The Characteristics of a Servant

1. The Characteristics of a Servant St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul’s Servant Preparation Program December 28, 2003 • Charlotte, NC

2. Objective • Objective: To understand the requirements of the holy service for a Christian. • Memory Verse: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John 12:26) • References: The Holy Bible; The Canons and Traditions of the Coptic Orthodox Church; Pope Shenouda’s Characteristics of the Spiritual Path Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

3. Introduction • The essential role of the Church is to serve God’s people. • A servant is an extension of the Church and is a humble position. • A servant is a layman—not a clergyman. • He assists the clergy in any Christian work besides administration of sacraments. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

4. Servants’ Roles • Seminary professor, theologian • Sunday school teacher • Board member • Sub-deacon (and minor orders) • Choir member • Welcome and outreach ministry • 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…” Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

5. Outline of Presentation • Aims and expectations • Personal traits • Ambassador • Human nature versus Spiritual nature • Spiritual warfare: temptation • Prayer • Relation with the Church Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

6. Outline (Cont’d) • Commited • Calm • Cheerful • Spiritual • Deep • Cooperative • Loving People • Receiving blessings! Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

7. The Main Goal • A loving relationship with God and His children • Spreading the peace, joy, and love of Jesus Christ • Giving of oneself, not seeking self-gain but the gain of others Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

8. Wrong Goals • Pleasure, convenience • To get married and have a home • To make a lot of money • These desires are irrelevant to serving God • “…after all these things the Gentiles seek…” [Mt 6:31–33] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

9. Wrong Goals (Cont’d) • Even a strong desire to be a servant can be wrong. • A servant is a called position—not something for which one promotes himself. • “You are My servant; I have chosen you.” [Is 41:9] • One’s attitude should be one of vigilance and readiness to work. • “Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” [Rev 17:14] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

10. Aims and Expectations • To love and to serve. • To sacrifice. • To be accountable. • To be subordinate to the Word of God. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

11. Aims and Expectations (Cont’d) • A servant teaches what the Church believes. • He is convinced by the Church’s canons. • He obeys the Church. • He does not knowingly misinterpret the scriptures or the Church tradition. • He extends himself for the sake of others and does not seek personal convenience. • The holy service is not voluntary: It is a calling. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

12. False Aims • To be recognized. • To gain power and influence. • To have authority. • To become popular or important. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

13. Personal Traits • A servant is in Christ, and Christ is in Him. • Therefore, he is a happy person who never complains. • His affairs are organized, planned, and balanced: family, church, work. • Therefore he encounters success easily in all aspects of his life. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

14. Personal Traits (Cont’d) • Patient • Successful (family, church, school, career) • Cooperative, good communicator • Quick learner • Committed: follows through. • Faithful: believes in the teachings of Christ and applies them personally. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

15. Personal Traits (Cont’d) • Rooted in the faith. • Convinced within. • Continually in prayer. • Continually repentant. • Continually confessing and witnessing. • Finds spiritual life easy—following Christ out of love. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

16. Personal Traits (Cont’d) • Personally regulated. Praying before starting and stopping any work, before coming and going, before and after taking bodily nourishment. • Living a life of constant repentance. Evaluating oneself. In a close relationship with the priest, taking the benefits of all the sacraments on a regular basis, most especially confession and absolution. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

17. Personal Traits (Cont’d) • Committed to the life of the Church. Regularly serve in, not just attend, all liturgies and services: Divine Liturgy, Hourly Liturgy (Agpeya), Vespers (Asheya), and Praises (Tasbeha). • “Let us commit ourselves and one another to Christ our God” [Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom] • Reading the Bible and knowing it. Frequently asking questions at weekly Bible studies: Wednesday in Arabic & Friday in English. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

18. Ambassador of Jesus Christ • A servant can make or break people’s faith based on his actions. • He will be “under the microscope,” measured by the congregation using stricter rules than apply to ordinary people. • His friends are also be viewed carefully, and are a reflection on him. • “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.” [Proverbs 23:20] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

19. Ambassador of Christ (Cont’d) • Do not let your adornment be outward. • “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” [1 Peter 3:3–4] • Be well-groomed, clean, and neat. Clothing modest, in subdued colors. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

20. Human Nature • We humans and are body, mind, and spirit. • The Bible says that the spiritual mind is pleasing to God, but that the carnal mind is enmity against God. [Rom 8:6ff] • However, most people are more mindful of their bodies than to their spirits. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

21. Human Nature (Cont’d) • But what about a human nature that is pleasing to God? • If a “carnal” nature is enmity toward God [Rom 8:6ff], and … • If the spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another [Gal 5:17], then … • Which one should control the other? Holy Spirit My Spirit My Body Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

22. Spiritual Nature • Praying: Silencing the mouth to hear God’s voice. • Fasting: Allowing the spirit to control the body. • Does physical food satisfy your spirit? • Reading: Reading analytically, not just scanning. • Do you think and build mental images, or do you just let the words go by like watching television? Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

