Today, we?re going to see that in order to effectively serve we must make sure that we?ve surrendered to Christ and that we have a proper estimation of self. In other words, we must first go deep before we can go long.

We?re going to walk though this passage in order to learn four ways to become better servants. Let?s set the context. In the first part of chapter 20, Jesus told a parable about some laborers who were hired to work in a vineyard. The landowner decided to pay everyone the same wage, regardless of how long they worked in the fields. Those who were hired first started to complain because they didn?t think it was fair. Jesus concluded his teaching by saying in verse 16: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”Verse 19 tells us that as Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to face suffering and death, He took the disciples aside and told them that He would be “mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life.”
As we come to our text today, we?ll see that we?re really a lot like those first followers.

Imagine looking at your own face in a mirror and not recognizing it. James says that is just what people are doing when they listen to God?s word but do not obey it. There, right before their eyes in Scripture, is an accurate reflection of themselves. But they don?t truly see ? with the eyes of their hearts ? what the Bible shows them.

The thread winding through the previous messages weaves together to form this final message in this series. God is calling His church to prayer and it’s time for us to answer that call.