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TEXT: Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: INTRO: From Speaker Ron Hutchcraft, I heard of an tremendous two-word motto of the Marine Corps - "Semper fidelis." That's Latin for "always faithful." But a soldier then told his friend that there is another unofficial motto that Marines have - one that helps them respond effectively to their assignments. "Semper Gumby." You're probably saying what I said when I heard it - "Uh, what did he say?" Well, you and I both heard it right. And, yes, he was referring to that animated clay figure, Gumby. Why "gumby"? Well he's that character that can bend any direction. So "Semper Gumby" is. . .Always flexible! TRANSITION: In fact, when it comes to being the kind of person Jesus wants you to be, you can't really be "semper fidelis" - always faithful - unless you're "semper Gumby" - always flexible. 1. CHEIF SERVANT Now, a case could be made for putting that motto up in lots of places in our lives. It's built into the fundamental assignment, the title actually, that Jesus gives to each and every one of us - His followers. 1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. When His original followers were arguing over who would be top dog in His organization, Jesus blew all that pride away in our text and the verses surrounding it: TURN: Matthew 20:25-27 But Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Man, I can just hear those disciples - I can just hear us disciples - saying, "Hey, wait a minute here! You want me to run around meeting everybody else's needs, responding to everybody else's agendas?" But all our questions should cease as Jesus continues in the next verse READ ON: Matthew 20:28 "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." If the Son of God Himself lived to serve the needs of others, who am I to be living to be served; to have everyone dance to my tune? Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Have you given up your rights? Are you willing to give up your agenda? Will you serve? 2. FLEX-ABILITY TURN: Ga 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. We serve both the church first and the world. And being a servant requires that "semper Gumby" attitude. Rigid people make lousy servants. If it's all about you - your rigid schedule, your rigid agenda, your rigid demands - that's not the attitude of a servant. A servant's life is not his own. He responds each day to the needs around him - which requires great flexibility. Now that doesn't mean you have no plans, no schedule, no guiding sense of mission. But it does mean that you always remain open to heaven's surprises in a day, to God's redirection, to ideas and suggestions that God may send to you through other people. And you stay open to the hurts and needs of others as they may come up in a day. 1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. It's the nature of servanthood to be flexible. Flex-Ability = The more you are flexible the more you are able! It's the nature of being a follower to be flexible - after all, you never know which way the Person you're following is going to go. And we are called to be followers of Jesus. Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Will you meet others where there at? Will you serve them to the King? 3. ATTITUDE CHECK So, do an attitude check- Is it like Jesus? Php 2:3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:So, do an attitude check - and see if your busyness, your temperament have caused you to calcify into someone who's too rigid, too stubborn, too all about yourself. If you're not flexible, you're going to be frustrated much of the time - and you're going to frustrating to your family, your co-workers, even your Lord. TURN: 1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity. 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with [us], and laboureth. 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such. - quit you like men, be strong = Being a servant! - they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints = Are you addicted to each other?! - submit yourselves unto such = The servers become/are the leaders! - was lacking on your part they have supplied = Fairness is not how we guage our service, but we even serve to make up for our brethrens lack! God equals all things out! Do you trust Him to? - they have refreshed my spirit = Are you refreshing or draining? There is a time for both! - acknowledge ye them = Humbly thank your "servants"! God does so very well! TURN: Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour. In fact, when it comes to being the kind of person Jesus wants you to be, you must be "semper fidelis" - always faithful - Are you? THen you nedd to be "semper Gumby" - always flexible - Are you? So, fellow spiritual Marines, say those two liberating words with me now - "Semper Gumby" - always flexible, by the grace of God I will be! Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Will you esteem others as worthwhile? Will you bless those that serve you? Are you serving God or yourself? Are you addicted? Are you a chief? Or a Chief Servant? |