Everyday Grace Humility and Freedom

Made me so mad!

I couldn't control the situation

Because of The Fall, we struggle With the desire to control We weren't meant to Control anything

The greatest fails come from The desire to control: - People- Behavior w/Contempt

The greatest fails come from The desire to control: - Outcomes- Can't see

The greatest fails come from The desire to control:

The greatest fails come from The 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 control People and their choices?

We weren't meant to control But 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 should When it's clear we can't

Seeking to control outcomes In 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 Rabbi We 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 outcome Based 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, Command Power 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 important doulos= slave, without ownership rights

If you belong to Jesus This is an issue of recognition Not choice

Most Important in Kingdom: Seeks to glorify God By serving people According to their needs

Even (especially) when: It's inconvenient You 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 know That it's no longer about you But about Christ, his glory And 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 best I know how you ought to be What I want is what God wants Comfort 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 great Is a good thing Defining it according to Our world is an Epic Fail

Our greatest anxieties Come from trying to control What we were never meant To 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 Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another… Diakonos and Doulos

Don't seek to control But 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-exalting Describes someone who Depends on the Lord Rather than self

Gospel: Creation- Innate Value/Worth Fall- Undeserving and Helpless Redemption- Loved & Accepted Restoration- In/For/Through You

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you

Because God opposes And gives grace Because he alone is mighty And so that He might exalt you

Quit seeking power over And 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 Christ Humble- dependent upon God

Only when we cast our anxieties on him, do we become whole Because by faith we are Fully following Jesus

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

Pride leads to Controlling Humility leads to Faith Controlling puts me on The devil's battleground And 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 serving As 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 me Self-centered and small (pride) Or others-centered And 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 suffered You will suffer You can't control it But you can choose your focus And your hope

To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen - 1 Peter 5:6-11

When I seek to control I'm looking to be God over The people and circumstances In my life God opposes it…actively

When I seek to serve I'm looking to God because he's Lord 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 actions That 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 grace That make people thirsty For Truth

The Boycott… Not biblical- 1 Cor. 5 Not pragmatic- 1990's Disney

Trying to control What Jesus wants to redeem Is anti-biblical and works against The gospel we claim to follow

Relationships Control the person? Or point to Jesus And live it so they can see it?

Circumstances Try to control outcomes? Or pray, live the gospel And trust God?

Wanna really experience God And be great? Diakonos and Doulos

As a Church… None of us are greater Than anyone else We seek to serve God by Serving his people to his glory

Questions, Comments Disagreements

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