Notes from the Heart of a Servant
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Why is servanthood so important to the Christian life and to Christian ministry? Well, just consider the very negative consequences of selfish service as seen in woes pronounced on the Pharisees in Matthew Further, a self-serving kind of lifestyle is not only contradictory to the life, death, and message of the Savior, but it engenders division in the body of Christ. Service that is at self-serving simply cannot hold up under the pressures of the ministry and the large doses of criticism that often go with the territory.
In fact, if we fail to find our significance in the Savior, we will become obsessed with gaining recognition. This obsession will often lead to burnout—to anger, bitterness, and a heart that is poisoned against ministry. What are some of the hindrances to developing a servanthood mentality. As you consider the following, think about your own life and natural tendencies.
This is very evident in the reluctance of the disciples to take the towel and the position of a servant as seen in John When Christians fail to rest in who they are in Christ, they will constantly be battling the need for importance or significance from within their own desires and felt needs. Further, this need will be constantly inflamed by the influences of a world system that operates on a totally different basis.
Everyone faces the problem of meeting their felt needs by their own solutions and defense and escape mechanisms i.
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Rather, our need and responsibility is to trust the Lord for our acceptance, ability, production, and strength. Based on biblical values and truth, we must, by faith and an act of our will, firmly reject the goal of seeking to serve our own needs and adopt the goal of becoming servants of others like the Lord. As mentioned, people often seek their self-worth from the opinions of people rather than by the value God places on their lives according to His Word. This naturally results in a lack of commitment and in wrong priorities and pursuits which will leave little or no time for the Lord or ministry to others and the body of Christ.
What, then, are some of the consequences of a lack of servanthood in the body of Christ? This is most evident in the actions of the disciples see again Luke I can always get plenty of first violinists. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony. The attitude is, we are here to be ministered to rather than be equipped for ministry. This can be caused by exhaustion simple because a few people are attempting to do all the work.
Or, as mentioned above, burnout can occur because of the pressure and hurt brought on to a large degree by self-serving motives for acceptance, etc. One of the clear goals of Ephesians 4: In fact, this is a mark of maturity. Speaking of the goal of equipping the saints into mature servants, the apostle Paul said,.
As each one does its part, the body grows in love. This naturally leads to bitterness, contention, and division in the body of Christ. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble 1 Pet. Pride or the absence of humility quenches the Holy Spirit cf. So just how can I develop the heart of a servant that will lead to genuine growth in selfless, servant living? Though certainly not exhaustive, the following thoughts I trust will be helpful in this regard. Learning to live as a servant naturally begins by following the Lord Jesus.
As believers who are to follow in the steps of our Savior, it is important that we focus on Him because He was and is the epitome of humility, maturity, and leadership. That which most uniquely characterized Him was servanthood. Even now, though seated at the right hand of the Father as the glorified Lord, He continues to minister to us as our Advocate and Intercessor and Head of the body of Christ. This is tremendously significant especially in light of who He was and is.
The road to successful leadership is paved with the solid concrete of humble service for others. Knowing and being confident of His identity John This was a symbol of the service He continues to perform for us in the daily cleansing of our sins even though He is the risen and exalted Lord. His kind of service set an example. Jesus teaches all leaders for all time that greatness is not found in rank or position but in service italics his. He makes it clear that true leadership is grounded in love which must issue in service. No one in their own energy has the ability to give themselves sacrificially as a servant according to the example of the Savior.
For this we need the transforming ministry and enablement of the Holy Spirit and the renewing direction, grace, and strength that comes from living and growing in the Word. Thus, a Word-filled Col. The self-serving spirit and mind-set of the world is opposed to the mind of sacrificial servant living. Thus, based on the mercies of God available to believers in Christ, the apostle appeals to Christians to surrender themselves to God as living sacrifices.
Essential to that, and in keeping with living a Spirit-controlled and Word-filled life, is the need for daily renewing the mind in the truth of the Word. Paul immediately, therefore, points his readers to their responsibilities in Christian ministry Rom. Again, in the realm of surrender and sacrifice, the Lord Jesus is our perfect example. Therefore, as He was willing to sacrifice and surrender that He might serve our needs become our Redeemer and Advocate , so we are to be willing to serve, surrender, and sacrifice to meet the needs of others as a display of the mind of Christ Phil 2: For the Christian, then, this means a knowing the Word which identifies the true needs of people and then b working in the power of the Spirit to meet those needs according to our gifts, opportunities, and abilities see Acts 6: It also means caring about people and getting to know them personally so we can help meet their particular needs as we are given opportunity, as we have ability to do so, and as the Lord provides a way to do so.
In Him we are complete Col.
What could be more significant than being called a child of God, a title that applies to all believers in Christ. For this reason the world does not know us: But we know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. Otherwise, even if he does render service, it will often be from a self-serving motive like acceptance or praise see John It invariably leads to defensive and protective behavior patterns that put self above others. If this was true with the Lord Jesus, and it was, then it must also be so with us see again John Following the example of the Savior, believers are to function as servants who seek to minister to one another in loving and selfless service.
