According To Luke: Sanctified To Serve

 According To Luke: Sanctified To Serve 

Illustration:

I heard a story recently about a baseball pitcher. He was struggling badly with throwing strikes. He just couldn’t get the ball to go over the plate. Sensing his pitcher struggling, the catcher called timeout and made the all to familiar journey to the mound. He looked at his pitcher in the eye and said “you know what, I think that figured it out. You seem to struggle, you seem to loose control at the same point in every game.” The pitcher breathed a sigh and asked, “when is that”? The catcher said “right after the national anthem”. 

Point:

Friends, we all struggle with someone. Maybe you are like this pitcher and you seem to struggle the second you wake up and put your feet on the ground. Do you ever struggle finding time to spend with the Lord? You intend to wake up early and do it in the morning but the kids are demanding and you have to get them to school. Do you struggle with bad language? You really desire to clean up your language but you have coworkers that just speak that way all the time and it is difficult to be an example when everyone around you cusses. Do you struggle with food? Would you be considered a glutton? You have tried dieting but nothing seems to work. You just eat and eat and eat. 

Point:

Scripture tells us that not only are we dealing with daily struggles, struggles with life, but there are also spiritual struggles that we cannot see with our physical eyes. 

Remember Paul’s words captured in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

There is an entire spiritual world out there that we are often times not privy to, angels and demons that are contending for us and against us. Biblical values pulling us one direction and temptation the other. 

The Bible again address spiritual struggles. Remember Ephesians 6:12?

Ephesians 6:12 NLT

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

In fact every character in the Bible had struggles. Even Jesus, although Jesus’ struggles never caused Him to sin. Adam and Eve struggled with pride. Abraham trust. David lust. Jonah was judgmental. Peter had a temper. Thomas doubted. Paul was a murderer. 

When you read the Bible cover to cover, there is one thing that just about every character in the Bible struggled with…selfishness. At one point or another, each character became a me monster. Do you know what a me monster is? A me monster is someone that has to be the center of attention. They have to have all the spotlight. They believe that the universe revolves around them. 

Selfishness is a universal problem. Selfishness is also something that the disciples struggled with. We will talk about that in just a moment. Before we begin, fill in the thesis statement of today’s message. The struggle in our soul, in all of our souls is selfishness or selflessness. Which one will win?

The Struggle In Our Soul: Selfishness vs. Selflessness 

Background and Context:

We are still at the table with Jesus and the disciples. Two weeks ago, Jesus sent out His disciples to find a place where they might all share a meal together. Jesus tells them about events and conversations that will happen, but have not happened yet demonstrating His omniscience. When they sit down at the table, Jesus uses the illustrative power of the Passover meal to foreshadow His death on the cross. Jesus draws comparison of the old covenant to what will become the new covenant of salvation born from His broken body and spilled blood. 

Now I know what you are thinking. If you were there you would probably have been lost in the moment. There is Jesus. You are having the very first communion service. You are literally living in a moment that history will remember for all of time. Churches around the world will practice what you are experiencing for thousands of years. You would probably be humbled. You might even be moved with emotion. You might shed a tear. Maybe you would sing praise or pray. 

Not the disciples. Literally during the meal an argument breaks out among them. Two arguments in fact. You see Jesus just declared that someone at the table is going to betray Him. So the disclose begin to look at one another. They start pointing fingers at each other charging their counterparts with treason. I bet it’s Simon the Zelot declares Peter. Is not shouts Simon. I know who it is screams Thomas, its John. John is going to betray Him. No way says John. This occurs for a few minutes. Then the second argument takes place. Who among the is the greatest? When you get down to it, it is almost comical. So that is where we being this morning. We start in Luke 22:24-30. I am reading from the English Standard Version. Let’s read together. 

Scripture:

Luke 22:24-30 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

I. Motivation vs. 24-25

Luke 22:24-25 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

Point:

Have you ever heard the phrase “its baked into the cake”? The phrase is actually political in nature and means that something is inevitable or unchangeable as a result of a previous action or event. Let’s put it into spiritual terms. There is a lot baked in our humanity. The one major ingredient that is “baked in” to all of us is sin! If you go all the way back to Genesis 3, you will see that Adam and Eve sin. They eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is the only tree in the Garden of Eden that God told them that they could not eat. Adam and Eve disregard the command, they eat, and sin enters the world. From that moment on, sin has been baked into the cake of humanity. Paul understood this truth when he wrote Romans 5:12. 

