- Matthew 20:20-28 Saved to Serve
- Today the sermon is about Serving Jesus and his will
- In this story we see a mother who comes to Jesus and asks what is going to happen to her sons when the Kingdom of Jesus arrives. She asks that her sons may be given places of honor. Jesus says- You aren’t really understanding what you’re asking for- There is a high cost to this, and they might not have what it takes. Like me, they must suffer, be baptized and become a servant of all. Then God decides who sits where.
Lets Get into it-
- This is a High ambition-
- This is a high ambition that this Mother wants for her kids- honestly- what mother doesn’t want good things for their kids? They want their kids to have the best- Same with this mom
- READ- 20-21
- This left and right hand in the Bible and antiquity was considered a place of honor to the King- that person was equal to the king- the one on the left was next greatest
- This mother has a very carnal thinking in regards to the position that her sons will receive
- This has been going on with the disciples already-
- Ma 18:1 the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
- Luke 9:46 then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.
- so concerned with their own ideas of grandeur that they are missing the larger point
- In Matthew 18 Jesus told his disciples- be humble- that’s how you are the greatest.
- But now- this mother wants to know- what POSITION- This is going to be a monarchy right?
- This is the problem with many people and their theology- they use worldly systems that they know- and they put those on God to try and understand how God works- Like how people put American democracy on the church- Church government should work like our own government- committees and votes. But it just doesn’t work that way- God is different.
- imagery isn’t wrong- Jesus- as Lord and Savior- sits at the right hand of God- he is equal to God-
- Psalm 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
- Luke 22:69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God.”
- Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
- Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
- The issue is the ambition- Why? Why is this mother so concerned about her sons positions?
- What is admirable- is that she does recognize the kingship of Jesus- She does have faith that Jesus will establish a kingdom- had she not- she wouldn’t be asking this question
- Frankly- it’s a wrong heart condition tho- why are you asking how much honor and influence you are going to get in the Kingdom of God? It’s a wrong question- and reveals a wrong heart.
- What if someone, on the first day of coming to Jesus, or in this church was asking, how do I get to the highest place of influence in this church? How can I get the most honor? You’d be concerned.
- This is a High cost
- READ V 22-23
- “you do not know what you ask” Jesus says – “are you able to drink the cup, and be baptized”
- You want to be at my right hand? You better do what I do and go through what I go through.
- This cup- It’s the cup of suffering- Jesus is going to go to the cross and is going to have to suffer- if you want to be great in his kingdom- you’re going to have to suffer as well.
- 1 Peter 5:10b after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
- Jesus says- You want to rule and reign with me? Suffer with me– take one for the team- No one gets out of here unscathed- if I’m suffering, we’re all suffering- part of kingdom living.
- Guy who needed a job- got him a job- carrying Lumber up a ladder all day- quit next day
- Told him it was hard- they told him it was hard- if you want to work- you gonna suffer- JC same
- There are blessings of Serving Jesus- yes there are- but there is a pathway to righteousness that includes suffering- Let me be clear- this isn’t the poor decision making I can’t manage my life effectively God must be causing me to suffer suffering
- This is the “I am living righteously for Jesus and that which I am experiencing is suffering”
- Its having people attack your character and not fighting back, it’s putting God first in your decisions and having people not like you for it, Its choosing the path of righteousness that your flesh doesn’t desire and then suffering through it.
- Whenever I get something nice, or do something nice, I often say “just suffering for Jesus”
- It’s a constant reminder to me that I am intended to suffer, and when I’m not, I should rejoice.
- And the baptism? It’s the baptism of the Holy Ghost-
- The baptism that Jesus was baptized with was the Holy Ghost baptism Matt 3- the dove
- Jesus promises this baptism will come to his believers- John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
- And then the Holy Spirit comes- Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- This is the cup and baptism- You need to suffer and you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit-
- This isn’t a Sermon on the baptism of the Holy Spirit- but let me divert for a moment here-
- You should desire to be baptized in the HS. If you aren’t experiencing the power over Sin, the joy, the abundant life, seek the Holy Spirit- have someone who is baptized in the Spirit pray for you- It may come with tongues, it may not- but that’s ok. You’ll know when you are filled.
- It will be difficult dealing with the suffering if you don’t have the Holy Spirit within you.
- You are not strong enough or powerful enough or have enough will power to overcome and you were never intended to do so- Jesus promised a helper- seek after the helper.
