Service by Sitting

Man the pumps....

Opener

Sometimes radical Christianity begins to hyper focus on things that they feel important. We can be reactionary to weakness we see in “main-line Christianity.” It is good for us take inventory often to insure that we are still following Jesus instructions for us.

Today I want to explore a thread of thought through Jesus teaching and example as a way of taking inventory in my own life.

We spend alot of energy and time talking and fulfilling the Great Commission. This is good and it is one thing that attracted me to Kingdom Christianity but I want to look at scripture that may challenge our thinking on how we practice this command.

Choosing the Good Part

Luke 10:25-42

Lk 10 25-28 “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.””

Expert of religious law (NLT)

Was this man genuine in his question?

Jesus is brilliant in his answer to the question by asking another question. By doing this Jesus led the man to answer his own question.

I can almost imagine the lawyer pat himself on the back as he got the Praise of Christ

Luke 10:29-37

Luke 10:29–37 (NKJV)

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Either this man is having a lightbulb moment or he is as scripture says, wanting the contiuned commendation of Christ....”who is my neighbor”

Jesus tells a story of a very unfortunate man who falls into the hands of evil men

Again Jesus turns the table and asks the man.... who was the neighbor?

Jesus uses this story as a very compelling teaching tool for this lawyer and his disciples who would have been listening and observing.

“Go and do likewise”.....

Luke 10 38-42 “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””

Did Mary and Martha witness the preceeding passage?

Mary and Martha were excited to host Jesus in their house

Jesus obviously weary from his days of ministry and travel

Martha was distracted with much serving

Martha was not sinning, in fact she was doing a good thing

she was making sure the bowl of hummus presented well

the plate with the figs and pommegranetes and dates was full

made sure that Jesus wine glass was full

Martha was being an amazing hostess. May I repeat she was not doing anything wrong.

2. Where Martha was wrong was that she was not doing the “GOOD THING”

3. Was Jesus contradicting His message to the lawyer?

Are we choosing the GOOD PART, which will not be taken away?

What is the “Good Part”

I do not want to proof text. Please be critical in your listening and expose any falesy in this teaching.

Emotional Rest

Mark 6:30–31 (NKJV)

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

The disciples had just returned from burying John the Baptist.

We can only imagine the emotional mess they would have been…surely the lightbulb had gone off in their mind, realizing that their lives may be in danger as well

Jesus said “come aside and rest awhile”

-literally Jesus was telling them to put up their feet and relax

If we would continue to read in this passage we would see that this did not work out very well for them. The crowd learned their GPS coordinates and beat them to their campsite.

1 Corinthians 16:17–18 NKJV

I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

Sometimes God uses fellow bretheren to bring Emotional Rest to us.

Am I refreshing the spirt of those around me?

Spiritual Water

John 7:37–38 NKJV

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus CRIED OUT

This was at a feast.... why is Jesus asking if people are thirsty

Even when we are surrounded by food and drink we can be spiritually parched

If we are going to be an artesian well of spiritual blessing for others we first need to be drinking from the well called Jesus

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Renewal of strength requires waiting

This level renewal of strength is only capable through the renewing from God.

Rest of answered supplication

Psalm 40:1–3 NKJV

I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

How can we be effective in fulfilling the great commission if God has not set our feet upon the Rock

We Cannot fulfill the Great commision on our own strength

Rest from our Burdens

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

We were not designed to carry a load by ourselves

What load?

spiritual choices of friends and family

the Expanse of the size of the spiritual harvest and the lack of workers

Jesus Load

gentle

lowly in heart

will find rest

easy (comfortable) (Example of a well fitted yoke for a beast of burden)

burden is light (when we yoke to Christ, it does not change the weight of the burden but rather puts the burden onto Christ so we do not need to carry it.

Matthew 14:25–33 NKJV

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Peter tried to carry the burden on human strength, without success

When we do ministry on our strength our success will be the same

Giving Rest

Matthew 19:14–15 (NKJV)

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

Why did Jesus break from the dialoge and call the Children to come to him

If the next generation loses out because of lack of teaching we have not been successful

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jerusalem (home spiritual community)

Judea (extended spiritual community)

Uttermost part of the earth (Outside spiritual community)

Exodus 17:10–13 NKJV

So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

If our communites have people who are living in defeat because we are neglecting the ones whos arms are tired.... are we still sucessful?

Conclusion

If my brother is parched because of over extending himself in service and I pass by on the other side. Am I fulfilling Christ’s Command.

Jesus message to us is.... Sit at my feet. Be filled of me. Do not be distracted by much serving.

As we are filled by Him we will be as a river of water bringing life to those around us and by this we can fulfil the Great Commission.