AM I A SERVANT?

BIBLE PASSAGE: ACTS 13:22,25,29 & 36

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons

JUNE 13, 2021

LESSON KEY VERSE

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

ACTS 13:36

 

INTRODUCTION:

What does the word “servant” mean? In New Testament, servant means a slave or servant of another, one who serves others, minister, “deacon.”

 

When we asked ourselves, “am I servant?” some of us would be easier for him/her to answer but today let’s study about being a servant. Before we go to our main points, let’s look at the three characters mentioned in this chapter. In verse 22, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” There are two things we would like to give our focus on. The first one is:

-      A man after mine heart: We know what are some of the important details of David’s life and maybe we start asking ourselves, “Despite the sins he committed, why he still commended by God with these words? David was far from perfect. He failed the Lord on many occasions and sinned against God in some terrible ways - but he was quick to recognize his wrongdoings and genuinely repented of his sin. Some bible scholars and pastors believe that one of the reasons is humility- willing to be a servant. Though David was a king, he had the heart of the servant.

-      Shall fulfill all my will: These words are the last line of this verse and what can you say of the commendation of God to David? A man God can trust. What a commendation from God. David shall fulfill His will in his calling. He shall fulfill His will with his family even though there were struggles and failures. And he shall fulfill His will in his life.

In verse 25 says, “And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.” Last week we mentioned about the verse exposing John the Baptist’s attitude of humility; “He must increase; I must decrease.” John was asked by the priest and Levites, “WHO ART THOU?” (John 1:19). He didn’t give credit to himself or give himself even a little pride. He said, “I AM NOT HE.” He mentioned that even untying the shoes of the Messiah he was not worthy. John Gill exposition of the Bible, suggesting hereby, that he was unworthy to be his servant, to perform the meanest part of service for him that could be thought of; so far was he from assuming any preference to him on account of his being before him, as his forerunner; see Matthew 3:11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: What a humility! 

 

Another thing is the first line, “John fulfilled his course.”

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  A SERVANT SERVES (ACTS 13:36, LUKE 22:27)

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

 

How important is to be in the service? (ask for responses) In Luke 22:27, Jesus asked who is the greatest, the man who sits at meat or he that serves? Of course, the man who sits but take note what He said at the end… “but I am among you as he that serves.” That’s what the importance of service. If you’re serving in God’s vineyard, He’s with among us who serve. Bible says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Being servants, we should not expect what the church can do for you instead but what can you do for the church. Personally, I’m thankful because CBT has learned that the church is not there to be the source of materials things and everything. I remember there were situations before that the church was the place to ask for your personal payment of bills, food in the table and other things. Though the pastor had not enough salary from the church, he still the person to be asked for financial assistance. Therefore, in other hand, there’s something negative about Christians who are called “seeker churches.” They denote something that please “self.” They look for churches that would please them.

Matthew 20:25-26 say, “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;” The idea that Jesus had nowhere to lay His head comes directly from a conversation recorded in the book of Matthew and again in the book of Luke. Jesus was talking to a scribe who wished to follow Jesus and become a disciple. In fact, the scribe boasted, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:19–20; Luke 9:57–58).

These same passages mention two others who had similar discussions with Jesus. In each case, Jesus made the point that there is a cost to following Him. The scribe who said he wanted to follow Jesus wherever He went was not considering the lifestyle Jesus led. Our Lord was functionally homeless; He and His disciples stayed in the homes of those who would take them in (see Luke 10:6–8). The scribes were among the wealthier citizens. It was as if Jesus were saying, “Are you sure you want to be homeless with Me?” Even the animals have a place to stay—foxes have holes and the birds have nests—but Jesus literally had “nowhere to lay his head.” He wanted the scribe to truly count the cost of what he was proposing. It is always wise to count the cost (Luke 14:28).

