When Rights Are Wrong, Part 2

Imagine!!! Christ, the King of glory, the Master and Creator of the universe, could have chosen to live on earth as a wealthy monarch, having dominion over all the world. He could have also chosen to have the human race, which He created, accord Him the highest respect, which He alone deserves. Only He has the power to control people to do His bidding. As ruler of His creation, He could have rightful/y claimed all power, glory and honor, while being served by those He created. Instead,Christ“ made himself nothing” or “emptied himself.”

With what words did Christ declare His rightful position? (Matt. 28:18)

Matthew 28:18 “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

All authority and power has been given to Him.

Christ chose to humble Himself, taking what form? (Phil. 2:7)

Philippians 2:7 “7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

A servant, made in the likeness of men.

What is significant about his role as servant?

A servant yields his will and desires to the authority and might of another.

What does Jesus state is the purpose of His life? (John 5:30; 6:38; 4:34)

John 5:30 “30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

John 6:38 “38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

John 4:34 “34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

To do His Father’s Will

At the time of Christ’s greatest trial, He, the bond-servant, yielded His will to His Father’s will with what words? (Luke 22:42b)

Luke 22:42 “42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””

Not my will but yours be done.

What is so amazing about those words?

Jesus did not insist upon his way or his authority, or his position, or his privilege. He gave it up, for us. For me.

By using the same words, you can yield your will to your Heavenly Father’s will for you. Through yielding yourself and your will to God, you allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to obey. Your journey to emotional freedom begins by turning away from focusing on yourself and on those who hurt you and instead, focusing on the Lord, His Word and His will.

He chose to give up all His personal rights, which were within His power to grasp. He deserved them as sovereign Lord of the entire universe. The following questions and verses reveal the specific rights Christ relinquished: Read Philippians2:6,7, if possible, in the King James Version, as well as a modern version. Write these verses in your own words.

KJV - 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Php 2:6–7.

Philippians 2:6–7 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

He was/is God but did not consider that as something to be used for his advantage and instead he humbled himself to be made a servant for those lesser than Himself.

Who, though HE WAS GOD, did not consider it to be blasphemy or stealing from God’s glory to declare himself God, did not count his equality with God as a thing to hold tightly onto, but instead forsook his rightful place, his reputation AS God to be made like men, a servant of men for our sake.

Christ was born into poverty. What right did He relinquish?

His divine power and authority.

FOR ALL THAT FOLLOW…READ THE TEXT FIRST AND THEN PUT UP THE QUESTION

He was not received as a prophet in His own hometown or in His own household. What right did He give up? (Matt. 13:57; John 7:5)

Matthew 13:57 “57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.””

John 17:5 “5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

To be honored and respected

What is another right He relinquished? (Luke 9:58)

Luke 9:58 “58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.””

His home: A place of rest and security

What right did He give up concerning His outward appearance? (Is. 53:2)

Isaiah 53:2 “2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”

His majesty and beauty

Was He freed from the temptations of Satan though He was God? (Luke 4:13; Heb. 4:15)

Luke 4:13 “13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

No. He faced every one

What right did He renounce when Satan tempted Him? (Matt. 4:1-11)

Matthew 4:1–5 “1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple”

Matthew 4:6–11 “6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

Fleshly pleasures, power, worship, the easy path.

He was the most spiritually mature person who ever walked the face of the earth, but He did not claim the right to reputation or to respect of the religious leaders of His day. How did the leaders attempt to demean Christ? (Luke 7:34)

Luke 7:34 “34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

They called him a drunken and glutton

Christ realized He must not ignore the sins of the religious leaders to avoid conflict. He was concerned about their souls so He didn’t try to placate them by telling them what they wanted to hear.

With what words did He admonish the Scribes and Pharisees? (Matt. 23:23-29)

Matthew 23:23–29 “23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,”

Woe to you

Blind Guides

Hypocrites

White washed tombs

Dead people

Unclean bones

Hypocrisy

Lawlessness

What did His disciples say to warn Him about the impact of His admonishments? (Matt. 15:12)

Matthew 15:12 “12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?””

They were offended

How did He choose to respond to the difficult people in His life? Therefore, what rights did He forfeit?(1Pet.2:22,23)

1 Peter 2:22–23 “22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

He didn’t revile in return or return evil for evil. He forfeited his right to be treated well.

What did Jesus do rather than claiming the right to be served by others? (John 13:12-17; Matt. 20:28)

John 13:12–17 “12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Matthew 20:28 “28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

He served them.

He even gave up the right to a long life, which is an expectation most Americans unconsciously claim. His earthly existence consisted of 33 years. The scriptural call of every Christian to a life of sacrifice and suffering has been left behind in the dust of an affluent, self-indulgent society. Many Christians today believe that if they are obedient or even rebellious, they deserve to have everything (or at least most things) go their way. The “world view” assails you every day with the erroneous message that you deserve the “good life” and that you have a right to personal happiness.

How did Christ learn obedience? (Heb. 5:8)

Hebrews 5:8 “8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

Through suffering

Some things you can only truly understand ONCE YOU HAVE ENDURED THEM. You can empathize with someone who has lost a loved one but you cannot truly sympathize with them UNTIL you have endured it. Some things have to be learned by experience in order to truly understand. This is the meaning of this statement. Jesus learned about hardship from enduring it. He learned about the cost of obedience, the pain of obedience BY ENDURING IT. He learned obedience, the price of it through the things he suffered. By so doing, when we obey and it hurts, he can come along side us, grab us up into his arms and whisper, I know, I know, while he strokes our heart and wipes away our tears.

