And so John chapter excuse me mark rather 9 verse 33 is where I want to start this morning
It says and he came to Capernaum and being in the house
He asked them. What is it that you discussed among yourselves by the way?
And I want to draw attention here to verse 34 it says, but they held their peace
For by the way, they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest so Jesus asked them this question
And it seems like the disciples here are rather reluctant to tell him the answer saying hey
What was it you were talking about the way I overheard something you guys seem to be talking about something
What was it you were talking about and?
Usually when you ask somebody that if you're if you've ever walked up to somebody when they're in the middle of conversation
And said oh, what are you guys talking about?
Doesn't that make you kind of feel like well?
What were you talking about maybe was it about me or maybe wasn't something I wasn't supposed to know or you'd rather
I didn't know and that's kind of what's going on here in the story
But we know the truth, and if you would keep something in mark this morning
We're gonna come back several times go over to Matthew chapter 17 Matthew chapter 17
You know the truth is is that Jesus he already knows the answer. You know this is kind of a
Hypothetical question that he's putting to him. What wasn't you were talking about?
Well, he already knows it says in Luke 9 you're going to Matthew 17
And there rose a reasoning among them which which of them should be the greatest right and this is talking about that same incident
And it says in verse 47 and Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart took a child and said it by him
And we see what happens there in Mark 9. We'll come back to that, but notice
It says that Jesus already know he's perceiving the thought of their heart
You say well
Why was it that he was able to perceive the thought of their heart you know a lot of times?
We think Jesus could just automatically read people's minds, and maybe that was the case
But I tend to think that maybe was because of the fact that when we start to compare passages with other passages is that?
Jesus kind of knew this is what they were talking about because of the fact they asked him who should be the greatest
If you look there in Matthew chapter 17 verse 24 is a parallel passage it says and when they were come to Capernaum
Right like Mark and they he came to Capernaum that they received the tribute money
Came to they that received tribute money came to Peter and said doth not your master pay tribute
He said yes, and when he was come into the house, and he's in Capernaum
He's in the house and mark 9. That's what we see he was in Capernaum and being in the house
so these are parallel passages and
We've come to the house Jesus prevented him saying what thinkest thou Simon jumped down to chapter 18 chapter 18 verse 1 at the same time
Same time as when when they were in Capernaum and in the house
disciples came under Jesus saying
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven so this perception that Jesus had was well?
I see you guys were talking about something along the way
And then we get to the house of Capernaum and all of a sudden you're coming and asking me who's gonna be the greatest
I think I know what it was you're talking along the way
It was able to perceive. What was in their hearts
And Jesus here, you know what they're doing the disciples is they're not really asking out of a sincere heart
They're not saying you know who's the greatest is it you know John didn't come and say it's Peter isn't it?
Andrew didn't come and say oh, it's it's Thaddeus right
No, they're thinking it's me isn't it because remember by the way, they're disputing who should be the greatest
I don't think they were making anybody else's case in all likelihood. They were making their own case
But notice that Jesus doesn't rebuke them for asking such a thing he doesn't say who do you think you are
you know asking such a
Arrogant brazen question could somebody make some some room for these folks here, please
He doesn't rebuke them for asking such a thing
He doesn't say you know what you should worry about being the greatest in fact as we read the passage
He gives you instructions on how to be the greatest
Jesus doesn't rebuke them and that tells me is that you know we should desire to do great things
We should desire to do great things for God look
I don't want to live this mediocre Christian life half-in half-out wishy-washy Christianity. I'm not interested
That's boring. I want to get all the way in I want to do something great for God
You know that's a big reason why we decide let's move down to Tucson. Let's buy a house
Let's start growing the church. Let's leave some soul-winning. Let's preach some sermons
Let's get people fired up to go out and do something great for God
You know we should desire that as a church to do something great for God now
Just think oh, we're in this building now, and it's pretty comfortable. We got just the right amount of seats
We probably could use a few more actually
We just need about 10 or 15 more seats, and that's all we're gonna need we can just coast from here
No, I want to outgrow this building. I want to call it the landlord and say hey
We're gonna need that sweet, and we're gonna need that sweet, and we just gonna you know we're gonna take over the whole place
And you say well you shouldn't you shouldn't think like that how arrogant
No, you know when they came to him and said who is gonna be the greatest Lord
Didn't say well don't worry about doing great things. You just you should just know your place not worry about it
No, he goes on and he tells them how to do great things for God
We should desire to do great things for God go over to 2nd Timothy chapter 4
We should desire it as a church. We should desire it in our own personal lives I
Mean don't you want to do great things for God in your personal life?
