So it makes sense then that we take a good look at the name Lord our Servant.

Transcription

1 The Names of God Servant of God Ebed, Pais Tou Theou, Ish Makoboth This is our 7th week in our names of God series where we are studying a few of the many different names that God is referred to in the bible in order to obtain a better understanding of His persona. Our success in living a Christian life is directly related and determined by how close our relationship with Christ is. These studies allow us to know God better, and as Sharon points out in our bible studies; if we know Him we will trust Him, if we trust Him we will love Him and if we love Him we will serve Him. So it makes sense then that we take a good look at the name Lord our Servant. The bible provides 4 portraits of Jesus within the 4 gospels. In the book of Matthew He is portrayed as The Prophesied King. The book of Mark portrays Jesus as The Tireless Servant. The book of Luke portrays Him as Jesus The Physical Man. And the book of John portrays Him as The Divine Son of God. So for this lesson we will of course be focusing on the portrait displayed by Mark; Jesus the Tireless Servant. Mark 6:30-37 (NIV) 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" Why are the disciples upset? They have been serving nonstop and Jesus is finally going to take them somewhere they can rest and finally get something to eat; but what happens? 1

2 They are tired and they are hungry and now instead of eating and resting they have to feed all these people. It is a lesson that He tries to convey to His disciples the entire time He is with them. Mark 9:33-35 (NIV) 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Jesus was the perfect example of a true servant of God. Putting our needs and well-being far above His own. "He was bruised for our transgressions; He was wounded for our iniquity." What Jesus shows us is that in order to be a servant it takes humility, it takes faith and it requires obedience. Christ showing servant hood through humility: John 13:12-17 (NIV) 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Mark 10:42-45 (NIV) 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus knows what it is to be humble. He was spit on, slapped, whipped and all along having the power and the authority to change it all. Instead He chose to remain humble so that through the sacrifice of One all have the ability to be restored unto God. Christ showing servant hood through faith: There are numerous occasions where Jesus shows His faith through serving others. Throughout His ministry He shows His faith by healing the diseased and the sick, by casting out demons, by having authority over nature and by raising the dead. 2

3 Mark 11:22-24 (NIV) 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. But we see in Christ that true faith is not just in the answered prayers. True faith lies in the no, the not now and the unknown. Jesus went through something that is more horrific than any of us here will ever face and yet through it all His faith remained. I wish I could say that I have had that kind of faith; the kind of faith that stands when you are experiencing pain, suffering and humiliation. The kind of faith that holds strong in the no, in the not now and in the unknown. Christ showing servant hood through obedience: John 13:1 (KJV) 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. John 12:23-27 (NIV) 23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Mark 14:33-36 (NIV) 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba,e Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." We should show servant hood through humility: 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NIV) 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 3

4 Colossians 3:12 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Humility reminds us that if it were not for the grace of God we might find ourselves in the same situation as the people we encounter on a daily basis. It allows us to admit when we are wrong. It allows us to overlook something that might have otherwise offended us. It allows us to see people from a different point of view. We should show servant hood through faith: Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Matthew 17:14-20 (NIV) 14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." 17 "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Faith simply defined is absolute trust in God. You trust that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. Having total trust in God; having faith, allows us to get past the "why me" and the "I do not understand". As the old hymn used to proclaim "I don't need to understand. I just need to hold His hand. I don't ever need to ask the reason why. For I know He'll find a way through the night and through the day. I don't need to understand. I just need to hold His hand." We should show servant hood through obedience: Philippians 2:6-8 (NIV) 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 2 Corinthians 4: (NIV) 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 4

5 In a world that is all about "Me" it is hard sometimes to remind ourselves that this is not about us, it is about others. It is about proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ to a world that is in desperation. A world that needs hope that needs deliverance; that needs a savior. Which leads us to our next topic: "The Great Commission" Let us pray. 5