07 True Stories 2024-Unworthy Servants

River Church Sermons

True Stories # 10

Pt. 7: Unworthy Service

By Louie Marsh, 9-22-2024

1) ENTER into the reality of real service.

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Luke 17:7-8 (ESV)

Not like working for someone today, not like being a butler or servant today in USA

Greek word doulos common word for slave.

Very similar to the “servants” I’ve seen in SE Asia. They live with masters and serve until they aren’t needed anymore. Not set hours and duties are what they are told to do. Period.

9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? Luke 17:9 (ESV)

After working all day, clean up, change clothes, fix dinner from scratch and serve it. After Master is done then you eat.

All that and you get no special word of thanks.

2) Real servants of Jesus do ALL that is commanded.

10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:10 (ESV)

· A FEW COMMANDS

o LOVE my enemies.

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

o FORGIVE everyone.

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

o SHARE the gospel.

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 (ESV)

o PRAY continually.

17 pray continually; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

o DIE to myself.

35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:35 (ESV)

· Doing all that makes me an UNWORTHY servant.

3) Real servants of Jesus go ABOVE & BEYOND

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” John 19:28 (ESV)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:12-16 (ESV)