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The Spirit of a Servant
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Luke Chapter 10 opens with the Lord appointing seventy disciples and sending them out two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself would soon come. Today's message centers on the spirit of a servant—a calling that defines our mission and character in 2025.
If you want to be a servant of the Lord, listen to what Isaiah 42 reveals about this sacred role:
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him.
When you are God's servant, He upholds you. God Himself will delight in you. This is not a position of shame or insignificance—it is a place of divine favor and strength.
Isaiah 42:2-4 describes the servant's demeanor:
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
What does this mean? A servant does not boast or lift himself up in the secular world. When you serve God, you are not a "street man"—someone of the world, seeking recognition or status.
Consider the imagery of the bruised reed and smoking flax. A reed that has been bent and hurt is not thrown away. When a candle smokes instead of giving light—when things are not working as they should—God does not quench it. Instead, He says, "I will revive it." God sees our imperfections and our struggles, and His response is not to discard us but to restore us.
One profound measure of a church's or nation's strength is its ability to contain and care for weakness. Romans 15:1 tells us:
We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.
When a community is truly strong, it uses that strength not to dominate or eliminate the weak, but to include, accommodate, and protect them. History shows us the danger of the opposite approach. When a nation begins to see weakness as a burden to be removed rather than a responsibility to bear, it has begun its moral decline.
A strong nation—like America or England—can provide care and resources for those with mental illness, physical disabilities, or blindness. In contrast, in less resourced communities, people with disabilities often have no choice but to beg in the streets simply to survive. The greater a nation or church, the more it is able to embrace and sustain those who struggle.
Isaiah 42:4 continues:
He shall not fail nor be discouraged until he has set judgment in the earth.
This is the heart of servant leadership: unwavering commitment despite lack of recognition. You may serve faithfully, and no one may thank you. They may not acknowledge your song, your contribution, your dance, or your work. Yet the servant who truly understands this calling will never be discouraged. Your validation comes not from human praise but from your obedience to God.
I have experienced this personally. Rarely does someone tell me, "Today I was blessed by your preaching." By faith, once I open the Bible and begin to preach, I move forward in confidence. The preaching is good because the Word of God is good, regardless of the feedback I receive.
Luke 10:2 reveals a critical truth:
The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers.
What does it mean that "the laborers are few"? Yes, there is much work and not enough workers. But there is a deeper meaning: the ones who pray are few. Among missionaries, bishops, and pastors, those who truly labor in prayer are few. Many of us do not spend even one hour a day in prayer. Yet prayer is the foundation of all spiritual labor.
Jesus said: "I send you as lambs among wolves." Most people understand this to mean we should be gentle, kind, and soft-spoken. But there is a revelation here that changes everything.
Think about it: a lamb has no sharp teeth. Its flesh is soft. Physically, a lamb cannot defeat a wolf. So what is the defense of a lamb against wolves?
The answer begins with the letter M: Multiplication.
A lamb's only defense is to multiply. Sheep and goats give birth every three months. While wolves are eating some members of the flock, the flock is also multiplying. Over time, through constant reproduction, the flock grows so large that it overwhelms the predators. You see this in nature: millions of wildebeest and antelope roam the African plains. Lions hunt them daily, yet the herds continue to grow. The predators cannot keep up.
In the same way, our victory over spiritual wolves and enemies is through multiplication. We win by:
When God sends you as a lamb before wolves, do not go to the wolf and plead, "Please do not be wicked to me." The wolf will say, "I must eat; I must feed my children." Instead, every three months—spiritually speaking—give birth to new converts and disciples. Through multiplication, you will have victory upon victory.
I have seen this principle work in my own ministry. Years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper, "Go and start a church in London." At that time, I was focused on my work in Geneva. But I obeyed. Later, a severe spiritual attack came against the Geneva church—one of the most severe we had faced. Yet by that time, I had also started churches in Zurich and other cities. Because we had multiplied, when one location was attacked, the work of God did not fail. The kingdom advanced elsewhere.
Today, the churches in Switzerland are larger and stronger than before, with more branches and more people. This is the master key: do not be concerned about your teeth or your strength. Simply multiply. Keep multiplying.
I once counseled a brother who was focused on building only one business. I said, "You are making a mistake. If that one thing is attacked, you are finished." The grace God has given you is the ability to multiply. Diversify. Expand. Multiply your efforts, your influence, and your impact.
Luke 10:4 instructs the seventy:
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way.
This is a profound revelation: those obsessed with money cannot be true servants of God.
If you are constantly asking, "How much will I get? How much are you paying me for singing? For playing? For serving?"—then you are in the wrong place. When I have held crusades and the sound technicians demanded payment before they would work, I have said, "This is your last crusade." We cannot do business in the church. We cannot use God's house as a marketplace.
Jesus taught that the servant should not carry a purse, a traveler's bag, or extra sandals. Why? Because these things become burdens. They weigh you down and make you dependent on provisions rather than dependent on God.
Yet Jesus also asked His disciples: "When I sent you without money, without a bag, without shoes—lacked you anything?" The answer was no. God provided. This is the promise: when you trust God and release your grip on material security, He will take care of you.
I can testify to this personally. After I finished school, I told my father, "I want to serve the Lord full-time." He gave me one city's worth of support—that was it. I lived in his hotel, and later, when he wanted me to leave, he even sold the hotel. There were nights I prayed, "Lord, do not let us be sold together." Yet throughout my years in ministry, by God's grace, I have never lacked. He has cared for me and brought me to where I am today.
God sings through the hymn:
God will take care of you, through every day, all the way. He will take care of you. God will take care of you. Beneath His wings of love, God will take care of you.
Do not carry a purse. Do not be preoccupied with money and provisions. Trust God, and He will sustain you.
As we close, Jesus mentions one particular person we must learn to recognize. Luke 10:5-6 says:
Into whatsoever house you enter, first say, "Peace be unto you." And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it. If not, it shall return unto you.
There are sons of peace and daughters of peace. Not everyone you meet is a son of peace. This is crucial for your life and relationships.
If you are over twenty-five years old, you have certainly encountered people who are not sons of peace. Some of you have even married someone who is not a son of peace, and it has made life difficult. When the person in your home is not peaceful, when they are not happy with anything, when they are a troublemaker—you have married someone who is not a son of peace.
When you enter a house on a mission—whether for business, ministry, or any purpose—pay attention to the spirit of the person there. If it is a son of peace or daughter of peace, your peace will rest upon them, and blessings will flow. If not, your peace will return to you, and you will need to move on.
Some of you are about to work for someone who is not a son of peace. Others may sign a contract with a partner who is not a son of peace. Be discerning. Receive eyes to see what is a son of peace or daughter of peace.
My prayer for this year is that you be delivered from men and women who are not sons and daughters of peace, and that you be surrounded by those who carry the spirit of peace and unity.
As we close this service, I invite you to offer yourself to God as a servant. Say with your whole heart:
"Lord, I am Your servant. I am Your servant. I want to be Your servant."
If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. If you are sitting here and you want to become a serious Christian and serve God with joy, lift your hand now. Do not delay. Come to the front as we close, and let us pray together. Jesus will save you. Jesus will change your life. Give your heart to Him, and He will write your name in the Book of Life.
Say this prayer with me:
"Jesus, forgive me for my sins. I give my heart to You. I give my life to You. Please write my name in the Book of Life. Wash me with Your blood and make me a new person today. Thank You, Jesus, for saving my soul."
Now lift your hand and declare: "I surrender all to Jesus."
