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Complete Sermon Notes
Jesus a 3rd Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection – Matt. 20:17-19
Greatness Is Serving – 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” ARE YOU READY TO GO THRU HELL ON EARTH?
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Define Humility – look at the character of Jesus
JESUS Humbled Himself as a Child (Christmas).
HE humbled Himself as a Servant (Our Example).
HE humbled Himself as a Savior (Resurrection Day).
The cure for envy and jealousy – HUMILITY
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HUMILITY started at His Birth – name one king who humbled Himself – AND this is the King of the Universe.
. . . We’re moving 330 miles per second.
. . . Experts estimate that there are OVER 100 billion galaxies.
Colossians 2:9 says that the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Jesus Christ, yet He was limited – He was tempted and felt pain.
Hypostatic Union – in A.D. 451 –
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HOPE in Humility – “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave [doulos]—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
A ‘Slave’ is not a Servant – many view GOD as their servant
Any time we humble ourselves, we are emptied to be filled.
“It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” -TOZER
Phil. 2: 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Most are not “Led by the Spirit” because they lack humility – “…the humble He teaches His way” (Psalm 25:9). To go up you must go down.
JESUS Humbled Himself as a Carpenter – hard work; a lowly position
Humility in the home is ALSO vitally important
The Last Wish (paraphrase) – A death row inmate awaiting execution, asked for a pencil and paper. After writing for several minutes, the convict called the guard and asked that this letter be handed over to his biological mother.
The letter said … “Mother, if there were more justice in this world, we would be both executed and not just me. You’re as guilty as I am for the life I led. Remind yourself that when I stole a bicycle that you helped me hide it. Do you remember the time I stole money from the neighbor’s wallet? You went with me to the mall to spend it. Do you remember when I stole the final results of the competition and was expelled, and you did nothing. Mom, I was just a child, shortly after I became a troubled teenager, and now I’m a warped and distorted man.”
Husbands, I can look at the face of your wife.
BUT SHANE, “Encouragement is the great motivator, BUT so is reality.”
This sermon is of no use unless we see our need – Humble yourself tonight
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HOPE – From the Manger to the Cross
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore [as the result of obedience] God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Cesspool parallel – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV), “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Leviticus: The blood was given in exchange for life.
Humble confession 1. “purifies”, 2. “restores”, and 3. “renews” –
. . . you’re uplifted because you unloaded.
Psalm 30 – “O Lord, My God – I cried out and you healed me. My soul was heading to the grave and the pit.”
. . .“I will praise You … Your Anger is but for a moment, but Your favor.”
. . . “WEEPING MAY ENDURE…BUT JOY COMETH!”
…because of Humility
CLOSING – if there is time: Reverend E. P. Scott was a missionary, living in India during the 1800s. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but against advice of his fellow missionaries, Scott set out alone to visit a remote village. He was determined to share the Gospel with a dangerous savage tribe.
Several days into his journey, Scott was met by a large group of warriors who quickly surrounded him, each one pointing a spear towards his heart. Expecting to die, Scott made a decision to use his last few breaths to glorify God, and to hopefully stir something within the hearts of his captors. He took out his violin (which he always carried on him), closed his eyes, and began to play and sing All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, in the native language of the warriors.
After singing the first verse, the second, the third, and then beginning the fourth, Rev. Scott realized he was still standing, and that all around him was a peaceful quiet. Opening his eyes he saw every spear lowered. There stood those mighty warriors, with tears in their eyes. Then he wrote:
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all. O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all.
GOD’S HUMILITY: There was a man with the job of raising and lowering a drawbridge so passenger trains could cross a deep canyon. This man had one child, a son, whom he loved very much. One day the little boy wandered toward the bridge without his father noticing. Soon the father heard a train whistle. As he started to pull the lever to lower the bridge, he looked out the window and saw that his son had crawled down into the big heavy gears. If he pulled the lever, his son would be crushed!
There were only seconds to decide. Hundreds of people would die if he didn’t lower the bridge—all sons and daughters loved by someone. He took a deep breath and, his heart screaming with pain, pulled the lever. The bereaved father stood helplessly at the window, beating on it with both fists and screaming out in anguish, as the train zipped quickly over the bridge. The passengers saw him and thought he was waving so they waved happily back without realizing the price that father had just paid for them.
Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Are You Ready? YOU’RE SCARING ME – NO, I’M PREPARING YOU!
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