PORTERVILLE POST | The "RIGHT" Word © ~ with Brother Scott

| “THE JUBILANT SERVANT”

The Right Word^© - Jun 14, 2026
with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com

I have remarked in the past that followers of Jesus should never become satisfied with where they have spiritually grown to.
Listen :

We simply cannot allow ourselves to feel that we have matured enough, know enough Bible, are living a clean enough life, or are spiritually experienced enough to begin thinking that we accomplished enough to take our spiritual ease.
As long as we live in this present stage of a very temporary and short life as human men and women, there will always be more to add to our knowledge about God and His Word, and more aspects of our selves that need to be yet changed to be more like Jesus.
If you and I will be ever honest before God, we will realize that there is more about ourselves that needs to be refined and purified, areas to be strengthened and good works that we are appointed to accomplish as true followers of Jesus.

In the sight of our holy God and righteous Savior,
there is not a time in our earthly lives where
God will say, “ Well, that’s good enough.”

Neither can we stand back and look at where we have come from and decide that how we used to be and where we are now is good enough; by that very term “good enough”, the implication is that there is more that can be purified, or strengthened or learned or done but we are saying “It is enough” about a work in our lives that is not fully accomplished by God.

( † † † )
† Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. . .
† Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable (advantageous, beneficial) unto men. . . 14 And let ours [our own people] also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful (have no fruit to harvest) [when there should be].

Two words Paul uses that were to remind Titus and you and me today are “profitable” (-able, eth, ing, ed used 31 times in the NT, 7 Xs by Jesus) and about “fruitfulness”—these two things are important considerations for those that would be diligent followers of Jesus.
As to our profiting, we are not to have a season of success and then think that we have enough on our record before God to coast the rest of the way to Heaven († Luke 12:16-21, the bumper crop farmer). I ask you, what business owner makes a good profit for one year and can afford to be content to break-even the rest of the time he’s in business? No one sane, to be sure!
And as to being fruitful (fruit, -ful used 84 times in the NT and 52 times just in the Gospel writings, mostly by Jesus), what good is a fig tree that produces figs just once or only once every several years but is of no benefit to maintain between the years of no figs († Mark 11:13-14, † Luke 13:6-9, harsh dealings with the fig tree)?
No, our years on the earth as disciples of Jesus are to be both beneficial (profitable) to us and to others and we are to be fruitful in our personal growth and charitable activities before God; and know this, He comes looking for profit and for fruit, according to Jesus’ parables and direct teaching!

( † † † )
† 1 Peter 1:17 [Reminding us of the great price Jesus paid for our redemption:] ... if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (behaviors) received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot ... [As to “profit”:]
† James 2:14 What doth it profit (ophelos: benefit, gain, advantage), my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? . . . 17 Even so faith, if it hath not [good] works, is dead, being alone.
† 1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
† Luke 17:10 ... likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done [only] that which was our duty (opheilo [Gr. word is related to "profit" in † James 2:14]: be under obligation, to owe) to do. [also the parable of the talents, † Matt. 25:14-30], [And as to being fruitful:]
† Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. . .
† Luke 8: [the parable of the sower ...] 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.
† John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

And so we know that God has expectations of us that by our love and obedience we should seek to fulfill all the days of our lives as best that we can, which is beyond our “duty” and what so many are content with as being “good enough”.
And that is why you and I need to read God’s Word regularly to learn of His ways and practice them and to spiritually mature into that likeness of He whom the Father loves, the Lord Jesus.
These things are often on my mind and therefore keep me sensitive to where any improvements of my mind and soul’s thoughts, plans, and what of my old ways must give way to the all-new and God-approved ways for a follower of Jesus.

This leads me to the subject of our title today: THE JUBILANT SEVANT.

By our life in Christ and love for God there is no question in the mind of a true and knowledgeable disciple that we are to be servants—ministers unto God and to man, if we will humble ourselves and carry out such a work in our lives.
Of a truth in the culture we live in today, we are so busy we do not think of such things. And often, our busy-ness is rarely if ever altruistic (showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others and especially their souls) because our old nature is opposite, which is narcissistic (self-centered or excessive focus on oneself and one’s own interests, to include a lack of empathy and service toward others).
A genuine and maturing Christian is to be truly and actively altruistic, where opportunity presents itself—being empathetic and a servant to Jesus and to others. Yet, so few know this or care anything about it if they do. We are called as priests and servants of the Most High God and His Son.

