WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.359 I'm going to invite you to turn to two passages of scripture. 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:07.919 I'm going to ask you to turn to Acts chapter 16 and Philippians chapter 2. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:16.719 Pastor Robert will be back next week, and it's my honor to continue the series that he is in called Jesus. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:20.640 And today I've entitled The Message The Servant. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:21.920 The Servant. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:34.000 And I want to take a few moments today, and I'm going to talk to you about Jesus, the servant, and the quality of true servanthood that was demonstrated in his life that literally changed the course of human history. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.920 It's the characteristic, the dynamic of humility. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:42.240 Now, I know you're excited about this as I was when the Lord laid it on my heart. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.479 I remember thinking, when did I first start preparing a message on humility? 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:47.679 Well, back to my notes. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.200 I actually began preparing this message in May of 2009. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.840 But I realized that you know what? 00:00:53.920 --> 00:01:02.079 There's a danger in anyone who approaches the topic of humility because you're asking yourself the question, does this guy really think that he's an expert on humility? 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:06.879 Which by very nature of that would mean I'm not, if I actually thought so. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.519 So if I'm not an expert on humility, then why am I standing here talking to you? 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:16.159 Well, it's because I think we all have something to learn today from the life of Jesus Christ. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:25.840 And just give you a little background information just quickly on uh what's happening in Acts chapter 16, as well as what we'll find in Philippians chapter 2. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:32.079 Because in Acts 16, Paul, along with his companion Silas, are uh in Philippi. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:34.239 This is the part of the Macedonian call. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:44.959 Some of you will recall from scripture, and the first city in Macedonia that they preached the gospel, which is the first time the gospel was preached in what's now Europe, is in Philippi. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:50.959 And Philippi was known uh as the greatest city, Roman city, outside of Rome. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:52.159 It was a Roman colony. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.920 In fact, one historian uh says it this way many years ago. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:05.439 He said, Rome was the most status-conscious society in ancient Mediterranean world, and no city is more obsessed with status than Philippi. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:11.360 See, in Philippi, everything was about climbing the ladder, and there are different categories that you would follow. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:20.560 If you were a Roman citizen and above, you had certain rights and privileges to own land and to vote, and and uh and you had a certain due process of law. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:21.120 That's key. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:22.400 You want to remember that. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:27.199 Uh, you couldn't be imprisoned and you could never be beaten or flogged or any of that. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:29.840 You had special privileges as a citizen of Rome. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:41.199 And as Roman colony, Philippi learned that they were part of that privilege process, and so uh they experienced that same desire to just find their way up the ladder. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.280 Everything was formed vertically. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:52.000 And what you would do is you would gain money and gain favor, and you would gain titles with the intempt of trying to climb the ladder, the status ladder. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:53.280 Everything was about status. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:56.240 And there's certain ways to understand levels of status. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:03:00.319 For instance, where you sat, let people know who you were. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:06.159 You couldn't just choose to go to a party or a banquet and sit where you would like or sit with your friends. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:10.400 It was all predetermined by the status order of the guests that were there. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.680 The most honored guest at the banquet that night was going to sit at the right hand of the host. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.680 That was the high seat of honor. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.360 The second most honored person that night would sit at the left side. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:32.240 By the way, does anybody remember a passage in Scripture where James and John come to Jesus and say, When you enter into your kingdom, remember us, because we want to sit at your right and at your left. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.039 They weren't so concerned about being close to Jesus. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:38.639 They wanted the positions of status and honor. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.400 They wanted the title. 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:45.199 And the society that they lived in, where you sat was who you were. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.159 And how you dressed was who you were. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:53.919 I mean, you had to be a certain person within the status of the elite, for instance, to wear a toga. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:55.840 Anybody here ever put on a toga? 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:56.960 No, don't mention it. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:57.599 I don't say. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:06.080 But if you there it was just only the elite of society, and you would know who they were, because you could only be a certain person to have a purple thread through your toga. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:07.680 And everybody understood this. 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:12.479 What you wore or who you wore was who you were, you know. 