A Servant God Approves #1-The Marks of a Servant

“A SERVANT GOD APPROVES #1-THE MARKS OF A SERVANT”

1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-2

TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5

INTRO: Service. We talk about it with flowery terms and preach and teach it

with much earnest; but do we really know what it means to be a

servant? Paul gives us one of the prime motives for service in 2

Corinthians 5:9-10—“Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or

absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the

judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in

his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

The greatest desire of a servant should be to please the Lord! The

Christian’s longing should be to labor and be acceptable to Christ! It

is our love for Him, our desire to please Him, and to be pleasing to

Him that should move our hearts and govern our lives and cause us

to suffer reproach for His name! Our desire should be to be

acceptable unto Him no matter what our circumstances are! I want

you to notice the word “labor” in 2 Corinthians 5:9. It is translated

from a Greek word that means “to be fond of honor.” Today we would

liken the word to “ambition”. Paul was saying, “….we make it our

ambition, that….we may be accepted of him.” Paul was speaking of his

ambition in life, but not the kind of proud, selfish desire that

“ambition” expresses in English. Paul demonstrated that it is right

and noble for the believer to strive for excellence, spiritual goals, and

all that is honorable before God…Paul’s ambition was not altered by

his state of being—whether he should be in heaven or on earth—he

cared how he lived for the Lord…This was Paul’s highest goal (cf. 1

Cor. 4:1–5), and should be so for every believer (MacArthur, J. J.

(1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (2 Co 5:9).

Nashville: Word Pub.).

Friends, many believers today have no idea what a servant looks like.

We have lost the servant’s heart, the servant’s love, and the servant’s

faithfulness. Many today refuse to serve unless they can do

something where they can be seen, praised, and admired. But those

who serve the Lord with the servant’s heart with the servant’s love,

and the servant’s faithfulness though unseen by men are still blessed

by God! Listen to what someone wrote and see if it does not speak to

your heart:

A CHOSEN VESSEL

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;

On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?

Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,

I'm of great value and I do things just right.

My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest

And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;

He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;

I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine

And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,

My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,

And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,

It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.

Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,

Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,

My transparency shows my contents so dear,

Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,

And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,

Polished and carved, it solidly stood.

You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,

But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.

Empty and broken it helplessly lay.

No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,

To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,

I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of its self;

Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;

Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and loud;

Nor one who displays his contents so proud;

Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;

But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.

Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.

Spoke to it kindly. There's work you must do,

Just pour out to others as I pour into you.

~Author Unknown

(Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version 3.0f. Copyright

Friends, tonight we begin a series of messages on A SERVANT GOD

APPROVES. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9 our greatest desire

should be “…that…we may be accepted of him.” Let us begin by

considering THE MARKS OF A SERVANT.

A SERVANT GOD APPROVES will possess three things…

(1) A REVEALED HUMANITY

1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-3—“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not

with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”

*A SERVANT OF THE LORD SHOULD SHOW NO:

A. FAIN PRETENSE. The word “pretense” means “a pretended claim; a false

assumption of a character or condition.” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk

Dictionary. Volume 2, N-Z. p. 523). Paul declares here: “And I, brethren,

when I cam to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.” Paul did not claim to be

something he was not. He shows us his humanity—“I was with you in

weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” Paul realized that all he

was he owed to the grace of God! He wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:10—“But

by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed

upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet

not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul did not claim to be

something he was not and rejoice in his abilities. But Paul rejoiced in the

Lord and in the Lord’s mighty ability working in him! Paul wrote in 2

Corinthians 4:7—“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the

excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” “Yes I have a

treasure,” Paul admits, “but it is in an earthen vessel. I don’t want to be

seen; I’m just the vessel. The most important thing is that Christ is seen

and that Christ gets the glory.” It is too bad when Christian workers make

the vessel more important than the treasure of the Gospel. (Warren W.

Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines On The New Testament. p. 486).

