God Wants Servants
God wants servants, not leaders, and it is only through surrender and commitment that we can bear real fruit in His economy.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes that God desires true servants who are willing to lose their personal identities for the sake of the Gospel, rather than seeking recognition or status. He reflects on his own initial reluctance to leave a blessed church, realizing that God does not need us but calls us to serve selflessly. Yohannan warns against the dangers of Christians who fail to embrace servanthood, highlighting that true effectiveness in ministry comes from a heart committed to serving others, as exemplified by Jesus. He stresses that external attributes hold no value in God's eyes, and that genuine servanthood leads to transformative results in the lives of others. Ultimately, a surrendered life to God results in lasting fruit and impact in the world.
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In 1976, when God called me back into missions from the pastorate, one of my first excuses for not moving ahead in obedience was my pulpit. After all, I argued, this church is obviously being blessed, and "God needs me here." How foolish! We have to learn that God doesn't need us anywhere. He is not helpless! Regrettably today, too few volunteers are ready to do the work of the Gospel. Almost every day we have a missionary conference on how to win the world to Christ--but the work remains undone because we don't have men and women with servant-hearts who will go out and lose their personal identities in getting the work done.
Unless we are willing to see ourselves unknown, unrecognized and working behind the scenes, there is no hope for our spiritual service ever to bear real fruit in the economy of God. Jesus said that "the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:28). And we are to "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Individual believers, Christian churches and missions that refuse to recognize servanthood are traitors to the cause of Christ and do untold harm.
Sadly, there are many Christians in our day for whom the New Testament concept of servanthood remains a mystery: "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:27). Education, family background, talent, beauty, voice, riches and intelligence mean absolutely nothing to God. He doesn't need our abilities any more than He needs our money. How sad it is that many talented believers go along for years looking good on the outside, but remaining absolutely useless to the Lord.
It is quite possible to be doing the Lord's work and still not to have entered into servanthood. And so enormous efforts, studies, plans and labor are extended--all uselessly because they cannot stand up to the fires of judgment. How tragic! And what a contrast from the Spirit-filled service of a surrendered Christian servant. When you really commit yourself to God, He commits Himself to you. Lives are changed. Souls are saved. People are healed in body and spirit. God gives fruit, and the fruit remains.
Sermon Outline
- I. God Doesn't Need Us
- A. We must learn that God is not helpless
- B. He can accomplish His work without our assistance
- II. The Importance of Servanthood
- A. It is a New Testament concept
- B. We must be willing to serve others
- III. The Consequences of Refusing Servanthood
- A. We do harm to the cause of Christ
- B. We remain useless to the Lord
- IV. What God Sees as Valuable
- A. A surrendered Christian servant
- B. A heart committed to God
- V. The Fruit of Servanthood
- A. Lives are changed
- B. Souls are saved
- C. People are healed
Key Quotes
“God doesn't need us anywhere. He is not helpless!” — K.P. Yohannan
“Unless we are willing to see ourselves unknown, unrecognized and working behind the scenes, there is no hope for our spiritual service ever to bear real fruit in the economy of God.” — K.P. Yohannan
“When you really commit yourself to God, He commits Himself to you.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- We must be willing to serve others and put their needs before our own if we want to bear real fruit in the economy of God.
- A surrendered Christian servant is valuable to God, and He values a heart that is committed to Him and willing to serve others.
- When we serve others, God gives fruit, and the fruit remains, resulting in lives changed, souls saved, and people healed in body and spirit.