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Hebrews 3:3-6; Psalms 116:16; 119:125; 143:12; Revelation 22:3-5
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Many people do not know how glorious and wonderful it is to be a servant of God. They do not appreciate the profit, privilege and promise that Christian servants enjoy. Such people are not like David who said, “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds”. Though a king, warrior and singer, David downplayed these titles and instead, emphasised his servant-hood and the privileges of freedom, blessing and victory over the enemy which are available to God’s servants. He recognised these unique benefits and prayed that God would give him wisdom and understanding to do His will. Servants of the Lord need to know His word, desire, plan, programme and project so that they would be able to enjoy His blessings and do His will. Our privileges as God’s servants transcend life here on earth into eternity where there shall be no more curse, sickness or challenge.
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1. The Commission From Christ To His Servants
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 5:20; 2 Samuel 15:15; 2 Timothy 2:10; ?Acts 26:19; Psalm 15:4; Acts 20:24; Hebrews 11:24; Luke 9:23-26
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Christian believers who engage in any other business apart from Christ’s may succeed, but He will not reward them in eternity. It is not enough to work or labour: what matters is that one gets involved in Christ’s commission. With all power at His beck and call, He commands His servants to “go… therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. Many ministers and servants of Christ fail in the commission to teach men to observe the teachings of Christ. They neglect the basic foundational doctrines of repentance, righteousness, restitution, Christ’s resurrection, purity, humility and evangelism. Instead, they emphasise healing, deliverance and prosperity. But the Lord wants us to preach the totality of His teachings to all men in all nations. After Peter and other apostles of Christ were released from prison through divine intervention, the angel of the Lord emphasised the same commission to “go, stand and speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life”. There must not be any speciality in ministry by any servant of Christ. Everyone must preach the whole counsel of God as Moses, Joshua, Elisha and Paul did in their ministries to the people.
A true servant of Christ submits to the Master’s will; endures all things in the Master’s service; renders full obedience to the Master’s word; vows to remain forever in the Master’s service; abandons himself in the Master’s harvest-field; neglects golden opportunities which are not important to the Master’s mission; and takes up his cross daily for the Master’s sake.
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2. ? The Concern And The Conviction Of His Servants
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John 3:3; Matthew 18:3; Luke 13:3; Matthew 5:20; Revelation 2:4,5
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There are non-negotiable conditions that must be fulfilled in order to enter the kingdom of God. These conditions should be the concern and conviction of believers and servants of Christ. Those who lack these qualities allow the standard of the word of God to fall in the church. They are not bold enough to rebuke sin and unrighteousness. The word of God insists that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Whatever people have or do not have, they cannot get to heaven except they possess this spiritual qualification. We should not labour over people in vain. Therefore, Christians should preach the word without compromise and emphasise the most important things in Scripture without fear of anyone.
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3. The Character And The Characteristics Of His Servants
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Matthew 6:24; Romans 6:18; Ephesians 6:6; Titus 1:5-9
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A real servant of God is devoted and submissive to the Lord only and cannot serve two masters – God and money. Those who make money or prosperity their prime reason for coming into the ministry of preaching cannot serve God successfully. True servants of Christ resist the temptation to amass wealth, holding the things of this world with loose hands while gripping spiritual things with a firm resolve. They are servants of righteousness and they serve in righteousness with all their heart, spirit and soul. Whatever they do, they do to the Lord, not with eye-service to please men but God. They ensure there is orderliness in the church; they would not allow the standard of the word of God to fall because they have the courage to correct others. God does not work where there is confusion, disobedience and rebellion and if we want the Spirit of God to move in our midst, we must get ready to uphold the Word.