Dr. Montia Setzler, Senior Pastor
May 15, 2016
Series: It’s Your Serve
Developing A Servant’s Heart
Philippians 2:5–11 (HCSB)
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will
bow – of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth – 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SERVING SHOULD IMITATE JESUS vv 5-6
Hebrews 6:9–12 (HCSB)
9 Even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, in your case we are confident of the better things connected with salvation. 10 For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints – and you continue to serve them. 11 Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
- OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SERVING SHOULD BE ONE OF HUMILITY vv 7-8
Mark 10:42–45 (HCSB)
42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. 43 But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life – a ransom for many.”
- OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SERVING WILL BRING GOD’S EXALTATION vv 9-10
Colossians 3:23-24 (HCSB)
23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Results of adopting Christ’s attitude toward serving God:
- We are in awe of who God is and what He does.
Psalm 2:11 (HCSB)
Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.
Hebrews 12:28-29 (HCSB)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
- We can serve Him with gladness.
Psalm 100:2 (HCSB)
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
- We cannot separate our service from our worship.
Matthew 4:10 (HCSB)
Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”
By adopting the attitude of Jesus, we can develop a servant’s heart out of humility. That humble attitude leads us to recognize the Lordship of Christ which brings glory to God.
