Our Pastor w/servant heart cleaning church stove
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Posted on Mon, Jan 11, 2010
Highlights of sermons given by Pastor Michael Spearl on Sep.12 & 19 by Susan Bond
"Let This Mind Be in You" (Part 1)
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (See Philippians 2:5-11).
[What does this mean? Pastor Michael spent two Sabbaths delving into the mind of Christ so that we could apply this passage to ourselves.]
Knowing he was the son of God, Jesus did not cling to his deity; He consciously gave up being in the form of God for being in the form of a servant. To be like Jesus, we also should not cling to ourselves too tightly.
We also learn from Him that if we take the initiative, grace will accompany us. Once Jesus left the glory of His heavenly home to dwell among men, His commitment was irrevocable. Not only was Christ committed but He was also motivated (See John 5:30) by the desire to please His Father. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He was motivated by the joy set before Him. It is when we become motivated by the same thing and also let go of ourselves that we will see unity in the body of Christ.
"Let This Mind Be in You" (Part 2)
On this Sabbath, Pastor Michael got our attention almost as dramatically as God got the attention of Moses from the burning bush. Michael pointed out that it wasn't the bush but God-in-the-bush that was important. Any old bush will do --- as long as God is in the bush.
The pastor remarked that we all know what it is to be full of ourselves. Jesus, on the other hand, made himself nothing (of no reputation). Jesus "emptied himself." Of what did He empty himself? NOT HIS DEITY. He came to earth unrecognized for who he was. Coming in human form, His glory was veiled. He gave up His riches that, through his poverty, we might be rich. He was the "invisible" Son of God in human flesh hanging on the cross. He gave up himself.
How do we empty ourselves like Jesus did? Again, we know what it is to be full of ourselves. Today we hear of self-knowledge, human rights, etc. But, we are not our own. We were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7). We must abandon ourselves, even our righteousness (it's as filthy rags, Isaiah tells us---64:6).
Abandonment of self includes abandonment of riches. We are rich, even having gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, if we are full of ourselves, God cannot use us or the gifts in us. If we flaunt our gift, we will have to be broken before we can be used (We find an example of this in Joseph's flaunting of his dreams before his brothers). When we are full of ourselves, we may not be impoverished, but we will not be receiving God's fruitful income.
Abandonment of self means abandonment of reputation. Jesus delayed being recognized during his ministry. What would happen if we emptied ourselves? We would know joy and the defensiveness that makes us difficult to be around would be gone." Pastor Michael added, "Leave the outcome of your service to God and you will have indescribable joy."
Question: How do you know if you have a servant's heart?
Answer: How you react when you are treated like one.
Scripture describing the servanthood of Jesus indicate he was at the bottom rung in society, a bonded servant with NO RIGHTS, in full obedience to His Master. It wasn't the duty of the bonded slave to wash feet, but Jesus did even this as an example for us. His purpose was to show his mindset. To have the mind of Christ is to live, not for glory or gain, but for the opportunity to serve. Having given us not only talents but time to use them, God has entrusted us with STEWARDSHIP, NOT OWNERSHIP. To have the mind of Christ is to be open (vulnerable) and accountable, the real deal.
Scripture describing the servanthood of Jesus indicate he was at the bottom rung in society, a bonded servant with NO RIGHTS, in full obedience to His Master. It wasn't the duty of the bonded slave to wash feet, but Jesus did even this as an example for us. His purpose was to show his mindset. To have the mind of Christ is to live, not for glory or gain, but for the opportunity to serve. Having given us not only talents but time to use them, God has entrusted us with STEWARDSHIP, NOT OWNERSHIP. To have the mind of Christ is to be open (vulnerable) and accountable, the real deal.
Very good message. Please read my book about the Sabbath experience. http://sabbathfullness.blogspot.com
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