"Where I Am, There My Servants Will Be"

Intro

Texzt - John 12.26

John 12:26 NKJV

26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Title - “Where I Am, There My Servants Will Be”

Opening Questions

Are you servants of God? of the Lord Jesus Christ?

What is expected from servants? - Follow the Master

But what does it mean to follow the Lord? - it means to be “with” the Lord

Key Points

Following is the essence of serving God.

“If anyone wants to serve me, let him follow me.”

How do we follow Christ?

Matthew 16:24 NKJV

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

It will take a “denial of self”

self - one’s desires, ambitions, choices, thinking

It will mean “taking up one’s cross”

dying to self

John 21:18–19 NKJV

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

How can one do these things?

we must “desire” to follow Him

it is a choice to follow Christ

Following means being “with” the Lord

John 12.26 “26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

The Priests in the Old Testament

they are the most privileged ‘servants” of the LORD

they are called to do a work in the presence of God

Psalm 65:4 NKJV

4 Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.

King David envied them

Psalm 27:4 NKJV

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

because David was a servant of God, and he longed to be with His God

Psalm 84:1–4 NKJV

1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah

Jesus’ Followers in the New Testament

They desire to follow Him

Jesus promised to be with them!

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

“I am with you” means we are following Him!

where I am, there my servants will be

Example - Zerubbabel and Joshua

Haggai 2:4–5 NKJV

4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

“I am with with you” means we are taking time to be in His presence

through prayer and worship

Conclusion

One of the key distinction of the Christian faith against other religion is -

the Presence of the living God, which the believers can enter in and enjoy

Hebrews 7:19 NKJV

19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 10:22 NKJV

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 4:8–10 NKJV

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

SONGS -

The most precious One

When I come into the Presence

it’s good for me

All I need to do is worship