Serving as Christ Served

There's a man that's on the other side of the river in Egypt. And Sir Allah that we've gone to see a couple of times. There's a man by the name of Shaunt Kumar, and he's related to G.P. Samuel. And he's begun to meet with a group of people. In fact, there's a small building that they meet, and he wanted us... We've actually invited him to come to join us at the feast in Agra, and he was able to come.

And that was the first time he's been able to experience the Feast of Tabernacles in the way that we do it. And so G.P. Samuel said, that's fine, we'd like to send him. And so we were able to invite him, and hoping that he'll learn and be able to take maybe some of this information back to the people that he knows in Chirala, as well as to teach some of the people that he teaches in his area.

And so when we were over there, he wanted us to come and to see him. And so, when we were... He's living near Rajmundri as well, so we went and had a chance to go to where his family is, and where he holds services from time to time, and we had a chance to see the building. And while we were there, just because, I don't know, people started to show up.

People just started to come while we were there. I suppose it's more white-skinned, and all of a sudden, children started showing up. And so we started to sing songs, and some of their native songs, and all of a sudden, parents started to come. And we ended up actually having, I suppose, what you'd call an on-the-spot, good news seminar, right there. And people kept coming, and there wasn't enough room in the church building. And so we had everybody outside, and we laid some tarps down, and the children sat down, and then there was kind of a...

In the church courtyard, there was kind of like a half wall, so some of the adults sat on the cement wall, where the children were on the ground. And we gave a mini good news seminar. And you know how many people eventually came? I mean, it started small, and it eventually grew. We had 80 people that came with an unannounced... Nobody knew it was even going to happen, even we as guests, and our hosts didn't know it was going to happen.

I didn't even bring my Bible, because we were just coming to visit. And all of a sudden, we're preaching about God's coming Kingdom to people that have maybe never heard that message before. And right next door to His small church building, that was just recently completed, there's the Catholic Church. And I told Him, I said, you're in the perfect spot.

You want to be next to your competition, I guess. And when they come on their way to church, they might see His building, they might see His service going on. They may think, you know, maybe there's something there that I need to learn. So who knows how that can all work out? But that was pretty inspiring, because that all happened in Prom, too. So, and he's a very sincere guy, and really wants to do what's right. And so, it's really great to see that spirit over there. So I wanted to let you know about that story as well.

We've been talking a lot about serving as Christ serves. And that's something that's actually throughout the Bible, is that God says, and even refers to His people as servants. We refer to ourselves as servants of God. And that's something that it's important to know, that that's what God wants us to do, is to be a servant.

But what does it mean to be a servant? What does that mean, and what does a servant do? And what does God require of His servants? Because if we're to be a servant of God, and He has a desire for us as His servants, what does He expect? What does He want from us? And I think those are all good questions, because if we intend to be servants of God, if we intend to serve Him, then what does He expect? What does He want us to do? You know, if we're going to be a disciple of His, and we want to give our allegiance to our Master, what does our Master expect?

What does He expect from you? And what does He expect from me? Well, let's talk about definition of a servant here, because sometimes, you know, we need to get back to basics a little bit, because the basics actually say a lot. What's it mean to be a servant? What does the word servant mean? Well, looking up the dictionary, it says, servant means one who serves another.

A servant is one who serves another. So then I looked up the word serve, and to see, well, okay, what does that mean? Well, it means to serve means to work for another, to be a servant to another, to minister to another, to wait on another, to attend to another, to help another, to distribute to another, to promote another, to advance another. And it goes on and on as it goes through here.

So basically, we're talking about service means to do something for somebody else. Pretty simple, isn't it? Is to do something for somebody else. And you know, when it comes to being a servant, that's really not age-specific. Really, it doesn't matter what your age. You know, I always think of Josiah taking the throne as an eight-year-old, and how he began to serve his people, God's people, at the age of eight. And so that's something to think about as well. King of Judah, at the age of eight, leading the people of God. So I'd like to cover a few points today about being a servant, and to be reminded of what God expects of you and me.

