The Greatest are the Servants

Matthew 23:11-12 “The greatest among you will be your servant.

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 20:26-28“26Whoever wants to become great among you must be  your servant, 

27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 26:26-27

“26Whoever wants to become great among you must be your  servant.

27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.”

 

Diakonos (Greek) = Servant, Minister, Deacon.

Doulos (Greek) = Slave

MATTHEW 26:28

 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Paradigm Shift

From: I

To: OTHERS

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition.” (What do I get?)

“Do nothing out of ….. vain conceit.” (How do I look?)

Philippians 2:3b-43b But in humility consider others better than yourselves.

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:6

Who (Jesus), being in very nature of God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

Philippians 2:7

But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:8And being found in the appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on the cross

Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

JOHN 15:4-54 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

THE SELFISH PERSON’S THRONE

1.PRESTIGE2.POSITION3.POSSESSION4.POWER

TEST OF GREATNESS

I WILL EXALT MYSELF

I WILL HUMBLE MYSELF

CHECK ONE

SERVANT’S ORDER OF SERVICE

MYSELFGOD

SELFISH PERSON’S ORDER OF SERVICE

MYSELFI

RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLE

The Greatest are the Servants

LIFE CHALLENGES OF THE SERVANT

1. AMBITION

2.DESIRE TO BE NOTICED

3. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

TO DO GOOD WORKS (EPH 2:10)

1.To experience real worship,2.To enjoy real fellowship with

fellow believers,3. To learn real discipleship,4. To practice real ministry, and 5. To live out real evangelism.

AMBITION: STEWARDSHIPGenesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and increase in number,

fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish, the birds and over every creature that moves on the ground.”

TO REFLECT THE CHARACTER OF GODTo reflect God’s love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 2:22)

Matthew 23:5a

“Everything they do is for men to see.”

PHARISEES LOVED TO BE NOTICED1.They wear wide phylacteries and long tassels.

2.They love the place of honor at banquets and most important seats in the synagogues.

3.They love to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

THE TAX COLLECTOR TRUSTED GOD:

First, he sought God’s righteousness,

Second, he owned up his sins,

And third, he worshipped God.

CONCLUSION

Be the servant you were meant to be.

APPLICATIONBe a member of GCFNorth.Join a growth group.Have an inventory of your gifts and

talents. Take daily the “Test of Greatness.” I

will exalt myself or I will humble myself.Take time to ask our pastors their

prayer requests.