- Read Acts- Read 1 Corinthians. Seek and find and be filled-
- In the end tho- Jesus defers to the father- its not his decision- it’s the father’s decision
- Jesus is constantly showing that submission to the father and his will is paramount.
- High Standard
- 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.
- I often find scripture very funny- “What did you guys do? Look at it now- you got Jesus mad and we got to suffer” or maybe they are displeased because they didn’t ask and now they think that there is only one right and one left and theres ten left so they are out of the running.
- Jesus explains it- Rulers of the gentiles take advantage of their authority- not us v25
- Yet it shall not be so among you- if you want to be great? Serve.
- Read V 26-28
- Three parts: If you want to be great– be a servant. If you want to be first- be a servant. You want to be like Jesus- be a servant.
- service and suffering go together- . Jesus put them together
- Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
- Jesus says- you want to be great, you have to suffer and you have to serve- Jesus didn’t come to be served- but to serve- you want to be like Jesus- serve. Have a servants heart and action.
- Being a Christian is Serving- It’s what we do- Its what Jesus calls us to do
- Jesus is being very clear in this passage-
- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- I get it- Being served has it’s perks. It makes you feel some kind of way. For me, it makes me feel loved, and valued and special, important etc. Diff between First class and Biz class
- Here’s the deal tho- It’s our job to serve others and make them feel that way so we can share the Gospel with them- it’s counter cultural to do that- Inside and outside the church.
- If you didn’t know- I will let you know- most scriptures in the Bible are about Serving God and others within the Family of God- Not those outside the church- We SHOULD serve people outside the church, but it’s not an either or- We don’t do one or the other- we do BOTH
- And it’s important that you know who you are serving and why you are serving them-
- 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
- Serve your God- Through Serving others- Worship, Prayer, Giving, Discipling, Serving- there’s not a ministry here that we do that is made up for people to feel important- it all matters
- Serve Your Family- When Crystal and I got married I remember the first time I dropped a tissue in the bathroom- I knew that it was either her or me. And its different roles- C does more.
- Its fighting SELFISHNESS- and brokenness and emptiness- ‘consider others’
- Serve your friends- Every friendship isn’t to serve you. Listen more than you talk, give more than you get, help them with projects and chores. Just be there.
Serve Strangers- Getting ice cream taking garbage, helping unload a truck of rocks, mowing a lawn, seeing someone who needs a hand carrying something, fixing your neighbor house. - Serve on a mission- There’s church missions, and service missions- and serving teaches you something about the nature of God- if you haven’t gone to Mexico- you should go with q.
- Here’s why-
- Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
- My immediate selfish nature wants to be served not to serve and must combat it with the word of God and the knowledge of word and my testimony of WHY I serve-
- One- Jesus served- I’m going to be like my master two- I was SAVED- how can I not? I can never repay what was done for me three- it can bring more people into the Kingdom four- I am commanded to SERVE.
- And if you don’t want to? I’m wondering why? Where is your heart at? ASK YOURSELF
- There’s still many people who attend this church that never serve- love the benefit of others serving, but can’t find it in their hearts to serve
- Not enough recognition? Not enough direction? Do you notice things that are wrong with your own house and then fix them? You can do that here as well? Still amazed I find trash in the lot. Still amazed that people don’t pay attention to new people- “I don’t think we’ve met” SERVE
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- What does abounding look like? Is that the bare minimum or is it more than that?
- We have many many people here with a servants heart- if you have one- pat yourself on the back- but if you don’t- SERVE.
- How can you be saved and not serve? Specifically in this church- every part of the body providing nourishment to make for a healthy body- we all do our part
- Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
- Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked,
- Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
- This is from Pastor Christian-
- JESUS CAME TO SERVE! YOU ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE JESUS! YOU SHOULD WANT TO BE A SERVANT!
- Go and read through the Bible and see how much of the Bible, Old and New Testament, is about serving!
- Who should be serving and where… who should set up the tabernacle, who should lead the worship, who should move the camp, who oversees the armies, who oversees the sacrifices…
- YOU SHOULD WANT TO BE A SERVANT! BECAUSE IT IS THE SERVANTS WHO ARE IN HEAVEN WITH GOD FOREVER!
- Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him
- Revelation 22:6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
- Last reference to the saints in revelation is SERVANT- That means something
- We all want to hear- “well done good and faithful SERVANT”
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