We serve God by serving others.

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service
from others, you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a
popular concept.

Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many
people you serve, not how many people serve you.

The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, Christian leaders
still jockey for position and prominence in churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.

Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one
wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even Christians want to be "servant-leaders,"
not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That's what he called himself.

God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant's heart, you will be tempted to misuse
your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting
some needs.

Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is
required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is
character.

It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant's heart. How
can you know if you have the heart of a servant? Jesus said, "You can tell what they are by what they do."

In my introduction I want to share to you an article I read this week. The title is:

How Real Servants Act

Mark 10:43-45King James Version (KJV)

43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many.

1. Real servants make themselves available to serve.

Servants don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability.
They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be
standing by for duty:

2 Timothy 2:3-4King James Version (KJV)

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier.

If you only serve when it's convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Real servants do what's needed, even
when it's inconvenient.

Are you available to God anytime?

Can he mess up your plans without you becoming resentful? As a servant, you don't get to pick and choose when
or where you will serve.

Being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever
he needs to.

If you will remind yourself at the start of every day that you are God's servant, interruptions won't frustrate
you as much, because your agenda will be whatever God wants to bring into your life. Servants see
interruptions as divine appointments for ministry and are happy for the opportunity to practice serving.

2. Real servants pay attention to needs.

Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet
it, just as the Bible commands us:

Galatians 6:10King James Version (KJV)

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the
household of faith.

When God puts someone in need right in front of you, he is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood.

Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference, not put at the bottom of your
"things to do" list.

We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve
never last long. They pass quickly, sometimes never to return again. You may only get one chance to serve that
person, so take advantage of the moment.

Proverbs 3:28King James Version (KJV)

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

John Wesley was an incredible servant of God. His motto was

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all
the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can."
That is greatness.
You can begin by looking for small tasks that no one else wants to do. Do these little things as if they were great
things, because God is watching.

3. Real servants do their best with what they have.

Servants don't make excuses, procrastinate
(pro·cras·ti·nat prəˈkrastəˌnāt/ verb delay or postpone action; put off doing something.),
or wait for better circumstances.

Servants never say, "One of these days" or "When the time is right."
They just do what needs to be done. The Bible says,

Ecclesiastes 11:4King James Version (KJV)

4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
(Ang nagmamalas sa hangin ay hindi maghahasik; at ang tumitingin sa mga alapaap ay hindi aani.)

God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.
Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention.

One reason many people never serve is that they fear they are not good enough to serve.
They have believed the lie that serving God is only for superstars.

It doesn't have to be perfect for God to use and bless it.

4, Real servants do every task with equal dedication.

Whatever they do, servants "do it with all their heart." The size of the task is irrelevant. The only issue is, does it
need to be done?

You will never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial (meaning:(of work)not
requiring much skill and lacking prestige.) tasks.

God will never exempt you from the mundane (lacking interest or excitement;). It's a vital part of your character
curriculum. The Bible says,

Mga Taga-Galacia 6:3

3 Sapagka't kung ang sinoman ay nagaakala na siya'y may kabuluhan bagaman siya ay walang kabuluhan,
ang kaniyang sarili ang dinadaya niya.

It is in these small services that we grow like Christ. Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to
avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he
came to serve. It wasn't in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to
follow his example.
Small tasks often show a big heart. Your servant's heart is revealed in little acts that others don't think of doing,
as when Paul gathered brushwood for a fire to warm everyone after a shipwreck. He was just as exhausted as
everyone else, but he did what everyone needed. No task is beneath you when you have a servant's heart.
Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things.
Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he
wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.

There will always be more people willing to do "great" things for God than there are people willing to do the
little things.

The race to be a leader is crowded, but the field is wide open for those willing to be servants.

Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority, and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either
way, you develop a servant's heart when you're willing to do anything needed.

5. Real servants are faithful to their ministry.

Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments.

They don't leave a job half undone, and they don't quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and
dependable.

Faithfulness has always been a rare quality.

Most people don't know the meaning of commitment. They make commitments casually, then break them for the
slightest reason without any hesitation, remorse, or regret.

***((( Every week, churches and other organizations must improvise because volunteers didn't prepare, didn't
show up, or didn't even call to say they weren't coming. Great opportunities often
disguise themselves in small tasks.))))

Can you be counted on by others? Are there promises you need to keep, vows you need to fulfill, or
commitments you need to honor? This is a test.

God is testing your faithfulness.

If you pass the test, you're in good company: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Daniel, Timothy, and Paul were
all called faithful servants of God.

