrifice, service, and humility.

It is precisely this kind of humility and selflessness that our Lord Jesus has called every one of us to. He has even told us in His Word that if we will serve others the way that we ourselves have been served by Him…then we are blessed.

JOHN 13:12-17

How to be a #blessed servant:

1) Understand Who Jesus is... (vs. 12-13)

We have to recognize that Jesus is Teacher

We have to recognize that Jesus is Lord

2) Understand What Jesus has Done and Still Does for You... (vs. 14-16)

He has humbled Himself and Served out of Love

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-8 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He continues to shape our lives, free us from sinfulness, build within us righteousness and holiness, and call us to draw near to Him in relationship.

He is completing the Good Work He has begun in us. (Phil. 1:6)

3) Be Obedient to Jesus and Do What He Says... (vs. 17)

It is not enough to simply know about the things of Jesus. We must not be hears only, but doers of His instruction and respond daily to His calling to follow Him. (Jam. 1:22, Lk. 9:23)

If we only hear the words of Jesus and do not put them into actions, then we are deceiving ourselves, giving ourselves a false sense of devotion.

In my home we have a saying that happens quite a bit…maybe you’ve had a time when you’ve said something similar: “Did you just hear what I said?”

Too often, I feel the Holy Spirit is doing this very thing in our lives. Being only hearer and not doers hurts us spiritually.

Closing

Jesus tells us that if we want to be blessed servants, then we need to Understand who He is, Understand What He’s Done and Continues to Do for Us, and Be Obedient to Jesus and do What He Says.