 

 

The word “servant” mentioned is not the teaching servant of the house or maid who does the cleaning the kingly chambers. Paul uses the word “huperetes” which means “under-rower...literally “the slave who rows on the lowest level of a boat.” It is not the lowliest word for a servant, but not a prestigious position. Under-rowers serve “Christ the master-pilot, helping forward the ship of the Church toward the haven of heaven.” (Trapp)

The “under-rower” as “one who acts under direction, and asks no questions, one who does the thing he is appointed to do without hesitation, and one who reports only to the captain.

There’s a church who had a struggle of finding a place to worship. They prayed and then one time the church was offered a place which was not that good and needed renovation and repainting. The pastor and his family were there to clean and repaint the walls; there were also some men and preachers came over. On the midst of the cleaning, the pastor’s phone rang, and he needed to entertain an important call, and it took him an hour to talk to that person. When he came back to the auditorium, he heard a conversation between his wife and the preacher. The preacher said, “I didn’t go to Bible College for four years to paint walls.”  Then the pastor’s wife said, “You’ve got saved to do that.” Being a servant would never be convenient but it’s what we are called to do. We’re under rowers (explain a little about under rowers). Who do we think we are? A person sits at the table or are we among who serves?  We can say that if you’re not serving, you’re not a servant.

David understood that being the king brought the privilege of the office but also the responsibility of serving. He understood the need to serve those in authority as he humbled himself and serve Saul. He could bristle his pride and say, “I’m now the new king; I should defend myself by killing this loser king” but he did not do that. Instead, he said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” That was the heart he had. He was not to exalt himself but to be willing to serve even under Saul. 

 

There was a day David wanted to build the temple. He was the king and he thought he was deserved to do that but God told him no. Instead God told him to assemble the materials. Did He complain? Did he still give his best finding the best material? Of course not. In 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, recorded the things he prepared: the blueprints of the porch, its buildings, the inner courts and many more.

 

Walking in sandals on the filthy roads of Israel in the first century made it imperative that feet be washed before a communal meal, especially since people reclined at a low table and feet were very much in evidence. When Jesus rose from the table and began to wash the feet of the disciples (John 13:4), He was doing the work of the lowliest of servants. The disciples must have been stunned at this act of humility and condescension, that Christ, their Lord and master, should wash the feet of His disciples, when it was their proper work to have washed His. But when Jesus came to earth the first time, He came not as King and Conqueror, but as the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. As He revealed in Matthew 20:28, He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The humility expressed by His act with towel and basin foreshadowed His ultimate act of humility and love on the cross. JESUS, a prophet, priest, and king lives his life as a servant.

 There’s a bible seminary who has a signage on the wall of the building, “ENTER TO LEARN; GO FORTH TO SERVE. A good signage but churches have become a place of: Enter to Learn, enter to be Pleased, enter to be comforted, enter to have programs but forget the “GO FORTH TO SERVE” part.

2. A SERVANT SERVES BY THE WILL OF GOD (ACTS 13:36)

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

 

The world is never impressed doing the will of God. The unbelievers wouldn’t understand us why we go to church on Sunday morning and back on the afternoon. They possible say we’re crazy if they see us again in Mid-week attending prayer meeting. They would possibly say, “That church is a cult.”

 

In John 12: 5 says, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” Judas thought it was silly and wasteful for that precious ointment to be pour on the feet of Jesus Christ but Christ said, “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.”  What the woman did was the will of GOD.

Matthew 16:21-23 say, From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Peter rebuked Jesus that the cross would not happen to him, God would not allow it but Jesus told him that what he said those that be of men and not the things be of God. IT’S THE WILL OF GOD.

Christians are concerned about how we dress, where we go and our testimonies. The world may see that silly but it’s the will of God.

You ignore and avoided so many things like:  the invitations of people like bar party, the chatting that would lead you to infidelity to your spouse, watching too much TV and you forget to read your Bible and spending too much for unimportant things because you might use the supposed the money for the Lord. Even people don’t think it’s right guess what, IT’S RIGHT. it’s the WILL OF GOD.