Even better, God has promised to reward your faithfulness in eternity. Imagine what it will feel like one day to
have God say to you,

Mateo 25:23
23 Sinabi sa kaniya ng kaniyang panginoon, Mabuting gawa, mabuti at tapat na alipin: nagtapat ka sa
kakaunting bagay, pamamahalain kita sa maraming bagay; pumasok ka sa kagalakan ng iyong panginoon.

By the way, faithful servants never retire (and get tired).

They serve faithfully as long as they're alive. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from
serving God.
6. Real servants maintain a low profile.

Servants don't promote or call attention to themselves.

Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they

1 Pedro 5:5Ang Dating Biblia (1905) (ADB1905)

5 Gayon din naman, kayong mga kabataan, ay magsisuko sa matatanda. Oo, kayong lahat ay mangagbigkis ng
kapakumbabaan, na kayo-kayo'y maglingkuran: sapagka't ang Dios ay sumasalangsang sa mga palalo,
datapuwa't nagbibigay ng biyaya sa mga mapagpakumbaba.

1 Peter 5:5King James Version (KJV)

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don't allow notoriety to distract them from their
work.

Paul exposed a kind of service that appears to be spiritual but is really just a put-on, a show, an act to get
attention. He called it "eyeservice" serving in order to impress people with how spiritual we are.

This was a sin of the Pharisees. They turned helping others, giving, and even prayer into a performance for
others. Jesus hated this attitude and warned,

Matthew 6:1King James Version (KJV)

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven.

Mangagingat kayo na huwag magsigawa ng katuwiran sa harap ng mga tao, upang kanilang makita: sa ibang
paraan ay wala kayong ganti ng inyong Ama na nasa langit.

Self-promotion and servanthood don't mix.

Real servants don't serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for an audience of The One.

As Paul said,

Mga Taga-Galacia 1:10

10 Sapagka't ako baga'y nanghihikayat ngayon sa mga tao o sa Dios? o ako baga'y nagsisikap na magbigay-
lugod sa mga tao? kung ako'y magbibigay-lugod pa sa mga tao, ay hindi ako magiging alipin ni Cristo.
You won't find many real servants in the limelight; in fact, they avoid it when possible.

They are content with quietly serving in the shadows.

Joseph is a great example. He didn't draw attention to himself, but quietly served Potiphar, then his jailer, then
Pharaoh's baker and wine taster, and God blessed that attitude. When Pharaoh promoted him to prominence,
Joseph still maintained a servant's heart, even with his brothers, who had betrayed him.

Unfortunately, many leaders today start off as servants but end up as celebrities. They become addicted to
attention, unaware that always being in the spotlight blinds you.

You may be serving in obscurity in some small place, feeling unknown and unappreciated.
Listen: God put you where you are for a purpose! He has every hair on your head numbered, and he knows your
address. You had better stay put until he chooses to move you. He will let you know if he wants you somewhere
else. Your ministry matters to the kingdom of God.

"When Christ ... shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be
content with obscurity."

Colossians 3:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(Pagka si Cristo na ating buhay ay mahayag, ay mahahayag nga rin kayo na kasama niya sa kaluwalhatian.)

Notoriety means nothing to real servants because they know the difference between prominence and
significance.

You have several prominent features on your body that you could live without. It is the hidden parts of your
body that are indispensable. The same is true in the Body of Christ. The most significant service is often the
service that is unseen-"

Conclusion:

In heaven God is going to openly reward some of his most obscure and unknown servants - people we have
never heard of on earth,
****(((who taught emotionally disturbed children, cleaned up after incontinent elderly, nursed AIDS patients,
and served in thousands of other unnoticed ways.)))

Knowing this, don't be discouraged when your service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving God.
1 Corinthians 15:58King James Version (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. oticed or taken for granted. Keep on serving
God!

REVIEW THE 6 POINTS we learned.

Now let’s go to the Message:

If we would be profitable servants, what should characterize our service?

A) A life centered on the Word of God

2 Tim 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

B) A Life Of Godliness
1 Tim 4:8
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that
now is, and of that which is to come.

1 Tim 6:6-7
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Godliness is rendered as “reverence or respect for God.” But I believe is a shallow meaning here.
Godliness here has an inherent meaning as having God as all sufficient for our lives.

1 Tim 6:11-12
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good
profession before many witnesses.

C) A life of service
Titus 3:8
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in
God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Matt 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.

Titus 2:7-8
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil
thing to say of you.

Eph 4:12-13
12 For the perfecting of the saints , for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1 Tim 6:18-19
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on
eternal life.

2 Tim 2:21-26
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the
master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of
a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.