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Point:

Sin comes in many forms. There is pride. The is envy. There is greed. We as humans have been trying to solve the problem of sin for a long time. We tried sacrificing unblemished animals. Sadly our sin was so great that there is no amount of animal sacrifice that could atone for our transgressions. We tried rules and laws. Laws will point out our problem, they will tell us right from wrong, but we do not have the moral compass to keep every law and rule. We tried good works. If we do enough good things our good will eventually outweigh our bad. However, the greatest accountant could never keep track of every good and bad deed. How could we ever know that we have performed enough good to undo our bad. Furthermore, justice dictates that we still must be punished for our crimes no matter the mountain of good that we do across our lives. Sadly, sin in baked into our cakes and there is nothing that we can do about it. No sacrifice. No laws. No good deeds. Nothing. 

Point:

Now there are some people, even some Bible believers, that believe that man is essentially good. We are not born corrupt. Sin is not necessarily baked in but it is the world that corrupts us. That is a nice thought because if they are right, a person that starts off sinless might be able to remain sin free, perfect. Could it be possible? No. Not according to the Bible. 

Psalm 51:5 ESV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 58:3 ESV

The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Sadly, we are sinful from birth and everything we do is motivated by sin. This is never more on display than at the Lord’s Supper. The first Communion. The Passover meal. Jesus is breaking bread, teaching about His body being destroyed so that we might have life. Then He pours wine from the cup, teaching us about His blood being shed providing us a new promise or covenant. Following that Jesus declares that someone, one of them, will betray Him. Instead of grieving that one of them could be capable of such a thing, the disciples start choosing sides like they are on an episode of Survivor. Who will get kicked off the island first? Better start making teams. Then another argument breaks out, not about the death of their master, but about which of them will be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. In this piece of Scripture we are privy to what is so innately inside of us. We see clearly the absolute low that humanity can sink. In a moment where Jesus longs for them to serve one another, they argue over who will be number one. 

Pont:

What this teaches is the strength and power that sin has over the human race. It will take an extraordinary event to break the stranglehold that sin has over mankind. Without Christ, we are hopeless. Without Christ, sin has all the power and control. Friend, what motivates you? What is baked into your cake? It does not have to be sin. You do not have to embrace selfishness. No longer, because of Christ, does sin have power. Our motivation has been remade, redone, renewed. Gods’ love has set us free and changed us from the inside out. God’s love abiding in us transforms our sinful motivations to that of Christ’s desires. Remember 1 John 3:7. 

I John 3:7 ESV

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

I. Motivation vs. 24-25

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

II. Deviation vs. 26

Luke 22:26 ESV

26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.

Illustration:

Some of the most humorous and enlightening moments in our lives center around eating and drinking.

Take for instance the interaction between a pastor and young boy in a certain congregation. It seems this particular congregation loved good fellowship and always served coffee after the sermon. One Sunday the pastor asks a little boy if he knew why they served the coffee.

"I think," said the boy, "it’s to get the people awake before they drive home."

Brothers and sisters, after we meet are we putting people to sleep or inspiring them to serve?

Point:

Friends, let me ask you a question, where are you right now? You might say Daphne. Some might be more specific and say Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Seriously where are you right now? Sanctuary. True. More specific. You are in a worship service. Friends I think that we have not adequately titled what many of us do on Sunday mornings. I think that in churches across America people come to church to worship. Yet, I would not call what they do, sometimes I would not call what we do, a worship service. Why do I say that? Well if we come here to worship but it does not inspire us to give, to go, to serve, then it is not a worship service. We just had worship, but we did not have service. 

Point:

I would say right here and now that the chief characteristic of what a true Christian looks like is service. If you call yourself a Christian but you do not serve the body of Christ, I am worried about you. Jesus is clear. “Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” If you want to be great in the economy of God, then be the least. Serve. Give of yourselves. However, if you remember the first point this is difficult because sin is baked in our cake. As Christians we must purposefully deviate from what motivates us. 

Point:

Over the past several months, I have been reading in my own person quiet time through the book of Galatians. The other day I was in in Galatians 5:16. 

Galatians 5:16 NLT

'So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. '

How do we leave that sin that motivates us towards selfishness and pride? We do it through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us, moves us, provides for us a path to leave that sinful life behind and embrace a new life. 

Point:

Many don’t want to serve except to serve themselves. But we all serve something. Some serve the idols of money and materialism. Some serve the idols of addictions. Some serve the idols of entertainment. Some serve gods made in their own image. We are called to remind people that God has created us to serve Him. We are to follow Jesus in serving others by pouring into life rather taking from it.