Did Jesus’ perfect obedience to His Father free Him from hardship, poverty, rejection, loss of reputation, ridicule, physical pain, emotional distress and ultimately, a cruel death as a common criminal?

Read Philippians 2:5-9.

Philippians 2:5–9 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,”

What attitude are you commanded to have? (v. 5)

Same attitude as Christ

What does that attitude include? (W. 6-8)

A forsaking of all my “rights”

Becoming a servant

Suffering

The Christ-like attitude, which God asks of you, includes giving up all rights to self and being “emptied”of self so Christ can fill you and live His life through you. He gave up His rights in order to save you from an eternity in hell!

If Christ, who had every right to make his claims and claim his rights, yielded them and gave them up, how much more should we who have no right to claim them.

Are you willing to renounce your perceived rights, to be emptied of self, to become a servant of God and of others, to become obedient, even to the point of death?

YES!

Satan constantly whispers or shouts, “Freedom is seeking happiness, living for self and doing your own thing!” God says the opposite,“You are free when you are emptied of self and have become a bond-servant of Christ.”

To “walk by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7) is to give up self-interest and to relinquish your perceived rights so you will enjoy the freedom found only in bondage to Christ and His will for your life. The deep surrender that exchanges “My will” for “Thy will” is the surrender that sets the captive free! This is a commitment that will be made repeatedly throughout your lifetime as trials and temptations continue to assail you. However, building an awareness of your self-life goals and your perceived rights, which need to be confessed and renounced, will help you return to or to remain in the path of obedience.

James 1:25 ESV

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Psalm 119:32 ESV

32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

John 8:31–32 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Conclusion

Big Idea: Christ is the ultimate example of surrendering His rights in submission to God.

Christ, the Example

Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice

Church, as we continue to commit to growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God, may we yield our “rights” and obey Christ.

Application

What truth about Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and example stood out to you most and why?

Which right that Jesus chose to relinquish stood out most to you and why?

Why is it significant that Jesus chose to relinquish his right to authority?

Because if HE, who had EVERY RIGHT to that authority, chose to lay it down for us, and He is the master, the Lord, the teacher, then how much more should we choose to lay down our “rights,” our perceived rights.

Why is it hard to relinquish our desire to be respected and honored?

Because we want to know that our lives have value and worth. One way we get that is when others respect and express appreciation and honor to us.

Our selfishness and pride make it hard.

What makes surrendering our “right” to our home so hard?

It is the place we feel safest, most secure.

It is the place we feel more comfortable and at ease.

It is the place we enjoy as a sanctuary and refuge.

Giving that up, relinquishing that right is hard.

Why do we like to cling to our sense of beauty and appearance? How do we lay it down for Him?

Again, we find a sense of value, affirmation, worth from that. We feel like it give us greater significance and meaning.

We use our beauty and appearance as a means to get ahead in the world, to obtain that which we desire, and to make a way for ourselves.

We place our identity, our value, and our worth in something higher than our appearance…we place it in God instead…we place it in who he says we are, who he declares us to be.

Why do we somethings think that we should be protected from all temptation? Why does God allow us to face temptation?

Wrong assumptions or wrong teaching.

In our human wisdom, we think that God, who is all powerful SHOULD protect us from all harm. We have come to think that love protects and prevents harm from coming to those whom we love. We fail to realize that sometimes, harm and hurt, trial and struggle are good, producing something in us that can only come by facing adversity.

God allows us to face temptation to TEST the strength and validity of our faith and resolve. He allows us to face temptation to drive us back to Himself. He uses temptation to strengthen our walk with Him and to strengthen our devotion to Him and our hatred of sin.

Why do we not have the right to demand respectful treatment from those we minister to? How ought we respond when we are treated less respectfully than we think we deserve or desire?

We do not have right, because we are not God. Man has been given a choice, a choice to love and obey God and man, or not.

We do not have the right because we are not promised that we will be respected by those we minister to.

We ought to respond humbly, graciously. We are not ultimately serving for their sake…but for God’s.

We should serve, and keep serving, anyway.

How should we respond when we are reviled and attacked?

Not revile in return

Love, forgive.

Serve. Show grace and kindness

If and when we must rebuke, to do so in a heart of humility and gentleness (But firmness)

Why do we struggle so hard to surrender our “right” to defend ourselves, to justify our actions, to exonerate our name?

We like to be thought well of.

We all hate the injustice of false accusations and false incriminations.

Too often, we find our sense of identity in how others view us, thus for them to view us poorly, we struggle with.

Why do we NOT have the right to demand fair and just treatment from others?

Because we are not God.

How do we train ourselves to respond humbly in the face of unfair and unjust treatment?

Walk in the Spirit

Stay close to Christ

Reflect often and deeply of the cross.

Remember how much we have been forgiven…

Remember the cost of our sin…

Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, says that the “central citadel of obstinacy” is, “I will not give up my right to myself...” He also says, “There is no question of your rights. The stamp of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the LordJesus.” How do you respond to this statement?

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