Because he has expectations of his servants. So let's take a look at the first point here. A servant is obedient to the Master. A servant is obedient to the Master. And let's look at a few examples here. Let's turn to Luke 7, in verse 1. Luke 7, in verse 1. We're going to see here an example of a centurion. Centurion, in this example, he was not among the Jewish people, among the people of God.

Most likely a Roman, who knows of what nation or background or nationality. But certainly not among God's people, at least at this time. And a centurion was somebody that had to answer to somebody, and he also had a hundred people that answered to him. Centurion, centurion means 100. So he was a Roman soldier that had people that answered to him, and he also in turn had to answer to people above him. So we're going to read about this example here, in chapter 7 of Luke, and we'll start in verse 1. Now, when he had concluded all of his sayings and the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

So Jesus Christ is coming into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So here the centurion had a servant, and his servant was someone that was dear to him. You know, he cared about this servant. I think he's the type of master that we'd all like to be under, where the master cares about the servant.

And so he cared about this servant, as it says, he was dear to him, and he was sick and apparently near death. So he was concerned. The centurion was concerned about his servant.

Verse 3, so when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, pleading with him to come and to heal his servant. So he heard about Jesus performing miracles, and he was concerned about the health of his servant. And so what I hadn't seen until fairly recently, is that he never has a face-to-face conversation with Jesus. It says in verse number 3, he sent elders of the Jews to Jesus, pleading with him to come. Now verse 4, and when these elders of the Jews came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly saying that the one for whom he should do this was deserving.

He said the centurion is deserving. Why? Because he loves our nation, and he's built us as synagogue. So this centurion, he cared for the Jewish people, and he built them a synagogue. I mean, that was really something out of the ordinary, and something that wasn't normally done. And so these elders of the Jews said, please Jesus, come, this man is deserving.

You know, come please, and heal his servant. So verse 6, then Jesus goes with the elders of the Jews, and when he was already not far from the house, the centurion sent some of his friends to Jesus, and said to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.

So here's a very humble attitude, isn't there? He said, you know, Jesus, He doesn't even still go to see Him. He sends friends to Him, and says, you know, I'm not even worthy for you to come under my roof. So he says, don't trouble yourself, I'm not worthy. Verse 7, Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. Now that is an incredible attitude of humility. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. He says, Jesus, I know you have your own servants out there.

I know that they do what you ask them to do. I know that if you just say the word, that you or one of your servants will take care of this. All you have to do is say the word. And then He gives an example. Verse 8, For I am also a man placed under authority. So He's under authority Himself. And I have soldiers that are under Me.

So He's kind of in between. He had people to answer to, and He had people that answered to Him. And you know, I think Jesus Christ, as He heard this story, was thinking, Wow, I'm kind of like that too. I answer to the Father, and I've got my disciples and my servants that answer to Me. So I think Jesus Christ was identifying a little bit with this man. So let's continue on. Verse 8, For I am also a man placed under authority, and have soldiers under Me. And I say to one, Go, and He goes, and to another, Come, and He comes.

And to my servant, do this, and he does it. And when Jesus heard these things, He marveled. You know, it doesn't say He did that a lot in Scripture, but it says here that He marveled. And He turned around and said to the crowd that was right with Him, He said, I have not found such great faith.

No, not even in Israel. He said, this man isn't even an Israelite. And I have not found such great faith. So what was it that Jesus saw? Well, I think Jesus saw this man understood what a servant was. What a servant did. He said, Jesus, just say the word to your servant.

You tell him to go and he'll go. I know the kind of servants that you have, Jesus. If you say go, he'll go. If you say come, he comes. If you say do this, he does that. And so, that is quite a remarkable example of what a servant is. And then also understanding that we have to answer to a master as well. And Jesus Christ thought, wow, I have not found such great faith. Not even in Israel. Having the attitude of a servant is almost an attitude of as you wish.