23. Spiritual Nature (Cont’d) • Peace: Solitude, not isolated, but knowing when to hold your peace. • Contemplation: Thinking and evaluating one’s service. This leads to a life of … • Repentance: Constant struggle to return to God and avoid sin. • The practical consequent is frequent participation in the sacrament of confession and absolution. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

24. Resists Temptation • Our God wants us to be totally pure. • He asks us not only to be free of sin, but also to cut off any possibility of sin. • “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off…” [Mt 5:30] • “You shall be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.” [Mt 5:48] • “I am Almighty God; walk before me and be perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and you.” [Gen 17:1–2] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

25. Resists Temptation (Cont’d) • Dancing can be sexually suggestive. Even if you don’t notice or are not tempted, you may be unwittingly tempting others. • “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” [1 Corinthians 8:13] • Alcohol is a mind-altering drug. Even if you feel no effect—your example can affect others without your knowledge or control. • “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” [Romans 14:21] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

26. Servant = Pray-er • In the Armenian language, the word “to pray” literally means “to seek God.” • Are you a pray-er? Do you continuously seek His voice, through a living, loving relationship? Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

27. Prayer (Cont’d) Pope Shenouda asks of his servants: • What is your evaluation of prayer? • Is it a help in difficult times? • Is it a regulation, such that your conscience reprimands you if you miss it? • Is it a necessary spiritual nourishment, such that you become listless if you do not take it? • Or … is it an enjoyment in which you feel its sweet savor and during which you forget the world, wishing to prolong the time of your talk with God? Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

28. Prayer (Cont’d) • Pope Shenouda says “Your evaluation of prayer defines your spiritual level and your ability to continue in prayer.” • “… pray without ceasing …” [1 Th 5:17] • The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” [Rev 4:8] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

29. Relation with The Church • A servant is the right hand of the priest and an extension of the Church. • “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” (Luke 11:17). • Therefore, a servant must be convinced about all the dogmas of the Church. • A servant who preaches and teaches Christ’s message of peace and love but who squabbles with the Church or with peers will stray people from the faith. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

30. Relation with The Church (Cont’d) • God calls on us to deny ourselves, not to promote ourselves. • Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." [Mark 10:21] • Following Christ is a life of crucifixion. • If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me [Matthew 16:24] • For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [Phil 1:21] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

31. Relation with The Church (Cont’d) • Attendance at prayers & services: prompt, regular, and frequent. • Confession is an essential sacrament and element of the life of repentance. • Leadership: authoritative knowledge & experience of all prayers and services Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

32. Committed • The servant respects his word. He is dependable and follows through with his promises. • He is committed to his service and says “yes” cheerfully when the Church asks something of him, or asks him to sacrifice his time. • He considers sacrificing for the Church a blessing. • He plans ahead and organizes and schedules his time, so that he will be able to deliver on his “yes.” Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

33. Calm • A servant is a representative of Christ. • People can sense that the Holy Spirit is in him and speaks through him. • “It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” [Matthew 10:20] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

34. Cheerful • A servant does not get into fights or quarrels. He prays and asks God to solve the problem. • He is not depressed or dejected at all. • He is an instrument of peace and love. • He is kind and patient. • He is ever hopeful, and ever trusting the Lord to solve all our problems. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

35. Spiritual • A servant’s passions and carnal instincts are under control of his spirit. • The works of the flesh … are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like…. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. [Gal 5:19–23] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

36. Deep • A servant does not just dryly perform his duty. • He enjoys the topic or the task, and finds many examples and references. • He dramatizes his lesson with activities, games, stories, humor, and love for those he is serving. • He explains ideas in various ways and tailors his words to the level of the audience. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

37. Cooperative • A servant works well with all other servants. There are no loners or black sheep. • They respect each other and help each other. They back each other up. • They communicate with each other daily. • They are tied into the Church. The priest is their coach and guides them. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

38. Loving People • Christ suffered the punishment for all sin. He loves all who are in the world. • His servants are extensions of Him helping do His work. • Paramount is a basic and innate sense of humor and love for all of God’s creation, all people. • A servant is mindful of others’ needs and feelings and is ready and willing to suffer and work for people. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

39. Loving People (Cont’d) • No one is forgotten by God, even one of no report or station. Every soul is precious for our Lord, Who paid a huge price for all our souls. • A servant also esteems one human soul and is ready to struggle, even against difficulty, for the sake of just one person. He does not forget a single person in his phone ministry or his visitations. He goes out of his way to drive and pick up a kid who lives far away. • What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? [Luke 15:4] Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

40. Receiving Blessings • The servant who walks with God has the feeling that he is not giving, but that he is taking. • From a physical point of view, he is indeed giving of himself materially, in time and energy. • However, from a spiritual point of view, he is receiving limitless blessings through the holy service. Characteristics of a Servant • St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church • Charlotte, NC

41. The Characteristics of a Servant St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Saint Paul’s Servant Preparation Program December 28, 2003 • Charlotte, NC