We are Servant Hearted | Steuart Payne | 13th Novenber 2022
Pastor Steu continues the series on Family Church Values this week by speaking about how we are Servant Hearted. We value serving one another and we value serving the purpose of God in Our Generation. In John 13:34-35, Jesus is speaking to His disciples and says “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. Love is something we do and can see the result of. We will be known by our love for one another. As our love for God may be expressed in worship, our love for one another may be expressed in service towards each other. Jesus modelled this on earth and we likewise need to be authentic…. It’s the way of God’s Kingdom. Jesus stepped into our world and displayed a servant heart, humbling Himself even to the point of death. Great leadership starts with great servanthood in Family Church. John 13; 12-14 is a great example.
We also serve because we want to use the skills and the gifts that God has given us. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. Natural gifts and talents as well as spiritual gifts are there for us to fulfil our purpose in the Lord and bring glory to His name in helping others. 1 Peter 4; 10-11 (NIV) says “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen”. So we serve because we love one another; we serve because it's the way of God's kingdom, and we serve because we want to use the skills and the gifts that God has given us. God has given us responsibility in his kingdom, according to our ability; we don't all have the same things to do as we all have different abilities. We all have different skills but we all have something to do in God's Kingdom and God’s house, his church. In serving, we contribute towards the strength of the church, to make it excellent and glorious (as David’s temple). People seeing a church as such will automatically have a glimpse of the excellence of our God.
How do we serve? Deuteronomy 10:12 (NIV) says “Serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”. The Christian life must be all-in. The church in Laodicea was rebuked because they were lukewarm, God said I'd rather you be hot or cold! Society is half-hearted in many areas, apathetic and lazy but do not give into this. It is not the way that God called us to live. He called us to be a people who serve with all of our hearts. Romans 12; 10-11 says to love each other with genuine affection.
So, let us be faithful in serving with small things, we shall be rewarded with greater opportunities. Lastly, we serve where there is a need. If there is a hole, we fill it, unconditionally and without delay.