I'm not saying you got to be like Peter and go walk on water somewhere
But you know you can raise your family for God. That's like doing something great for Christ
You go out win souls for Christ. That's doing something great for God
You could learn and know the Bible and be able to help others and counsel others. That's doing something great for God
That's what I want for myself. That's what I want for everyone here. That's what I want for our church
And say well, I don't know if you should think so highly of yourselves to ask such a question
Who's gonna be the greatest how can I be great for God? What a what an arrogant statement?
Well Paul, you know what would we would we rebuke Paul for saying something like that?
I mean look at 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 6
He said in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 6 for I am now ready to be offered in the time of my departure is at
Hand I have fought a good fight
Well, that's what you say Paul
Maybe we should all meet aren't we the ones that should decide whether or not you fought a good fight
No Paul saying look. I've done great things for God. I know it's a fact. I have bought a good fight
I have finished my course. I have kept the faith henceforth. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness
Which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day. He's saying look. There's a great day waiting for me
Because I have kept the faith because I have finished my course because I have fought the good fight of faith
I know that I've done something great for God therefore
I know that there is a crown of righteousness laid up for me the Lord the righteous judge shall give me
Well, who do you think you are Paul?
Paul just knows because of the fact that if you do great things for God God will reward you
Paul is see we wouldn't accuse Paul of being arrogant here all Paul is doing is taking advantage of the opportunity
We all have of doing something great for God
Notice there that verse finishes there in verse 8 and not to me only but unto all them that also love his appearance
Paul didn't say look. I've kept the fight. I've kept the faith. I finished my course
There's a there's a right there's a crown of righteousness for me, and y'all can expect up
Because I'm Paul the Apostle
And look there was no greater Christian that ever walked the face of this earth the outside possible in my opinion
I mean, it's hard to it's hard to argue that anyone's done anything greater for the cause of Christianity than the Apostle Paul
But notice he didn't say you know of course it's laid up for me after all I am the Apostle Paul
He's saying look it's there for anybody that loves his appearance anyone that loves God
It wants to labor for God and wants that same crown of righteousness
They can have it if they want to do great things for God they can
That goes for every single one of us
Say well, I don't know about my past. You know I'm getting a late start in life. Go tell it to the Apostle Paul
the cheapest of sinners
Who was before a blasphemer and a persecuted and jurious?
Go read 1st Timothy 1
He said this is a faithful saying worthy of all
Acceptation that Christ Jesus came the world's safe sinners of whom I am chief
Go to Ephesians chapter 3 Ephesians chapter number 3 keep something to mark 9. We'll be coming back Ephesians chapter number 3
Look
Paul could say this with confidence that there was this crown laid up for him
Because of the fact that he took advantage of the opportunity that we all have we all have the opportunity great do great things for God
But the problem is so often is that that's not our priority in life
Doing great things for God is not always the most important thing to us is it it's something
Maybe we'll get around to when it's more convenient
It's something that maybe we'll do some day later on after I go out and have my fill of the world then maybe I'll live
For God yeah, or maybe your life will be such a wreck by then that you want to be able to do everything
You could have done for God. That's the other option that people often don't consider
look Paul is simply taking advantage of the opportunity that we all have to do great things for God and
You know Paul notice there didn't come easy
He didn't say you know there's a crown for me and boy
It was a cakewalk in the Christian life if you know the Apostle Paul's life the man endured great hardships
That's why he said I fought a good fight, and it was a fight
He said I finished my course you know of course
You know it was like a spiritual obstacle course that he had to run, but he made it to the end
Because Paul you see he strove to be great
He wanted to do great things great things for God that did not come easy had to strive to do that
But notice that Paul even himself did not consider himself the greatest
I mean, I will get up here this morning and say that about Paul
And say hey, he's the greatest
among men anyway and
But Paul wouldn't say that about himself