As you wish. When the master says something, our response is, yes, sir. As you wish. It's almost as simple as that. When Jesus Christ or God the Father say something to you or me, and they say go, we go. If He says, I want you to live your life according to the Scriptures, then we say, okay. Yes, sir. That's what we'll do. It's really a different way of beginning to understand things.

Because, you know, we don't live in a society that we really have slaves or servants or that type of thing. And so maybe it's a little bit harder for us to identify with something like this. But God wants us to identify with something like this, regardless of the culture in which we live. So we're covering the first point. I've got a few more Scriptures here that a servant is totally obedient to the master. It's like we trust the master. You know, sometimes you think, okay, God, where are You taking me that I don't want to go?

You know, there are times when God wants you to do something, and you're His servant, and you may not want to do it. You may not want to go. Or you may not want to do the will of our Father. And yet, Jesus Christ is saying to you and to me that that's exactly what He wants us to do, regardless of how we feel. You know, we've been challenged in quite a few ways with where we've been asked to go.

You know, to Sri Lankan and to India? I mean, that isn't something that I would have ever thought about doing, ever. And yet, we were asked to go. We were asked to serve. And so, sometimes you have to say, regardless of how you feel, as you wish.

Let's look at another scripture. Let's look at Luke 6 and verse 46. Luke 6 and verse 46. Still under the same point that the servant is obedient to the Master. We'll spend a little bit of time in Luke here. Luke 6 and verse 46. But why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do the things which I say? So, Jesus Christ was a little frustrated by people that said, yes, I'm your servant. But then they don't do what He asks them to do.

And that's pretty serious stuff. And then He goes on to say in verse 47, whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I'll tell you what He's like. He's like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood rose and the stream beat vehemently against that house, it couldn't shake it, for it was founded on the rock. Now, I'm guessing it was founded on the rock of Jesus Christ. But you know, He's trying to say that if we do those things, He does as He tells us to do as a servant, that we're going to be on a very firm foundation that can't be shaken.

But He goes on to say in verse 49, but He who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. You know, there are other scriptures that talk about it. I think it's Matthew 24, verse 42, somewhere in there, about watch your house, that it not be broken into. Examine yourself to see how you're living your life. And often, God talks about ourselves as our house. And He says, if we don't do the things that the Master, that the Lord says, and the word Lord means another way, that God, Lord, Master, someone that you are serving, that God says that that house is going to fall if we don't do what the Master says, or what our Lord says.

And notice the very last part of verse 49, and the ruin of that house was great. You know, God has a desire for you and me in our house, if you want to put it that way. He has great expectations. He has a great desire for us, not only to serve Him, but to understand what that does to our life, how it changes us.

Because we'll see in a moment that Jesus Christ is a servant as well. And yet, if we don't do what we are asked to do, the ruin of the house could be great, as it says in the latter part of verse 49. Let's look at verse 40, same chapter, Luke 6 and verse 40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. So of course, as a disciple, we're being trained.

And God's Word and Jesus Christ and God the Father are trying to train us to become complete. And it says here that if we're perfectly trained, that we will eventually be like Jesus Christ. We'll be like our teacher. Well, we'll see in a moment here, we'll see some examples of how Jesus Christ was a servant. Let's notice we're in Luke. Let's go to Luke 4 and verse 5. Luke 4 and verse 5. Again, we're still under the point of being totally obedient to the Master.

And we'll see an example here of Jesus Christ, where He was tempted to serve someone else, rather than God. Luke 4, and we'll pick it up in verse 5. It says, then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, all this authority I will give You and their glory, for this has been delivered to Me.

And I give it to whomever I wish. Interesting that all the kingdoms of the world, we see who's got temporary domain in verse 5. We know, as we've heard at the feast, that there's going to come a time, Revelation 11, verse 15, where the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. But right now, it says in verse 5 that He has temporary domain, showing Him all the kingdoms of this world in a moment of time. And the devil said, all this authority I will give You and their glory, for this has been delivered to Me.

And I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before Me, all will be Yours. And Jesus answered and said, Get behind Me, Satan, for it is written. Jesus Christ relies on Scripture, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.

