Thursday, July 27, 2000

“To Serve!”

(Transcript of CD#59)

Q. What was Jesus Christ’s purpose when he came into this world?

A. Open your Bibles to Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of man came not to be minister unto, but to the minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The word minister is # 1247 in the Greek dictionary of the Strong’s concordance; it means to be an attendant from #1249 to run errands.  An attendant attends to business, serves a according to the circumstances like our Lord did!

The word ransom is # 3083 something to loose with.  Praise God our Lord Jesus Christ loosed us from the grip of sin and death! Our Lord and Master freely gave His life so you and I can have life! Since we’re saved by His grace we should follow His example.

• Titus 2:14 says, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. “

Our Lord and Master gave His life for our sins, our iniquities. He set the example by serving the people. He paid the price for us, ransomed us for good works! Are we serving the Lord or ourselves?

• Matthew 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up “his” cross, and follow me.”

The word follow is #190 in the Greek dictionary of the Strong’s Concordance means a road, to be in the same way with. John 14:6 says that Jesus Christ is the “way”, the truth, and the life. 1 Peter 2:21 says we should follow in His steps — are we?

• Matthew 16:25 says, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

It boils down to: do you want live in this world or in the next that lasts forever.

• Matthew 16:26 says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.”

The word lose is #2210 in the Greeks Dictionary of the Strong’s Concordance and it means to injure. In other words what good are all these materials things going to us if we injure ourselves? The word exchange in the Greek means equivalent or ransom. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the only available ransom for our salvation. It’s our choice whether we accept it or not.

• Matthew 16:27 says, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works.”

Rewards can either be good or they can be bad. That depends on whom we are serving, the Lord or ourselves.

• Romans 2:5 says, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”
• Romans 2:6 says, “Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
• Romans 2:7 says, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:”
• Romans 2:8 says, “But unto the whom they are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey  unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.”
• Romans 2:9 says, “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also the gentle;”
• Romans 2:10 says, “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:”
• Romans 2:11 says, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Now that we have laid some groundwork showing we’re to serve: let’s look to Christ.

Q. What are  some ways in which Jesus Christ served the people?

A. Turn to the book of Matthew.

• Matthew 9:35 says, “And Jesus went about all of the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. “
• Matthew 9:36 says, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no Shepherd.”
• Matthew 9:37 says, “Then saith He unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.”
• Matthew 9:38 says, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”

We see here Christ was teaching the disciples about service.  The word disciple means a pupil, a learner, to become disciplined in Christ.  When Christ sent the disciples into his harvest field they became apostles.  The word apostle means sent one. You and I are apostles in the Lord’s harvest field since he has given us the great commission.

From verse 35 note the word healing in the Greek this word is like our word therapy.  It means to wait upon menially, a low attendant are servant.  In these verses our Lord and Master gives us a perfect example.  You and I are to serve in his harvest field.  We have to find our place in the body, the body of Christ, then go and serve with the ability the Lord has given us. Let’s look at some more scripture teaching us to pick up our cross and follow the Lord’s example!

• Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus;”
• Philippians 2:6 says, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”
• Philippians 2:7 says, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
• Philippians  2:8 says, “And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

From verse 5 we’re taught to have the same thought pattern, the same mind set of the servant Jesus Christ.  Our Lord will never asked us to do something that he would not do himself.  He already has carried his cross unto death, the question is: are we?

Q. What role did Christ take on?

A. From verse 7 we learned Christ took the nature of a servant.  This word servant in the Greek means to be bound as a slave.  You and I used to be slaves of this world, praise the Lord, he set us free. Paul said I go bound to Rome.  Paul knew that he was working, serving in the Lord’s harvest field.  Ask yourself: what am I bound to? Let’s look at another example of what our actions should be after Christ has ministered to us.

• Mark 1:29 says, “And forth with, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the House of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.”
• Mark 1:30 says, “But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and directly they tell him of her.”
• Mark 1:31 says, “And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; immediately the fever left her, and she” ministered” unto them.”

There are several points we need to learn from these passages.  First of all note there were four disciples.  The number four in Biblical numerals means are has to do with creation and this world.  We need to understand that names mean something and there are important.

Simon means hearing.

Andrew means manly.

James means grace.

John means God’s gift, or gift from God.

Open up your mind and mediate on this information. Understanding the meaning of these names could say this: “a hearing man equals grace, the gift of God”. These disciples received knowledge and teaching from our Lord.