It says in Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 7 whereof I was made a minister
because of my natural ability
Because of how intelligent I am and good-looking I am and because I'm just so eloquent
I'm such a great speaker. I'm a people person
Right no. He said I was made a minister according to grift gift of the grace of God
You know if grace is something you don't deserve
The opportunity to be a minister is something that has afforded you through grace
It's something that you don't deserve to do, but it's something that God allows us to do to be the ministers to be
Ambassadors for Christ that he has committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation
It's a privilege that we have to do great things for God
That's what Paul's showing and sir
He said look I was made a minister according the great gift of the grace of God
Give it unto me by the official effectual working of his power if you're gonna do anything great for God
It's not gonna be through your own power
You're gonna actually have to have some spirituality in your life
You're actually gonna have to you know read your Bible and pray and go to church
You might even have to go to church more than once a week
If you want to do something great for God you might actually have to go soul-winning do something great for God and win souls
It's gonna be through but it's all gonna be through his power
You're actually gonna have to get in touch with God. You're gonna have to be filled with the Holy Spirit that doesn't come by itself
Look salvation is easy for by grace you say it through faith and that not of works
It is a gift of God God of works with any man she boasts
It's something that's freely given. You know whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That's easy
Doing something great for God takes effort
It means we're actually gonna have to be a spiritual people that want to do great things for God
He said in verse 8 unto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this
Grace-given, you didn't just say the least of the Apostles. He said all Saints
You know, that's you know, that's me and you we are saints in Christ
He said look I'm less than the least of them go find just the most miserable
Saint you can just the most backslidden
Down and out Christian that there is is doing nothing for God. He said I'm less than
that was Paul's opinion of himself and
You know because of that that's why he was able to do great things for Christ
Because he didn't just puff up his chest and say well I came up at the seat of gamma
Gamaliel and you know, I'm a Hebrew of the Hebrews. I'm gonna do great things for God. He said no, I'm the least
But that didn't stop him from saying look there is a crown laid up for me. I have kept the faith
See
It was Paul's humility that made him great
Not his persuading other people that he was
You don't think we don't consider Paul to be the greatest because he wrote about himself and they're like no really I am the greatest
No, really. This is how great I am
He said I'm the least I'm the cheapest of sinners and it was that humility that Paul had that allowed him to be the greatest
That's why God used him because of his humility not because he just went around persuading everybody else that he was the greatest
And I believe that's what Jesus is doing here. If you want to go back to mark 9
as Jesus is teaching the
Disciples what a lesson in humility. It's a title of the sermon this morning a lesson in humility
He
Teaches them this lesson while answering their what insincere question. Look it's great desire to be great
That's there's nothing wrong with that
We have to understand why you got to ask yourself. Why do we want to be great so we can show somebody else up?
Why do we want this church to do great things so you can say well, we're doing better than that church over there
That's that's insincere
That's arrogance. That's pride. God's not going to use that
If we want to do great things for God, it's it should be because we want to glorify God
Because we want to be a minister according to his effectual power
Because we want to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ
That's why I want to do great things for God
And why do you want to fill this building up and get a bigger one?
Because then there'll be more people here learning the Word of God getting right with God
Lives will be changing people going out preaching the gospel and ultimately more souls will be saved and ultimately God will be glorified
That's why I want to do great now because I want everyone here to just
Behold my eloquence or something. You've been here long enough, you know, that's in short supply
There's not a lot of it folks
We got to do it before the right reasons and if we're gonna do it for the right reasons
Well, what is the we have to under become what humble people we have to do it out of a spirit of humility
I want to do great things for God then get humble
Then be a humble person
Who loves the Lord and loves lost and wants to serve?