So, in being a servant, Jesus Christ gives us the example here that He's going to only worship the Lord His God, which is the Father, and only going to serve Him. And so, that's the example for us as well. Jesus Christ gives us an example, Him only shall you serve. Let's take a look at Luke 16, verse 10. You know, God really wants us to be a wholehearted servant and not to have our interests divided. Luke 16, verse 10, because there's a concept He's going to point out here that we cannot serve two masters.

Luke 6, verse 10, He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. And He who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. I like that Scripture a lot because God tells us if we're faithful in just the small things, we'll be faithful in the big things. And sometimes we reason, well, you know, I'm going to be faithful on some of the big things, but I think God will overlook some of these little things.

And you know, that's a dangerous way to begin to think according to Scripture, because Jesus Christ said that's not the way that it works. Verse 11, therefore, if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, then who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Now, He's basically saying if you can't be faithful in financial things or, you know, mammon, who's going to give you the true riches? So it's something to think about, even a connection maybe with tithing a little bit. You can't be faithful in some of those things. Who will commit to our trust the true riches? And then He goes on to say in verse 13, No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one, and he will despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. So God's trying to get a point to us that, you know, you're eventually only going to serve one master.

You cannot serve two. You know, we might try, but it's not going to work. God says you can only serve one. No servant can serve more than one master. You can't serve two. And so something for us to keep in mind. God says He wants us to wholeheartedly serve Him. Let's go to Malachi chapter 3 and verse 14. Malachi chapter 3 and verse 14.

You know, sometimes it's not easy to serve God. We look around and we think, you know, some people have it better than we do, because they're not obeying God. And we start to murmur a little bit or think about that. And God had to address that here in Malachi chapter 3 and verse 14.

And God is pretty upset with His people because of their attitude. And He says in Malachi 3 verse 14, You have said it is useless to serve God. So they were getting into an attitude. And they're saying, what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, or that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed. You know, we look around and there's some people out there that got a pretty high opinion of themselves, they're doing pretty well, and it looks like they're being blessed.

And it says for those, in verse 15, who do wickedness, they're raised up. I mean, the ones that are disobeying you, God, are in high positions. They're being raised up. And it says, they even tempt God and they go free. So this was their attitude. They're saying, look at these people, they're even tempting God, and then there's no results that come from it. There's no anything that harms them. There's no accountability. They're tempting God and they go free.

So God's quoting what they're saying here. But notice verse 16, Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them. Wow! God says that there were some that feared Him, that they wanted to make sure that they were serving Him. And they got together and they talked with one another. And God says, you know what? I was right there. And I heard what they said. And so, a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. So here was a group of people that feared God, that were going to obey Him and be His servants.

And notice verse 17, They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them my jewels. God said there's going to come a day when I'm going to make them my jewels. I'm going to put them in a very, very prominent place because they were following and obeying Me. And they're going to be mine, God says. And I will spare them, verse 17, as a man, spares his own son who serves him. That's an interesting thought, too, that a son would serve his father.

He says, I'm going to spare him as a man, spares his own son who serves him. And then, verse 18, you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked. Apparently, it was getting hard to discern between the righteous and the wicked, but God says you will again be able to see the difference between the righteous and the wicked and between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

God says you'll be able to see a difference. And He says, I'm going to remember them, I'm going to make them My special jewels. So God has something very special in mind for His servants, for His people. Let's go to a second point here. Matthew 7, verse 21. The point is, a servant is not self-willed.

But desires his master's will.

A servant of God is not self-willed.

But desires his master's will.

Matthew 7, verse 21. We'll read through verse 23.

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of My Father in heaven.

So we see that that's what God wants us to do, His will, not necessarily our own.

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, He's emphasizing that, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name.

And then I will declare to them, I never knew You.

Depart from Me You who practice lawlessness.

Boy, God calls a spade a spade there in verse 23. He said they were actually practicing lawlessness. They were sinning.

They were not doing the will of God.

They were breaking God's commandments, breaking His laws.

And yet they were calling Him, Lord, Lord, all at the same time?

