A Servant of
God
James 1:1
INTRODUCTION:
1. James 1:1.
2. Possible
to be a servant in a negative sense.
3. Scriptures
admonish us to be servants of God. Consider the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob – Deuteronomy 9:27, Moses – I Kings 8:53, Joshua – Joshua 24:29,
Caleb – Numbers 14:24, Job – Job 1:8, Isaiah – Isaiah 20:3, and the
prophets – Jeremiah 7:25.
DISCUSSION:
I. Importance
of being a servant.
A. Jesus
stressed the importance of serving others.
1.
Concerning the faults of the scribes and the Pharisees. "But he that
is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt
himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be
exalted" - Matthew 23:8-12.
2.
Exemplary life of Christ can be summed up as one of serving others.
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" - Matthew 20:25-28.
Also consider Philippians 2:5-8.
B. We are
to serve:
1. God
and Christ. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ" – James 1:1. Also consider Hebrews 9:14.
2. All
men. Consider the judgment scene in Matthew 25:31-46.
II.
Identifying marks of a servant.
A. Loyalty.
1. Seek
to please God rather than men. "For if I yet pleased men, I should
not be the servant of Christ - Galatians 1:10.
2. We are
to be loyal to God because we belong to him. "Ye are not your own.
For we are bought with a price" - I Corinthians 6:19-20.
B.
Humility.
1.
Consider Christ’s example. "Took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men" - Philippians 2:5-8.
2.
Consider Christ’s teaching. "So likewise ye, when ye shall have
done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable
servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" - Luke 17:10.
C.
Obedience.
1. We are
servants to that which we obey (sin or righteousness) - Romans 6:16.
2.
Obedience is necessary in order to have heavenly home. "Not everyone
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" - Matthew
7:21.
CONCLUSION:
1. Can your
name be included among those servants mentioned earlier, such as Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Job, Isaiah, and the prophets?
2. It can be,
if you are aware of the importance of being a servant and possess the
identifying marks of a servant.
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