Am I, in submission to the Lord and to others, seeking to serve, or am I seeking to be served in the pursuit of my wants? Seeking to promote servant living, the apostle reminds us in Philippians 2: I believe that the first three, encouragement in Christ, a comfort provided by love, and fellowship in the Spirit are what come to us through our walk with the Savior—they are the products of fellowship. The last two, affection and mercy, may refer to the results of Christ in us as it is to be expressed to others in selfless concern.
In other words, as the God of peace and the God of all comfort, He wants us to have His peace and He wants to comfort us, but He is more concerned about our character as expressed in servant living than our comfort. His ultimate goal is not to pamper us physically or emotionally, but to perfect us spiritually , conforming us into the character of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus gave Himself redemptively for us to restore us to God and create a people who would live as servants of God in the service of others proclaiming the good news and loving others for Him. Thus, as Christ gave Himself, so God wants us to give ourselves for others.
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Components of Servanthood from New Testament Passages Since servant living was epitomized so completely by the Lord Jesus, we would naturally expect a number of passages to explicitly deal with this issue. McGee, Rapha Publishing, Houston, A consideration of Matthew All we had were guys and women just having sex and selling drugs. Apr 18, Thus, the characteristics that should mark out a Christian leader are also the marks of biblical maturity which are in essence the product of true spirituality. Scotty 4 books view quotes.
It fits all shapes, any age, and every personality. This ideal gift is … yourself. Give an hour of your time to someone who needs you. Give a note of encouragement to someone who is down. Give a hug of affirmation to someone in your family. Give a visit of mercy to someone who is laid aside. Give a meal you prepared to someone who is sick. Give a word of compassion to someone who just lost a mate.
Give a deed of kindness to someone who is slow and easily overlooked. For a more in debth study on this issue, I would recommend to outstanding books: Perilous Pursuits , by Joseph M. McGee, Rapha Publishing, Houston, See also, The Hunger for Significance , R. Sproul, Regal, Ventura, Calif.
These studies were developed in a team training environment where men were being trained for their role as church leaders, as fathers, and as effective members of a society that desperately needs to see what authentic, biblical Christianity looks like.
So, exactly what does a mature Christian look like? A mature Christian is a believer whose life begins to take on the character of Christ-likeness. But what exactly is that? What are the specific qualities that mark out a person as Christ-like?
www.farmersmarketmusic.com - Buy Notes from the Heart of a Servant: Volume 1 book online at best prices in India on www.farmersmarketmusic.com Read Notes from the Heart of a Servant: Volume. It is instructive to note that in this context of serving, He spoke of Himself .. In seeking to develop a servant's heart, Christians naturally face the.
This is the focus and point of this study. The qualities that should characterize Christian leaders are also the marks of spiritual maturity as described in the Bible. While all of the qualities that will be discussed in this series are not unique to Christianity and are often promoted and taught in the secular world, many of them are, by their very nature, distinctive to the Bible or biblical Christianity.
Thus, the characteristics that should mark out a Christian leader are also the marks of biblical maturity which are in essence the product of true spirituality. In fact, biblical spirituality can be described by the term maturity since Christian maturity is the result of growth produced by the ministry of the Spirit in the light of the Word over time.
What are the two options regarding servanthood that Jesus gives us in Matthew If we are not constantly checking our motives for serving, what might our results be? According to Philippians 2: Would you continue to serve in an area where your work was not recognized? What must you do, beginning today, to acquire an authentic heart of a servant? Are you, in submission to the Lord and to others, seeking to serve, or are you seeking to be served in the pursuit of your wants? Handing Off the Baton 2 Timothy 4: Walking the Romans Road.
Facing Winter Seasons 2 Timothy 4: Biblical Characteristics of a Christian Leader. Introduction In our quest for the marks of mature spirituality and leadership ability, we must not bypass that quality which so completely characterized the life of Jesus Christ, the quality of unselfish servanthood. Components of Servanthood from New Testament Passages Since servant living was epitomized so completely by the Lord Jesus, we would naturally expect a number of passages to explicitly deal with this issue.
After Jesus finished washing the feet of the disciples, He returned to His place and made this very pointed application: Conditions that Hinder Servanthood What are some of the hindrances to developing a servanthood mentality. Consequences in the Absence of Servanthood What, then, are some of the consequences of a lack of servanthood in the body of Christ? Speaking of the goal of equipping the saints into mature servants, the apostle Paul said, 4: Engstrom writes, His kind of service set an example.
Conclusion Seeking to promote servant living, the apostle reminds us in Philippians 2: What is the definition of servanthood? How can servanthood be selfish? What is the result of our impatience and our desire to be served now? How does Jesus model servanthood in John What does the search for personal significance produce? What happens if we do not find our significance in Christ?
Please list the four conditions that hinder servanthood? What are the seven consequences of the absence of servanthood?
In what areas are you serving the Body of Christ? What drew you to serve in these areas? Describe the feelings you experience when serving in these areas? Aug 17, Selvie 14 books view quotes. Jenni Evans books view quotes. May 08, Jonathan 19 books view quotes. Mar 07, Caty books view quotes.
“Rule with the heart of a servant. Serve with the heart of a king.”
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