Well, it says it's pretty clearly that they must have been self-willed and they did their own will in many respects. And they were practicing lawlessness, as it says in the latter part of verse 23. They were not obeying God, which ties into the first point, that a servant obeys the Master. They were practicing lawlessness. Let's look at another scripture, Luke 11 and verse 2. Luke 11 and verse 2.

The sample prayer here. Let's see. You know, of all the things that Jesus thought it was important to give an outline prayer, let's see what's here.

Luke 11 and verse 2.

When you pray, say this. So Jesus Christ is giving us the outline prayer.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done. You see the emphasis on the Father?

Your will be done. Not our will.

You see, Jesus Christ is trying to get us to understand, but to pray, Your will be done.

Again, tying in that a servant does not self-will, but desires the Master's will.

Your will be done on earth, is what God wants us to do as His servants. His will and not our own.

And have it be done on earth. That's His desire as well.

Not only in the coming Kingdom, but right here, right now, among His servants. The very, of all the things Jesus Christ emphasized, that was one of them.

That we should be thinking about God's will being done, not necessarily our own.

Let's look at John chapter 5 and verse 30. John chapter 5 and verse 30.

You know, it's human to want to do our own will, but God's trying to teach us something different. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 30.

Jesus Christ's example here.

Matthew 5, or excuse me, John chapter 5 and verse 30.

John chapter 5 and verse 30. I can of myself do nothing.

As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my own will.

Jesus Christ, when He walked to the earth, did not seek His own will, but the will of the Father who sent me. So Jesus Christ seeks the Father's will, not His own. He had an as you wish attitude when it came to serving His Father.

He did not seek His own will, but the Father's will.

Let's notice Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 1.

Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 1.

Children, obey your parents. You know, we read in Malachi about serving, you know, our parents are serving our fathers. A father serves, or a son serves his father. So children even have responsibilities under the Scripture to obey their parents in the Lord, because this is right.

Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth, so there's always benefits for doing what God asks us to do, doing His will and not necessarily our own.

And fathers have responsibilities in serving their children, not to provoke them to anger or wrath, but bring them up in the training and the admonition of the Lord. That's God's will as a servant, for us fathers to teach our children and bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. So sometimes we're admonished by the Lord.

Notice verse 5, we get into the servant's part.

Bond servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling and sincerity of heart, as to Christ.

Now there's a lot in this verse. You know, a lot of us have been employees and have had bosses, or you've served people in some way.

And it says there, to be obedient to your masters with the flesh, with fear and trembling and sincerity.

It's, you know, that's something to think about when we're in that position as an employee.

We maybe don't think about that, but that's what the Scriptures say with sincerity of heart. You know, not only working hard when they're watching and looking, but also being a good servant when they're not around. And doing it from sincerity of heart. Say, that's the right thing to do, because that's what God's told me to do.

That's His will.

And He says, as to Christ.

Wow, the last part of verse 5.

He's saying that, you know, really behind that employer, I want you to see Me.

Jesus Christ, you're serving Him the way you'd serve Me.

You know, Paul is really fine-tuning our understanding here from the Scriptures of what we should be doing as servants. And notice, verse 6, not with eye service as men-pleasers.

You know, just doing what's right when they're looking.

Not doing it that way. Not with eye service or as men-pleasers, but as bond-servants of Christ. As slaves, servants of Christ.

Wow, that takes it to a whole new level here.

And notice, doing the will of God.

So there it is again, coming under this point of not being self-willed, but we are desiring the Master's will, and He's saying that this is My will, that you think of it this way.

That you think of it this way. Doing the will of God, and notice from the heart.

You know, sincere.

Saying, you know, this is from My heart. This is how I'm going to approach this. God says, this is what I'm going to do, or what He wants Me to do, because that's His will, and I'm going to trust Him.

I'm not going to care about what My will is, or what My thoughts are towards this person. I'm going to work as if I was serving Christ.

I'm going to give My best, sincerely, from the heart, not with eye service, but with respect. Fear and trembling. Respect. Fear could also be translated, respect.

