Faith in Action - Follow

Listen - Psalm 46:10. We need to take time to stop and listen to the Word, to listen for the Spirit’s leading in our life. We must be students of the word, taking deliberate, careful, and intentional time in the word to hear from God.

Look - Ps 84:3. - We need to be actively LOOKING for and acknowledging the works of God! We need to be actively giving thanks and worship Him for those God Sightings that we see in our lives.

Get Uncomfortable - Matthew 16:24. We need to be willing to die to self, be uncomfortable in our obedience and following of Jesus.

Body

Number 4…we need to follow.

Follow

Wash My Feet (Skit Guys - Onetimeblind)

Read…

John 13:1-15.

John 13:1–15 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 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.

Who is Jesus?

God

The Son of God

What are some of Jesus’ attributes?

Omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, perfect righteousness, love, mercy, grace, truth, justice, holiness.

And yet, what did Jesus do?

He disrobed, and washed their feet. The lowest servants job in the house.

By removing his outer garment, we would have still been wearing his inner tunic, sleeveless, fit close to the body, stopped above the knee.

Practical for washing feet.

Humble, for the typical attire of a servant

Modest and still appropriately covered. Jesus stooped low, did the lowest servants job.

What does this display about His heart and attitude?

Humble, selfless, sacrificial, gracious, kind, loving

What does it display about the example we are called to emulate? What does it say about what our attitude and actions should be?

The same

To what extent are we supposed to live this way? To whom should our love and care be extended?

To answer that, let us read on…

John 13:21-30

John 13:21–30 ESV

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Now, I realize that for many of us, perhaps, the point that I am about to highlight, is not new. I have made it before.

HOWEVER, it is important that we remember it. That we meditate upon it. That we evaluate our response and obedience to it.

So, let me ask directly….

To whom did Jesus extend this courtesy?

Judas.

Church, listen, even though I understand this reality, that I know this truth…do you know how many times I have remind myself of it?

Christ served even His enemies. Judas. The very one who would betray Him to the death. Who committed the most egregious sin in all of history.

Worse than Hitler, than Stalin, than any name you can name.

If that is the example we are called to follow…what should also be true of us?

Now, I cannot even begin to remotely touch on every application and ever situation that this touches.

Nor am I saying that wisdom and discernment, discretion is not necessary

But what I am saying is this…obedience is not always easy.

But we do not get to decide which things we obey and which things we do not.

We are called to love and serve, even our enemies.

And, the truth is, Jesus’ humble love would not stop here.

Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How far did His love and service go?

To the Cross

And do we think his words in John 13 apply even here?

John 13:12–17 ESV

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.

Do these words apply even to Philippians 2?

YES, they do.

This is just one application of what it means to follow…but it is AN example of what it means to follow…

Love and serve our enemies FOR HIS GLORY.

Obedience to Christ may be difficult. It may hurt. But it will always be right, good, and blessed.

Group Exercise

Break into groups of 3–4 (stay where they are or huddle briefly).

Give them 2 questions to answer together:

What’s one act of service you’ve received that marked you deeply?

What’s one way you can take up the towel this week? (Be specific)

Commit to pray for one another AND follow through in acting how it went.

After 5-8 minutes

What do we do when the cost of following gets hard? What keeps us following and doing the hard things?

Our love for God. His love for us.

His glory and worth. His holiness. The weightiness of His worth.

Show Pic

Church, there are A LOT of professing Christians out there, who say they believe God. But there seems to be less who actually prove that belief through obedience.

There is a pick and choose mentality in the world today. I will obey, I will follow IF IT IS EASY, IF IT SUITS ME.

They are trying to have their cake and eat it to.

And I get it.

It is HARD some days to obey Christ. It is HARD some days to be obedient. Sometimes, obedience hurts.

BUT IN THE END, it is the only path to intimacy with Christ and it will result in blessing.

John 15:10

John 15:10 ESV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Church, our obedience is the evidence of our love and faith.

John 14:15

John 14:15 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 John 5:3

1 John 5:3 ESV

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Love will be evidenced by fruit.

Absence of fruit….

Conclusion

Big Idea: Faith in action requires us to listen, look, get uncomfortable, and follow.

Listen

Look

Get Uncomfortable

Faith in action is a life exemplified by costly obedience

But

Obedience that is joyfully and freely offered.

Faith in Action is a life that is exemplified by a humble, Christ like serving of those whom God places in our lives.

It is found in obedience to that which God has commanded us to do, which He has left us the example to follow.

How will you and I serve Jesus better this coming year? How will we grow in our FAITH IN ACTION lifestyle?

Pray.

Application

How can you create opportunities in your life to listen for God's voice more intentionally?

In what specific ways can you acknowledge and give thanks for God's works in your life?

How can you identify and address areas in your life where you need to 'get uncomfortable' to follow Christ?

Reflect on the humility displayed by Jesus in washing the disciples' feet. How can you emulate this attitude in your everyday interactions?

What does serving those who might betray us teach us about the depth of Jesus' love?

What are some practical steps you can take this week to actively listen to God?

Can you think of a time when you noticed God working in your life? How did that impact your faith?

In what situations might you find it hard to be uncomfortable for the sake of following Jesus?

What are some ways you can show humility and serve others like Jesus did this week?

How can you respond to challenges in your faith by focusing on Christ's love and example?

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