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:14.879 By the way, I'm wearing Joseph A. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:28.879 Banks today, and uh, my shirt is from the rack, and uh my shoes are comfortable, and uh because what you wear, watch the academies, it's first the question out of their mouth. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:30.959 So tell me, who are you wearing? 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:45.040 I just it's we we live in a society that models the society that's so close to Rome and to Roman Philippi, where it's status and title and honor and celebrity, and everybody wants to be known. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:49.279 Everybody wants to be a reality star, or so it seems. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:57.040 Even the bachelor, I mean, from Iowa, Iowa, on the farm in Iowa, and now he's a celebrity. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:59.600 What kind of world do we live in? 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:02.879 Now you come to the book of Acts, chapter 16. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.920 And Paul has these words to say. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:12.800 It says, but Paul said to the officers, now again, keep in mind, at this point in time, Paul and Silas had been beaten. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.240 They had been causing trouble because they're preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.839 And the people there don't like it. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:24.160 And then they had the audacity, by the power of God, to heal a young woman who was a fortune teller in that town. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:28.879 And in Philippi they became very angry with Paul and Silas, and they imprisoned them. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:35.519 They beat them severely and flogged them, put them in change and put them in the innermost part of the prison. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.120 And then the next morning the magistrate said, release them in Acts 16, 37. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:47.439 But Paul said to the officers, they beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are what? 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.759 Roman citizens. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.079 And they threw us into prison. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:54.800 And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:55.360 No. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.399 Let them come themselves and escort us out. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.160 That's Paul's attitude coming out. 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:08.079 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:11.600 And they came to appease them and escort them from the prison. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:13.360 Now, just wait a second. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:16.160 There's a question we've got to ask ourselves. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:31.040 Why in the world, with Paul as a Roman citizen, why in the world when he could have escaped any of the prison time, any of the shackles, any of the beating, almost to death, why would he go through all of that torment, all of that punishment? 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.480 Why would he wait until the next day to let them know he was a Roman citizen? 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:38.720 Why not tell him beforehand and escape all of that pain and punishment? 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:41.839 Ah, you see, Paul's up to something here. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.720 He's starting this little community of faith there in Roman Philippi. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:51.680 And he knows the message that he has for them is that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.000 Caesar's not Lord, Jesus is Lord. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:02.000 And he knew those that were freedmen or slaves, if they ever said that, they were going to be beaten for, or they could cost them their life. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:07.040 And Paul knew that there were not many people in the religious elite who were going to be a follower of Jesus. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:12.800 And so Paul does something that no one within Roman Philippi would ever think about doing. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.480 Paul chooses instead to humble himself. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:29.839 He chooses instead to be beaten, to be unjustly tried, to be criticized and ridiculed in prison for the people that he knew would one day look to Jesus as their savior. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.240 And he gave them an example that he would be just like them. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:46.879 And then sometime later, as we read in Philippians chapter 2 now, if you turn there, we see Paul writing from prison to this church now established in Roman Philippi. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.959 He writes in chapter 2 and verse 5, and he gives them these instructions. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:08:05.519 He says, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of his servant. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.920 Let's stop there because you see, Paul's using some very special language in this letter. 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:14.959 He's tipping us off because what he's saying is Jesus had his place. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.720 Where you sit is who you are. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:19.360 And Jesus was seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.319 He had the highest place of honor in the universe. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:36.559 But he chose to leave that position of honor and status and come all the way down and take on, take on the position of a slave and not just a slave, crucified slave. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:38.000 The worst kind. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.879 Where you sit is who you are. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:49.039 And says, then being made in human likeness and found an appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:51.440 Even death on the cross. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:56.799 You see, scripture says that Jesus wrapped himself in humanity, in our flesh. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.000 He left his divinity, and he became just like one of us. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.080 You see, what you wear is who you are. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:14.159 And Jesus was now clothed in humanity, and he laid down his ability to determine his future, and he put himself in the hands of the Father. