THE BOND SERVANT RELATIONSHIP
In the New Testament we often see the introduction to an Epistle using the phrase bondservant.
James 1:1 James, a bondservant of God
2 Peter1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant
Jude 1:1 Jude, the bondservant of Jesus Christ,
Titus 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of God,
They used this introduction to indicate a relationship they had with Jesus. Every Jew who heard this phrase new exactly what it meant. To us today it is lost, unless we understand the significance of this terminology.
There are two Hebrew and two Greek words used in the bible for the word servant.
Hebrew Sakiyr: A hired servant Ebed: A Bond Servant
Greek Diakonos: Deacon, servant, minister Doulos: A Bond Servant
We need to distinguish between the two. We will see that there is a world of difference between a Servant and a Bond Servant.
WHAT IS A BOND SERVANT?
Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
If we are to hear from God, we must settle in our hearts that we will obey Him.
Exodus 21:4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
These Scriptures describe a bond servant commitment to a master.
When a servant chose to become a Bond Servant a whole new commitment and requirements were required.
Servant:
He got a wage
He could spend it, as he liked
He had days off and could do, as he liked
He could marry whom he wished
He could quit at any time
He could be fired.
Bond Servant:
Has no days off
Does not get paid
Has no money of his own
Cannot own anything
Has only what the master gives
Has no rights
Marries only who the master chooses
He must obey without question at all times
But the Bond Servant had certain Privileges:
His master pledges to look after him
He will provide everything he needs
He will protect him with his life!
A Bond Servant, was given much responsibility.
Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
Genesis 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
He ruled over all of Abrams house.
All of Abrams goods were in his hand.
He was almost a joint heir with Abram.
THIS IS THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT JESUS WANTS WITH YOU
THE PIERCING OF THE EAR
This signified that this servant had an ear only for the master.
In Lev 4 & 8 The priest was consecrated by the putting of oil and blood on his ear.
The blood set him apart. The oil anointed him. The Blood sanctified him: Set apart. See Heb 13:12 The oil anointed his ear to hear.
First he had to be set apart. This is the commitment to be set apart for the Master (Jesus).
Then the oil was applied he was then anointed to hear.
Jesus had this relationship with His Father
Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Your present relationship with the Lord is that of a servant or bond servant relationship
If we are to be able to clearly hear the voice of the Lord, this bond servant commitment is first required of us.
Isaiah 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, (Bond Servant) and was made in the likeness of men:
The word servant in this Scripture is Doulos Bond servant
This was also the key to the Apostles relationship with Jesus.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, Gk Doulos
James 1:1 James, a servant of God, Gk Doulos
In Rm 12:1 We are encouraged to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice.
In the Old Testament the dedication of the temple was a very important event in the Nation of Israel.
When Moses had finished building the Tabernacle, it was then dedicated to God.
There is a remarkable statement in Leviticus 9:6 which is a promise and condition for Gods glory appearing to us.
Leviticus 9:6 And Moses said, this [is] the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
WHAT WERE THEY TO DO, So that the glory would come?
They had to offer the 5 offerings, a sin offering, a trespass offering, a burnt offering, a meal offering, and a peace offering.
When they did this: THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED
Leviticus 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
THE GLORY AND THE FIRE CAME DOWN.
Many years later when Solomon had built the temple and dedicated it to God; the same thing happened.
When Solomon became king the first thing he did was to begin to offer offerings to the Lord.
II Chronicles 1:6 And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the LORD, which [was] at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.
The response from God was this.
II Chronicles 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. (Solomon is establishing a relationship with the Lord)
When Solomon built the temple and dedicated it, look what happened.
II Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in [all] the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
II Chronicles 5: 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
This hearing relationship was connected to His dedication to the Father as a Bond Servant.
THIS WAS THE KEY TO JESUS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER.
The complete surrender of our lives to the Lord is the basic foundation for developing a walk with Him and being able to hear His voice.
II Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;
II Chronicles 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
THE FIRE AND THE GLORY CAME DOWN AND FILLED THE TEMPLE.
Know ye not that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit 1Cor 6:19
Had not God said to Moses: If you do this the Glory of the Lord will appear to you!
YOU MUST BECOME A BOND SERVANT, to hear God’s voice.
I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
The complete surrender of our lives to the Lord is the basic foundation for developing a walk with Him.
Where is your heart?
God’s Word Say’s. Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
If you are going to hear God’s voice and walk with Him you have to have a desire and hunger for this to be so.
You have to have a Holy dissatisfaction of where you are now in relationship to this.
You must hunger and thirst for it.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
A new mother is so tuned in to her baby’s needs she can hear the slightest sound it makes in the night. Every time the baby moves, sighs, the mother wakes up.
Solomon knew something that most Christians don’t: That is, when you give yourself to God He responds in a glorious way.
IN DEVELOPING A HEARING EAR, THE DEDICATION OF OUR LIVES TO THE LORD IS THE FIRST STEP.
HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO YOU WILL DETERMINE TO SOME DEGREE HOW WELL YOUR HEAR THE LORDS VOICE.