That's a whole different way of looking at things.

And that's the type of serving that God wants us to be when we serve Christ and we serve the Father.

Verse 7, With good will, doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

God says to you and to Me, I want you to look at it a different way than you've ever looked at it before.

You are not serving men when you do these things. You are serving Me.

Do you see that?

Turn as we look at the Scripture.

Verse 8, Knowing that whatever good anyone does, He will receive the same from the Lord. Wow!

God says, you know what? I'm fair.

You serve in this way. You do good in this way. And you're going to receive the same thing from Me.

I'm going to serve you.

Isn't that amazing how God's ways work?

God says, put me to the test.

Knowing, verse 8, that whatever good anyone does, He will receive the same from the Lord, whether He is slave or whether He is free.

God says, it doesn't make any difference. Whether you're a slave or you're a free man, I'm going to take care of you.

And verse 9, the masters. And you masters, you do the same things to them.

Give up the threatening. You know, He says, I want you to be the type of master that I am.

I want you to serve some of your servants, doing the same thing to them. Do you see that? Just as the Father will do, and Jesus Christ will do to us in verse 8, but He will receive the same from the Lord. Masters do the same things to them.

Giving up the threatening.

Knowing that your own master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with that master.

There's a lot here, in just these few verses 5 through 9, about the type of servant that God wants us to be.

And He wants us to serve others. And He wants us to serve others as if we were serving Jesus Christ Himself.

A lot here, brethren, when it comes to being a servant of God.

Hebrews 10, verse 5.

Again, another example of Jesus Christ being a servant here. We're still under point number 2.

Servant is not self-will, but desires the master's will. Jesus Christ gives an example here of how He serves His Father. Hebrews 10, verse 5.

Therefore, when He came into the world, referring to Jesus Christ, coming into the world, He said, sacrifice and offering you didn't desire, but a body you have prepared for Me.

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, you had no pleasure. And then I said, behold, I have come in the volume of the book it has written of Me to do your will, O God. So Jesus Christ said, I'm going to come, and I'm going to come in order to do your will, God. Verse 9, He said, then behold, I've come to do your will, O God. He emphasizes that again.

It says, He goes on, He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

And by that will, God's, the Father's will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ for all.

So that will, verse 10, was referring to the Father's will that Jesus Christ come to be a sacrifice so that we could be a part of the family.

And Jesus Christ said, I've come to do your will. That's what He wanted to do.

Point number 3, a servant of God is humble and meek.

A servant of God is humble and meek.

Throughout the Scriptures, God continues to remind us that He looks to a person of a contrite heart.

And we fight that, I think, a lot because of our human nature.

But if we're going to serve God, He wants us to change. Let's notice Philippians chapter 2 and verse 1.

Philippians chapter 2 and verse 1. Philippians chapter 2 and verse 1.

So therefore, if there's any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, all wonderful things, if any affection and mercy, then fulfill my joy by being like-minded. Seems like being like-minded helps to bring some of those other things about.

And of course, that's why our enemy wants us to be unlike-minded.

And having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind.

And then he talks about how that can be done.

Verse 3, by letting nothing be done through selfish ambition.

Well, we've seen some of that here in recent times. Selfish ambition divides us. Well, we're no longer of one accord or one mind. But God can bring that back together if we'll yield to Him.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in the lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than Himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

And then he talks about Jesus Christ and His example. In verse 5, he goes on to say, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. So, Jesus Christ had everything that's listed from verse 1 through verse 4.

He had everything that's listed in verse 1 and verse 4. Jesus Christ wants us to be like-minded with Him and the Father, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. That's what Jesus Christ, that's what's in His mind. That's what He wants. Jesus Christ didn't do anything through selfish ambition, but He did it in the lowliness of mind, esteeming others better than Himself. That's hard to imagine that He had that heart and that attitude, but that's what He did, because this mind was in Him.

In verse 4, that mind was in Him as well, looking not only for His own interests, but also for the interests of others.

And notice verse 6, Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant.