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.320 And now he gives us this example. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.799 And Paul says, Paul says he comes all the way down and he's obedient to death. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:23.279 Yes, even the martyr death on a cross. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.960 But he doesn't leave us there. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:32.720 In the next verse, he says, Therefore, therefore, therefore, God exalted him to the highest place. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.519 And he gave him the name that is above all names. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:41.840 That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.840 And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.279 Caesar's not Lord. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:49.440 The religious officials are not Lord. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:52.559 The legislators are not Lord. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:54.240 The athletes are not Lord. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.240 The movie stars are not Lord. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:00.879 Jesus Christ alone is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.600 That's the message of the cross. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:10.559 It's the message of the servant, the suffering servant of Jesus Christ. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:15.600 And Paul identifies with the humility and the humanity of Jesus. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.519 In fact, when Paul writes his letters, he starts it out the same way. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.279 Galatians chapter 1, verse 1. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.440 Paul, an apostle, sent not for men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:29.519 Ephesians 1 1, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:32.399 Colossians 1-1, Paul, an apostle of Christ. 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.440 He's not bragging here. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.399 He's just simply proclaiming the mission, the call in his life. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:40.720 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:42.559 And then he gets to Philippians. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:43.840 Philippians 1-1. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:47.279 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.919 You see, he's up to something here. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:54.639 Paul wants to make sure that the church isn't going to be just any other place in Philippi. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:00.799 It's not going to be one more place where people fight to climb the ladder of success by tearing other people down. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:11.679 It's not going to be the same kind of place where everybody's preoccupied with their titles and their status and where they sit and who they know and who they can manipulate so that they can rise in the eyes of others. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.240 No. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:17.279 This is going to be a place where people will find that they elevate themselves by lowering themselves. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:19.919 This is going to be a different kind of place. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:29.519 And so he says in Philippians 2, just a couple verses earlier, the challenge he gives to us today, friends, in a status conscious America. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.559 He says, Do nothing out of selfish ambition. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:38.080 This is so countercultural or vain conceit. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:42.159 But in humility, consider others better than yourselves. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:47.120 Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:47.679 Oh. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:53.679 Can you imagine what kind of world we'd live in if we lived by this passage? 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:06.639 You imagine kind of churches would populate our communities if the Church of Jesus Christ followed this command of Paul to look not just to our own interest, but in humility to actually look first to the interest of others. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.240 How counter-cultural is that? 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.759 How paradoxical is that? 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.000 How radical is this message? 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:20.879 And yet that's the message of Jesus the servant, who did not consider equality with God something to hang on to, something to fight for. 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:30.639 You see, Paul's message to us is to transform our society by humbling ourselves and serving one another in humility. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:35.679 Oh, the difference it would make in our families, in our marriages, in our workplace. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:41.840 It's what we must aspire to if we seek to become just like Jesus, the servant of all. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:48.240 Three things I want to share with you on how we can do this because it's possible, it's possible if we look to the life of Jesus. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.879 Here's point one: Jesus redefines status. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:13:05.759 Philippians 2 and 6, we just read that passage, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, something to fight for, something to laid hold of, some of your translations say. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:10.399 You see, Jesus didn't have to fight for equality with God the Father. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:15.440 He didn't feel it necessary to try and assert his position as God. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:26.080 No, he came down all the way down, and to do so, he humbled himself, and he didn't fight for some sense of status, some sense of honor that was not to be his. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:39.120 I mean, I look at the amazing words of chapter 10 from the book of Mark, and we see Jesus instructing his disciples on how they're supposed to conduct themselves as it relates to looking at the leaders of their day. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:43.600 Mark 10, verse 42, Jesus called them, his disciples together, and he said this. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:53.919 He said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles, they lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them? 