PLATFORMS FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

I. A SERVANT’S HEART There are some distinct attributes of a servant. A servant is one who is: Devoted to a cause, creed or belief Dedicated voluntarily to another Used for the service or purpose of another.

John 13:4-5

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

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 13:13-17

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also are to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, which was a task of a slave. This shows us how far we must go in serving one another. He humbled Himself as a slave, walking in servitude, as He waited to fulfill His mission on earth, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus served His disciples although He knew that later they would deny Him. Love will cause us to serve others even when they do not deserve it. Love causes one to lose sight of self and think of others first. . . . but by LOVE, serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

II. EXAMPLES OF SERVITUDE Let us examine the importance of taking on a servant’s mind: Peter and John prepare the Passover;

Luke 22:8-13

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

They were serving the man of God. Jesus instructed the disciples to prepare the upper room.

Mark 11:1-7

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

Here we see He told them to prepare the ass on which he would ride. In both instances, Jesus did not choose a stranger but used the ones who were with Him, the ones who God gave to Him. They, too, had to walk in a mind of servitude. They never questioned Jesus but did as they were instructed. These same men later established the first church. No doubt God honored them for their submission. This is how God will work through us as Deacons. When we serve the Body of Christ with a pure heart, He will reward us for faithfulness. The disciples did not know the magnitude of how they were sowing seeds in their own lives. We do the same when we serve a glass of water, or seat a pastor or when we anoint someone with oil for the laying on of hands. It may seem like an insignificant thing but it is forming Godly character in us as we serve with a pure heart. Jesus tells the disciples who is the greatest (Mark 10:35-45).

Two of the disciples wanted to sit at the left and right hand of Jesus. However, He showed them the price they had to pay to have this honor, as those who desire the most important of seats, must be a servant to all. Before we are called to move into any greater callings, we must first develop an attitude of servitude to the Deacons ministry. The duties we will perform as a deacon will create a platform for a servant’s heart to be a part of us. Here is where character is formed that God might be able to trust us with the lives of His people.

III. REWARDS FOR SERVITUDE He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matthew 10:41

41 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.

Matthew 25:23

When we are faithful in what God has put in our path to do, and it is done with a pure heart and a right motive in pleasing God, then He can trust us with “holy things.” To serve with a pure heart and motive means to serve God’s people not expecting praise or reward from men. We should not serve in order to receive a “pat” on the back, praise from men or to be seen as “somebody” in the eyes of men. We should not seek to make a reputation for ourselves. This is vanity and will hinder your ability to be used by the Father. Instead, we should serve one another because it is the will and desire of the Father. If we never receive praise, recognition or promotion from men we must still serve and be content doing so, while looking to God to move us in Him and to form Christ within us. This in itself is reward enough.

Another reward of servitude is that God will form humility in us. He will teach us how to esteem others higher than ourselves. This is the mind that was found in Christ and God will train us in this same way of thinking. Not only will you find yourself walking in humility, but you will become a servant to anyone you encounter, not just to leaders. Servitude must be an attitude of the heart and not isolated to certain people. Although it is honorable to serve the leaders in the Body of Christ, our heart must be to serve whenever the need arises, regardless of whom it is. When you commit to serving with this mindset, your servitude will not be a chore and you will reap the blessing of giving yourself in service unto the Lord. We do not always know where God is taking us but know that He is forming His character inside us for the work that we do within the Body. Trust in the route that God has chosen for you and see that submission to His will in your responsibilities will move you supernaturally.

IV. MEETINGS The Deacon Board will hold general meetings several times during the month. These meetings keep the members informed of the mandates that are to be followed by the board. The purpose and vision must be thoroughly taught and each member should understand his or her responsibilities and functions. This is where problems or concerns are discussed and ideas to make the auxiliary more efficient are voiced. The meetings are a platform to enter into fervent prayer and intercession for the Ministry and for each other. It is also possible that the Holy Spirit will use this time to expose negative mindsets that are a hindrance to any member’s spiritual growth. There is no movement without confrontation (the catalyst for change). This is one of the tools we have been given for our continued development.

V. SHUT-INS AND TRANSMITTAL These are group meetings held to discuss spiritual issues. The Deacon Board should conduct a shut-in or transmittal at least once a month. Because specific situations and spiritual dispositions may be dealt with during these settings, the President should seek the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to set the agenda for these settings. The greatest deliverance can take place during these sessions because of the time allowed to informally sit and deal with the mindsets that would oppose our ministry.

Confrontation is the catalyst for change and is crucial to spiritual development. It allows us to come face to face with those things that cause us to walk contrary to God’s will. It identifies the negative mindsets and dispositions that have become so much a part of us. Spiritual wickedness is addressed and dealt with directly. When these negative mindsets are exposed and we submit to the truth, we move from one spiritual location to another -- this is maturity. To shut-in takes discipline. Our flesh does not want us to make this sacrifice.

Normally, sleepiness or negative attitudes are our greatest hindrances. The fleshy mind will produce excuses, ranging from not being able to stay awake to not seeing the reason for meeting for that length of time. Whatever the reason, the enemy will try to manifest his presence, as he realizes how effective this method of purging has become within the ministry. VI. PRAYER Prayer at least once a week as a board is mandatory. The scripture instructs us that “ . . . men ought always to pray, and not faint, . . .” (St.Luke 18:1).

It also states “. . . the prayer of a righteous man availeth much . . .” (James 5:16).