So that's what He did.

He took the form of a bond servant, and He came in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and He became obedient. So Jesus Christ is our example.

He was humble, He was obedient, even to the point of doing the will of His Father of dying.

So God has highly exalted Him.

Let's jump to verse 12 here.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so that's part of what we need to do. Not as in my presence only, but how much more, now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure.

You know, as a servant of God, and we want to do His will, here's His will, He wants to work in you.

Both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

A servant of God is not self-willed, but looks and desires His Master's will.

And you want to know what else God's will is in verse 14?

To do all things without complaining and disputing.

Now, I think that pretty much covers it. All things that you may become blameless and harmless.

Children of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

And holding fast the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run and labored in vain.

And yes, Paul said, and I am being poured out. Paul said, I'm doing this for you.

I'm doing God's will. He's having me to serve you. And he says, and I'm being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and the service He's serving.

Serving of your faith. He wasn't in it for Himself.

He wasn't serving Himself. He wasn't self-willed. God said, I want you to go to the Gentiles. I want you to preach them My Word. And so He said, I'm doing it. I'm being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith. And I am glad.

What an attitude!

I am glad and rejoice with you all.

You know, what an attitude that he had as a servant. And he says, for the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with Me. He says, follow my example.

Be a servant.

Verse 13, letting God work in you and in Me to do His will and to serve others for His good pleasure.

Paul said, do the same as I am.

For the same reason, verse 18, you also be glad and rejoice with Me.

Wow! What a wonderful attitude. I'm running out of time, but I've got one other thing I want to cover here.

We're under the point, servant is humble in Meek. I'll just refer to a verse here.

Matthew 20, verses 20-28, where the disciples started getting away from the attitude of being this humble and Meek servant. They asked, well, who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom?

And Jesus Christ had to sit them down and say that the one who serves others the most is going to be the greatest. Because they were looking at self-exaltation.

In Matthew 20, verses 20-28.

I'll also refer you to Mark 9, verse 33-37.

They asked the same question on a different occasion. It's one of three different recorded instances where Jesus has to address this issue.

Because they were trying to exalt themselves. Their will was to be the greatest, rather than to serve the way that God told us to serve.

Rather than the fourth point here is the servant needs to bear fruit.

The servant of God needs to bear fruit for the Master.

Let's look at John chapter 15, verse 1.

John chapter 15, verse 1.

The servant needs to bear fruit for the Master.

I am the true vine and my Father is the vine dresser.

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.

And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit.

We're in John 15, verse 2.

And it says, abide, verse 4, abide in me and I in you, and as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

You know, God's desire, His will is for us to bear fruit.

And in order to do that, we have to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We have to serve as He serves. We have to abide in Him. We have to begin to become one with Him.

He says, verse 6, well, let's go to verse 5. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.

For without me, you can do nothing. Remember when Jesus said, Christ said, without the Father I can do nothing.

You know, they were at one with each other. Jesus Christ said, I couldn't serve. I can't do what I do without being at one with the Father. I abide in Him and He abides in me, the same way with you and I.

Unless we abide in Christ, we won't bear any fruit, as it says in the latter part of verse 5.

Verse 6, if anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire.

And they are burned.

If you abide in me and my words, these words that we've been reading today, abide in us and we follow them and we live them, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.

And notice verse 8, by this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit, and so you will be my disciples.

Brethren, that's His desire for us, is to serve others, to do the good will of God in serving others and serving God.

It ties into the two great commandments so well that Jesus Christ summarizes to love God with all of our heart and to love neighbor as self.

And so God's desire for you and I is to be a servant.

And you know, at times we get sidetracked, the children of Israel got sidetracked. Let's turn to our final scripture, Joshua 24, and verse 13.

We can get sidetracked too, and all of a sudden we start trying to serve two masters.

And God says you can't do that.

If you're going to be my servant, you have to trust me to serve me wholeheartedly, to have a humble attitude, and to do my will and not your own, and to bear fruit for me.

Joshua, right after the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 24, 83,