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.840 Not so with you. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:14:01.840 Jesus said, instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:05.919 And whoever wants to be first must be a slave for all. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:13.840 For even, catch this, even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.960 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:28.720 If anyone could claim a sense of position, status, a sense of title, a sense of entitlement, it's God. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:39.759 And Jesus comes, he says, you know how in society, those who are in positions of authority, how they rule and lord it over people and put people down to build themselves up, you're not going to be that kind of leader. 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:41.200 Take my example. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:49.440 For even if the Son of Man didn't come to be served by others, but to serve, that's the way I want you to live your life. 00:14:49.679 --> 00:14:53.600 And from that point on, forever, Jesus redefined greatness. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.519 He descended into greatness. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.679 Not trying to climb your way up the ladder. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.480 You want to do that? 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.039 You want to start by descending down. 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.759 If you want to be greatest among, then you need to become the least. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.039 If you want to be first, he says, be a servant of all. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:13.360 And Jesus, from that moment on, redefined all of human history. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:18.399 Nowadays, those that are proud and arrogant are people that we reject, we refuse. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:22.240 But in that day, those who were proud and arrogant were people that were admired. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.799 No one willfully climbed down the ladder. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.600 That was to be humiliated, that was to be humbled. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:31.600 And humility was something that you rejected at every turn you could. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.600 It was something that was not even spoken of. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:37.039 There's not even a word for humility in Roman days. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:46.000 But Jesus comes and in the sign of the cross, he defines society in an upside-down sense of greatness forevermore. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:48.559 I mean, society, the world has been changed forevermore. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:52.879 Now we honor those, we admire those who are humble in spirit. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.960 And this is all over society. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:16:03.279 Jim Collins, one of the great writers within the business sector, wrote one of the most famous books in the business world in the last 30 years called Good to Great. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:09.679 And in that, his group of researchers identified 11 companies that were good to great companies, only 11. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:16.480 And when they researched the qualities of the leadership at the top that defined a good to great company, they were shocked. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:26.240 They were amazed at the most significant and singular quality in the leader of the companies who demonstrated greatness in this society. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.480 And that quality was humility. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:33.600 Humility in our leaders is attractive. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.440 I think about Pastor Robert. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:52.080 I've served here for 12 years, and one of the reasons why I serve with great joy is because we have a leader, and I know he wouldn't say this, but I'm telling you there's a leader that I admire because of the level of humility that I know in the man that is consistent every day. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:59.759 In fact, I remember when he was working with some of us, some of those of us on staff about how we are to conduct ourselves and how we are to minister and serve. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.960 And that time talking about oversight for services. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:11.200 And as he was talking to us, he said, you know, when you come into the sanctuary, you know how sometimes people enter a room and everybody knows that they're in the room. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:18.400 I mean, I remember in one church that I was in when the mayor of the city was in that church, and whenever the service was going on, in the middle of worship, they'd stop. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.960 And the worship leader would say, Oh, the mayor's with us today. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.640 Mayor, come, sit down, good to see you. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.359 And everything would stop because the mayor is there. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:31.359 Pastor Robert said to us, you know, when you come into the sanctuary, don't act like you own the place. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.039 It's a sign of true humility. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.960 I found this in my father. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.400 I admired the way he conducted himself as a leader in business. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:52.880 And I remember one day, years ago, when I had finally accomplished one of my life's goals to earn a doctorate, and I'd spent years studying and working at it, of course, and tens of thousands of dollars, long hours. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:18:02.720 And I remember the day that my diploma came in, I knew I was going to see my parents the next day, and I went and I sat down at the kitchen table with my father, and I said, Dad, I got something I need to show you. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.759 He said, Well, what's that, son? 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:09.039 And so I opened up the envelope and I slid the diploma across the table. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.160 He said, What's this? 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:14.960 I said, Dad, this is this is my diploma. 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:16.559 I I I finished my doctorate. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.240 This is this is my diploma. