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BACKGROUND
DEFINITION OF TERMS
THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY
SERVE:
SERVANT:
SERVICE:
MINISTER:
BIBLE DICTIONARIES
SERVANT OF THE LORD
MINISTER.
TRANSLATION OF 'SERVANT' FROM HEBREW TO ENGLISH
...EBED
...ABAD
...SAKIYR
...SHARATH
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
SERVANTHOOD AND LEADERSHIP BACKGROUND
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| SERVANTHOOD IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES |
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 To be regarded as a servant, was indeed the highest honour that could be accorded during Old Testament times. The principle person to whom this was honour was applied was Moses, the one to whom God spoke face to face.
Numbers 12:6-8
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In the first chapter of Joshua, God emphasized the servanthood of Moses 3 times. As Moses my servant (verse 1), my servant Moses (verse 7) and Moses the servant of the Lord (verse 13). In reality, 'servant' was his semi official title! Confirmed in Deuteronomy when he died.
Deuteronomy 34:5
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 It was a title and mantle that his successor, Joshua, retained.
Joshua sending back the 2 1/2 Tribes.
Joshua 24:29
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 God even extended this principle of servanthood to the non-believing King Nebuchadnezzar whom He used to achieve His purposes.
Nebuchadnezzar´s army destroying the Temple sanctuary with axes. (cf Ps.74.6-7)
Jeremiah 27:6
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 And of course, this greatest of all titles was used in the predictions of the coming of Jesus.
Zechariah 3:8
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And in the famous 'Servant of the Lord' prophecy in Isaiah, which Jesus himself quoted.
Isaiah 42:1-4
To be acknowledged as a servant then, was the very highest accolade from the beginning of time.
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| TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES |
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 Traditional management structures are based on a hierarchical system. Authority and direction comes from the top of the pyramid and is passed down through the 'chain of command' from the boss through managers and supervisors to the workers.
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 In the business world you have the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is the one responsible for setting the direction in which the company is to head. His plan is implemented through, in this example, directors and managers. If the company is big enough, there are likely to be further layers of supervisors and foremen through whom authority is delegated, before you reach the workers at the base of the pyramid.
Authority and decision making come from the top of the organization and are progressively implemented in greater detail as you move down through the managerial levels.
Under a typical production based management system, one manager can effectively be responsible for up to 8 subordinates.
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 In the army you have a system of officers ranking from the General down to a lieutenant who relay the instructions from above to the non-commissioned sergeants and corporals, finally to the soldiers themselves.
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 And traditionally too, the church has been organized along similar lines.
While Job Titles may vary from denomination to denomination, the effective structure is much the same as is found in business or the army. Authority, in this case, hearing from God, comes from the top of the organization and is implemented by those further down the spiritual 'chain of command'.
While many attempts have been made to adjust or completely change this downward form of management structure, it remains firmly embedded in the psyche of man and management in the world today.
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| JESUS - THE ULTIMATE SERVANT |
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His earthly mission and ours, was succinctly summed up when...
Matthew 20:25-28
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 Yes, Jesus came as the ultimate servant, and paid the ultimate price for His servanthood to His Father - and his devotion to us.
The prophet Isaiah particularly, was given this revelation on several occasions.
The messenger of good tidings - Is.52:7
Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah 53:11-12
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Jesus made himself a servant and we are instructed to follow His example and do likewise.
Philippians 2:4-11
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 For this He received the ultimate accolade and reward.
The Adoration of the Lamb by Jan Van Eyck - 1432 - St. Bavo, Ghent.
Hebrews 1:3-4
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And He became the highest of the high who will rule and reign forevermore!
Hebrews 1:8-9
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| A REVOLUTION! |
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Yes, Jesus came to turn the world upside down! Nowhere is this truer than in the realm of leadership. Unfortunately however, Christians generally have been unable to grasp and assimilate this principle. Even the few who have grasped its significance have found it extremely difficult to apply.
For we are so thoroughly ingrained in the ways of fallen man, that we simply can't help ourselves when it comes to organizing and leading our churches and ministry organizations. We invariably fall into the trap of doing things in the way they have always been done, and proven, over thousands of years.
Pride too, gets in the way, for those who are leaders. Most naturally enjoy the status and influence perceived to go with it. For we all love to be loved, or at least, respected, by others. Social position is a hugely motivating influence in human society.
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 But Jesus came to change all that! He came preaching a message that the first will be last and the last will be first. He set an unsurpassable example of the application of this principle, the principle of Servant Leadership.
The best overall description of Jesus' character, is that of 'a servant'. It is the only explanation that enables us to understand what He did and why He did it. A 100% servant heart, motivated by love for people, is what fully differentiates His character from that of other people. For He displayed the perfect, proven, 'selfless' nature of God compared to the perfect, but unproven nature of Adam and Eve before they sinned.
It is not natural for us, it is a hard road to walk, yet it is what Jesus desires of us. Ultimately servanthood will set the foundation for the development of his united (in Spirit), pure, righteous, Bride for whom He is waiting. A radical idea, but vital for the times in which we now live. Are we prepared to live as Jesus lived?
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
CONTINUING 'A REVELATION OF……. SERVANTHOOD AND LEADERSHIP'
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 We are going to have a look at the Organisation Structure in the church now and how God wants it to be.
Then take a brief, honest look at the present reality, the problems faced and the solution.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 It's amazing how easy it is to get caught up in the ways of the world, isn't it? To fit in to worldly patterns.
But Jesus came from 'out of this world' to revolutionize the way things are to be done. we need to both listen to Him and act upon it.
Now, of course, the real master in our house is our cat, 'Girl'! Not a very imaginative name, but all we could come up with at the time! We serve her well! Good practice, I guess. Well... she thinks so!
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
Show me a true servant and I will show you one whom God truly loves.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Till Death do us Part!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/tddup.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
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