Q. What did she do after the Lord ministered, served her?

A. She ministered to others. She becomes an attendant, a servant in the Lord’s harvest field.

Q. Has Christ ministered to you?

A. Of course He has, He saved your soul!

Q. What should we be doing now?

A. We will reap what we sow! We need to serve the One who died for us, loosed us from death.

• Galatians 5:13 says, “For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but when by love serve one another.”
• Galatians 5:14 says, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shalt love thou neighbor as thyself,”

Our actions have to be motivated by love then we can fulfill the Great Commission! That’s loving our neighbor as ourselves. Let’s move to the 6 th chapter for more on this subject.

• Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; for God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

The word deceived in the Greek means to cause to roam from safety, truth and virtue. Please don’t let anyone tell you you’re free to do what you want once your saved by the Blood. Remember He redeemed us for good works. Don’t listen to someone who tells you different, they will cause you to roam from Him. It goes back to what we read in Matt 10:39.

• Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
• Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Please study over the following verses: Eph 6:8, 1Cor. 15:58, Romans 2:6&7, Ps 62:12, Proverbs 24:12.

As we covered in Galatians as Christians we have been set free not to sin but to serve our Lord! Turn back to Romans.

• Romans 6:18 says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (2 Tim. 4:8 says that Christ is righteousness)
• Romans 6:19 says, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity: even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”
• Romans 6:20 says, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.”
• Romans 6:21 says, “What fruit had ye then in those things where of ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”
• Romans 6:22 says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Paul said for Jesus’ sake(2 Cor. 4:5) that he was our servant.  Paul said that he was glad to be spent – give his life for the church( 2 Cor. 12:15). This is far from what the flesh wants! We have to make and keep Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master! We have to make Him the supreme authority and teacher in our lives.  Let’s look at another example of servitude that you and I are to follow.  Turn to the book of John.

• John 13:13 says, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so why am.”
• John 13:14 says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
• John 13:15 says, “For I have giving you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
• John 13:16 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not a greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that set him.”
• John 13:17 says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

This is our duty, serving our neighbors in Christ love.  A as we do this we will be happy, in the Greek supremely blessed.  As we do the things that we are commanded we need to be humble.  Just as our Lord was humble and obedient unto death.  Turn to the book of Luke.

• Luke 17:10 says, “So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

You and I are just doing what is required of us.  Where nothing special other than being God’s obedient servants.  Let’s remember this verse if pride tries to enter our hearts.  Let’s look at some scripture to check us, to show us our duty.  Turn to the book of 1 John.

• 1 John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

The word passed is #3327 in the Greek dictionary of the Strong’s Concordance it means to change place.

Q. Why?

A. Because we love the brethren like our Lord did, he is a love is active not passive.

• 1 John 3:15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
• 1 John 3:16 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
• 1 John 3:17 says, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
• 1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in “deed and in truth”.”

God is love, a seed will always reproduce itself. If we’re born from above in the Lord of love we should be producing love. Kind after kind!!! His love will cause us to crucify this flesh on our cross and serve the Lord! Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words.

These scriptures will show us the reality of where we stand in the Lord.  They will show whether we have a dead faith or if we’re working our faith.  In the book of James is says that faith without works is dead, just as the body without the spirit is dead.  Don’t let Satan lie to you, and convince you that you have nothing to offer.  Remember Satan is not only a liar, but also the father of lie’s( John 8:44).  Start with what you can do and be faithful with the little things first.  Turn to the book of Luke for documentation.

• Luke 16:10 says, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

So you and I have to be faithful with what we’re given.  That is all our Lord expects from you and I.  Turn to  the book of 2 Cor.

• 2 Cor. 9:6 says, “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap all so sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap all so bountifully.”
• 2 Cor. 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let it him give, not grudgingly, are of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
• 2 Cor. 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

We’re not to speaking of finances here, but of everything you give to the Lord.  The Lord wants your heart first and foremost.  He wants our time, are we willing to give it to Him? As we give of our time there is a peace that comes into our lives.  He will bless us and we will have more time than ever before.  Of course this goes for whatever we give to our Lord. Let’s end this study in the book of Philippians.

• Philippians 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply “all” your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

You and I can always trust that our God, our Father will always meet our needs, needs not necessarily wants. The condition is to seek His kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost and serve Him. Don’t tie His hands, please.

There you have it “To Serve”, we have free will, and it’s our choice. Sow here in this present world or sow in the eternity. Thank you so much for your time, if we have helped you please write us.

GAP Ministries

 

“Remember God’s Word will change your life!“