The world would reject us but remember John 1: 11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Jesus was rejected, but He died for them anyway. Though the world mocked Him; He died for them anyway. Though there are rejection, servants serve anyway.

David served God’s purpose according to the will of God.  That’s a powerful thought. “Does God have a will for my life?” you may be wondering.  The Bible says He does.  The writers of Scripture contend that what happens to your life is of great importance to our Heavenly Father.  Paul wrote, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

3.  A SERVANT SERVES OUR GENERATION

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

We live in a messed up generation. Do you believe that? Have you watched the news?

·       A man was arrested for stabbing his wife’s boyfriend to death, after police found him stuck in a neighbor’s chimney when he tried to escape (March 19, 2021).

·       A police officer in the Philippines has been arrested and charged with the double murder of a mother and her son following a dispute (December 2020).

·       THREE high school students died in an apparent suicide in Leyte towns on Sunday, March 28, 2021. The victims, aged 13, 14 and 16, were from Bato, Palo, and Baybay City, all in Leyte province. In an initial investigation, police said the victims suffered from depression resulting from family and personal problems, including poor academic achievement.

 

These are just sample of the situations happening in our society. We live in a messed up world. Another question, do we understand the unbelievers?  Of course we do, because we were once in their place right? We know that they have different views in everything. Some of them have struggles fighting their addiction. Some of them thinking that there’s no way out of their troubled relationship. Some of them have seen their situation hopeless because they’re abused by the members of the family. Do they know where to turn to? DO they know that their situations are not hopeless? DO they know that Someone loves them more than the people they expected to show them love? Do they know that they can be forgiven? In those kinds of situations, NO, they don’t know. But there are group of people do know the answers. It’s you and me. We know the answer; JESUS is the answer. Therefore, let’s ask God to lay a name in our heart and let’s serve that person in the way to meet his/her need. We can’t be a king, a great preacher, teacher and certainly can’t be a priest but…. I CAN BE A SERVANT. WE CAN BE A SERVANT.

 

David was responsible only for his own generation.  You can’t do anything about what took place a hundred years ago, or even a generation ago.  That’s history, but you can do something about your generation, today, the world in which you live.

 

CONLUSION:

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

(Nang maisakatuparan ni David ang kalooban ng Diyos, siya’s namatay at nailibing sa piling na kanyang mga magulang at dumanas ng pagkabulok)

 

One of the greatest tragedies in life is to get very close to reaching your goal, arriving at your full potential, accomplishing what you set out to do, only to fall short of what you wanted to do.  It’s always sad to have to quit a few hundred meters short of the top, or to get so very close to winning, only to have victory snatched from your grasp.

Unrealized goals! Unfulfilled potential–what a tragedy!  With a sigh we speak of, “The man he might have been,” or “the woman she could have been!” When David had finished the goal entrusted on him here on earth, the will of God, he died. How blessing it is to finish the will of God entrusted to you. In contrary, how sad it is to meet our end with unfinished business or we are not in God’s service.

“At the end of your life, how would you like to be remembered?”

 

 

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT (JOHN 9:1-41)

 

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT

BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 9:1 - 41

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

 MAY 30, 2021

MEMORY VERSE

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

JOHN 9:25

 

INTRODUCTION:

Let’s talk about a few about our previous lives before we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts. We know that there a lot of changes, right? The bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

You know what, I don’t know if you believe me or not but one of reasons to be thankful for when I got saved is the sensitivity of ghost or anything pertains to this kind of spirits. I saw different images and one of those was a big cat going beside me on our bed and shadows talking. I don’t want to mention all but believe me I saw a lot. That’s the reason why, I don’t watch horror movies, and I don’t like too dark room. Teacher Carol, my sister, witnessed the ritual (words only or bulong) I did, and she got scared when her arms were touched by a very cold hand and that was not mine. The Bible says, Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The night after I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I woke up in the middle of the night and my senses were active perceiving if there was something I would be hearing or feeling but thank God, NOTHING. There was something in me that led me to pray and that was my first time praying at the middle of the night. Before I just covered myself with blanket, cover my ears so that I could not hear or ran to another room if I heard or saw something but, on that time, I felt the difference. That’s why I am really thankful.

