Tonight Jacob and I spent personal time with our Lord. We very often do. I want to share with you more of what we learned together in God’s Word. We talked more about what do we do with the influence we have over others. Anxiety ridden people are fighting to keep what they want. If God has allowed you to have power and influence over others, then why has He allowed this? In John 13, this is the Thursday before Good Friday. Good Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified. This is the day before Jesus hung on the cross. John 13:1, John says that Jesus showed them the full extent of His love, in looking back, he sees that now. John 13:1, Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Jesus recognized that God made Him the most powerful person in the room with the disciples that night. What happens when you realize you are the most influential person in the room? What happens when you see that bonus check in your bank account? Money is intoxicating. This is the day before Jesus is about to pay for all our sins. He is the most powerful person. John 13:4, Jesus took off His clothing - this is the clothing that they auctioned off when He was crucified, because people wanted it so much. He took off His clothing, He wrapped a towel around His waist, to wash their feet. At this time there was always a servant around to wash others feet. For some reason this night there was no servant there to do it. The ground was dirty and they would walk so much, that they would need their dirty feet washed. Jesus took off His clothing, put a towel on, and put Himself in the lowest place to wash their feet. This made the disciples uncomfortable. John 13:4, He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. In John 13: 5-6, Simon Peter says to Jesus “You are going to wash my feet? I just saw you raise the dead. I just saw you make the blind to see. You think I will put up with you becoming the lowest in the room when you are the most powerful?” John 13:5-6, After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? John 13:7-11, Jesus says this isn’t about washing feet. I have a few hours left and the teaching is about over. Guys if we are to be successful this is what you do. When you are the most powerful person in a relationship, this is what you do. You serve others. John 13:12, Do you understand? You serve others. John 13:13, Jesus lets them know that He knows they call Him teacher and Lord and He does not deny it. John 13:14-15, Jesus says this isn’t about foot washing. It’s about taking away any excuse to serve one another. When you recognize that God has given you a realm of influence, this is what you do. When you recognize that people are looking to you, this is what you do. Take off your outer symbol of authority and serve them. Follow me. John 13:16, No servant is greater than their master. Jesus says guys you have recognized me as the Lord, the Teacher and you are a follower of me. No servant is greater than their master. I just took away any excuse you had to not serve each other. John 13:17, You will be blessed if you do this. From your family, to your job, to your friends. Christian, this is for us. If you are not a Christian you are off the hook, but Christian we are on the hook. Once you figure you have authority, then we must think of how we can use that authority to elevate others. Not what can they do for me. Or to use our power to gain more power. We must remember the servant is never higher than the master. If you leverage your power to detriment others, as a Christian, we are saying “I am better than Jesus.” We are saying, “God I know you sent Jesus to die for me, but I am better than Him. It was good enough for Jesus, but I am to consumed with myself for that.” Jesus tells us to look for ways to elevate the status of others around us. If you are a Christian and you are concerned about how you can get others to elevate you, then you have missed the point. The disciples got it. They went out and were known. Everyone knew they had spent time with Jesus. They were the center of attention. But they knew this was not about them. The servants cannot be greater than their master and they knew this. They had power, but did not abuse it. People think that we have much to loose and are threatened by elevating others. If we are followers of Jesus then we must look for ways to elevate others. We shouldn’t be threatened that we will loose. There is less anxiety in life in giving up the power instead of clinging to it. Anxiety ridden people are fighting to keep what they want. Elevating others is not a weakness. Through the years the people with the most influence and made the most difference gave their power away. In our wallets is George Washington. He is one of our founding fathers. Giving away your power is and extraordinary strength. George Washington was president twice and they wanted to make him king of our country. He controlled the military and people loved him. When King George, overseas, heard George Washington was going to turn down being made king he said that George Washington would be the greatest man. King George said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” George Washington said he retired. He became a supreme leader, because he was always ready to give up his power. Power is a stewardship that will be taken away. We are not greater than our master. Christian’s if we would recognize that when we are the most influential person in our circle and find ways to serve them and to give our power away, others will see how extraordinary this is. Proverbs 3:27, Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. What wold it look like in your home, in your school, in your circle of friends, if we decided to elevate the status of others around us. If you and I would be like our Savior and look for opportunities to elevate others. That is what Jesus did. God, showing Jesus in our family, in our business, in our school, this is not valued among them. Give us wisdom in knowing what to do. We need to be the greatest servants. And for those that have rejected Jesus because they were around us, that this would change. Bring us to a place were we use our influence for the sake of others. In Jesus’ mighty Name I pray, amen. https://youtube/watch?v=Iu1AG64ku6w&spfreload=10 John 13:1-17 The Last Supper 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simons son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one anothers feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 23:58:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015