Untitled Sermon

Choosing to be a Son

Hebrews 5:8 (NLT) — 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

Look at the next verse “In this way, God qualified him…” Staying in place through suffering obedience is a form of meekness

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Meekness caused Jesus to endure.

What is meekness?

Suffering when you don’t want to and perhaps when you don’t have to but he told you to do it. Doing what He says, when He says to do it. What is meekness?

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Philippians 2:6–11 (NLT) — 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. John 5:19 (NLT) — 19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. John 10:18 (NLT) — 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Meekness is an eternal quality not found without Him. This quality is not carnal. It is heavenly. It does not humanistic. It is an expression of love. God is love.

John 10:14–15 (NLT) — 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. John 15:13–17 (NLT) — 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Literally, be prepared to lay down your lives for one another another. Boom! 1 John 3:16 (NLT) — 16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.