Everyday GraceHumility and Freedom
Made me so mad!
I couldn't control the situation
Because of The Fall, we struggleWith the desire to control
We weren't meant to Control anything
The greatest fails come fromThe desire to control:- People- Behavior w/Contempt
The greatest fails come fromThe desire to control:
- Outcomes- Can't see
The greatest fails come fromThe desire to control:
The greatest fails come fromThe desire to control:
- Society- Can't be done
Culture Wars
"Let’s just stop doing business with those who promote sin
and stand against Almighty God’s laws and His standards…
(Bank and Jeweler)
Maybe if enough of us do this, it will get their attention"
- Big Name Guy
When did Jesus controlPeople and their choices?
We weren't meant to controlBut to influence
So that our world might glimpse Jesus and want to know
Him more
Our greatest anxiety comes From seeking to control
Or feeling like we shouldWhen it's clear we can't
Seeking to control outcomesIn order to get what we want
Blinds us to the real needs
Of the people around us
Matt. 20:17…
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve
disciples aside, and on the way he said to them…
"See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death…
…and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and
flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day"
How can we help?What should we do?
You're our RabbiWe love you!
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something
And he said to her, “What do you want?”
Please don't go to the cross!
Does it have to be this way?
Trying to control an outcomeBased on selfish ambition
And what she thinks is best= Absolute arrogance
She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom”
Authority, CommandPower Over…
Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that
I am to drink?”
They said to him, “We are able”
He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father”
We want power
Yeah…no!
And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the
two brothers.
But Jesus called them to him and said…
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them
It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great
among you must be your servant
It's not wrong to want greatness
It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great
among you must be your servant
diakonos- errand boy
…and whoever would be first among you must be your slave…
…and whoever would be first among you must be your slave…
first= primary, most importantdoulos= slave, without ownership rights
If you belong to Jesus
This is an issue of recognitionNot choice
Most Important in Kingdom:
Seeks to glorify GodBy serving people
According to their needs
Even (especially) when:
It's inconvenientYou don't like them
It costs you something
The Disciples want greatness:Power and Position
They want to control
Jesus calls to Kingdom Greatness
Diakonos & Doulos: Errand boy/girl, give up rights
And serve to His glory
…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”- Matt. 20:17-28
To follow Jesus means to knowThat it's no longer about you
But about Christ, his gloryAnd serving people
Made in his image
Control= Pride and self-centeredness
- What I want- What I think is best- What makes me comfortable
Unbelievable Arrogance:
I know what's bestI know how you ought to be
What I want is what God wantsComfort no matter who it hurts
Diakonos and Doulos= Humility and God-centeredness- What God wants- What Jesus would do- Even when it's inconvenient- Or incredibly uncomfortable
Wanting to be greatIs a good thing
Defining it according to Our world is an Epic Fail
Our greatest anxietiesCome from trying to control
What we were never meantTo control
…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight…
1 Peter 5:2…
…not domineering over those in your charge, but being
examples to the flock
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders…
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward
one another…
Diakonos and Doulos
Don't seek to controlBut serve one another
As God has called you
…for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”
Humble= tapeinós
Lowly, not self-exalting
Humble= tapeinós
Lowly, not self-exaltingDescribes someone who
Depends on the Lord Rather than self
Gospel:
Creation- Innate Value/WorthFall- Undeserving and HelplessRedemption- Loved & AcceptedRestoration- In/For/Through You
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you
Because God opposesAnd gives grace
Because he alone is mightyAnd so that He might exalt you
Quit seeking power overAnd start seeking to serve God
By serving one another
…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares
for you
Context: Proud Control vs. Humble Serving
Our greatest anxieties Come from:
- Trying to control - Thinking we need to control What we can't
Anxieties= Merimna- Dividing and fracturing a person's being into parts
We are only whole in ChristHumble- dependent upon God
Only when we cast our anxieties
on him, do we become whole
Because by faith we areFully following Jesus
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
Pride leads to ControllingHumility leads to Faith
Controlling puts me on The devil's battlegroundAnd that's where I lose…always
Your adversary the devil… seeking someone to devour
I get what I want…it doesn't Turn out well
I blame God/shipwreck my Faith
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced
by your brotherhood throughout the world
Resist him…
By being humble, depending on God and simply servingAs God gives opportunity
Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced
by your brotherhood throughout the world
Lie of the enemy-Nobody knows what you're going through. No one can help. You're all alone in this.
Pride. Separation. Fall.
My trials will make meSelf-centered and small (pride)
Or others-centeredAnd full of God's power
(humility)
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,
who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will
himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you
Early Christians sufferedYou will suffer
You can't control it
But you can choose your focusAnd your hope
To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen- 1 Peter 5:6-11
When I seek to controlI'm looking to be God over
The people and circumstancesIn my life
God opposes it…actively
When I seek to serveI'm looking to God because he'sLord over the people and circumstances in my life
God gives great grace…
We were never called to control
But to influence
You are the salt of the earth…
You are the light of the world… let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven
- Matthew 5
Influence by actionsThat point to Jesus
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt- Colossians 4:6-7
Influence by words of graceThat make people thirsty
For Truth
The Boycott…
Not biblical- 1 Cor. 5Not pragmatic- 1990's Disney
Trying to controlWhat Jesus wants to redeem
Is anti-biblical and works againstThe gospel we claim to follow
Relationships
Control the person?
Or point to JesusAnd live it so they can see it?
Circumstances
Try to control outcomes?
Or pray, live the gospelAnd trust God?
Wanna really experience GodAnd be great?
Diakonos and Doulos
As a Church…None of us are greater
Than anyone else
We seek to serve God byServing his people to his glory
Questions, CommentsDisagreements
Pray