Blessed beyond words!

Well, yesterday I preached at Covenant Baptist. I was a little surprised to be going back so soon, but I can’t turn down an opportunity to preach. It’s just not in my blood.   The Lord really blessed the sermon, and I also enjoyed the worship time as always. Several families were gone, but we enjoyed the fellowship with those that were there.

As is typical, they gave me a check as an honorarium. (I thought.) When I got home and looked at the check, I was STUNNED!!!!    I won’t tell you how much it was, but I will say that it was a whole months salary!!! I called one of the Elders because I thought it might have been a mistake. (They gave us a similar gift when we left in March.) He said that it was not a mistake, but they had decided quite some time ago that if we didn’t have another church to minister in by this time they were going to give us another months salary.

I was dumbfounded , grateful , joyful , humbled , and many other emotions I can’t quite express at this moment. I just am amazed at my Lord’s wonderful provision for us. He certainly knows what he’s doing. He hasn’t lost his touch.

I was also very grateful to our brothers and sisters in the Lord who so generously gave to our need. Some of the people reading this blog may have some hard feelings toward Covenant, or have taken up an offense for us. But while they may have their faults, which we all do, that church is nothing if not generous. I have been so blessed by the big hearts of the people at Covenant, and not just financially but otherwise also. (Our wedding, our baby, and the list goes on.) I continue to hope and pray that the Lord will greatly bless that fellowship with much eternal fruit for the glory of God. I hope y’all will join me, as God reminds you, to pray for this little church and the other little churches like it that are seeking to follow the Lord’s will in all things.

(Incidentally, just an opinion on the side here, if more Christians would follow that Proverb which says “Love covers over a multitude of wrongs”, I think we’d all be a good bit happier and less divided.)

Here are the sermon notes from yesterday (Copyright Jarod Hinton, 2008 – All rights reserved.)

Jesus, the Servant

Philippians 2:5-11

Jarod Hinton, June 1^st, 2008

Intro: We as Christians are to be servants. Jesus said that the greatest among us must be the servant of all. It comes up over and over again. What is a servant? Webster says: “A person, male or female, that attends another for the purpose of performing menial offices for him, or who is employed by another for such offices or for other labor, and is subject to his command.” But the greatest servant that ever lived was Jesus himself. He is to be our example of what kind of servant to be. I would like to point out just a couple of lessons on servanthood that we can learn from Jesus.

1. Laid Aside His Greatness (vs. 6-7)

   1. Jesus was God. The Creator. The absolute highest, most powerful being that exists!

   2. Yet he put it aside to become a servant. (Matt 20:28)

   3. We should put aside our pride (and other things) to serve others.

      1. Even if it is earned praise. Even if we are great.

      2. If anyone had right to be proud of their religion, it was Paul. Yet, read 1 Cor. 9:19.

      3. None of us can put aside as much as Jesus did. Therefore, nothing in this life is too great to put aside. (Following the Lord’s leading of course.)

   4. You might say, “But didn’t Jesus say ‘I call you no longer servants, but friends.’”

      1. Why then did so many of the writers of the New Testament refer to themselves as “…the servant of Christ”, etc.?

      2. We are not servants in position, but servants in behavior.

      3. We are “sons” and “joint heirs” in position, but we behave as servants with humility.

      4. That’s was Jesus did. He was the Son, and always was. But behaved as a servant.

2. Served with Right Priorities (vs. 8)

   1. Whom did Jesus serve?

      1. First and foremost, it was his Father.

      2. Matt 12:16-21, John 5:30b

      3. Because he served his Father, he served others.

   2. God, Everyone else, Me

      1. As Christians, that is our order.

      2. Col 3:23

   3. Our service of others must never interfere with our relationship with God.

      1. Also, we should not neglect our family to serve others.

   4. Keeping priorities straight helps us avoid bitterness when we are treated badly.

      1. Serve for the praise of God rather than the praise of men.

3. Laid Down His Life (vs. 8b)

   1. He made the ultimate act of service

      1. Jesus laid down his life every day, but his death on the cross was the ultimate act of self sacrifice.

      2. Illust: Memorial Day; Men & Women laid down their lives in service of our country.

      3. He was serving us when he carried our sins upon him.

   2. How far are we willing to obey God?

      1. God has called us to be servants. Are we willing to obey him in every act of service?

   3. Regardless of the circumstances, he thought of others.

      1. On the cross, Jesus thought of his mother and her needs.

      2. He also asked God to forgive his executioners. He thought of them, though he suffered.

      3. When things are going badly for us, do we lay aside our servants clothes and become self-seeking? Do bad situations justify selfish behavior? NO!!!

4. Application:

   1. “Let this mind be in you…”

      1. Allow it to happen.

      2. Lay down your pride.

   2. Start to think like a servant

      1. In daily life, remind yourself that you are a servant.

      2. “I am a servant of Christ, therefore I serve others.”

   3. Stay in the Word!

      1. It will humble you and help you be a better servant of others

Closing: Notice the position Jesus has now. (verses 9-11) Everyone bows to him. Every knee will bow down. “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”