Who are we? Connecting

Some poor guy fell asleep during a Sunday Sermon at the worst time. The Pastor said,“Will all who want to go to heaven stand up now.”

Everyone stood, except for this one sleeping guy.

After they sat, the pastor continued, “Well, will all who want to go to the other place please stand?” Somebody suddenly dropped a hymnal, and the sleeping man jumped to his feet and stood sheepishly facing the preacher.

The sleeper mumbled confused. “Well, preacher, I don’t know what we’re voting for, but it looks like you and I are the only ones for it.”

It’s important to listen the whole sermon if you are going to understand what is being communicated.

We have been in a series answering the question, “Who are we?”

We are a church with a vision of proclaiming the Gospel, we are going to do that because we are grounded in the Word. We are Worshipers, Evangelists, Servers, Connectors, and Growers.

Today I want to focus on the core value of Connecting. We are people committed to connecting with God, other people, and connecting those people to God. Connection is important which is why it must be one of our core values.

In the words of the Philosopher Matthew Moore,

“Connection with God is like a cell signal. We don’t what to be caught roaming, the charges of that would cost too much.”

-Matthew Moore

Staying connected isn’t always easy in the real world. It seems to me that everything is grasping for our attention. Our jobs, family life, entertainment, and many more things that could be mentioned. We must be focused in our resolve to remain connected.

In the passage we are going to study today we discover a few thoughts about connection. My hope is that you are encouraged.

I want to establish what it means to be connected to God through our salvation, our daily devotion, and our surrender or commitment.

If you have your Bible you can turn to John Chapter 13 - this is where we will spend most of our study today.

This is an incredible chapter which we can find truth about our relationship with God and how we are connected to Him. In this chapter we find Jesus washing feet and really showing His true purpose of why He came as a man to this world.

Washing of the feet was a common practice in those days. They wore open shoes in a very dry, dusty part of the world. Many times they really didn’t need a bath, but their hands and feet would be dirty from their daily activities.

Before they ate it would be common practice for the slave or servant to come out and was the feet. What we are told here in the Bible is that Jesus decided to wash the disciples feet that evening. He took the place of the slave and in humility He washed His followers feet.

My first point today is that we have...

Connection through Grace

Let’s read the first 5 verses of John 13

John 13:1–5 NLT

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Jesus was just not what the people expected from a Messiah. He came to set up a kingdom like none other. Instead of earning the title of King by killing, over powering, or some military feat He came as a servant in humility, meekness, even to the point that He took on the job of a slave to wash the feet for those whom He loved.

What an incredible picture of Salvation we find in these verses. He is showing in this simple action that He was laying himself down for the people He loved. It was a picture of what He was going to face on the cross.

Did have have to serve in this way? No, he didn’t. Yet He chose to do this because He cared. Because His motivation was love and generosity.

These men did not deserve to be served by Jesus in this way. It’s really a picture of Grace.

To be connected to God. To be connected to our purpose. We must understand grace. We must understand service.

Too many times we aren’t motivated by grace to serve others.

You may or may not know that I am training to run in a half marathon. I’ve already paid the $80 to enter the race. I have been out there running for 6 weeks now. It’s been hard. I can say at this moment that I have really enjoyed running, mainly because I am not running at this very moment. I’d say running isn’t fun until you can see your stopping point!

Well, to do this I had to find motivation. You know what my motivation is? Health - No. Determination - No. Spiritual Discipline - No.

My motivation is that medal they give out for everyone who finishes the race. I know it sounds dumb. I could probably just buy one, but something inside me wants that dumb thing. I run thinking about it every time I am out there about to pass out!

I’ll be bring it in once I have it when I preach about Pride!!!

My motivation might be strange, but it’s powerful.

Motivation is why we do things half way or full on!

Jesus washed the feet of His followers that day because He was motivated by Grace and Love.

Our connection with God must be founded on this grace. We can’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. We just have to trust in Him for it.

What’s interesting here is that just before this happened these disciples were arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom that they thought Jesus was there to set up.

Luke 22:24–27 NLT

24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

Jesus told them and then showed them that to be connected to HIS kingdom you must serve.

The church is filled with talented people. I have met so many folks with unbelievable skills that could change the way the church operates. But you know what happens more often than not? Just like those followers started arguing about who would be the greatest I’ve seen talented, skilled people focus on themselves instead of serving with a happy heart.

They don’t understand Grace. We are connected to God by grace. We need to live a life full of this same grace! It should be what motivates us every day.

It’s not about getting the medal. It’s about serving. It’s about understanding we are all in this because God loved us first. It’s about grace.

A connected person knows they are only connected through grace. What Jesus was doing was an expression of Grace. He was washing there feet to represent what He did by leaving heaven coming to earth.

He left a throne to become a servant.

Philippians 2:5–11 NLT

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We cannot be connected if we are fighting for recognition or position. Connection means humility.

1 Peter 5:5–6 NLT

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

My hope is that we are people known for serving because we understand our connection with God is based in Grace.

My second point is that we have a...

Connection through Union and Communion

Let’s look at verse 8

John 13:8 NLT

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Can’t we identify with Peter? If Jesus came into this room right now with soap and water to wash your feet how would you feel? Would you be the first person kicking off their shoes or would you be more like Peter - no way, you’re not washing me!

I want to talk about the difference between Union and Communion. Peter was in union with Christ as one of “His own” through faith, but sin can break our communion with the Lord. There is a difference between sonship and fellowship.

