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Christians Are Different Because: They Are Humble Servants Introduction: In earlier lessons we talked about Christians being different from the world. Christians are different because of the way they view the word of God, how they live, their relationship to sin, and how they think. In this lesson we want to look at another area: humility and servitude. I) Humility and Servitude Are Directly Linked Together A) Psalm 84.10 speaks of the a door keeper in the house of the Lord 1. My Bible says it is a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Not the Korah involved in the rebellion in the wilderness but a different Korah. 2. 1 Chronicles 9.19 tells us of their duties and responsibilities. 3. 1 Chronicles 9.22-27 describes to us more of their role and their importance. B) Who among us wants to be a door keeper? 1. Most people do not pay attention to a door keeper. A lowly job. Be the person to clean out bed pans, pick up the garbage, do the "dirty jobs" 2. How many of us would want to be a door keeper in the house of the Lord? Some may still consider it a lowly job, but it is the Lord's house. a. Who will do a good job at cleaning out bed pans, or picking up garbage? The person who considers it an important job; one they can do well. 3. Who will the Lord save? 2 Samuel 22.28 4. Who will the Lord lift up? Psalm 147.6 5. Who will draw near to God? The humble person, James 4.6ff 6. Who obeyed the Gospel in the first century? The lowly, the humble person. 7. Who obeys the Gospel today? The humble person, 1 Cor. 1.26 II) Humility and Servitude Is A Hard Concept A) The Apostles had a problem with this concept 1. Jesus told His disciples they would be persecuted, and a servant is not greater than their master, John 13.16 2. Yet they argued over who would be at the right hand of Jesus. B) It should not be surprising that we might have a problem with this concept 1. We talk about being a servant of the Lord and even sing about it but then refuse to actually serve the Lord. 2. We talk about humility and then get upset when we are told to do something. Why? C) Often the problem is pride, Mark 12.1ff 1. What is the first thing the military does to the new recruits? They break them down and to almost destroy their self esteem. Why? Because they can then train them to be soldiers. 2. Mark 12.1ff Why did the servants reject their masters servant? 3. How often is pride a problem today among the world and the Lord's people? 4. Pride does get in the way of servitude. Pride and humility are opposites. a. I have never been questioned on the usage of the word "baptism" or "baptized" among the Lord's people. We talk about the modern usage of the word and then the original usage and people get the point. b. But you talk about the word pride and its modern usage and its Biblical usage and some people will want to argue about the word. Why? I think because they see think we are talking about degrading ourselves. 3. Who did God choose to bring the children out of Egypt? Moses of course. a. How would you describe Moses? Charlton Hesston, a big strong man, kind of like John Wayne. b. How does the Bible describe Moses? As a humble servant, Numbers 12.3, 7-8 c. Numerous passages describe Moses as the Lord's servant. d. Humility and self degrading are not the same thing, Acts 7.22 4. But humility and servitude is a hard concept to get. a. People want to do the "big jobs" be noticed or praised for what they do. b. Naaman the leper wanted to do something big, 2 Kings 5.13 c. How many people think of what they would do if they had a million dollars? But the point is how many are willing to do the Lord's will with what they have? III) Why Are They Linked Together? A) Humility and servitude allows us to grow 1. Some of the greatest men I have known were very humble men a. In fact their humility was what made them great b. They would listen to others, they talked and communicated with those below them, they changed course of action when necessary. 2. Some of the "best" Christians I have known have had some same qualities. a. They would listen when someone comes to talk to them b. They talk with and communicate to those around them c. They change course of action; repent, when necessary. B) Humility liberates, frees us to be servants 1. Liberates us from self consciousness -- some people are afraid of what others think about them to the point of being in prison. 2. Ronald Reagan said it is amazing of what can get done when no one cares who gets the credit? We will be amazed of what we can do when we don't care of what others say or think about us, as long as we are doing the Lord's will. 3. We realize no job is beneath us and our time is not too valuable to do whatever job we have. Conclusion: 2 Timothy 2.24ff tells us what a servant of the Lord must be. While humility is not the only quality it is a very important quality. |