THE MARKS OF A SERVANT

TEXT- ROMANS 1:8-15

INTRODUCTION

LAST SUNDAY NIGHT WE BEGAN STUDYING THE BOOK OF ROMANS BY LOOKING AT THE GOOD NEWS CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST.

WE LEARNED THAT PAUL PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THOSE WHO WERE LOST BECAUSE THEY WERE SINNERS IN NEED OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

WE ALSO LEARNED THAT WE NEED TO PREACH THE SAME GOOD NEWS TO THOSE WHO ARE LOST TODAY FOR THE SAME REASON.

BUT PREACHING THE GOSPEL IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF TELLING SOMEONE THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR THEM.

BEFORE PAUL WENT ON TO TEACH THE CHURCH IN ROME HE FIRST OPENED HIS HEART TO THEM AND REVEALED HIMSELF TO THEM.

BEFORE ANYONE IS GOING TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO US TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS THEY NEED TO BE CONVINCED THAT WE ARE TRULY CONCERNED FOR THEM AND DON’T HAVE SOME KIND OF ULTERIOR MOTIVE.

OUR TEXT TONIGHT IS FOUND IN ROMANS 1:8-15 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, “THE MARKS OF A SERVANT.” (PRAYER)

PEOPLE ARE SERVING THE LORD FROM MANY DIFFERENT MOTIVES THESE DAYS.

SOME SERVE OUT OF A LEGALISTIC EFFORT, THINKING THEY ARE GOING TO EARN THEIR SALVATION.

SOME SERVE THE LORD OUT OF FEAR THINKING IF THEY DON’T, THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SALVATION.

SOME SERVE THE LORD BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PRESTIGE AND GLORY.

SOME SERVE THE LORD IN ORDER TO GAIN SOME KIND OF POSITION OF POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER OTHERS.

SOME SERVE SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF APPEARANCES, WANTING OTHERS TO THINK THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS.

SOME SERVE THE LORD OUT OF THE PEER PRESSURE TO CONFORM TO A CERTAIN STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR.

SOME SERVE THE LORD JUST OUT OF HABIT, BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS FORCED THEM TO FROM A VERY EARLY AGE.

BUT UNLESS WE’RE SERVING THE LORD OUT OF A SINCERE DESIRE TO PLEASE AND GLORIFY GOD, OUR SERVICE IS NOT SPIRITUAL, NOR IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO HIM.

1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

IN OUR TEXT TONIGHT PAUL DESCRIBES FOR US  EIGHT MARKS OF A TRUE SERVANT OF GOD.

THESE WERE THE THINGS THAT GAVE PAUL CREDIBILITY IN THE EYES OF THOSE WHO WERE IN ROME.

AND UNLESS THESE SAME THINGS ARE FOUND IN OUR LIFE TODAY WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY IN THE EYES OF THOSE WHO ARE LOST AND WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE WITNESSES FOR THE LORD.