He said in mark 9 in verse 35 and he sat down and called 12 and sayeth unto them if any man desire to be first
He's way out of line
He's an arrogant proud fool
No
That's not what he said. He said if any man desires to be first
The same shall be last and servant of all
Said you want to be first great be a servant
The problem is so often is that we want to be first here on earth
We want everyone to know our name and to know how great we are here
I'm not interested being great here. I mean I want to do great things, but I want to be first up there
I want to do something great for God. I want to be have be acknowledged by the Lord and not men
I want to hear those words. Well done thou good and faithful servant
And not from just man, you know, I don't want I we don't that's not gonna the praise of man is
Vanity, but the praise of God, you know, that's something that's eternal and lasting
That's what I want to hear
He's saying look if you desire to be first you need to be the last
You need to be the servant of all of all by the way
Well, I'd serve if I liked him more
I'd help that guy out, but I don't like his face
He said something mean one sir his personality clashes with mine
you know, I'd serve in the church, but
It's just not very convenient for me
You
Know you need to be willing to be servant of all
If you want to be great if you want that crown of righteousness if you want to hear those words
Well done thou good and faithful servant
Jesus doesn't rebuke them. He does kind of teach. He does rebuke them in a way about the fact that they were disputing over this
But he actually sits them down and says, okay great you want to be the greatest let me show you how to do it
You
Know that's probably not the same reasoning they had when they disputed among themselves on the way to Capernaum
Who's gonna be the greatest?
They didn't sit there. Well, I'm gonna be the greatest because of the fact that you know, I walked on water said Peter
What'd you do?
You know, well I found the I found the the the loaves and the fishes for him to feed the five thousand what you do
Obviously I'm gonna be the greatest this is not that's you know
That was probably something along how they were figuring it out along the way
Trying to figure out who's gonna be the greatest
And Jesus finally sits him down and says oh you oh you you're interested in being the greatest good
You got to be last you got to be servant of all. Well, that's not what we were thinking. I don't know about this
That's what Jesus said
Go to Matthew chapter 20 keep something to mark 9 go back to Matthew chapter 20
I
See Jesus here in this passage and
He's not teaching them he's teaching them how to be the greatest
He's not teaching them that they shouldn't desire to be the greatest. You see what's going on here in the story
He's actually showing let me tell you how to be the great. It's not saying don't desire that
You're saying you know, look I want you to be the greatest. I think we should all have that
Desire in our hearts, but we got to make sure it's coming from a spirit of humility and love of the Lord
Look at Matthew chapter 20 verse 20 then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children
And with her sons worshiping him which would be James and John sons of Zebedee
Desiring a certain thing of him and he said unto her. What wilt thou?
She sayeth on him grant that these my two sons may sit the one on thy right hand and the other on thy left in
thy kingdom and
You know again Jesus doesn't jump down her throat and say who do you think you are?
But he does say in verse 22 Jesus answered and said, you know what you know, you know, not what you ask
Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized?
With the baptism that I am baptized with they say unto him we are able and again
We have to look at this passage and like Paul who said I've there's laid up a crown for me
Why because I've fought a fight and because I've kept the faith I finished my course
It didn't come easy when she asked this question. Let them be sat at your at your left and right hand
He says you look if you want that there's a cup to drink from there's a baptism you have to have
It does it's gonna come at a price
He's saying are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and
They say we are able and would to God that would be everyone's answer in the room tonight this morning
That would say I desire to be greatest. Are you willing to pay the price?
Yes
Because then now you're on the right path now you're on to something
And he saith unto them verse 23 you shall indeed drink of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give
So it's really not up to me and I'll tell you what
I don't know who's gonna be on the right hand the left hand but it's not gonna be any one of the 12 disciples because they're
Gonna sit on the 12 thrones driving, you know, they're gonna have their own thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel
So look, it's you know, as from my understanding those seats are open. I
Don't I don't claim it's gonna be mine, but it'd be great, you know, I'd be I'd be just as thrilled if it's one of yours
Some brother and sister in Christ I get up to heaven and it's like I might be a little shocked
But that'd be great wouldn't it those seats are open it's not Jesus is to a point but it's it's there for somebody
Look, we'll probably
Honestly, it probably won't be any of us
Right, but why shouldn't we strive for it to be one of us? They had to be the greatest
To sit on that right and left hand of God
And just just behold his glory. That'd be amazing
Now notice their reaction there because he says it shall it let me finish up verse 23
But to sit on my right hand on my left hand, it does not mind my mind to give but it shall be given
It's there. It's for somebody's gonna get it
to them for whom it is prepared of my father and
And when he heard and when the ten heard it I said well I really admire
James and John desiring such a spiritual thing in their lives
No, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. They were mad. They were upset
