4: Dependent & Livin’ Forgiven

This weekend we’ve unpacked what made Jesus so attractive to others. Jesus was a STUD. He was STRONG, TENDER, and UNIQUE. Tonight we’re going to finish this series with the characteristic of Jesus that most intrigues me. It’s the one that doesn’t make much sense...at first.

Jesus was Dependent. Let me explain.

Jesus claimed that He was God in a Bod - God with skin on. If anybody had the right to claim independence from everybody it was Jesus.

He could multiply His own food (Golden Corral buffet had nothing on Him!).

He could heal any disease, raise people from the dead, walk on water, know what everybody was thinking, and win every debate.

If all these things were true then we would expect Him to do whatever He wanted to.

But this is where it gets a little strange to me. Jesus didn’t do whatever He wanted. He was Dependent.

John 5:16–19 (NLT)

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

So, Jesus was equal with God…yet…Jesus can do nothing by Himself?

Later in the same conversation, Jesus says these words that demonstrate 1) His incredible power, yet 2) His total DEPENDENCE on the Father.

John 5:28–30 (NLT)

Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

We’ve already seen a picture of daily dependence when Jesus prayed.

Jesus made Consistent Time (“often”) to find a Quiet Place (“alone”). I would submit that if Jesus needed time with the Father, that might be important for us as well.

Make Consistent Time to find a Quiet Place with God.

Jesus didn’t just talk a good game.

Jesus was dependent when it was easy and when it was tough.

You’re probably familiar with what Jesus prayed just before He was arrested.

At this point Jesus, being fully human, was struggling with what was coming. Jesus was asking for any alternative solution to the problem.

Luke 22:41–42 (NLT)

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

This will really mess you up....unless...you follow the New Testament teachings that there is ONE God in 3 Persons - that the words, attitudes, & characteristics of Jesus are EXACTLY the same as the Father & Spirit.

There are other examples that mess people up. I often hear the question, “If Jesus is God...then who is He praying to?” A great question with simple answer.

Jesus prays to the Father - the first person of the Trinity. When Jesus was hanging on the cross He said, “Father, into Your Hands I commit My spirit.” Who was He talking to? The Father.

Jesus isn’t walking in DEPENDENCE just to be an example. But His DEPENDENCE is our perfect example. As we have mentioned throughout this teaching.

Our purpose is found as we are conformed to the image of Jesus.

PROP A video game controller is such a sweet invention. I remember the days when you were wired to the console but not with this baby. You can sit across the room and play. You could even sit on the toilet and play your favorite game if you want! There’s only one thing...without the connection to the console the controller isn’t very useful for anything. I recently had to send my XBox back to get fixed and I can tell you what we DIDN’T do for fun.

We didn’t sit around holding the controllers, frantically pushing buttons, while watching a blank screen. The controller is dependent on the console and having no useful purpose without it.

But...when the 2 are connected and working together there some great things can happen - like the Dallas Cowboys FINALLY winning another Super Bowl!

Jesus didn’t use the XBox illustration, but He used one like it to make the point:

John 15:4–5 (NLT)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

There are a lot of people who do amazing things that don’t follow Jesus. Jesus’ point is that we won’t accomplish anything eternally significant apart from being connected to Him.

Here’s what we learn from being DEPENDENT like Jesus:

BIG TRUTH: Recognizing my Dependence makes me Humble, Thankful, & Useful

HUMBLE

We are told to humble ourselves, and when we don’t God does it for us. Most people don’t humble themselves until they realize they are in a ditch they can’t climb out of by themselves.

It’s not that we aren’t dependent - we just are too proud to acknowledge it.

When I recognize the full implications of my dependence I know that this next breath is not dependent on me, but on my Creator. I don’t know what tomorrow holds so I will simply trust Him with it.

Being humble naturally leads to being...Thankful

THANKFUL

When we recognize that every good gift is from our Father then we stop taking everything for granted. We stop expecting blessings and start appreciating them. When we are humble and thankful then we are ready to be useful.

USEFUL

The most useful people have been the people who are most dependent on God.

Jesus was a STUD and He wants you to follow His example: Strong, Tender, Unique, Dependent.

Let’s finish this up by giving some practical helps of what a Godly man should participate and NOT participate in.

Years ago Caleb was wearing a little Dallas Cowboys jersey with my number and our name on the back. When he mistreated his brother I told him he can’t continue to act like that and wear our name. He had to choose to drop one.

Christians can’t live for the stuff Jesus died to pay for, anymore.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (CSB)

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What is the sin that so easily entangles YOU?

What can keep us from being ensnared by sin and keep us running with endurance? Keeping our eyes on Jesus. By the way, that’s the same passage that was on Pistol Pete’s shirt when he passed away.

Ephesians 6:10–12 (CSB)

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

If you were the enemy, how you YOU scheme against ______ (insert your name)?

Put down the porn and walk in sexual purity.

Del Tacket - Do you believe in the omnipresence of God? No you don’t, or you wouldn’t be looking at that when no one else is around.

Stop feeding the Sumo. Stop satisfying sexual urges (masturbation)

Keep your hands to yourself.

Go just as far as you want your future mate to go this weekend.

My sexual purity is tied to my spiritual maturity/intimacy.

Ephesians 6:13–15 (CSB)

For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 6:16-18 (CSB)

In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Make a Daily Appointment - Make Consistent Time & find a Quiet Place. Open His Love Letter to you.

Guys often say I don’t like to read - all depends on who wrote it.

Pause and Pray

Muslims bow 5 times a day toward Mecca. They stop everything they are doing and pray. Are you telling me that they are more committed to a false God than we are to the Creator of the Universe who died in our place?

Write a list of things you appreciate for and begin to pour out your thanks to God. Pause and Pray at each meal. Tell God “thanks” because He has provided. When you don’t then you really think you are in control...but what if there were no rain?

Surrender my will This is what Jesus did in the garden. “Father, Your will not mine”. This is the ultimate step of Dependence because it might hurt in the short run. That guy/girl that wants to date you...but not walking with God.

Walk in Purity

Build Godly friendships - Jesus sent disciples out in pairs....WHY? Couldn’t they have covered more ground alone? Sure, but they wouldn’t have any encourager alongside them.

Stand up and speak up & share your faith.

Bill & Me as Seniors in high school - began to stand up and speak up