 

How about our views before? What were our views about church before? What were our views about relationship? What were our views about financial matters? (wait for responses).  What were our views about right and wrong?

 

I remember the teenager named “Lloyd Agustin.” He is a social media influencer; I don’t know him. I just watched the clip of his interview with Jessica Soho. He started with a wholesome image and right now he is showing sensual videos to earn money (Subscribe with money). He said, “Everyone has their own definition of right and wrong.”  Wow, what a kind of view. Actually, all people don’t know what’s wrong and right. We need a manual for life – Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

What were our views about heaven and hell? Before, if you’re kind (mabait) your destination is heaven. Now we know that we are saved through faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). That’s the reason why I don’t say, “REST in PEACE” if someone dies. Because we know that if a person doesn’t accept Christ into his heart- we know the destination. For safety, not to say that and also that is what most Catholics say.

Why I say all these things? Comparing to our previous lives, is there something to shout about?

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE (JOHN 9:25, 39)

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

 

 We already knew the story, but I would like to give emphasis the blessing he had receive from the Lord Jesus. Remember this man was born blind and we know how hard to lose our sight. In Bible times, blind men are categorized as also beggars because there was no work available for blind people on those times and also mentioned in verse 8, “The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?” What Jesus did, He spat on the ground and made clay and place on his eyes. The blind man was instructed to go in the pool in Siloam and wash. This was he did and came back seeing. He was seen by neighbors and recognized him. Interviewed him what happened, and he mentioned he was healed by a man named “Jesus.” He was brought to Pharisees and asked why he received his sight. He told it in detail of what really happened. The Pharisees had argument if this was from God and also Jesus was done this during Sabbath, and they came up to conclusion this is not from God. The Pharisees asked the man what he thought about Jesus, and he said, “He is a prophet.” This made them furious. The Pharisees didn’t believe he was born blind therefore they called his parents to ask about it. The parents testified that he was really born blind, but they didn’t give further information regarding his sight because of the fear of the Jews. They would be put out of the synagogue.

“These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22. The Pharisees called again the man and asked, “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner (verse 24).

 

After talking to parents, the man was interrogated again by the Pharisees. In the next verses, we can read how the man defended Christ and tried to convince them with their unbelief.

³⁰ The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

³¹ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

³² Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

³³ If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

³⁴ They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Did you notice how the Pharisees were blinded by this world.  In verses 40-41, “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? ⁴¹ Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

They gave so many doubtful questions and we can see their unbelief. Spiritual blindness is like walking in darkness. You won’t be able to see the reality of life; you won’t see the system of the world brings. We may ask why the attitudes of Pharisees are like this but we were like them before right? All unbelievers don’t see the real spirituality.

 

Is the man having something to shout about? YES, AMEN. He can’t keep it into his heart; he needed to tell or even shout the amazing thing happened to his life.

 

How about us? Has there something to shout about? Could you say, Amen, I was blind but now I see.

2.  THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD (JOHN 9: 1- 7)

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him (JOHN 9:1-3)

What you notice to the disciples’ behavior regarding the blind man? Do they see the need of the man? No, they didn’t see the need; they saw the sins. Sometimes, we are like the disciples; we don’t see the need of people by ignoring the Holy Spirit telling us to share. Instead, we see the reason why we don’t.

JESUS DOESN’T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU; HE STILL GIVES WHAT YOU NEED

Charles Spurgeon says, Jesus will soon show a different way. He won’t dwell on the theological puzzle, but on actually helping the man. “It is ours, not to speculate, but to perform acts of mercy and love, according to the tenor of the gospel. Let us then be less inquisitive and more practical, less for cracking doctrinal nuts, and more for bringing forth the bread of life to the starving multitudes.”

