The Parables of Christ no. 30

The servant’s attitude

Good Griday April 9, 2004

Rev. Brian Kocourek

Prayer…

LUKE 17:7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

EPHESIANS 4:1 ¶ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Its all about attitude.

II CHRONICLES 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Abraham 56-1208 P:49 Now, we mustn't walk at this or go at this with a half hearted attitude. We must go with a full surrendered attitude. We must come to the church and listen to the Bible, and if anything is brought out of this Bible, believe it. If it's not out of the Bible, then it's up to you. But the Bible is God's foundation plan. It's His plan of redemption. It's His plan of healing. It's the plan of everything that He has, is laid out right here; and the Bible said, "Woe unto him that will add to or take out." This is it. I believe the Word. I've been into churches, and watched how people a lot of time in churches, watch how the pastor acts. The church will act that way. Friends, I say this (not as sharp talking), but I say it as a servant of Christ to be honest with you. Many times they get one another's spirit instead of the Holy Spirit (see?); and that's the reason when I... You act... It makes them act alike. Notice but that's the reason when I come to you, I know nothing but the Bible. I want you to have the Spirit that's in the Bible, which is the Spirit of Christ; and that's the reason I try to stay in the Word and get nothing but what's in the Word (See?), and bring it to the people.

JOHN 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; (notice, this speaks of His presence) and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Philippians 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶ as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. ¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. ²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Roman nobleman 55-0621 P:3 I want you to notice his attitude. He didn't approach feeling that he had it coming to him; he approached, said he was unworthy. I want you to take that attitude also, that you cannot come with a predominating attitude and get anything from God. You must come reverent, humble, and then God will deal with you. And then you will get what you ask for.And that's the attitude that this Roman taken.Look at his a--approach to the Lord Jesus. He said, "I am not worthy for You to come under my roof. So I sent... I felt, myself, I wasn't worthy to come to You." Said, "Just speak the Word." He said, "I am a man under authority." And said, "I say to this man 'go,' and to this man 'come,' and they go and come." Said, "You just speak the Word, and my servant will live."I want you to notice that. That Roman, being under authority, that knew that whatever was under him had to obey him. On his testimony, he witnessed that Jesus Christ was over all sickness. He could make sickness obey Him, just the same as he could make his soldiers obey him. If one of the soldiers failed to obey him, it was a death penalty. And he recognized that same authority in Jesus, over evil spirits or sickness. That's why he said, "Just speak the Word."

1 Corinthians 12: 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.¹² The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

²⁸ And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Seven church ages 54-0512 P:15 Make us sincere, knowing that we must answer at the judgment of God someday. And our attitude towards Him and His Word now, will 'termine our eternal destination.So Father, with trembling hearts, we come to Thee, and ask: Let the Lord Jesus in the form of the Holy Spirit, take the Word of God tonight, and give It to every heart, as we have need. For we ask it in His Name. Amen.

Psalm 18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty

Psalm 25:9-10 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation

Isaiah 66:1-2 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? ² Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Shalom 64-0112 P:11 Our heavenly Father, we are so grateful to You, that we can even be privileged to address You as our Father, for "Father" means that we have been begotten of the great God that created the heavens and earth. And we are so happy for this privilege, that we can think in our hearts, and then, that we are sons and daughters of Yours. And then to see You strictly identify Yourself in the midst of us, that You are our Father, changing our thoughts from the things of the world, and changing our motives and objectives and attitudes, and every phase of us, to love You and to believe You, and--and know that Your promises are true.

Now, remember, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31 I show you a more excellent way, and then he moves us into Love and what Love is all about.

1 Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Roman nobleman 55-0621 P:28 Now, there's nothing could be hid from Him. Whatever that Voice was, speaking just a few moments ago, it wasn't your brother. It was Jesus Christ using my voice. Now, it depends on the man's approach to that, what he thinks about it, will determine what he receives from it

This day this scripture 65-0219 P:23 Now, we find Him, as He would not join up with them; He would not have nothing to do in their ranks; then He was an outcast. He would not have any... Besides that He went into the temple one day. A man went in there and found the house of God just about contaminated as it is today. They were buying, selling, changing money, and He turned over the money tables took ropes and plaited them and beat the moneychangers out of the temple and looked upon them with anger. And said, "It's written (Hallelujah.), My Father's house is a house of prayer and you've made it a den of thieves. And you with your tradition has made the commandments of God of non-effect."Oh, could a bunch like that ever believe in Him? No, sir. They had been so hog-wallowed in the muck of societies and filth of the day until they were so ecclesiastical froze up until they couldn't feel the vibrations of the power of Almighty God. No wonder the little woman could touch His garment and get healed by it, and a drunken soldier could spit in His face and feel no virtue. Depends on how you approach It; depends on what you're looking for. When you go to church it depends on what you're looking for.

PSALMS 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Now, attitude is the number one destroyer of any ministry. If you can not love the people you are trying to help, then you should get out of the ministry.

Brother Branham said the reason his ministry was so effective, is because of his great love for people.

DO YOU NOW BELIEVE 55-0610 E-28 If you want to be a real outstanding person in your church, wherever church you go to, you just fall in love with God with all your heart; and when you do that, you will fall in love with every member of your church, and every member of everybody else's church with all your heart. Now, you can't bluff that. Now, there's something about it that people know. If there's anything I can contribute the success of my meetings to, earthly speaking, is to know that people have a conscious to know that I truly love people. I just love people. And they know that. And you can't fool them on that. If you are making out, or pretending... Just like Christianity, if you're pretending to be a Christian, you will never make a go of it. No, sir. It's absolutely got to be there. That's all. Love will do it. I have been a great lover of wild life. You know that. And I've noticed in animal life, if you love animals, if you love them, you can do anything with them you want to. And if you don't love them, they know it. And if you're afraid of them, like a biting dog, if somebody said, "The dog will bite," if you're afraid of him, you're sure going to get bit. See? Now, you're not going to fool him. You might say, "I'm not afraid of him," but you... That better come from somewhere besides your lips, 'cause he knows better. See? Now, if you're not afraid of him, it's different.