JRM Sison Chapter - September 13, 2009 - In the Service of the Lord

Servanthood, in the eyes of the world, is the least position or job description a man can ever have. It is a position of humiliation. It is the least sought job application.

Let us try to describe what a servant is in the context of the world:
     ·     A servant has a master to serve.
     ·     A servant’s time is not his but the master’s.
     ·     A servant doesn’t have any choice in the nature of his work.

From the above descriptions, it is very hard to be a servant. In summary, a servant’s life is no longer his own but the master’s.
In Biblical context, a servant (Greek equivalent pronounced as ‘doolos’) signifies a man “in bondage”. It indicates subjection without the idea of bondage. If we try to analyze the meaning, a servant doesn’t have any inkling that he is under bondage. Let us take a drunkard for example; to him drinking is part of his life but to others they see a man under the bondage of liquor. Another example would be gambling, a person may or may not know that he is under bondage of gambling not until he tries to quit. Thus, the only way to know whether a person is in bondage is by trying to quit. A good example of bondage is under our Lord Jesus Christ; if a true Christian will try to quit from the Lord, he will find it difficult at first. Even if he backslides, there is still an urge to go back (especially if he has been a Christian for quite some time). Therefore, a servant is under bondage to his master.
Jesus clearly demonstrated and defined what a Christian servant truly is. In John 13, Jesus made an example for all of us; He washed His disciples’ feet. Then, He explained what He did and said, “The servant is not greater than his lord.” He was indicating that if the servant’s lord attempted something lowly, the servant must be willing to imitate it.

On another occasion, when the mother of James and John had asked Jesus to grant her sons greatness, Jesus had said unto her and His disciples, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (Matthew 20:26-27).” Jesus was concluding that greatness is through lowliness.

To the world, servanthood is a demotion but to Christians, servanthood is a promotion.

What It Means to Serve the Lord

In Luke 9:48, Jesus had said, “Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Jesus was pertaining about servanthood because being a servant is the least of all occupation during that time.

During one of our discipleship, we discussed the importance of servanthood. Jesus made an example of servanthood first. He said in John 13:14, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.” We were to imitate what He did. It is a matter of obedience and love; for to wash one another’s feet is to humble oneself and to love the person being washed. We weren’t born to be masters but servants. Christian leaders are servant-leaders. They lead in the spirit of servanthood.

But there are prerequisites in servanthood. There are no shortcuts even if you are applying for the least occupation (in the eyes of the world). There are five steps in being a servant of God. Let us discuss them:
     ·     Surrender to the Lord - Accepting Jesus is one thing, surrendering to Him is another. A person can accept a gift yet not open it; a person can accept anything yet not use it. Acceptance, in view of Christianity, is about surrender. We have to surrender our old self; we have to allow our old self to die and live as new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”) Another worth noting is when Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” The first step is about choice; what will you choose? If you choose God then continue reading on. If not, well, good luck… don’t bother reading the rest.
     ·     Equip Oneself - Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 2 Timothy 2:15 further stated, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We have to study the Word of God to know the Truth so that the Truth shall make us free. Revelations 19:13, 16 states that Jesus Christ is the Word of God and John 14:6 states that Jesus is the Truth. Equipping ourselves mean to know Jesus Christ our Lord more and more each day. And only through the knowledge about Him will the Comforter (Holy Spirit) be sent unto us (John 14:26). And the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever Jesus has said unto us. The second step is about readiness. Like a soldier that will enter into battle, he must be battle-ready, equipped with the gears and weapons of war. If you choose not to be equipped then be ready to be wiped out by the enemy! All I can say to you if that ever happens is: SAYONARA!
     ·     Revere God - It is the nature of the servant to revere his master. Thus, it is only natural for Christians to revere God. Mark 12:29-30 states the first commandment that Jesus had spoken, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” It is not only about the Christian’s nature to revere God but of one’s obligation. The third step is a step to holiness. If you love someone then you must please that someone. If you love God then you must live a life of holiness.
     ·     Value Time - Jesus knows the importance of time and valued it. He said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” His ministry here on earth was only three years yet He made the most of it. As servants of our Lord Jesus, we must also value time; let us accomplish our duties and ministry while we have time. Furthermore, Jesus had spoken about the end of days in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Thus, we have to work while we still can for tomorrow might not come. The fourth step is about time management. NOTE: Jesus didn’t just work and work; He enjoyed life; he observed the scenery, played with the children; He had time to fish. Jesus knew how to budget His time. If Jesus can do it, so can we.
     ·     Establish God’s Word - This is about the second commandment, in action. Jesus said in Mark 12:31, “And the second (commandment) is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…” Loving your neighbour is not only about giving but also about caring. If you care for your neighbour, care about the destination his soul is heading. As Christians, it is our duty to promote the Word of God and establish it in the hearts of every listener. It is not enough to share; we show Jesus through our lives. The fifth step is a step of commitment; commitment in the sense of action due to compassion. Once we enter the arena of witnessing, we have to commit ourselves not only to God but also for the service of others.

To S.E.R.V.E. is the utmost priority of all Christians. When Jesus our Lord commissioned all Christians (Matthew 28:19-20), He meant for all of us to seek the lost. It is understood when He commanded the disciples in Acts 1:8 that they shall be witnesses unto Him both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. They were to go to all nations; to preach the gospel; to baptize those who believed in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). But there is another part of the Great Commission; we have to disciple them, we have to teach what our Lord Jesus had commanded us (Matthew 28:20). And one of the commands is to live a life of service for the Lord. Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He further stated in 1 Corinthians 9:19, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” Thus, a life of servanthood in our Lord Jesus is a life of gain.

The Life of Gain

The reason why Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”, was that he experienced a life of gain.
     ·     The Lord went with him (Joshua 1:9).
     ·     The Lord guided him (Joshua 24:3-6).
     ·     The Lord protected him (Joshua 24:7-12).
     ·     The Lord blessed him (Joshua 24:13).

Brethren, there are three reasons why we must serve the Lord:
     ·     Salvation is in the house (Acts 11:14; 16:31). Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Another passage worth looking is in John 6:53-54 when Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Eating the flesh meant to read the Word of God and drinking the blood meant to live a life of holiness. Matthew 4:4 states that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Thus, reading the Word of God is done in a regular basis. The blood cleanses; therefore, as we are cleanse by the blood of Jesus, we must be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48); we must be holy for God is holy (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16). As the captain of the guards allowed Paul and Silas to his home to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, so must we be with our own household. Salvation is not about selfishness but giving.
     ·     Satisfaction. Service unto the Lord creates an air of peace and joy to a household of the same faith. 1 John 1:7 states, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” The Scripture had commanded us not to fellowship with devils (1 Corinthians 10:20 states, “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”) Another command is found in Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” If you are the only convert in your family, it is your responsibility to bring them to Jesus Christ because you cannot have proper fellowship with your family unless they surrendered themselves to our Lord. There will be no satisfaction whatever you will do if there will be an unbelieving heart in your house.
     ·     Simplification. If your entire household serves the Lord, you all go to church in unison; no mumbling or grumbling. Everyone will be willing to go to church and won’t miss any Sunday worship service. Your family will be united and your life will be much simpler.

Let us in one spirit accept the truth that as Christians we belong to Christ. And as we belong to Jesus Christ, we are bound to serve Him because it is the nature of every Christian to serve the Lord.