We have seen this to be a reality in ministry. Prayer has been, and is, the weapon that has brought us closer together. It allows us to feel each other’s infirmity. Without prayer, we lose touch with each other and many of the goals set by an auxiliary cannot be reached. Negative mindsets on the board will begin to thrive and order is lost. Flesh must be challenged, whether it is in prayer, shut-ins or transmittal sessions. A deacon should always walk in holiness, in order to be able to pray at a moment’s notice. When we live holy we have confidence that the Father hears our prayers and will answer them. Sin makes us unmindful of spiritual things, neutralizes our prayer life and blurs our identity in Christ. With our responsibilities, we must develop an attitude of prayer in order to be able to intercede for the ministry and our leaders. Prayer sessions will allow us to do this. We should not only pray as a group, but also praying individually is very important as well.

VII. FASTING To fast, according to Webster’s Dictionary, means:

1. To Abstain from food.

2. To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.

The Deacon Board must conduct a fast at least twice a month. We may fast on our own (as a group), or corporately with the church. Fasting is a vital part of any spiritual body, as it helps to sanctify the flesh, allows for quality time with the Father, and is necessary in seeking further direction from Him.

Although effective, when done for the right reasons, fasting is one of the greatest areas of opposition from the enemy (Satan), because most people love to eat; or they think it is obsolete and old-fashioned to fast. The flesh does not want to give up a meal, not even for a day. The fleshy mind (brain) will come up with all types of justifications why we cannot fast, such as our jobs or being too busy that day to participate. The fleshy mind will also discredit the need for fasting.

However, the Bible often talks about fasting, usually in connection with prayer. Let’s consider the following examples: Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast when the enemy approached (2 Chronicles 20:1-3)

Esther requested a three day fast, without food or drink, before approaching the King with the problem of Haman (Esther 4:15,16).

Daniel fasted for three weeks as he was seeking understanding about a vision he was given (Daniel 10:1-3).

Moses, Elijah, and Jesus each fasted for forty days, and Jesus also expects us to fast, for He says in Matthew 6:18.

“When you fast . . .” Not if you fast. A. Why should we FAST? We will let the scripture answer this. Let’s go to Isaiah.

Isaiah 58:6-7

Amplified Version

6 [Rather] is not this the fast that I (God) have CHOSEN: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke?

7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house—when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?

Therefore, in addition to setting free the oppressed, Fasting and Prayer can also obtain direction and discernment for other tactics and strategies to use against him. It is important to pray and use God’s Word, our sword, when we fast. We must expect opposition from Satan and/or his cohorts. However, we must ask for God’s strength to overcome any attacks of exaggerated hunger pangs, weakness, nausea, or headaches. We must be determined and place our trust in God’s ability to take us through. The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us the same ability Christ had, and just as He responded, so can we: “. . . Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (St. Matthew 4:4 Amplified Version).

Motive for Fasting Your motive for fasting is important. In fact, your motive is more important than the length of the fast. Fasting for the wrong reasons will get you no where with God.

Let’s go back to Isaiah the 58th chapter: Amplified Version

4 [The facts are that] you fast only for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickedness. Fasting as you do today will not cause your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is such a fast as yours what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself with sorrow in his soul? (Is true fasting merely mechanical)? Is it only to bow down his head like a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him (to indicate a condition of heart that he does not have)? Will you call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Now let us look at the words of our Lord in Matthew the 6th chapter.

Matthew 6:16-18 Amplified Version

16 And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

17 But when you fast, perfume your head and wash your face,

18 So that your fasting may not be noticed by men but by your Father, Who sees in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

As Christians, our lives are to reflect Christ; and nothing was more important than His communion with the Father. Jesus gained strength through His time spent ALONE with God, and when we choose to do likewise we too, will have the power the Father gave to Him. Satan is the enemy of SOULS! The whole point of fasting is to have more TIME with the Father. Those who fast, for the right reasons, are in effect saying, our dependence upon God is more vital to us than even food and drink. Because your motive is important,

I feel it most necessary to state what fasting is not:

1) It’s not an automatic way to miracles. It isn’t a spiritualized form of magic. Fasting is not a secret of power for just anyone; it has power only for those who have an intimate relationship with their God.

2) It is not a way of earning God’s blessing. He provides His help and blessing because He loves us.

3) It is not a way of bypassing obedience. Our heavenly Father will not hear our prayers, even if we add fasting, if we refuse to walk in obedience to His Word and will.

4) It doesn’t accumulate power to us personally, so that we can display it at will. We cannot and do not use the Holy Spirit—He uses us! The moment a person decides to brag or boast about his or her power, it is gone. (Taken from the Armed and Dangerous Prayer Warriors Resource/ Training Guide). Note: “If for health reasons you cannot go on an extended fast, you can try a modified fast. Or you can give up a favorite food as an act of denying yourself during a specific period set-aside for prayer. Start with one-day to three-day fasts before attempting a prolonged period, and drink lots of water or diluted clear juices while fasting.” (Taken from the Spiritual Warrior’s Prayer Guide, 69, Sherrer & Garlock).

VIII. FELLOWSHIP Someone once said fellowship means “we are all fellows in the same ship.” We have been brought together to serve the people of God with one heart and mind. We are on the same team and working for the same God. However, it is easy to get so busy with duties that we lose focus of the needs of others. Therefore, we must make a point to set aside time for fun and fellowship. As we spend time with each other and share our experiences, one to another, we will become sensitive to each other. As we give ourselves over to helping others and make their troubles and situations a priority and not our own, then the love of the Father will flow freely from us.

Our expression of love for each other must be motivated by the Christ within us. It is good to take note of special days like birthdays, anniversaries and holidays such as Christmas. Eating out together is another good way to fellowship. Whatever the occasion, the motivation has to be to spend time together, learning about each other as well as encouraging and uplifting one another. We must endeavor to remain unified in the Spirit so that our fellowship with each other will be pure.