For those of us who have children we can maybe understand this fairly easily. Our kids are born to us, they have our last name, and we share DNA, they are our children because we love them. You could say we are in Union together. We are bound together.

But sometimes those kids mess up, they break our rules. We can be disappointed in the things they do. When they don’t do what we want does it mean they aren’t ours? No way! They have just broken Communion with us. We are in union, but not communion.

My Mom has said it like this, “I love you but I don’t like what you did!”

Our kids will always be our kids, but we might not always be on the best terms.

This is a picture of our connection with God. We can choose to live in daily communion or devotion of we can live in basic union with God.

We see this concept in what Jesus was doing that evening.

Only as we allow Christ to cleanse us can we remain in fellowship or communion with Him and enjoy His presence and power.

John 13:10 NLT

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

Jesus points out the difference between washing and cleaning. When we are saved, we are washed all over.

Titus 3:5–6 NLT

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Salvation is through Faith. It’s how we are cleansed ALL OVER.

When Jesus said they have been “bathed all over” but that they still needed to wash their feet what He was talking about was Union verses Communion.

See, Union is Salvation by grace through faith. Communion is that daily walking out of the Salvation we have recieved.

When we confess daily sins to the Lord, we have our feet washed and our “Walk” is cleansed.

1 John 1:7–9 NLT

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

In the old testament when a man became a priest we was washed all over which is a picture of our once-for-all cleanings; but God also provided soap for then to use daily washing of hands and feet. Exodus 29:4 and Exodus 30:17-21

To be connected with Christ means you have been washed all over and that He is daily cleansing you through the water of the Word.

As we stay connected to the word we aren’t just in Union with God we are in Communion with God.

Psalm 119:9 NLT

9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

Growing up I thought I had to get saved each and every week. I made the same mistake that Peter made in John 13:9; He wanted to be washed all over again when all he really need was to have his feet washed.

He needed fellowship. He was already a son.

We are connected by grace, by daily walking, and we have a...

Connection through Commitment

Something about this foot washing situation is disturbing.

Listen to these two verses:

John 13:2 NLT

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

and

John 13:21 NLT

21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

Judas was following Jesus, but he wasn’t a son. He was disconnected with Jesus.

He had seen every miracle. He had heard all the teaching. He had every opportunity to commit himself to the Lord.

Jesus washed Judas’ feet that evening. Judas was already planning on betraying Jesus to the ones who would demand crucifixion.

Jesus knew what was on Judas’ heart with He said in John 13:21 that one of them was going to betray him. I really actually think that Jesus was giving a warning to Judas. He was giving him a way out of what he was going to do.

Judas had opportunity to change His mind. The Lord pointed out that He knew there was no commitment - He was allowing an opportunity for repentance.

Listen, we are in the same boat folks! Too many times we are facing a choice whether or not our commitment to Christ is more important than our own selfish ambition or desires. We must take the time to listen to the Holy Spirit and make a correction before we walk down the wrong path.

We must not play with sin in our lives! Judas pretended to be a follower. He played with sin; he put off salvation through faith. He made a deliberate choice to betray Christ. History hasn’t been kind to him because we all know exactly what he did.

The problem in our lives is that so many times no one knows our betrayal. No one knows the status of our heart.

To put it plainly, we aren’t really following Jesus in certain areas of our lives.

Here’s a very important warning to those of us who claim to be Sons and Daughters of Jesus.

In John chapter 6 Jesus was teaching about who He was and as He was teaching some people decided to stop following Him. His message was too hard for them and they didn’t want to be associated with Him. He said this to the original 12 followers:

John 6:66–71 NLT

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

There are some mysteries surrounding Judas, but one thing is clear: Judas made a deliberate choice when he betrayed Christ. In verse 70, Christ warned Judas and called him “a devil.”

After washing the feet of the disciples Jesus told them again that there was someone among them who was not connected - who was not committed.

Peter couldn’t hold back, he thought Judas was saved, which is why he said, “We believe!” Peter couldn’t imagine anyone betraying Jesus, especially those closest to Him.

Jesus knew that Judas had never believed and therefore was not saved.

In verse 27 Jesus told Judas to leave and go do what he was going to do.

After Judas left the room, Jesus went on telling them about what was going to happen next that He was going to go to Heaven and be with the Father.

Well, Peter, who was outspoken, and still couldn’t believe that anyone would betray Jesus spoke up in John 13:37 and said he was willing to die for Jesus. That he would never betray Him.

He wanted to know who this person was. I bet he was willing to have some words with them!

John 13:24 NLT

24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?”

Peter was anxious to discover another’s sin (v. 24); now he had to face his own sin.

Peter’s comment saying he was ready to die for Christ showed his lack of understanding of his own heart. SELF-confidence is dangerous in the Christian life.

You see, Peter was committed to Christ and yet he was also about to betray Jesus in his own way.

What Jesus said next is critical for us to see if we are going to understand what it means to stay connected through commitment.

Jesus warned Peter about his own approaching testing and failures.

John 13:38 NLT

38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

To me, this is a warning for all of us right here and right now. We need to understand that saying something is different than doing something.

In other words, who are we when the rubber hits the road? We must remain connected to Christ through our commitment.

Ask yourself what motivates you in your relationship with Jesus. It must be more than a superficial relationship. Those don’t have roots.

We must be connected by grace, surrender, and commitment.