( † † † )
† Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you [great in the kingdom of God], let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
† John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Now here is where the term jubilant comes into focus—at least for me, and I am pretty sure for many others also, although not all others: I can serve others but being jubilant about it or in the doing of my service to God still does not yet come natural but is a work-in-progress in my life.
Jubilation in the believer is an important part of the work to be achieved by the Holy Spirit, a work of jubilation that I want to be also natural to me and part of my ministry and service to God and to others.
I’m not good at this aspect yet but want to be, and it is a big part of what goes beyond just the “good enough” in serving—but to being the best way I can feel and behave as a servant.

Jubilant: Feeling joy because of triumph or success. Expressing joy [for Jesus, Others, and for Yourself]; uttering songs of victory; shouting for joy; exulting.

I’ve been talking about pressing on and into the deeper things of what the Lord desires of each of us as born-again ones; things that surpass an attitude of just settling for the “good enough” and even more than just doing our duty.

Some Examples Are These:

• We can do acts of mercy but not really out of love but duty
• We face hardships and trails with patience but are bereft of the joy available
• We can let an offense against us pass but not forgive the offender
• We can readily pray but fail to spend time praising and in worship of God
• We can read our Bibles regularly yet do not let the Word change us
• We can serve others but not have the joy of the Lord in our ministry

( † † † )
† Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart…
† 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. . .
† 1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice (jump for joy), though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. . .
† Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
† James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree (humble circumstances) rejoice in that he is exalted:

Now again, the point of today’s discussion is that we

(1.) Not set the terms of what we decide is “good enough” before God in our discipleship practices and service and our obedience, which is agreeing within ourselves to be sufficient; “good enough” is not even the completion of our basic “duty” before the Lord,
(2.) Understand that our doing of what the Bible commands of us according to the “letter” of the Word (but nothing more) is just our “duty” and not “profitable” for us before God, and
(3.) In the going beyond “good enough” and past “duty” is where the great gain (benefit, “profit”) lies for you and me as followers of Jesus.

( † † † )
† 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient (competent, ample, fit, enough) of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers (servants, attendants [to the maters]) of the new testament (contract, terms of the will); not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth [smothers life], but the spirit giveth life ...
† 2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. [Going past “duty” involves the fruit of God’s Spirit within us:]
† Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (limited partial or prescription, regulated allotment,) ... 25 If we live in [made alive by] the Spirit, let us also walk [daily] in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory. . .

The “letter” (the words written to us and for our instruction) is what we are called to do, and simply the obedience to it is to miss the life of it that it is intended to be released in our lives—whereas doing what we are asked to do and with love for God and for others and with joy—releases within us the life of what we are asked to do can provide as we allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit to mature and be expressed.
At († Luke 17), doing just up-to the requirements of what we are “commanded” by the master does not get his attention but it is in the more that we do or are about, beyond our duty, that He sees and rewards.
When we only do what we are asked to do, and do not invite the fruit of His Spirit to come forth, there is little release of the available life by the Spirit for us in the doing of our good works.
Instead, we often grumble, resent our duties as the disciples of Jesus and servants of God, and miss the greater satisfaction of our servant hood by our own selfish attitudes; attitudes that prove we really are more narcissistic than we are devoted to all the ways of God and the wonderful advantages He offers by a life of love and peace and joyful obedience and service.

( † † † )
† Luke 17: [On the subject of forgiveness, Jesus continues:] 7 But which of you [as a master], having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather [instead] say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow (think) not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done [only] that which was our duty to do.

What I’m after in my life and for my life, and it is to be had, is my obedience and service to also bear the fruit of the Spirit, which blesses me and others, too. You’ve heard me repeat the old saying that “Many employees do just a good enough job to avoid getting fired, and many employers pay their workers just enough so they won’t quit.”

A version of that can be true in what we are talking about today.

** Many Christians will only do enough to feel like they are satisfying what God asks of them while by His love, God gives us enough patient leeway for us to think that He’s okay with our doing barely our duty.
** One day many of us at the Judgment Seat of Christ will hear that where we drew the line wasn’t good enough for us to be given many of the eternal promises that His Word said could be ours.

No matter how we are called to serve let us choose to do it in love and joy and peace. And no matter what our tomorrows hold for us as hardship or loss, as the children of God, let us live by the Spirit and not fail to also walk daily in the power of God’s Spirit—and we shall have the very joy of Heaven here on this present earth.

( † † † )
† Habakkuk 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet [upon the steep and rocky mountainsides], and he will make me to walk [sure-footed] upon mine high places.