Part 3 - A Powerful Walk

Opening

Have you ever wondered who the most powerful person is on the earth? As a kid have you ever thought to yourself, who is the most powerful person?

I heard a story the past week of a person that was probably the most powerful person that lived in NWA. Sam Walton loved to bird hunt. He had taken a few of his executives to a bird hunt. They had three dogs, one of them was Sam’s dog Ol Roy. After the hunt, it was time to grab a lunch and go home. One dog had just done okay.... he wasn’t the best… Sam put some food right on the ground for him, not even a bowl… the next dog did pretty good but still wasn’t the best… Sam put some food in a bowl and placed it on the ground… but Ol Roy did incredible and did the best. He sat on the tail gate with Sam and shared Sam’s sandwich with him.

The executives said they all took that as a message from Sam.

As a child, you may have wondered who is the most powerful man… is it my dad? Superman? the Hulk? Chuck Norris? Then as we get older we know that many say the most powerful man alive is the President of the United States. Some would argue right now that it’s the puppet master behind the curtain and not the President!

What ever our thought… we don’t consider the most humble person to be the most powerful person. However, the greatest example of a powerful person was the most humble person.

We have talked about how we should Walk out this Christian life with Intentionality… we learned what 1 Thessalonians says to us about living this Christian life. Then we learned what it means to live a Christian Life that actually accomplishes something. We learned why we should do what we do! We talked about the more intentional we are the more profitable we are and they both feed off each other.

Today I’m finishing my Surrendered Life series by talking to you about how we live this Christian Life in a powerful way. A Powerful Walk! And what better example than Jesus.

After exhorting the Philippians to lay aside their personal interests and focus on the needs of others, the apostle Paul tells us how to follow the example of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11). From this passage we learn a few things about our Lord that model for us the essence of true power and authority.

Scripture

Philippians 2:1–11

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Body

Jesus Christ, the most powerful man ever to walk on the face of the earth was also the most humble man who ever lived. His agenda was never to promote himself, but to please his Father by loving and serving others.

Jesus summarized his mission statement in these words:

Luke 19:10 “10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””

Characteristics of a Powerful Believer

1. Humility

• First, Jesus didn’t selfishly cling to the outer expression of his divinity. Instead, he took the form of a servant. A humble leader doesn’t flaunt their position or power. Instead, they identify with the weakest member of the team.

Mark 10:45

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It is one thing to claim to be a servant, but it is another to be treated as one. But that leads us to our second Characteristic of a Powerful Believer… He was Obedient to serve others… and because of this He was not treated as a servant. He was Intentionally Walking this life as a servant.

2. Obedience

Jesus demonstrated humility through obedience to God the Father. A humble leader doesn’t impose their will on God, but submits to God’s commands.

Christ’s humility was evident in his perfect obedience to the authority and will of his Father. He “learned obedience from what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8) and always sought to glorify the Father and not himself.

3. Patience

• Third, Jesus waited for his Father to lift him up. A humble leader doesn’t grab for power or position. They patiently wait for God to increase their influence.

4. Commitment

Jesus’ incarnation was in itself a profound act of humility, let alone his death on a cross. He didn’t come as a king, but as a helpless infant.

After he began his ministry, he demonstrated humble service to others in the miracles he performed, as well as in his instruction to his disciples. Although he was perfectly God and perfectly human at the same time (John 1:14), he lived his life as a humble laborer.

And when the time came for him to die, he submitted to his Father’s divine will (see Mark 14:36). Now, seated in power at the right hand of God, he intercedes on our behalf (Acts 5:29-32).

As the perfect model for godly leadership, Jesus set the perfect example of humility. Because he knew who he was, He was secure enough to serve others (John 13:3-5).

Open Heaven

Each of us have benefits and resources that are afforded us. But they are based upon our level of Humility, Obedience, Patience & Commitment. There are certain blessings that come with a complete surrendered life. You want to be a powerful believer? I want to be the Christian that walks in the room and scares the devil back to hell. I want to be the Christian that walks this life with powerful humility, obedience, patience & commitment.

Deuteronomy 28:12–13 “12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”

This passage in Deuteronomy God is talking to the children of Israel and He is telling them the benefits and blessings that come with obedience.

An Open Heaven means that you will have what you need, when you need it. What ever season you are walking through you will have what is needed. Your faithful labor of being humble, obedient, patient & commited will open the heavens to you.

We will be set in areas we can’t even imagine because the promise is if we heed(obey) what God asks of us He will open up every window of blessing heaven holds.

Psalms 84:11 “11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.”

We control what heaven opens to us by our spiritual walk.

Over these last three weeks I have led you to a place of becoming a powerful believer. A person that your grandchildren will say, oh my Grandma & Grandpa are close to God. They know how to reach heaven. I’m telling you… to get ready for the blessings of God upon your life. As you move into a more Surrendered Life the heavens will be opened up more and more.

The more you surrender the more heaven opens!

Closing

Altar