TODAY'S SERMON

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GHANA.

17/10/2021.

TEXTS:Isaiah 53:4-12,Hebrews 5:1-10,Mark 10:35-45

THEME: SELFLESS SERVICE. (A SERMON OUTLINE).

WHEN a person renders/offers a service with no apparent reward(s)/benefits in mind, and at times at the risk of his life, it is said to be selfless service. Again, when a person renders a service/services beyond what is expected of him, it said to be selfless service.This week's theme naturally flows from last week's topic of nurturing the youth in the right way.First, it should be noted that the kind of adult a society gets, depends upon the nurturing he gets as a youth. For society to have a selfless adult is to train the youth to walk in the footsteps of a selfless leader.In Akan, (African), communities, our elders of constantly hammered home to the young person, "Obra pa wo ntaban", to wit, a good character has wings to carry you higher.Once again the first example is Joseph. As a young person, Joseph was more or less the errand boy in the house. Due to the reports he carried home to his father after visiting his brothers in the fields, there was some sort of animosity between him and his brothers. Yet, he was ready to visit them again in the field. That landed him into slavery.As a young man of about 17/18 years in slavery in Egypt, he didn't lose his guard. He served well and was highly appreciated in the house of Potiphar. When he was framed up, and landed in prison, he continued with his selfless services. There too, he was spotted by the prison officer and got another promotion.Eventually, his selfless services got him the position of Prime Minister of Egypt.The way and manner he treated his brothers on their arrival in Egypt, showed how selfless and humble he was. He wasn't bosy and never used his position to show his brothers "where power lies".Samuel, as we learned last week, was properly nurtured by his mother before being sent to the house of God in Shiloh. In his new position as a "mass server", he was very obedient and serviceable. (1Sam. 3). No wonder, he finally took over as *prophet-priest-seer-king* after the death of Eli.

Another errand boy we meet is David. He was ever prepared to do anything entrusted into his hands. Straight from the field, looking after his father's flock, he was willing to send provisions to his brothers on the battlefield. There, he met Goliath, which meeting brought him into the limelight.Another selfless leader we can look at is Nehemiah. He was living in exile in Mesopotamia, as a well to do civil servant. But he was prepared to go on a very risky and dangerous journey to Jerusalem "for my fathers sepulchres", which, "lieth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire". (Neh. 2:3).Nehemiah, in today's terms, was the Chief Director of State Protocol,(Neh 2:8). Yet, he took permission from the king and moved to Jerusalem to see to the reconstruction of the city walls. For about twelve years, he did that work at his own expense. (Neh. 5:14-19).Unlike previous state administrators, he refused to acquire any land or landed property. May God give us more Nehemiahs in our day.Then in Philippians 2:5-11, we come face to face with the real and practical picture of a selfless service. Christ Jesus left His heavenly glory in order to come and dwell among men, (John 1:14) to bring salvation to all creation.He was humble, serviceable and committed to the cause of His heavenly Father. His admonishing to all His followers is, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought (it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it), to wash one another's feet. For I have given this as an example...". (John 13:14-15; AMP).Jesus, throughout His life on earth here, demonstrated what is called 'servant leadership'. That is the standard set by Christ for us all.As the Amplified translation puts it, we are under obligation to do the same. It is therefore a big shame when a Christian leader fails to demonstrate the qualities of servant leadership, as demonstrated by Christ.

May the gracious Lord give us in our generation more Josephs, Davids, Nehemiahs to help transform our societies.So we pray, "Lord, do it again as you did in the years gone by".GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! SHALOM!!!!!

(By: Rev. Kwame Dankyi Ansong. PhD. This is a ministry for Kingdom business. Feel free to share with others).