- You Cannot Serve Two Masters - Luke 16:13 lays down an important biblical axiom: “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. This verse along with its counterpart in Mat 6:24 highlight the gigantic fact that every human being is in one of two spiritual kingdoms – the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ or the kingdom of Satan. There is no middle ground! Notice the opposites – love and hate. Luke 9:50 adds, “And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us”. And Jam 4:4 fearfully warns: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity [or hatred] with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. The “world” is well-defined in 1 John 2:15-17: “... the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ...”. The kingdom that a person is in actually dominates, or drives, his life with unyielding force. It is rooted in his soul and influences his every thought, word, and action, as Pro 23:7 proclaims, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …”.
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”
Luke 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh”.
- The Servant of Sin - Every human being begins his life in Satan’s kingdom as one of the Devil’s unwitting dupes. John 8:34 underscores this: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” and is also affirmed in Eph 2:1-6. 2 Pet 2:19 adds, “… they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage”. All sin is 100 percent destructive and results in eternal death – or Hell – as Jam 1:14-15 instructs, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. In the incisive passage Rom 8:5-8, God is making the distinction between the two kingdoms we have been discussing. The phrases “after the flesh” and “carnally minded” describe the nature of one who is unsaved and in the kingdom of Satan. On the other hand, the language “after the Spirit” and “spiritually minded” illustrate the nature of a true Christian – one who has become a citizen of God’s kingdom. True believers have been raised from spiritual death to life and have an insatiable desire to be obedient to the Word of God, as John 15:10 expresses:“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love”.
Rom 8:5-8 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Eph 2:1-6 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
- The Servant of Christ - Acts 26:18 pictures the transfer of power and spiritual metamorphosis that occurs when one experiences birth from above to become a servant of Christ: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”. Col 1:13 adds, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son…”. Rom 6:12-13 becomes part of the new “marching orders” (the whole Bible) the believer now follows: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”. The words of 2 Cor 5:17-21 depict the wonderful salvation that God has provided by His infinite mercy and grace. A fundamental principle of the Bible is expressed in the words of 1 Cor 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. The price Christ had to pay was equivalent to eternal damnation in Hell for each of His elect children. In the face of such incomprehensible sacrificial love, the true believer exclaims along with the Psalmist in Psa 116:16, “O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds”. We are reminded of the admonition in Col 3:23-24 that all of us who are true Christians need to heed: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”.
2 Cor 5:17-20 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
- The Servant is Not Greater than his Lord - The greatest example of a servant is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stated the very principle He embodied in Mark 9:35, “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”. It is utterly impossible for us – even if we are saved – to grasp the awesome reality of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible outlines for us the profound truths that Christ, Who is Eternal God, had to empty Himself of His glory to take on human flesh. He had to become sin and then – the greatest mystery of all – He had to suffer the unimaginable agony of everlasting Hell for His elect people to procure their eternal salvation (Php 2:5-7). 2 Cor 4:5-7 affirms: “... ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ... we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”. We know that God’s grace is the sole basis for salvation and the Christian’s life while on this earth. God must indeed receive all the credit, glory, and honor because He is the source of all blessing. 2 Tim 3:12 adds, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. John 15:20 asserts, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”. Furthermore, Rom 8:17b reminds us: “… if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together”. We read this in 2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “... our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; … Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”. The phrase “plainness of speech” is actually one Greek word, and in Eph 6:19 it is rendered as “boldly”: “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”. In what way are God’s elect “able ministers [or servants] of the new testament… of the spirit: for…the spirit giveth life”? We will be aided in our understanding by recalling that the Bible is a “twoedged sword” (Rev 1:16). As the Sword of the Spirit, the Bible can “cut” to either salvation (Acts 2:5) or damnation (Acts 7:54).
Isa 42:1-4 “Behold my servant [Lord Jesus], whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
2 Cor 4:5-7 “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”
2 Cor 3:5-6 and 12: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers [or servants] of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life… Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”
- If Any Man Serve Me, Let Him Follow Me, Him Will My Father Honour - In our lesson today we want to focus on John 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”. Mat 20:28 lays down a crucial axiom: “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”. Psa 49:7-9 sadly declares: “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption”. The mission of the Lord Jesus Christ was not only to preach the Gospel but to be the Gospel. Jesus said in John 13:15-17: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them”. Mat 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” From this penetrating verse one learns that in order to follow Him we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, as Rom 6:11 exhorts, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord”. John 8:12 assures the Christian that his path will be well lit: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,but shall have the light of life”. Psa 119:105 adds: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. Let us look at John 12:26 again, “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”. The only way one can be “honoured” by the Father is to first be saved by God’s marvelous grace, as God so clearly sets forth in Neh 1:10: “Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.”
Php 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
