Saved To Serve

But with blessings come responsibilities. We can easily see from the Scriptures that the Christian is truly blessed. But with blessings come responsibilities.

There are obligations that come with our new opportunities. There are duties that come with our new calling. The Christian has been called to serve God. We have been “Saved To Serve”. It is only reasonable that we be expected to serve God.

“…Complete the ministry God has given you.” Each person has a ministry (service) we are expected to fulfill. Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you.” 2 Timothy 4:5 “…Complete the ministry God has given you.”

1 Cor 12:12-23 “12For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body…are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body’ is it therefore not of the body?”

1 Cor 12:12-23 “16And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body’ is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”

1 Cor 12:12-23 “20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”

Thus, the concept of “servitude” or “servanthood” is a significant part of what it means to be a Christian.

Being a servant of God is a great honor

The title of "servant" is what Old Testament were called: many great men in the Old Testament were called: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (“Thy servants” - Deut. 9:27) Moses (“Thy servant” – 1 Kings 8:53) Joshua (“Servant of the Lord – Joshua 24:29) Caleb (“My servant” – Numbers 14:24) Job (“My servant” – Job 1:8) Isaiah (“My servant” – Isaiah 20:3) The prophets (“My servants” – Jeremiah 7:25)

referred to themselves New Testament writers referred to themselves as "servants" James - (James 1:1) Paul – (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1) Peter – (2 Peter 1:1) Jude - (Jude 1) John – (Revelation 1:1)

Isaiah 52:13 He was foretold to come as the “suffering servant” Jesus Came To Serve IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Isaiah 52:13 “See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.” He was foretold to come as the “suffering servant”

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Jesus Came To Serve IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Matthew 20:28 “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” He did not come to be served, but to serve.

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Jesus Came To Serve IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Even as our Lord and Master, He exemplified the servitude He desires in His disciples. John 13:14-15 “And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:16 “How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.”

He will, if we put into practice the concepts of servanthood! What an honor, if God were to look upon us as "His servants" as He did these great men, including His own Son, Jesus Christ! He will, if we put into practice the concepts of servanthood!

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... The Concepts of Servanthood IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... It involves absolute obedience, such as a slave-master relationship. The slave knows no law but his master’s word. He has no rights of his own. He is the absolute possession of his master. He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience.

Does this describe our relationship to Christ? It should!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

Luke 6:46 “So why do you call me ‘Lord,’ when you won’t obey me?” Coming To Jesus IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Luke 6:46 “So why do you call me ‘Lord,’ when you won’t obey me?” We have to come to Jesus on His terms, not our own.

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Servanthood Involves Humility IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible. When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive to the idea of complete obedience.

This is everything that they own!

our relationship to Christ Does this describe our relationship to Christ and His will? Christ said it should! Luke 17:10 – “In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.’”

about what Jesus tells us to do But if we murmur or complain about what Jesus tells us to do can we really be considered "servants"?

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Servanthood Involves Loyalty IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Galatians 1:10 “Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Since we became servants freely, it should be expected that we are loyal to Him first.

Complain about having to do the will of God It is amazing how any can claim to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ and still: Complain about having to do the will of God Or being negligent or slothful in carrying out His will

Some so-called “servants” of Jesus Christ act as though they are being forced against their own will!

But the alternative is not very inviting! No, you don’t “have to” serve the Lord Jesus… But the alternative is not very inviting!

If we don’t serve Jesus, then by default we serve Satan. And that means we go to hell!

But God loves us and has offered us His grace and salvation. Jesus died so we could live. How dare we ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of service in grateful appreciation?

IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Don't Give Service To The Wrong Master IT COMES FROM JESUS, WHO CAME TO BRING PEACE... Jesus warned that we cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24) Serving the wrong things will render us fruitless (Luke 8:14) Paul said we can only serve the one we obey (Romans 6:16)

Placing Limitations On Our Service Some limit how, where, and when they will serve. Moses tried to do this in Exodus 3:10-11. Many will agree to serve God, but only when it is convenient for them!

Some limit who they will serve, as Jonah tried to do (1:1-3)!

Many will serve God, but not when it means serving others (especially people they don’t like)!

one that we should accept with humility In Conclusion... The Christian has been “Saved To Serve” Called to serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ Called to serve his brethren and those in the world It is a noble calling, one that we should accept with humility and gratitude!

Romans 6:17-18 “Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.”

Romans 6:17-18 “Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.”