The Beauty of Denial (Part 2)
Notes
Transcript
Part of the idea behind humble denial is that making sure God is lifted up and not ourselves..
that he is exalted
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.
For the work of God is not according to our power or might but by the spirit of God working within us.....
Even Jesus made of himself no reputation, but gave all credit and glory to God.
in this, no man can boast that what is done through him is not of himself but rather of God.
The Least Become The Greatest
The Least Become The Greatest
One of the greatest examples of humility and servitude was given to us by Jesus Christ himself
As the disciples finished eating, Jesus wrapped a towel around His waist and poured water into a basin.
He then began washing the feet of His astonished friends.
In this, Jesus was setting the precedent to us that he who is last shall be first…whoever is the least shall be the greatest.
Jesus took off his garment and put upon him a loin cloth and began washing their feet.
in this, he laid down his kingship and put on servitude.
We sacrifice our wants and desires in this world to attain a much greater prize and reward in the life to come.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
At first Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet.
He was ashamed to have his Master and Teacher kneel before him in such a lowly role.
As Jesus continued washing their feet, He taught them to rearrange their priorities and value systems.
showing them a new and more perfect way of viewing our walk with him.
By His actions, He demonstrated that those seeking positions or measuring their success in carnal terms could never effectively influence their world.
5. He introduced His disciples to a new paradigm:
The way up is down.
this statement being true both in servitude as well as prayer
to serve others, we must become a servant to all
Our greatest power, strength and influence is attained as a result of time in prayer
reaching up is the result of Humility on our knees.
becoming as a servant to all…as well as our servitude to God on our knee’s.
For to have a servant mindset…is to assert a sense of humility and servitude to our fellow man.
in servitude we actually conquer the issue of pride....
The New Role
The New Role
The task Jesus set before His disciples was to serve people in His place.
To honor God by being his hands and his feet.
by being an example of a true believer.
Our hands of service would become, in essence, the hands of Jesus Himself.
In denying ourselves, we show forth the Love of God to a world that knows no Love.
So many times we strive for the throne in greatness, but it is at the foot of the cross that greatness is truly found.
it is in the denial of ourselves that he is Lifted up and exalted in our lives
for Christ to be lifted up..we must first get ourselves out of the way.
otherwise, people will see us rather than Christ in us....
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Jesus spoke this in reference to his death and resurrection....but this also applies to today
as we lift up the name of Jesus and exalt him..he shall draw all men to himself.
for we are then pointing all men to the acknowledgement of his death, burial and resurrection.
In this, we show forth the Love and power of God through us and not because of us.
We humble ourselves and step aside (so to speak) so that Gods glory can be manifested in us.
Quote:
“Great Leaders are the ones who run headfirst into the unknown. They rush toward danger. They put their own interests aside to protect us or to pull us into the future. Leaders would sooner sacrifice what is theirs to save what is ours. And they would never sacrifice what is ours to save what is theirs. This is what it means to be a leader. It means they choose to go first into danger, headfirst toward the unknown. And when we feel sure they will keep us safe, we will march behind them and work tirelessly to see their visions come to life and proudly call ourselves their followers” (Simon Sinek 2014, Preface).
(138) What Makes the Highest Performing Teams in the World | Simon Sinek - YouTube
We live by the power of the almighty and not by our own selfish pride and our own power.
we set aside ourselves and give to others unselfishly showing the love of God through us
when we are physically exhausted and tore up by the world, we find our strength....not in ourselves but rather, in the spirit of God.
the cause becomes bigger than the strain.
The love of money, power and self exaltation, leads to pride and a great fall.
the answer......Jesus plus humility in self denial, is the secret to real spiritual riches and power.
The far reaches of our testimony and effectiveness will be realized in the life that we live.
when we are willing to serve rather than to be served.
Quote:
“In the heart of Africa, among the Great Lakes, I have come across black men and women who remembered the only white man they ever saw before—David Livingstone; and as you cross his footsteps in that dark continent, men’s faces light up as they speak of the kind Doctor who passed there years ago. They could not understand him; but they felt the love that beat in his heart” (Drummond 2007, 15).
The intended message was this: Sacrifice is the heart beat of Love and humility
As Christ loved and gave himself for us.....so we love and sacrifice for others..for the cause of Christ.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
As our supreme example walked (Jesus Christ) let us so walk…not as haughty or proud, but in humility preferring the needs of others above ourselves....