Like we shouldn't get upset with people just because they want to do something great for God
You know, we should we should never try to and I see this type of thing. It happens. You see it in the ministry
Somebody comes along they're on fire for God. They love the Bible. They want to talk about the Bible
They want to go soul-winning. They want to do a lot of great works
And then you know, they're new to the faith, but they're on fire and then he got some old, you know
Christian has just been sitting around a long time doing nothing for God and just says oh you'll calm down after a while
They just want to
Put them out
And quench that zeal that they have look we should never quench other people's zeal
If anything we should let other people's zeal challenge us and inspire us and say look look what they're doing over there
Look at this brother and sisters doing over here. Look at this church is doing over here
Let's do what they're doing. And let's also do some great things for God
If you would keep something there in Matthew 20, but jump over to 1st Corinthians chapter 1 1st Corinthians chapter 1
See the the 10 they hear it and they're moved with indignation
And as we kind of understand the greater story, you know, what's going on this dynamic with the disciples is that
You know, it's probably not because they still need to learn this lesson in humility
And you know, we probably I'm not saying as a criticism, you know
We probably we all fall prey to that too
And if I had been there among them, I probably would have started to think that I was some pretty you know
Hot stuff myself and probably got a little too big for my britches. Well, I'm walking around with Jesus seeing all these miracles
I'm probably gonna be the greatest. In fact, I'm probably gonna get that seat right next to him in the kingdom
And you can see you could see that come out because the fact it's this indignation that such a thought draws out of them
But here's the thing real humility. It doesn't mind when other people are exalted. It's glad for them
And say hey, I'm glad you know, you're doing great things for God
I'm glad you know, you got that that that that position in the church or you know
You want so many souls or I'm glad that God is exalting you and blessing your life. I
Mean we're gonna carry that attitude into heaven
And somebody that we didn't like on earth walks by and they got more crowns than us and say
Where's I should have more than that I
Was so much more spirit. I did so much more. Well, maybe you didn't
Or maybe you were doing it out of vainglory or maybe you weren't doing it out of a love for God
Real humility doesn't mind when other people are exalted
Bible says in 1st Corinthians 13 here in chapter 1 it says charity suffereth long and is kind and envieth not
Charity vanteth not itself is not puffed up
You know people that have real genuine love and humility
for God
They're not looking to vant themselves up. They're not looking to be puffed up and exalted and
The irony is that because of that?
They are exalted
First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 10
He said now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing
And that there be no divisions among you
But that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment
For it hath been declared unto me of my of you my brethren by them which are out of the house of Chloe
That there are contentions among you, and what was the contention?
Well, I didn't was it. We don't like the wall that he but the color he painted the wall
He picked out the wrong carpet
He served hot dogs and not burgers. That's not the contention
The contention is now this I say because he's not just shifting gears here. This is all tied together
He's saying look there are contentions among you verse 11, and then he begins to address the contention
Verse 12 now this I say that every one of you that say I am of Paul
And I have a Paulus and I have Cephas and I have Christ
is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the name of Paul and
This isn't this what people do
They start to develop factions, and they they get these divisions, and they start to just say well this guy
I'm greater because I'm of this guy
Well, I you know the Apostle Paul is the one that got me saved who got you say
Was it a Paulus that Greek I?
Got saved by a Hebrew of the Hebrews well aren't you something?
Well, I'm a Cephas it was Peter who preached me the gospel, and he's the one that walks on the water
What a Paulus ever do what what water here walk on?
And people do it and it seems crazy. It seems silly to think that people would be this look people are still this way
Well, I like this preacher, but I can't stand that preacher. This is my favorite preacher, but you know I don't like that preacher
Well, what makes them so great?
Is it I mean I get some we have preferences and preachers have different styles, and that's great
I'm glad we're not all the same. Why aren't we all the same message? Is it all the same book that we're all preaching?
ultimately
And if we had some real humility
You know our personal preferences we could set aside and say let him teach me something
Let me learn from from the word of God that's being preached
That's what's going on here. They're saying. I'm a Paul. I'm a Paulus. I'm Cephas
I'm of Christ verse 13 is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul and again verse 14 just shows Paul's humility
I think God that I baptized none of you
Makes me wonder if he was a Baptist
Because you know us Baptist we're always want to baptize people in fact if anyone needs to get baptized
We'll fill up a tank right now, and I'll baptize it. I'd be glad to do it. Okay
Obviously the reason why Paul is saying is because look I'm glad I baptized none of you
but Christmas and and Gaius
Because he you know he doesn't want to be part of this contention. I'm baptized of Paul
It's like look. I'm glad I didn't baptize any of you
You know Paul wasn't interested in being involved in some kind of competition
Well, how many disciples he could you know he could follow at how many Instagram followers he could get?
