Journey With Jesus – week #7: A Servant’s Heart!

John 13:1-5 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

1. Passover celebration - Celebrating the Faithfulness of God! (Exodus 12 to read more)

1b. His hour had come - The suffering of Jesus was about to go through.

John 13:1c He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.

What does love really look like? A Servants Heart!

‘Took up the towel’ and washed their dirty feet. SERVED THEM.

What did he show them? What love looks like! What does it look like?

Love - unselfish, outgoing affection or tenderness toward another without necessarily expecting anything in return… Seeks the persons highest good (act of the will a choice) from the heart!

John 13:12-15 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher , have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have tone to you.

What keeps us from serving?

1. Discouragement - to make somebody feel less motivated, confident, or optimistic.

2. Distractions - something that takes our attention away from something else

Serving is Hard Work at times… It’s messy – It’s dirty

A Servants Heart:

1. Looks for ways to show God’s love by serving others!
2. Doesn’t expect anything in return!
3. Requires Humility - Philippians 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.
4. Trust God to refill what’s poured out!

Picking Up the Towel – To Show God’s Love by Serving Others!

Journey With Jesus – week #6: A Generous Heart!

God’s Generous Heart

1. Filled with a Love that Demonstrates

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

2. Filled with a love that Gives whatever the cost.

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

What was the cost?

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

What kind of love does God have? The kind of love that gives even at a great cost

Luke 6:37-38 Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. 38 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving – large or small – it will be used to measure what is given back to you.

A Generous Heart – To love like God!

ILLUS> Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea

What keeps us from a Generous Heart? (Keeps us from giving)

1. False Belief – God helps those who help themselves. Judgement

Many falsely believe that God only helps those who pull themselves up, get their act together and put in hard work.

Truth – God’s Grace – God helps those who cannot help themselves!

2 Corinthians 12:9  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I will admit my weakness to God and trust Him for the grace to meet my needs.
• I will demonstrate and generously give to others the same grace and love God has given to me.

2. False Belief – Scarcity – If I give it away, I have less

Built on the idea that whatever I give away is now lost, whatever I share is gone and whatever I provide for another contributes to my own lack.

Truth – God’s Love – If we share, we will have enough. We will never out give God’s love.

Jeremiah 31:3  Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Omar principle - there is enough for everyone – take only what you need.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I will give generously to others as God leads, knowing that I cannot out give God! His love is unfailing and everlasting.

3. False Belief – Entitlement – What I have is mine to use for my own pleasure. 

“This teaches us that the things that we possess, whether money, time or abilities, are ours to use as we see fit, which often means using them for our own gain and not the benefit of others.” James Smith

Truth – What I have is God’s, to use for His glory!

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I am a steward of God’s gifts; everything belongs to Him. I will begin to ask Him how I should use the gifts He has given.

 

Sing a New Song – “The Same Love”

Isaiah 42:5-7

 ⁵ This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
⁶ “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

“You choose the humble and raise them high
You choose the weak and make them strong
You heal our brokenness inside and give us life

The same love that set the captives free
The same love that opened eyes to see
Is calling us all by name, You are calling us all by name
The same God that spread the heavens wide
The same God that was crucified
Is calling us all by name, You are calling us all by name

You take the faithless one aside
And speak the words, ‘You are mine’
You call the cynic and the proud, ‘Come to me now’

You’re calling, You’re calling,
You’re calling us to the cross”

Journey With Jesus – week #5: A Peaceful, Content Heart

Psalm 131:1-3 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weened child with it’s mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.

Weaned child - a picture of a child that lies contented in his/her mother’s arms.

David has been like a child in the presence of God. The wonder of quiet contentment/peace with God!

How did David experience this peace and contentment?

1. David had submitted his Heart to God!

Proud Heart - I’m in control, my way is best, demanding it’s own way.

Submitted Heart - Allows God to lead.

Submission implies an attitude of humility.

The opposite of humility is “haughty eyes”

The proud person – with haughty eyes – looks, compares, competes and is never content. He judges and criticizes others as though he knows all. He plans and schemes in his heart as to how he can outdo and outperform.

Practice Submitting to God: ILLUS> David

1. Talk to God
2. Turn it over to Him (surrender)
3. Trust Him with it

2. David Stilled Himself

Psalm 131:2a But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

• Be Still – silent my soul and mind from the business and concerns of this world – the things that overwhelm me.
  
• Stop something and do something else: STOP: stop striving, fixing, arranging, controlling, demanding

ILLUS> Stop, Drop and Pray

3. David Quieted (silence) Himself

Silence – James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Times of silence – What does this look like for us?

Solitude – a quiet place alone with God!

ILLUS> Jesus

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 4:42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer

Sing a New Song – “Overcome”

1 John 5

¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

“Seated above, enthroned in the Father’s love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God’s only son perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority, every victory is Yours
All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand
Speaking the Father’s plan
You’re sending us out
Light in this broken land”

We will overcome
By the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony
Everyone overcome

Journey With Jesus – week #4: Think About These Things!

Philippians 4:9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Truth Stories - Stories that communicate the truth, show us the truth - Why stories? Stories connect with our HEARTS. We are joining God in aiming at the Heart! What words point to truth stories? Learned from me – Paul was teaching them the truth of this Christian life and following Jesus.

Community - sharing together - What words point to community – Paul in community and relationship with others? Heard from me, Saw me doing - they are Doing Life Together – Journey with Jesus TOGETHER!

Practice - Developing habits, patterns so that we become more and more like Jesus in the ways of our lives. What words point to practice? Keep putting into Practice – practice community, practice with others… your personally practice.

What is Paul telling us to practice?

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice.

Paul continues his instructions: thought Life… Philippians 4:8

ILLUSTRATION> Adam and Eve

God gave the instructions to Adam and he was to teach them and give them to Eve. What did the enemy do? He whispered a lie – planted a thought in her head. What kind of thought did the enemy plant in Eve’s mind? a doubtful – undermining – thought in the form of a question.

Genesis 3:1 …Really? he asked the woman. Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?

Eve’s Reply

Genesis 3:2-5 Of course we may eat it, the woman told him. It’s only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die. You won’t die, the serpent hissed. God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything both good and evil.

This pattern is the same today for you and me.

Our enemy – he whispers lies – seeks to plant a thought in our minds… – If we take them in- agree with them – we start playing the thought over and over in our minds – they begin to take root in our hearts. Results – leads us like Adam and Eve to doubt and sin against God.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

• True - valid, reliable and honest –  Romans 3:4 God is true! What does it mean to turn my thoughts to what is true?
  
• Honourable (noble) – worthy of respect What kind of thoughts are noble – worthy of respect?
• Right - Upright or just – worthy of God’s approval. Would God approve of this thought?
• Pure - clean, modest – morally pure – Not mixed. Are my thoughts mixed with the world’s thinking?
• Lovely - relates to what is pleasing (satisfying), agreeable or amiable (friendly) Will this thought satisfy my Heart and lead to lovely actions?
• Admirable - rings true to the highest standards. Does this thought ring true to God’s word and God’s heart?

Then Paul says - “If anything is” so you have a choice to discern my thoughts and what you choose to think about…

• Excellent – correct – appropriate for a man - valor – courageous, that is basic and essential
• Worthy of Praise – to praise God

Results – 4:9 And the God of peace will be with you.

Galatians 6:7-8 Law of the Harvest (as applied to our thought life)

1. Reap what you sow/plant in our minds.
2. Reap later than we sow/plant.
3. Reap more than we sow/plant.