B. FALSE PERFECTION. Paul although a great servant of God was a man

just like us! The man didn’t have it all together—he wasn’t perfect—and

(best of all) he didn’t attempt to hide it! He admitted to his friends in

Corinth he was weak, fearful, and even trembling when he stood before

them. (Charles R. Swindoll. Improving Your Serve. p. 24). He did not claim

to be “super” spiritual as some “so-called” servants of the Lord do today!

How sad it is that many Christian leaders today have elevated themselves

to almost “god” status! In doing so they have robbed God of the glory due

His holy name and taken it for themselves! Psalm 115:1 reminds us—“Not

unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy,

and for thy truth's sake.” Paul revealed his humanity. Without trying to

hide his humanity he wrote in Romans 7:18, 24—“For I know that in me

(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;

but how to perform that which is good I find not…O wretched man that I am!

who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul, like us, had needs

and readily admitted them. His life was not perfect and he didn’t hide that

fact! Servants are like that! They admit their weaknesses. Why? Because

they have learned that in their weaknesses God gives more grace. Paul

said in 1 Corinthians 12:9b-10—“…Most gladly therefore will I rather glory

in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take

pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in

distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

A SERVANT GOD APPROVES will have A REVEALED HUMANITY and will show no FAIN PRETENSE or FALSE PERFECTION but also let us see A SERVANT GOD APPROVES will have…

(2) A REAL HUMILITY

1 CORINTHIANS 2:4-5—“And my speech and my preaching was not with

enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

A. THE FOUNDATION OF HUMILITY. Paul made an extraordinary statement

in v4—“And my speech and my preaching was not in enticing words of

man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Does this

sound like many who preach today? Many want to be admired for their

ability. But Paul did not want his hearers to be impressed with his ability

but rather with God’s power! "I see a man cannot be a faithful minister,

until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake - until he gives up striving to

attract people to himself and seeks only to, attract them to Christ." –

Robert Murray McCheyne (Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version 3.0f.

Paul was a very humble man. I truly believe the reason Paul was so

humble is because his service to God rested “in demonstration of the Spirit

and of power.” Paul realized that if his preaching was going to influence

anyone to come to Christ it had to come from the “demonstration of the

Spirit and of power” not by his own ability. Persuasion is man’s means of

moving his fellow man. God’s means is demonstration, leaving no doubt,

and inspiring implicit faith, by the powerful working of the Spirit… working

on the heart.” (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary. e-Sword. Version

Friends, our ability will carry us only so far. But if we will humble

ourselves to the Spirit and rest in God’s power we can achieve great things

for God!

B. THE FOCUS OF HUMILITY. In v5 we see the focus of humility. Paul said

in—“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power

of God.” The servant’s humility should be focused “in the power of God.”

Paul said in Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ which

strengtheneth me.” Paul did not rest in his own ability but in the power of

God. Friends, that’s HUMILITY! Over and over we read similar words in

his writings. I’m convinced that those who were instructed, face to face, by

the man became increasingly more impressed with the living Christ and

less impressed with him. Those who follow image-conscious leaders, see

the leader exalted. But those who follow a leader with a servant’s heart,

see the Lord exalted! It is those people who talk of God’s person, power,

work, name, and Word, all to the glory of God! Let me suggest a couple of

revealing tests of humility:

Ø A Non-defensive Spirit When Confronted. When we are humble we make ourselves accountable. Genuine humility operates on a rather simple philosophy: Nothing to prove; nothing to lose.

Ø An Authentic Desire To Help Others. We should always be looking for ways we can serve others. Galatians 6:10 tells us—“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

ILLUS: Andrew Murray said, "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy.

He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before

him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten

because...he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not

Himself, and who sought not His own honor. Therefore, in putting

on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion,

kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility." Humble people

are not conscious of being humble. As Dr. M. R. De Haan used to

say, "Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet

never thank God that we have." (Bible Illustrator For Windows.

A SERVANT GOD APPROVES will have A REVEALED HUMANITY, A REAL HUMILITY and finally…

(3) A REMARKABLE HONESTY

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-2—“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we