Look get all the Instagram followers you want
Spread the message. I'm all for it, but you know that's not Paul's motive
To just get people to think he's the greatest he says I'm glad I didn't baptize any of you. That's the way you're gonna be
That's the way you're gonna be
I'm not interested in being involved in some kind of competition to out
You know be greater than Paul then Peter or be greater than you know
Apollos he's like I just want to serve God
I just want to win souls and preach and start churches and get something done for the Lord
I just want to finish my course. I want to you know run that run the race that has been set before me
That's all he wanted to do. That's all he was interested in
Go to 1st Corinthians chapter 3
and look
It's it's great to desire to be great, and we should desire to be great
but it has to come from a place of humility and
These things he said in 1st Corinthians 4 you go to chapter 3 these things brother
And I have in a figure transferred to myself into Apollos for your sakes
That you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written
That none of you be puffed up for one against another
Or who may get thee to differ from another or what hast thou that thou didst not receive now if thou didst receive it
Why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
He's saying look don't get puffed up for somebody don't think about men that which is written
Everything that Paul had he knows that was given him by the grace of God
So don't think I'm some some great. You know that I'm special in and of myself. He's saying look
It was it was it was God's grace that was given to me that allowed me to be the minister that I am that's what he
said
And he said look I glory in the fact that God gave it to me
Now I don't glory in myself
Look at 1st Corinthians chapter 3 and this we got to understand that when people get this mentality of
Trying to one-up each other just so they can one-up each other
I just trying to be the greatest so they can make everybody else the least it or you know
Exalt men above that which is a which is written. It's carnal. It's a carnality
It's it's of the flesh its pride
He said in verse 4 for while one saith I am of Paul and I and another I am of Apollos
Are you not yet carnal?
Saying aren't you carnal aren't you walking in the flesh like that?
That's a that's a base attitude to have that's not spirit
There's nothing spiritual about it verse 5 who then is Paul and who is Paulus but ministers
He said who am I?
Who's a Paulus who are any of these guys who see if this who's John we're just ministers
And we're ministers by the grace of God
None of these men that did these great things Peter Paul John the Apostles
Apollos the list goes on
They did great things because they under understood something that they were ministers and nothing more
They understood the lesson that Jesus is trying to teach them in Mark 9
That they that they need to be the last and the servant of all I mean, that's what it means to be a minister
That's what minister means servant
He said look. We're just ministers by whom you believe even as the Lord gave to every man
What we understand is if we want to do something great for God
We want to do something great for God and go back to Mark 9. I'm almost done
We have to understand this is that it's the people that we minister to that matter it's not the ministers themselves. It's not us
It's not about me and you it's not about how great we're going to be
It's about the fact that we're ministering to other people and if we have that attitude
Look, then we will be great
But not because we set out to be not because we're just trying to look for some vainglory
But because you know if you if you have a spirit of humility
And if you're willing to be a minister and you're willing to be a servant God will exalt you in due time
It's those to whom we minister to that matter not the ministers themselves look at verse 25 of Mark 9
But Jesus called unto them called them and said you know, you know that the prince of the Gentile princes of the Gentiles
Exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise
Authority upon them, but it shall not so be so among you
But whosoever will be great among you. Let him be your minister
And whosoever will be chief among you let him be your servant
even as the Son of Man came to be ministered unto
Not came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many
That's the example that he gave us. He said look you want to be the greatest
Well, what was it you guys were talking about along the way? I?
Overheard something. I don't know exactly what it was
But now I've been we're in this house you could hurt on when you're coming to me
And you're asking me who's gonna be who's gonna be the greatest. There's something going on here
Let's sit down and have a let's have a talk about let's have a little powwow and straighten this out
Look you guys are so obsessed about being the greatest
Why don't you just worry about being a minister?
