“Being a Servant”
Matthew 10:24, 25

Introduction

• If you look up the word “servant” in Webster’s Dictionary this is what you find… It is a noun describing a person. A person hired by, and under the command of, someone else.
• This ultimately means …You are not the boss, you do as you are told.
• Looking at the definition of “serve” which describes the duties of a servant …

1. To act as a servant, helper, slave, etc.
2. To worship or obey; as to serve
3. To perform the official duties of a position; as to serve on committees.
4. To do duty as a soldier, sailor, etc.; as he served at the front; also to benefit; as scientists serve the world.
5. To wait on a person at a table; as to serve them tea, coffee, food, etc.
6. To be useful, helpful, or beneficial.

• The word “service” means the act of serving, it is what a servant provides or does.

I. Looking at the word “SERVANT”

  A) How important is it to God?

• Looking at the definition described by Webster again… A person hired by, and under the command of, someone else.
• According to the Word Search Bible program on my laptop, the word “servant” is found 491 times. The word “serve” is found 209 times, and “service” is found 132 times.
• In totality, we find that God references this commandment 832 times in His Word.
• This is God saying… “If you are my child, you will have the character of a servant, the desire to serve, and be of service to Me (God).”
• God expects us to choose “who we will serve.” Joshua 24:15…And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
• To be a servant, you must choose to be one. God forces no one to be His servant. It is a choice. You must volunteer to be a servant.
• A servant follows commands. If you are not following the commands of God laid out in His word… then you are not His servant.
• If you are not tithing, not worshiping, not being obedient, not loving your wife as Christ loved the church, then you are not a servant of God.

  B) A servant

• Look at Genesis 24:9…And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
• Who is the “master/boss” here in this verse? Abraham, right?
• Who is Abraham servant to? Genesis 26:24…And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s
• We (Every member of SBBC) should be a servant of God. If we claim to be saved, born again, baptized into the fellowship of God’s people and His word… then we should be God’s helper, and slave performing duties as His soldier against Satan’s forces which are beneficial, useful and helpful to God and His children.
• We have a problem when most of God’s people want to be the “master.”
• YOU MISSED THE MESSAGE of Christ!
• Matthew 10:24…The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
• You will note first of all that Christ (God in the flesh) said… “The disciple is not above his master,”
• Speaking to the Christians, Who is our Master? Jesus Christ.
• As members of SBBC who is the person you chose to be master? Bro. Ron. I am not “head of the church” as that is Jesus Christ. But I am master/leader/ supervisor and teacher over the flock of God.
• In Matthew 10:24, the word “master” is meant to be “teacher” or one who teaches.
• Christ goes further to say that the disciples (members of the church) should be as the teacher (pastor).
• Christ said “it is enough” meaning that you should be satisfied with following the pastor and not trying to perform his duties of shepherding the flock entrusted to him.
• The pastor is responsible for each member of God’s elect specifically those chosen for the pastor’s ministry.
• God has called me to be your pastor/master/teacher, and He has further called you to be disciples of Christ under me as a servant.
• You are not to call me (Bro. Ron) “master.” There is only one Master, and that is Jesus Christ (see Matthew 23:10 which means Lord of their life).
• Even though I am your pastor, I am also your “servant” who serves to you the word of God by actions and speech setting an example for you to follow.
• Servants are not masters. They do not boss other people around.
• If you are a member of SBBC, YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS! You do not go to other member’s homes and boss them around. You do not come to church and boss other members or visitors around.
• A master/pastor is the only one who gives commands to his people. I might add that these commands should be commands that are backed up with the doctrines of Jesus Christ mentioned in His word.
• Members do not command members unless asked by the pastor.
• As a pastor, I do not Lord over your life or your family.
• As servant of God, like you, I must follow God’s Commandments. I cannot force you to come to church, I cannot force you to tithe, I cannot force you to love others, I cannot force you to do anything. Service to God is as a “servant.” Willing to be obedient and willing to do as asked without question.

II. Looking at the Word “Serve”

  A) Do I serve?

• Looking at the definition of “serve” which describes the duties of a servant …

1. To act as a servant, helper, slave, etc.
2. To worship or obey; as to serve
3. To perform the official duties of a position; as to serve on committees.
4. To do duty as a soldier, sailor, etc.; as he served at the front; also to benefit; as scientists serve the world.
5. To wait on a person at a table; as to serve them tea, coffee, food, etc.
6. To be useful, helpful, or beneficial.

• Ask yourself these questions after you read these characteristics and duties of a servant… Is this what I do for my heavenly Father? Is this what I am doing for my pastor? Is this what I am doing when I minister to other members of our church? Is this what I am doing for my spouse.
• A servant is a helper, an assistant, not a boss or control freak.
• Many Christians are really not servants. Many Christians tell God what they are going to do.
• God has already showed us in His Word what we are supposed to do.
• A servant is obedient.
• Let us examine each meaning of the word “serve” as a member of SBBC…
• To “serve” as a member of SBBC means…

1. To help/ one another with spiritual knowledge obtained at SBBC. (If you are helping another member and are not sure of yourself, tell them to ask the pastor.) Maybe you help them in transportation to the grocery store, doctor, or garage sales or whatever…remember that you are to “serve” not tell them what medicine to take, what food to buy, or how they should spend their money.
2. You are to serve God in the way you believe that is right for you and your family according to God’s Law. We as members of SBBC should not be telling others when to come to church , what to wear at church, and what to give to the church. To serve God is an honor and privilege.
3. We serve as members of SBBC by being useful, helpful and beneficial to one another. Telling others what to do is not helpful nor useful, and definitely not beneficial for spiritual growth.

• The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 100:2…Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
• Luke 4:8…And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

III.  Looking at the Word “Service”

  A) Your service to God is first

• Do you want a great example of “service” to God? Look at II Chronicles 31:20…And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21) And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
• What the word of God is saying of Hezekiah here was an example we should follow when doing service for one another here at SBBC…

1. “…and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.” Hezekiah worked hard at trying to be the best at doing what is good, right, and be truthful in everything he did.
2. “…And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God,” He was the same in his service at the church house, and honoring all the laws of government, diligent in seeking God in every decision, desire, or need.
3. “…he did it with all his heart,” Everything Hezekiah did was accomplished with all his heart being focused on God and being His servant.

• The RESULT of Hezekiah’s servant like heart was that he “…”
• He never had need of anything and he was happy and enjoyed life at its fullest.

   B) Your service to others

• Ephesians 6:5…Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7) With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
• When we do a service to others, we do it without seeking the praise of others which is called “eye service,” or “men pleasers.”
• God always has commanded His children to do things quietly and out of sight, such as praying in a closet.
• Bossing people around is not pleasing to God at all.
• Paul had to tell the Ephesians to serve “…With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”
• The term “good will” means to do something with good intensions. It means to help someone by doing right things that make them happy.
• If you are serving or being a servant to someone and you are not pleasing them, then your serving is of Satan not of God. Godly servants make people happy and joyful.
• Ask yourself this morning… “Am I a true servant of God?
• If you are, then serve with gladness and make others happy.