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.519 I'll never forget what he said. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.640 He picked up the diploma. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:32.880 He looked at it and read it, set it back down, slid it across the table. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.680 He said, you know what you can do without a diploma? 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.920 I said, no, Dad, what? 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:55.039 He said, you can fold it up, stick it in your back pocket, and don't let anybody know you have it. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:03.039 I didn't quite understand it at that time, but over the years I've learned to understand what his point was. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:09.519 If you need a piece of paper to validate who you are, then you're not worth much. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:17.599 If you need someone that's gonna be impressed with your credentials, then you've got some other issues. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:31.599 If you need to have someone look at you and admire you because of some extra, if it's not the quality of your character that attracts them, then you're not much of a man, and I don't want a son who acts that way. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:40.960 You see, we are inspired by and attracted to men and women who demonstrate true humility in their lives. 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:44.480 And Jesus defines it for us forever. 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:51.680 And when you don't feel the need to impress others, you are free to serve them instead. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:58.559 We look at the life of Jesus and we see someone who knew how to handle the power and the authority in his own life. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.039 Look at John chapter 13 and verse 3. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:04.079 See, Jesus knew that the Father, this is what it says. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:06.640 Jesus is in the midst of this in John chapter 13. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.000 This is the Last Supper. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:14.240 It says, Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his authority. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:20.720 And that he had come from the Father and was returning to God, the Father. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.359 You see, he knew who he was. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.559 We can live a life of humility when we know who we are and whose we are. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:34.640 And when you know who you are in Christ, nothing is beneath you because no one is above you. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.279 We're all equal in the eyes of God. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.319 And you want to know what? 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:44.400 In God's kingdom, there's only one job description in one title, and it's called Servant of All. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:48.799 The fourth verse of John 13, he goes on. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:56.720 So he got up from the meal and he took off his outer clothing, and he wrapped a towel around his waist. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.880 Jesus. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:04.640 And after that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:10.319 You see, Jesus demonstrated status in a new way. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:14.079 Point number two, Jesus demonstrated selflessness. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:22.000 Verse 7 says in Philippians 2, but he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.359 He made himself nothing. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:28.720 Do you realize this is one of the most radical and most talked-about verses in all of the Bible? 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:34.000 What does it mean that Jesus, who is God, emptied himself, made himself nothing? 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.799 What does that mean? 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.160 Does it mean he's no longer God? 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:37.200 Is he just a man? 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.960 Is he is he what is he? 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:48.559 The incarnation means Jesus, still God, for it says in Scripture, he is Emmanuel, Emmanuel, with us God. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:55.839 But he emptied himself of all the things that he could possess as Jesus, who is God. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:05.039 His omnipotence, all powerful, and his His omniscience, he's all knowing and his omnipresence, that he could be everywhere at one time. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:19.599 All the things he enjoyed and the privilege of heaven, when he emptied himself and wrapped himself in human flesh, he gave up all of that so that he could identify with the weakness and the temptations that you and I deal with on a daily basis. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:32.799 Jesus, in order to become great in the eyes of the world, had to descend from the landscape of heaven and he had to take on human flesh, and as he descended down, he became a dishonored slave in the eyes of society. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:39.680 And in doing so, he demonstrated the selflessness that he desires to see in your life and in mine. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:43.599 Look at what it says in Proverbs chapter 6 and verse 16. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.960 It says, There are six things that the Lord hates. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.000 He goes on. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:53.359 I don't know if he just thought of another one or what it is, but he says, seven things that are detestable to him. 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:57.039 And the first one that's listed is haughty eyes. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.319 Haughty eyes. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:06.720 The remainder of the list, the next six, talk about the disgusting and distasteful things that men and women do to one another in society. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:09.200 The haughty eyes, you say, Well, what are haughty eyes? 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:14.240 It's a sense of pride and arrogance of someone that just kind of, you know what it is, kind of looks down on people. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:17.759 Oh, you know, that person over there, well, just kind of looked down on them. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:21.599 I got a taste of this a number of years ago when I was in London, England. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:34.480 We had flown in the night before very late, and got up early the next morning for breakfast, and we were downstairs in the restaurant there, and they had a beautiful breakfast buffet, and several businessmen from the area would come in and would dine there. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:48.319 And we had made our way to the buffet line, and and and there was a distinguished English gentleman, about 6'3 or so, uh, black suit on, very distinguished in front of us, and and we were just chatting, talking back and forth, as Americans do. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.920 And uh, and so as we were making our way about halfway through the buffet line, he stopped what he was doing. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:00.880 He turned to us, he looked at us, kind of down, and he said, Oh, are you from the colonies? 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:05.599 I'm thinking to myself, the colonies? 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:08.079 I didn't heard that, but the colony? 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:12.000 I mean the same colonies that whooped the Queen's army many years ago? 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.119 Those colonies? 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.799 Oh, yeah, I'm one of those. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:17.839 You don't win a send me, you went to send me, you know what I'm saying? 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.279 Dude, you want to get in my face on the colonies today? 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:28.799 You lost! If you're gonna be arrogant about something, at least be arrogant about a win and a victory. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.640 Oh, but I'm sorry, you haven't had one of those. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.519 Sorry. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.119 I said, sorry. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:39.279 You know, I just colonies. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:42.960 Listen, that was before humility just rules my life. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:52.799 James 4, 6 says, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.640 Which would you like? 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.480 Pride or humility? 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.319 God's resisting you or his grace in your life. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:15.920 Um, this week, you know, as I was preparing for the message, I thought, you know, I really am apprehensive about this message because every message needs to go through the filter of the speaker's life, or they have no credibility to stand before anyone and speak. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.440 How does it fit into my life? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.799 And so I said, God, you know what? 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:27.920 I know that there's pride in my life, I know there's some arrogant, I mean, everybody has points of pride in their life, but you know, I just want to be very, you know, transparent with the people. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:38.000 Lord, I said in this is a dangerous prayer, Lord, if there's any area in my life where pride exists, I'm just open for you to just tell me, you know, share with what and God got all excited. 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.119 Oh, really, really, really, great. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.440 Get a pen, get a pen, get some paper, get a lot of paper. 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:43.119 I'm so glad you asked the question. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.839 I've got a lot of things I've been wanting to say to you. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:52.960 And so I started to write them down as God dictated my areas of pride and weakness before me. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:58.559 He said, you know, John, too often you have this need to be right. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:05.839 You know, uh when you need to be right in things, he said, sometimes, you know, sometimes that's just pride kind of making its way out. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:08.720 I said, Okay, touche, you got me there. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:09.440 All right. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.559 Anything else? 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.720 Oh, yes, he said. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:17.440 Sometimes you just have this idea that you need to do things on your own. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:20.400 You just don't like to ask people for help, even though you need help. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.759 You don't know what you're doing. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:24.960 And that's really pride seeping out. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:27.920 I went, oh, okay, Lord, got that one. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.799 Check. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.079 Is that it? 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.240 No, no, no, no, no, we're not done. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:35.200 He said, you know how sometimes you really need to correct someone? 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:44.799 You feel the need to correct them when they're made an error or mistake in something they said, like maybe like your wife yesterday when you said, Well, yes, we're gonna go down to Tulsa to see our daughter. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:48.640 And you corrected her, said, No, honey, honey, we're going up to Tulsa. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.440 You see, that's pride. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.519 Ouch. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.680 Okay, that's true. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.480 I said that. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.519 I'm so sorry, Lord. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.880 Don't tell me you're sorry. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.519 Tell her. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.400 Oh, okay, I will. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:08.480 And then he said, you know, sometimes, sometimes, not often, but sometimes, you know, when someone's sharing something about their life and you have to interrupt them? 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:17.039 You see, anytime you need to interrupt someone that's sharing, what you're really saying to them without saying it is, uh, what I have to say is more important than whatever you're saying. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.799 And that's that's pride. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.079 He said, Lord, that's not. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.720 He said, What? 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:22.400 You're interrupting me. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:26.319 I'm not done yet. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:29.680 Maybe you can relate to some of this too, or is it just me in the room? 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:33.039 He said, you know, sometimes you need to be in control. 00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.640 You need to be in charge. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.519 Doesn't matter what it is. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:37.200 You, if you're not in control, you're not happy. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.920 You know what? 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.960 Sometimes that's just the pride speaking. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:43.440 And sometimes you have to have the last word. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.359 And sometimes, you know what you do sometimes? 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:50.799 Sometimes you'll just take a little flaw in someone else's life, and you'll have to point it out. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.839 You know, you've got this. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.720 And you know what? 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:58.160 There is a boulder, there is a log in your eye, and you don't see it. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:02.319 I said, Lord, I'm starting to get the hint. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:09.839 I said, No, no, you know, sometimes when you're driving all the way to Florida and you won't let anybody else drive, that's pride. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.359 I said, wait a second. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:14.960 I found out my wife wrote that one down when I wasn't looking. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:28.640 See, there's pride in every one of our lives if we're willing to acknowledge it before the Lord, and pride keeps us from the fullness of the blessing of God and makes us less attractive to the people around us, especially the people we live with. 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:31.920 No one likes to be around a proud, proud, boastful person. 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:38.160 No one wants to serve a boss who's arrogant and demeaning and needs to build themselves up by pushing you down. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:44.799 But God has called us to rise above every circumstance and to demonstrate the life of the servant named Jesus. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.839 The reality is none of us is an expert on everything. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:54.559 Even when we look at someone who has excelled in one area of their life, an athlete, for instance, it doesn't mean that they're a saint in every other area. 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.599 We know that. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.880 We know that from every arena of life. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:05.759 And here's the point: what we do not know and cannot do far exceeds what we do know and can do. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:08.480 So where's the pride and arrogance come from? 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:14.319 What we do not know and what we cannot do far exceeds what we do know and what we can do. 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:16.559 We're not an expert in everything. 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:21.440 I mean, I'm relatively accomplished in a couple areas. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.359 Does that make me brilliant? 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:23.920 No. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:30.160 I mean, if I'm gonna do a makeover remodel of my bathroom, uh, I'm gonna call someone. 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.960 I have no idea. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:38.880 I mean, uh, even the little things around the house, if I if I pull out any tool, my family gets nervous instantly. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:42.400 Where are you going with that electric drill? 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:48.400 My daughter's like, dad, dad, dad, put that down, put that, put it down and walk slowly backwards. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:55.200 Because they know I'm not a fixer-upper, I'm a fixer snot upper. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.440 I don't have a clue, so what do I do? 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:59.599 I hire someone who knows what they're doing. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:03.920 It's only the proud person that won't admit that they're not good at everything. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:09.920 That reminds me of the story of four guys in an airplane and a pilot and three others. 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:23.279 There's a there's a pastor, there's a brilliant professor, and there's a backpacker who's backpacking around the world, and and uh the pilot turns to them in the middle of the flight and says, We've got engine problems, and he said, and that's not the only problem. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:26.319 There are four of us and there are three parachutes. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.480 My plane, I get one of the parachutes. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:31.680 And with that, he strapped it on his back and he jumped out of the plane. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:35.200 Well, the brilliant professor said, You know what? 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:38.160 I am so brilliant, the world would be lost. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:40.160 They need what I have. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:42.160 I can't be lost in this airplane. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:47.920 I have to have one of those parachutes because I'm too invaluable in my society, in my school. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:52.319 And so he picked up that parachute, pulled it on his shoulders, jumped out of the plane. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:56.079 The pastor looked at the young backpacker, one parachute that's left. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:31:01.359 He said, Son, I've lived a great life and I know I'm gonna go to heaven in a few moments when this plane goes down. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:04.799 So you and he stopped and said, Sir, that's not necessary. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.759