You're so great about you know getting these people to just think you're you're really something well
Why don't you start thinking other people are really something?
Why don't you stop worrying about how much people value you and start valuing other people?
Valuing the lost valuing your local church valuing your your brothers and sisters in Christ
Go over to Philippians chapter 2 we're gonna close there Philippians chapter 2
In
Luke 14 Jesus said whosoever exalted himself
shall be abased and
he that humbleth himself shall be exalted and
Look those are promises those aren't maybes those are facts
Whosoever exalts himself shall be abased that's gonna happen
If it's not in this life when they get to heaven
I
Say well, I you know you may you sure made a big deal of yourself down there
But it was all out of pride. It was all out of carnality. It was all in the flesh and
Now you've got nothing to show for it and now you're a base a lot of times. It does come in this life
No, doesn't it?
God has a way and just taking us down a couple notches when we need it
We get a little too puffed up. We get it to lift it up in our own minds
God can just come along and take us right down
and
He that humbledth himself he said shall be exalted
You want to be the greatest you need to get humble you want to be exalted humble yourself
And it's not just this this fake piety that people put on
You know don't show up to church and sackcloth and ashes on your head say well. I'm just trying to get involved
Don't do that. You know it's a real genuine humility
It isn't passive. It's not just a show. How does it show up by being a servant by serving?
By showing up and and doing the cleaning by showing up at the sole waiting time by showing up at the prayer closet by showing
Up at you know giving attendance to reading by showing up
at church
By showing up when somebody has a need brother in Christ sister in Christ or not
You know you show up, and you'd be a minister, and you'd be a servant
That's real humility at work to allow yourself to be what inconvenienced to be inconvenienced
Look at the Philippians chapter 2 and this is something that is just so essential to the Christian life
This is something that we see Jesus teaching and over and over again
The epistles deal with it over and over again Paul does it again in Philippians chapter 2 verse 5
Let this mind be in you which also was it which was also in Christ Jesus
Saying let this mind be you know why he says let it's because in our flesh we resist this mind
We say well, you know I don't want to do what Jesus did
I just want to do my own thing you say you know what you need to let this mind be in you
Which also was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God?
But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in a likeness of men
Say well, I want to I want to do something great. I want to be I want to earn rewards in heaven
I want to do something big for God
Great show up and clean
Well, I couldn't do that. I mean I'm so far above that I mean that's just
That's way below my pay grade
That's way below my pay grade just the indignation comes out
Well consider the contradictions of sinners which would that Christ suffered against himself
Consider how far he condescended to man. I mean last I checked none of us is God
None of us is sitting up in heaven
I mean Jesus you want to talk about somebody who stooped pretty low
It was Jesus
Who came way down?
And made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a service and was made in a likeness of men
And being found it says in verse 8 in the fashion of man. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death
Even the death of the cross what's your limit this morning?
Your your the you say i'll go this far with Christ. That's how that's how great you'll be
People you know, I I want to be the greatest how far are you willing to go then?
How far are you willing to be abased and to be humbled?
Are you willing to go as far as Jesus said be humbled and become obedient unto death
Look, it might not even be a physical death. Sometimes we just need to die to our own
Selfish desires and our own selfish ambitions and just let those things die
And just do what God wants us to do and use our lives for him
And use our lives for him
You say well, what's what's the payoff?
What do I get out of it? And look that's not an honor. That's not a dishonest question
That's what the disciples asked who's going to be greatest. What are we going to get out of this?
Peter said look we've forsaken all and what shall we have?
Jesus doesn't rebuke them for that. Well, look what jesus got verse 9. Wherefore God also had highly exalted him
And given him a name which is above every name
When did he get that exaltation?
When did he get that name that's above every name after he humbled himself after he became obedient unto death?
That at the name of jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth
And that every tongue should confess that jesus christ is lord to the glory of the father of god the father
So, you know the lesson and humility that we need to learn this morning is that if we want to be exalted
We have to exalt other people
That's what we have to learn. That's the lesson isn't that's what jesus is teaching. Look if you want to be great
Good, that's that's a good desire
But this is how it's done. You're being a servant
You're being a minister. You're being the last and before putting others before you we're exalted
We're exalted when we exalt other people let's go ahead and pray