Point:

So, where can you serve? Truthfully I could spend all day up here telling you places to go and work, places to serve. That’s not really my job to tell you where you should serve. I will tell you this, pray. Pray and ask God to reveal a place for you to serve Him. If you pray and the area of service does not exist here at this church, create it, make it, own it and ask others to join you!

Mark 10:44 ESV

And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

I. Motivation vs. 24-25

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

II. Deviation vs. 26

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses An…

III. Illustration vs. 27

Luke 22:27 ESV

27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Illustration:

When I was 16 years old I worked at a nursery in Montgomery. It was the work outside and plant trees sort of nursery, not putting diapers on babies sort of nursery. It was tough work. It was hot work. I worked from 6 in the morning till dusk 6 days a week. I have never worked harder, smelled worse, and gone home more determined to get a college eduction than that summer. Do you know why I worked hard? Jim Hastings. Mr. Hastings was in charge of the landscaping department. He was my boss. Mr. Jim was not the sort of boss who dictated to the workers what to do. No way. He was right there with us doing the work. We all worked harder because he was doing the work with us. Ill never forget that work ethic. He showed me the value in never asking others to do something that I myself am unwilling to do. 

Point:

Jesus makes an pretty obvious observation, who has the higher place in society, the one doing the serving or the one being served? Of course it is the one being served. That is the way of the world. However Jesus, as He usually does, flips things on their head. Jesus states that if you want to be greater, you do the serving. 

Then Jesus makes another important statement. He says “I am among you as one who serves”. Wait just a second. Jesus is the Master. He is the Rabbi. He is the Teacher. He is the Lord. How can it be that He is the one being served?

Point:

In this moment Jesus is illustrating what real love looks like. Real love looks like service. Husbands, do you want to show your wives real love, serve them. Wives, do you want to show your husbands real love, serve them. Students, do you want to show your parents real love, serve them. Parents, do you want to show your children real love, serve them. Saying I love you is one thing but showing I love you is even better. Jesus is telling us that He is not asking us to do something that He Himself is unwilling to do. 

Jesus states that He is “among you” as a servant. If you were to look at that phrase in the original Greek, the word being used actually reads “inside”. You could read the verse as, “but I am inside you as the one who serves.” So go back to the first point, sin is baked in to our cake. Sin makes us selfish. I love the fact that in verse 27 Jesus is offering to literally place what is in us with Himself. Jesus transforms our sinfulness into serving others. He is the living breath illustration of what to do, love others by serving others. Hmmmm, when did Jesus do this for us?

John 13:3-5, 12-15 ESV

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

If Jesus washed His disciples feet, served them, loved them, then how should we serve one another?

Matthew 28:20 ESV

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

I. Motivation vs. 24-25

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses A…

II. Deviation vs. 26

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses An…

III. Illustration vs. 27

While Teaching The Disciples, Jesus Discusses An…

IV. Obligation vs. 28-30 

Luke 22:28-30 ESV

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Point:

This final point will be brief friends. Again, let’s go back to the words of Christ. Jesus makes the statement that they will indeed take part in His Kingdom, but not in the way they think. We know the rest of the story. Each disciple will share in the suffering of Christ. They will be tortured, beaten, crucified, and exiled. 

However, that will not be the defining thing that the disciples will be remembered for, they will be remembered for their obedience. Brothers and sisters, the same holds true for me and you.

Closing Illustration:

On Thursday of this past week, I did a funeral for one of our dear members, Coach Terry Vinson. Terry was the church teller. He was tasked with coming to church each and every Monday to help count all of your gifts, tithes and offerings. He faithfully did this for a number of years. Terry was a faithful servant. Never one to complain, but always the first to serve. In fact, I can honestly tell you that I never heard Terry utter one complaint. Im sure that Terry thought that there were things that could have been done better. Im sure that he did not always agree with everything. Nevertheless, Terry served. I think that Terry’s motto was “see a need, fill a need”. If Terry saw a problem he worked to solve the problem. Terry passed away last Saturday from COVID-19. His passing hit me particularly hard as he was someone that I dearly loved and deeply respected. Now a servant has left us to go be with the Lord. A vacancy for a servant is left here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Who will fill the opening? Who will follow the example of Christ, the example of Terry, and inspire the next generation of servant leaders? What is your obligation, it is to serve of course because serving the Lord is loving the Lord. 

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Go The Jesus Way And Serve Someone Today!