Greatness Unleashed
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Greatness Unleashed
Greatness Unleashed
GREATNESS is the measure of the relationship that you have with God apart from performance or human achievement.
To beUNLEASHED is to be no longer tethered to things that limit your ability to move beyond perceived limitations or boundaries.
Today Our text is Luke 9:43-48
The Book of Luke was the first of 2 writings by Luke. The other was the book of Acts. Luke was both a physician and an historian. The goal of this book is to place and orderly account of the life of the man, Christ Jesus.
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
I emphasis the man because the book presents Christ in his humanity. He covers details of His early life and family and provides a lineage back to Adam. Jesus Christ's incarnation was complete. This is one aspect of Christ that should not be overlooked.
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Our Text
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
What is Greatness?
What is Greatness?
Many View Greatness as
++Accomplishment
++Wealth
++Power
Many people view greatness in accomplishments, wealth, or power. Jesus offers a different rule of measure that is not connected with what we do or have but in the connection we have to him.
Last week the message was entitled "Unfinished". It spoke of our responsibility to pass on our faith.
The week prior was entitled Knock, Knock. It spoke from Luke 10 on the power of reception.
In many ways this message will look to the other side that message. While it focus on the receiver, today's message focuses on our authority to proclaim what God has done in our lives no matter how large or small.
What Happened?
What Happened?
38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
A man had
++Had one child that was sick.
++Needed Help
++Brought the child to Jesus' disciples
40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
His Disciples
++Tried to help
++Could not help Him
++Could not do anything
42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
When they brought the child to Jesus
++The devil through him down
++and tore him.
Jesus
++Rebuked the unclean spirit
++Healed the child
Jesus does a complete work
++He will to deliver you
++He will to heal you.
The text highlights the effects of
++The Works of God
++The Word of God
++The Will of God
38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
The works of God was embodied by Christ
++They were amazed by what he did
++The miracles were great
++Greatness was not his focus
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
They
++stood amazed
++The wondered
++They were afraid to talk to Jesus
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Now they are considering which of them is greatest
Now they are considering which of them is greatest
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
The first thing that I see is the ambition that existed among his followers.
They reasoned among themselves
They reasoned among themselves
I wonder how that conversation went?
What would be the measuring rod of the discussion?
How would the comparison be made?
Who would be the Judge?
Why would that even be important to them?
These are the guys that are reasoning on who is the greatest among them.
There was no framework for the debate on greatness.
There was no framework for the debate on greatness.
They had just witness the Power of God
++It was resident in Christ
++The power that exceeded all expectation
++It did what no one else could do
++Not even them.
There discussion did not include Christ.
++It was about the greatness of me.
++The conversation is one of comparative power.
We must realize that the greatness in us is a bi-product our our connection or relationship to Christ and service to others.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Jesus Describes them as
++Faithless
++A Perverse Generation
++A waste of my time
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Jesus knew what was on their mind.
Jesus knew what was on their mind.
He took a child.
He took a child.
A child
++No history
++No accomplishment
++No resources
++Nothing to offer
Status was a preeminent concern in ancient society; children had none
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Lk 9:46–48.
He sat the child by him
He sat the child by him
His is not looking
++Our ability
++Our resources
++Our accomplishments
Jesus just wants someone
++He can position
++He can sit beside him
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
We will never be great until we are satisfied being small.
We will never be great until we are satisfied being small.
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
Greatness Unleashed
Greatness Unleashed
Introducing the text
The Importance of Connection
The Importance of Connection
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jesus is
++The right connection
++The Access Point
++The Answer
Ambition can keep us from seeing him
Ambition can keep us from seeing him
The Power of experience
++The saw His works
++They were amazed
++They participated in the miracle
++They easily minimized
They had the wrong focus
They had the wrong focus
They measured
++Accomplishments over Obedience
++By Comparison not by Compassion
++Human Success over Sacrifice
++By what they saw
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
To walk by faith
++Live life in process
++The Journey is as important as the destination
3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
5 God forbid that I should justify you: Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity.
To walk by faith
Live life in process
The Journey is as important as the destination
Rely on God
++To believe
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
To walk by faith
Live life in process
The Journey is as important as the destination
Rely on God
To believe
++Trust and Obey
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
As the pastor of a small church it is vital to build a people of faith that trust that their relationship with God is the pathway to a purposeful and fulfilling life.
Our Vision is to be
Purposeful in Life.
Purposeful in Life.
Everybody has a purpose; and that purpose is found in Christ.
Even too we can be heard
++No Big I(s)
++No little you(s)
16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
True Greatness is found in the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.
True Greatness is found in the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.
The Blessing of Being In Christ
The Blessing of Being In Christ
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
And they were Amazed, Astounded, Gripped in Awe. at the Mighty power, the impressiveness, the Majesty, the Greatness, The Majestic Display of God.
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Jesus Speaks to them, what Jesus would say would burst the bubble of their intrigue. It was a reality check, a call back from the mountain top impressive display to the real mission.
What God does is with purpose.
What God does is with purpose.
His purpose
++is not to wow us
++to impress us
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
With every miracle there is a message
With every miracle there is a message
the greater the miracle the more profound the message
Miracles Come
++To get our Attention
++To increase our Faith
++To prepare us for Him
God is trying to tell you something
God is trying to tell you something
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Let these words
++Sink into your ears
++Take them to heart
++Listen carefully
++Remember
True Greatness
++Is being connected to Him
++is serving others.
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
Received-dechomai; to welcome, to accept
What did it mean to be great?
What did it mean to be great?
This is a Heart Issue
This is a Heart Issue
The Heart of man is complicated
++It thinks
++It speaks
++It is the root of a mater or activity