Experiencing God 04 - Being God's Servant

Reading: Philippians 2:1-18
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7 (NIV)

I.   Embrace Christ’s Humble attitude

     A.  Jesus let go of His Privilege

           1.  God comes to his people with upside down values.

                 a.  God values humility over ambition

                 b.  Relationship over “success”

                 c.  The intangible realities of faith, hope and love are the most precious things

           2.  What so many of us strive for, Jesus doesn’t consider worth holding on to.

                 a.  Jesus lets go of power, prestige, protection, glory, bliss, etc.

     B.  Jesus Modeled humility

           1.  He doesn’t just tell us to do it, He lives it

                 a.  His prayer in the garden “not as I will but as You will.”

                 b.  His question to needy people was often “What do you want me to do for you?”

           2.  Jesus never plays the status card

                 a.  Not once do we see Jesus demanding privilege because of who He was.

                 b.  Even when he acknowledges his lordship, it’s not for personal gain.

           3.  Jesus always puts the needs of others ahead of his own.

                 a.  He preached when tired, healed when asked, forgave when he was murdered

                 b.  His whole journey from heaven to the cross is about just that isn’t it.

     C.  Healthy Humility is a Christian Duty

           1.  Healthy humility is confident humility

                 a.  Humility isn’t believing no one ought to love or respect you

                 b.  It’s choosing not to demand love and respect from others

                 c.  Humility is possible when we are confident of God’s love.

           2.  A heart changed by the Spirit of God is a humble heart.

                 a.  Humility is not supposed to be a mask to cover up arrogance.

                 b.  God’s Spirit produces humility in us

II.  Embrace Christ’s Servant attitude

     A.  Jesus Modeled Servanthood

           1.  Jesus did nothing but His Father’s business.
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19 (NIV)

           2.  Jesus took the role of a servant at the Last Supper.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:13-15

           3.  Jesus came to serve
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NIV)

     B.  Consider others Better than yourselves

           1.  ‘Consider’ not realize.

                 a.  Not that others really are better, just treat them that way.

                 b.  V.4 tells us to take care of our own interest and the interests of others.

           2.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition (v.3)

                 a.  Nothing?

                 b.  Ambition is not a Biblical value unless it is ambition for doing God’s will.

     C.  Content to be a Servant

           1.  Jesus lived a “Thy will be done” life.

                 a.  He never aspired to anything more than to be a servant to His Father.

                 b.  He obeyed His Father (v.8)

           2.  Choose your theme song:

                 a.  “I did it my way”

                 b.  “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.”

III. Embrace Christ’s Serving attitude

     A.  Jesus came to Serve

           1.  There is a subtle but significant difference between being a servant and serving.

                 a.  To embrace servanthood is to embrace a status or role in life.

                 b.  Choose a serving life-style.

           2.  Jesus life was about really serving his Father and His people

                 a.  Everything Jesus did can be described as serving.

                 b.  Usually serving both God and us at the same time!

                 c.  God’s will for us is that we embrace serving Him and His people.

     B.  Jesus Embraced opportunities to serve

           1.  Sometimes he sought people out (Zaccheaus, the 12)

           2.  He allowed himself to be interrupted

                 a.  Most of his miracles happened because he allowed himself to be interrupted.

                 b.  He served some people on his way to serve others!

           3.  Jesus served us radically in the cross

                 a.  Jesus gave his life as a ransom for many

                 b.  While we were sinners he died for us

     C.  We serve as Jesus’ Disciples

           1.  Jesus told us to love each other “as I have loved you, so you must love each other.”

                 a.  Since we take our lead from Jesus, we will do what he teaches — serve.

                 b.  Do you want to serve God in your life?

           2.  Whatever we do to the least of these. . .

                 a.  In serving others we are serving God

                 b.  In serving we find an ever deepening experience of God.

           3.  By God’s invitation we have the honor of serving Him and His people.

                 a.  God doesn’t need us to accomplish his goals — he invites us to join him!

                 b.  What a privilege to share in God’s work

The Bottom Line:

Hymn: Take My Life R#458 vv. 1 (4?)