Start the Year on the Right Attitude


Pastor Greg Kritz

1 January 2017

James 1:1 (NASB)

1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

James 1:1 (NLT)

1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Doulos: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition a slave metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests

A servant controls their destiny. 

A slave puts their destiny in control of another. 

Philippians 2:3-8

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too...

7 Instead, He gave up his divine privileges;
 He took the humble position of a slave
 And was born as a human being.
..

When He appeared in human form,
8 He humbled himself in obedience to God
 and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Titus 1:1 (NLT)

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

James 1:1 (NLT)

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:1 (NLT)

This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:1 (NLT)

1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.

Colossians 1:7 (NLT)

7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.

Sundoulos = fellow slave

Jesus spoke to us in Slave-terms not Servant terms

COMMITMENT VERSUS SURRENDER

We commit ourselves to something

When we surrender, we give ourselves up to something

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)

23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

“Commitment” replaced Surrender

“Values” replaced Rules, Principals

and Commandments.

Luke 15:18-19

“Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

Luke 15:20

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 

How does Jesus say God responds to someone willing to come on in a lower submitted position?

Luke 15:22-24

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

God takes you captive to set you free

John 15:14-16(NLT)

14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in His slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. 

We will be bound to Satan

or Bonded to Christ Jesus. 

Start a reading program “Life Journal” 

Make Him your only source of truth 

Set aside time to pray – be radical

Join a small group 

Connect with spiritual mentor

Govern your family, your work, your relationships and yourself by Biblical truth

Who is the better slave master?