What Defines?
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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It is reported that in the late 1860s, President Ulysses S. Grant gave a cigar to Horace Norton, philanthropist and founder of Norton College. Because of his respect for the President, Norton chose to keep the cigar rather than smoke it. Upon Norton's death, the cigar passed to his son, and later it was bequeathed to his grandson. It was Norton's grandson who in 1932 chose to light the cigar ceremoniously during an oration at Norton College's 70th anniversary celebration. Waxing eloquent, Norton lit the famous cigar and proceeded to extol the many virtues of Grant until...Boom! The renowned cigar exploded! That's right- over sixty years earlier Grant had passed a loaded cigar along to a good friend, and at long last it had made a fool of his friend's grandson!
The ultimate fake out. One that lasted generations.
So how does this tie into our message for today?
I have always said you will need to worship, pray and read your bible to grow your relationship with the Lord.
That is not a fake out, that is basic sanctification. You need those three things to grow.
Today, we will not be looking at what a Christian needs to grow. Today, we will be looking at what characteristics defines a Christian.
The reason I started this message talking about a fake out is because each and everyone of the characteristics of a Christian can be faked in front of people.
There is a saying…You can fool some of the people some of the time, but God none of the time.
John 13 is the example of the characteristics that we should show as Christians.
And it is my prayer for each and everyone of you, to not fake these, and to do them will all your heart.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must do these characteristics as if we are doing them unto Him.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,
In all honesty, your mouth should not have to say, “I am a Christian!” your actions are what define as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."
So let’s get started today with prayer and then dive into the verses for today.
A disciple is defined by their servant’s heart.
During the week of Easter, every year we have a foot washing service.
It is a beautiful and amazing service.
We do this to remember what Christ did for His disciples.
So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.
In today’s society, we have a hard time with this.
Washing someone’s nasty feet, especially at night after they have been walking on them all day.
A lot of you would be, I ain’t doing it and I ain’t letting someone touch my feet.
You miss what the meaning behind this is...it is about your heart not their feet.
We sit there turning our noses up, but Christ did not shy away. Matter of fact, he even washed the feet of the man who would betray Him.
Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God.
That is the true heart of a disciple. Not to discriminate, but to serve all. Even the one’s you have strong feelings for.
I am not telling you to give them everything you have.
A servant’s heart does not always mean money.
It means...give the example of the blowout.
Christ explains why we should be this way.
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
Christ showed us here that we are not greater than our neighbor. We are not greater than our enemy.
Just because we have called upon the Lord as our savior, does not make us any better.
“Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
If our Lord took upon himself to service that was commonly done by a house boy or someone who was disabled, why can we not help someone struggling to get their groceries into their car when they are having troubles with their child.
Give examples.
The second way a disciple is defined is
A disciple is defined by who he gives glory too.
We live in a self centered world.
It is all about what I have done and how many likes I got on Tik Tok.
Give the example of the Dr Phil show.
When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.
The he is talking about here is when Judas left and betrayed Christ.
That is important, because the glorification Christ is talking about is He will be killed but it is for the glory and worship of the father.
I said it earlier...do all things with a heart that glorifies Jesus Christ, not yourself.
Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
To call yourself a Christian, a disciple of Christ, your glory is not yours, it is his.
The same proverbs warns us about taking the glory for ourselves.
Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
A servant’s heart and giving God all the glory, finally
A disciple is defined by how they love.
Love is easy when you are surrounded by the people you love.
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Love is not a suggestion, it is a commandment!
Second only to loving God first.
