## Characteristics of a Servant

## I Timothy 1:12

Every Christian is a servant of the Lord, and each has a place of service. These seven principles are what God requires-not outward training or education, but what makes a servant strong on the inside and prepares him for Christian service.

In the search for God's blessings and power, the most important ingredient for success in Christian service is often overlooked ... brokenness.

I. Calling: Every Single Saved Person Has A Special Calling Of God On His Life.

A. "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry," (I Timothy 1: 12)

B. A "holy calling" (II Timothy 1:9)

1. God had a plan for our lives before time began.

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Tim. 1:9)

2. Holy = set apart for service.

II. Surrender: We Must Answer The Call, Or It Will Have No Effect On Our Life.

A. God does not have all of us until our body is surrendered to Him (Romans 12:1-2).

(Rom 12:1-2) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

B. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6)

(Acts 9:6) "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

III. Vision: When We Surrender Our All To God, He Will Give Us A Vision For Our Life.

A. Genesis 15:5-6-Abraham

(Gen 15:5-6) "And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. {6} And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

1. Stars in the sky

2. Sands of the sea

B. 'Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18)

IV. Brokenness Is The Key, It Is The Most Important Factor In Christian Service.

"It is doubtful that God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." -- A.W.Tozer · Jesus is our Great Example

A. The weak give the most glory to God. (I Cor. 1:26-29; 2:3).

B. When we feel the most broken, that is when we are at our strongest in our Christian life (II Cor. 12:7-10).

"The reason God wants us to go through the valleys is because that's where most people live."-Oswald Chambers

C. God has a reason for breaking us. (II Timothy 1:8; 2:3).

(2 Tim 1:8) "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"

D. Psalm 31:9-12; 34:18-19; 38:6-10

- King David
- Adoniram Judson
- David Brainard
- David Livingston
- Apostle Paul

V. Holiness: Brokenness Produces Holiness Or Christ-Likeness.

(1 Pet 4:1) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;"

A. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy... " (I Peter 1: 1 5-16)

B. Isaiah had no vision of God's holiness until he was broken over the death of Uzziah (Isaiah 6:1-8).

VI. Power: God's Purpose For Giving Us His Power Is So That We Can Win Souls To Christ.

A. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... (Acts 1:8)

B. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit, " (Eph. 5: 1 8)

C. Often, we want the power and blessing, but not the brokenness.

(2 Cor 12:9) "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

VII. Faithfulness: God Requires That We Be Faithful With What He Gives Us.

(1 Cor 15:58) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

(Gal 6:9) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

(Job 13:15) "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."