Humility and Servanthood

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Personal Statement:

I express humility and servanthood through the working of the Holy Spirit by choosing to esteem others above myself and to serve their needs.

 

Philippians 2:2-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

 

Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, 
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing 
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, 
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

 

Question:
What sets people apart? 

• Bill Gates – richest man in the world, leader of software development

• Elvis Presley – introduced rock and roll to America, famed for his moves and grooves.

• Billy Graham – set apart for his uncompromising message of Christ and integrity

• My wife – she has committed herself to me

 

What is humility? What is servanthood?

What sets people apart are when they are doing more than the average.  They are doing more than others do in that same area of life.

 

1. We are about ______________ more than ______________. (Phil 2:2)

• Selfish ambition vs. benefit of others

• Vain Conceit vs. Healthy purpose

 

2. We ______________ for servanthood (Phil 2:7)

• Taking the very nature of a servant

 

3. We humble ourselves through ______________.

• Humility means sacrificing piety for a redemptive purpose

• Always with a desire to make relationships better

 

The Difference:
Matthew 5:43-48
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

4. Watch out for the ______________ thing. (Mattv.45b-47)

• Because we are Christians doesn’t mean we get special circumstances.

• Loving those who love you is not so special

• Greeting your brothers 

 

5. Perfection is a ______________ – (Matt 5:48)
James 1:4
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (from New International Version)

 

6. What’s so special about a Christian?
Matthew 5:47-48
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

 

Martyn Lloyd Jones:  “There is nothing more tragic than the failure on the part of many professing Christians to realize the uniqueness and special character of a Christian.  He or she is a man or woman who can never be explained in natural terms.  The very essence of the Christian’s position is that of an enigma (it’s puzzling).  There is something unusual, something inexplicable and something elusive about him or her from the standpoint of the natural man.  He or she is something quite distinct and apart.

 

A. A Christian is special because we are ______________ than those who aren’t Christian.

• The Christian is a standout in society

• Natural terms don’t explain why he loves, forgive and accepts.

 

B. A Christian is special because we do ______________ than others do.

• The Christian goes the extra mile and turns the other cheek.

• The Christian will do the extra thing at the company party, or will love the unlovely in school or in the work place.

 

C. A Christian will do what others ______________ do.

• A Christian can go beyond the highest moral standard and affect the lives of others around them with the love of Christ.

• A Christian who walks in the Spirit can see mountains move, demons flee, the blind see, the lame walk and the deaf hear.  

 

7. Examples of doing “more than others”

 

A. Going the ______________– there is a characteristic that says we go beyond the norm.
Matthew 5:38–42 (NIV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

 

B. Sacrificing ______________
1 Corinthians 8:4-13
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to 

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C. Living the same life everyone else lives but ______________.

Matthew 5:46–47 (NIV)
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

 

D. Wearing a ______________
John 13:2–7 (NIV)
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 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 Very truly I tell you, 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.

 

Conclusion:

• Humility is the act of preferring others without a loss of value.

• Servanthood is preferring others for redemptive purposes.

• Humility and Servanthood sets the Christian apart because we are doing more than expected.

• Serving is prioritizing the needs of others ahead of our own needs.