We can easily see from the

Scriptures that the Christian is truly blessed.

There are obligations that come There are obligations that come with our new opportunities.with our new opportunities.

The Christian has been called to serve God.

We have been “Saved To Serve”.

It is only reasonable that we be expected to serve God.

There are duties that come with There are duties that come with our new calling.our new calling.

Colossians 4:17

And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you.”

2 Timothy 4:5

“…Complete the ministry God has

given you.”

1 Cor 12:12-231 Cor 12:12-23“12For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body…are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body’ is it therefore not of the body?”

1 Cor 12:12-231 Cor 12:12-23“16And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body’ is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”

1 Cor 12:12-231 Cor 12:12-23“20But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ 22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”

Thus, the concept of Thus, the concept of “servitude” or “servitude” or

“servanthood” is a “servanthood” is a significant part of what significant part of what

it means to be a it means to be a Christian.Christian.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (“Thy servants” - Deut. 9:27)

Moses (“Thy servant” – 1 Kings 8:53)

Joshua (“Servant of the Lord – Joshua 24:29)

Caleb (“My servant” – Numbers 14:24)

Job (“My servant” – Job 1:8)

Isaiah (“My servant” – Isaiah 20:3)

The prophets (“My servants” – Jeremiah 7:25)

James - (James 1:1) Paul – (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1) Peter – (2 Peter 1:1) Jude - (Jude 1) John – (Revelation 1:1)

He was He was foretold to foretold to come as the come as the “suffering “suffering servant”servant”

Isaiah 52:13

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly

exalted.”

He did not He did not come to be come to be served, but served, but to serve.to serve.

Matthew 20:28

“For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

Even as our Even as our Lord and Lord and Master, He Master, He exemplified exemplified the the servitude servitude He desires He desires in His in His disciples.disciples.

John 13:14-15

“And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have

washed your feet, you ought to wash each

other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.

Do as I have done to you.”

John 13:16

“How true it is that a servant is not greater

than the master. Nor are messengers more

important than the one who sends them.”

He will, if we put into practice the He will, if we put into practice the concepts of servanthood!concepts of servanthood!

It involves absolute obedience, such It involves absolute obedience, such as a slave-master relationship.as a slave-master relationship.

The slave knows no law but his master’s word.

He has no rights of his own.

He is the absolute possession of his master.

He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience.

It It should!should!

1 Corinthians 6:19-201 Corinthians 6:19-20“Or don’t you know that your body is

the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your

body.”

We have to We have to come to come to Jesus on His Jesus on His terms, not terms, not our own.our own.

Luke 6:46

“So why do you call me ‘Lord,’ when you won’t

obey me?”

Otherwise, absolute obedience is Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible.not possible.

When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive to the idea of complete obedience.

This is everything that they own!

Christ said it should!Christ said it should!Luke 17:10 – Luke 17:10 – ““In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Since we Since we became became servants servants freely, it freely, it should be should be expected expected that we are that we are loyal to Him loyal to Him first.first.

Galatians 1:10

“Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people

pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If

I were still trying to please people, I would

not be Christ’s servant.”

Complain about having to Complain about having to do the will of Goddo the will of GodOr being negligent or Or being negligent or slothful in carrying out His slothful in carrying out His willwill

Some so-called Some so-called “servants” of Jesus “servants” of Jesus Christ act as though Christ act as though they are being forced they are being forced

against their own against their own will!will!

But the alternative is But the alternative is not very inviting!not very inviting!

No, you don’t “have to” No, you don’t “have to” serve the Lord Jesus…serve the Lord Jesus…

If we don’t serve Jesus, If we don’t serve Jesus, then by default we serve then by default we serve

Satan.Satan.

And that means we go to And that means we go to hell!hell!

But God loves us But God loves us and has offered and has offered

us His grace and us His grace and salvation.salvation.

Jesus died so we Jesus died so we could live.could live.

How dare we ever grumble or How dare we ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of complain that He calls us to life of service in grateful appreciation?service in grateful appreciation?

Jesus warned that we cannot Jesus warned that we cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24)6:24)

Serving the wrong things will Serving the wrong things will render us fruitless (Luke 8:14)render us fruitless (Luke 8:14)

Paul said we can only serve the Paul said we can only serve the one we obey (Romans 6:16)one we obey (Romans 6:16)

Some limit how, where, and when they will serve.

Moses tried to do this in Exodus 3:10-11.

Many will agree to serve God, but only when it is convenient for them!

Some limit who Some limit who they will serve, they will serve,

as Jonah tried to as Jonah tried to do (1:1-3)!do (1:1-3)!

Many will serve God, Many will serve God, but not when it means but not when it means

serving others serving others (especially people (especially people

they don’t like)!they don’t like)!

The Christian has been “Saved To Serve”

Called to serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ

Called to serve his brethren and those in the world

Romans 6:17-18Romans 6:17-18“Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God

has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you

have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.”

Romans 6:17-18Romans 6:17-18“Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God

has given you. Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you

have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.”