Acts 27:22-25 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

Can you claim – a servant of God? Acts 27:22-25 22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. Paul’s Claim: I Belong to God I Serve God Do You Make Such A Claim? Can you claim – a servant of God? Would you?

Would God Call You His Servant? Why Should He Call You His Servant? Abraham – “My servant Abraham” (Gen. 26:24) Moses – “My servant Moses” (Num. 12:7) - “Moses, the servant of God” (Rev. 15:3) David – “My servant David” (2 Sam. 7:5) Daniel – “Daniel, servant of the living God” (Dan. 6:20) Jesus – “glorified His Servant, Jesus” (Acts 3:13) John – “to his servant John” (Rev. 1:1) Epaphras – “Epaphras, our dear fellow servant” (Col. 1:7) Paul – “Paul, a bondservant of God” (Titus 1:1) Why Should He Call You His Servant?

You Can Choose To Be A Servant of God Josh 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Servants of God

The Object of our Service Servants of God

The Object of our Service Serving God is easy Until there is a conflict! Rich Young Ruler (Matt. 19:16-22) “You shall not murder” “You shall not commit adultery” “You shall not steal” “You shall not bear false witness” “Honor your father and your mother” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Sense in which we are to serve others (Gal. 5:13) – Not the focus here How do we serve others instead of God? By listening to man instead of God’s word By yielding to man’s wishes over God’s By striving to please / impress man with hypocrisy By compromising in order to “fit in” with crowd By bowing to peer pressure By sparing feelings – not telling truth of God

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Sense in which we are to serve others (Gal. 5:13) – Not the focus here How do we serve others instead of God? Paul focused on serving the Lord – not man 1 Cor. 4:1-5 – Thus, cared little what man thought Gal. 1:10 – If pleased man – not be a servant of Christ

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family How do we serve family instead of God? By standing with family – when family is not with God By defending / excusing family – that is not living right By refusing to accept truth because of family situation When family can count on you – but God cannot When can make all the family gatherings – but can’t be around the Lord’s table

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family How do we serve family instead of God? When we love & serve family MORE than God – not fit for the kingdom Matt. 10:37 – “he that loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me” Context (vv. 34-36) – Serving God may have severe impact on family! Luke 9:61-62 – one who turned back to family – not fit for the kingdom

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family Some Serve Self Self service – perhaps our greatest problem All sin comes from self service (1 John 2:15-17) All disobedience from self seeking (1 Sam. 15:23) Self seeking breed all kinds of evil (Jas. 3:14)

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family Some Serve Self Self service – perhaps our greatest problem How do we serve self instead of God? By not denying self (Mark 8:34) By doing what I want – regardless of God’s word By thinking of what serves me best – vs – pleasing God By skirting God’s law with “I feel” or “I think”

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family Some Serve Self Self service – perhaps our greatest problem How do we serve self instead of God? Servants of God say “not I, but Christ” (Gal. 2:20) Self serving doomed in judgment (Rom. 2:8)

The Object of our Service Some Serve Others Some Serve Family Some Serve Self Only One God & Master Only serve the God of heaven (Dan. 3:15-18) Him only shall we serve (Matt. 4:10) Cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24)

The Object of our Service The Attitude of our Service Servants of God

The Attitude of our Service Phil 2:5-8 Point: Christ is an example of the attitude essential to unity & service

The Attitude of our Service Phil 2:5-8 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

The Attitude of our Service Humility Opposite of self service and self seeking Though he was deity – yet made himself nothing (vv. 6-7) He took the form or role of a servant (v. 7) Scene of washing disciples feet – shows humility and service (John 13) Your service begins with humility (its not about you)

The Attitude of our Service Humility Submission Became obedient to death (v. 8) Came to do the will of God (Heb. 10:7, 9) Prayed “Thy will be done” (Luke 22:42) If you want to be a servant of God – must willingly submit Suppress your own will (Mark 8:34; Acts 24:25) Yield to the will of God (Gal. 2:20)

The Attitude of our Service Humility Submission Sacrifice Cost him the glories of heaven (vv. 6-7) Cost him the cruel death on cross (v. 8) Being a servant of God may cost you: Time, money, job, family – even life (Rev. 2:10) Will not be easy Will not always be comfortable Cost may be terribly painful!

Servants of God The Object of our Service The Attitude of our Service The Principles of our Service

The Principles of our Service Listens to God (1 Sam. 3:9; Acts 10:33) Does the will of God (John 4:34; 17:4; Matt. 8:9) Gets on with the task (Jer. 7:25; 26:5) Pleases God – regardless of others (John 8:29) Puts God before family (Abraham) Left the Ur of Chaldees (Gen. 12) Willing to sacrifice his son (Gen. 22) Don’t always know how it will turn out (Heb. 11:8, 17-19)

Servants of God The Object of our Service The Attitude of our Service The Principles of our Service The Reward of our Service

The Reward of our Service Hear: “Well Done” – heaven Matt. 25:21, 23 – good and faithful servant Judgment scene in context: (v. 34) – “come inherit kingdom” No Reason to Boast (Luke 17:7-10) Not earned a thing Nothing about which to pat self on back Just did our jobs – after all – we are servants

Servants of God The Object of our Service The Attitude of our Service The Principles of our Service The Reward of our Service

John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”