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Lesson 9: The Servant Test
1 Kings 19:19 (NLT)
So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field with a team of oxen. There were eleven teams of oxen ahead of him, and he was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and walked away again.
1 Kings 19:20 (NLT)
Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back! But consider what I have done to you.“
1 Kings 19:21 (NLT)
Elisha then returned to his oxen, killed them, and used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the other plowmen, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.
2 Kings 3:11 (NLT)
But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do.”
One of King Joram’s officers replied, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah’s personal assistant.“
2 Kings 3:11 (KJV)
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
· Servant is defined as a person, male or female, that attends another for the purpose of performing menial offices for him and is subject to his command.
· There are many who wish to serve God…but only in an ADVISORY position.
There are seven demands upon a servant:
1.) A surrender of FREEDOM
Luke 17:10 In the same way, when you have done all the things which are given you to do, say, There is no profit in us, for we have only done what we were ordered to do.
2.) A surrender of TIME
Luke 17:7 If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, “Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat”?
Luke 17:8 No, you wouldn’t say that. You would say, “Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink.”
3.) A surrender of AUTHORITY
Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
4.) A surrender of EGO
John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
5.) A surrender of PREFERENCES
Mat 26:39 Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.”
6.) A surrender of PURPOSE
Mark 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
7.) A surrender of RESOURCES
Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
Servanthood is inevitable if you are to be effective in the kingdom of God.
Mat 20:26 Let it not be so among you: but if anyone has a desire to become great among you, let him be your servant;
Mat 20:27 And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him take the lowest place:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man did not come to have servants, but to be a servant, and to give his life for the salvation of men.
Servitude will come before honor
· Joseph serves Potiphar
· Joshua serves Moses
· Samuel serves Eli
· David serves Saul
· Elisha serves Elijah
· Timothy serves Paul
· John Mark serves Simon Peter
Twelve Attitudes of a servant:
1.) A servant is TEACHABLE
3Jo 1:9 I wrote to the church. But Diotrephes likes to be the number-one leader, and he won’t pay any attention to us.
2.) A servant is SUBMISSIVE
Mat 26:39 And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done.
3.) A servant is PATIENT
2Ti 2:24 (CEV) and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.
4.) A servant is DILIGENT
Matthew 24:46-47 (NLT) If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. [47] I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
Matthew 24:48-50 (NLT) But if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ [49] and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk— [50] well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected.
Matthew 24:51 (NLT) He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
5.) A servant is PRODUCTIVE
Matthew 25:29-30 (NLT) To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. [30] Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
6.) A servant is LOYAL
Luke 16:13 (BBE) No man may be a servant to two masters: for he will have hate for the one and love for the other; or he will keep to the one and have no respect for the other. You may not be servants of God and of wealth.
7.) A servant has INTEGRITY
Galatians 1:10 (NLT) Obviously, I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.
8.) A servant is SELFLESS
Act 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God
9.) A servant is PROFITABLE
1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
10.) A servant is TRUSTWORTHY
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Faithful in the Greek is pistos which means TRUSTWORTHY
11.) A servant is FOCUSED
1Co 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare on you, but for that which is right, and that you may attend on the Lord without distraction.
12.) A servant is PREPARED
Luke 12:47 And the servant who had knowledge of his lord’s desires and was not ready for him and did not do as he was ordered, will be given a great number of blows;
A servant is FERVENT
Rom 12:11 not lagging in diligence, boiling [fig., being fervent] in your spirit [or, in the Spirit], serving as a slave to the Lord,
Elisha’s Legacy
Chosen
Anointed
Obedient
Sacrificial
Servant
Patient
2Kings 6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
2Kings 4:27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
After Elisha’s death—his legacy continues
2Kings 13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
The words we want to hear from Christ:
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
· God tests us to see if we have a servant’s heart, or demand that we be served.
· The last lesson Christ taught to His disciples before Calvary was about being a servant. He used a towel and a pan of water to show who would be the greatest in His kingdom
· We will be judged upon how we served.
· We all long to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful SERVANT”
What we hear depends upon how we do with the Servant Test.