Jesus said that the man’s blindness – essentially a birth defect – was not caused by some specific sin on the part of the man or his parents. The works of God should manifest in him.

Jesus knows everything going on in our lives. He knows the ups and down; He knows the pains. He knows our every need.

In verse 4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Instead of focusing on the man as a theology problem, Jesus saw him as an opportunity to work the works of God. Jesus sensed an urgency to do this while it was still day – the time of His earthly ministry.

“Whenever you see a man in sorrow and trouble, the way to look at it is, not to blame him and inquire how he came there, but to say, ‘Here is an opening for God’s almighty love. Here is an occasion for the display of the grace and goodness of the Lord.’” (Spurgeon)

The night is coming when no one can work: Jesus understood that opportunities for service and doing good don’t last forever. Jesus knew that healing this man on the Sabbath would bring greater opposition from the religious leaders who already wanted to silence and kill Him. Yet His compassion for the man drove Him to do it anyway.

Have you ever thought when your life ends? How many years left to our lives? We don’t have a forever opportunity. This lesson is a great reminder how we should see a soul. The Lord Jesus thinks in a different way, and we should see what’s the need. Don’t lose the opportunity.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world: Jesus is the light of the world and apart from Him, there’s darkness; He’s the main source of light. Just as His sons and daughters, the Bible says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our light should not be hidden under a bushel. The question is where do we lead the people around us? Your words, your actions and your lifestyle. Do they see Jesus in you? Can we say, as long as I am in the world I will let my light so shine before men?

3.  YOU HAVE FOUND THE SON OF GOD (JOHN 9: 35-38)

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

 

In verse 34, the man was casted out from the synagogue. Commentaries describe the “cast out.” “The casting out of this man meant his excommunication from his religious rights in Temple and synagogue.” (Morgan) The religious leaders treated this man terribly. They abused him (they reviled him). They insulted him (You were completely born in sins). They rejected him (they cast him out).

The man experienced rejection but later the rejection becomes a blessing. The excommunication of the blind man – difficult as it was – turned out to be a good thing, because he would shortly be far more connected to Jesus.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF GOD? Jesus called on the healed man to fully believe, and he did (Lord, I believe). When the healed man declared his loyalty to Jesus by not denying Him before the hostile religious leaders, he was rewarded when Jesus revealed more of Himself to him (You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you).

-      “The question ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ is a summons to commitment. The Greek pronoun su (‘you’) used with the verb makes the inquiry doubly emphatic. It demanded a personal decision in the face of opposition or rejection.” (Tenney)

-      Jesus dealt with this man differently than most. He met his physical need first, then allowed him to endure persecution, then called him to a specific belief. It’s good to remember that God may work differently in different lives.

-      Some manuscripts have Son of Man instead of Son of God. Both terms point to God’s Messiah, the One who should be believed and trusted.

 

AND HE WORSHIPPED HIM: The religious leaders said, “You can’t worship with us at the temple.” Jesus said, “I will receive your worship.”

ü  When the man worshipped Jesus, Jesus received the worship. This is something that no man or angel in the Bible does. The fact that Jesus accepted this worship is another proof that Jesus was and is God, and that He knew Himself to be God.

ü  The formerly blind man showed an increasing awareness of Jesus.

-      Jesus is a man (John 9:11).

-      Jesus is a prophet (John 9:17).

-      Jesus is my master, I am His disciple (John 9:27).

-      Jesus is from God (John 9:33).

-      Jesus is the Son of God (John 9:35-38).

-      Jesus is who I trust (John 9:38).

-      Jesus is who I worship (John 9:38).

CONLUSION:

Let me ask you, aren’t you blessed? Are there enough reasons to shot about the Saviour?

I know personally the struggle of sharing the Lord Jesus Christ and I believe you feel the same. The situation is like you’re trying to drag the people go to Jesus in faith. But what motivates us – it’s our purpose. We’ll just go, and God will do the rest. If you don’t like going, let’s remember Matthew 28:19-20. The encouragement words at the end “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. (Sing the song)