Bondservant

The night before he was crucified. How is he feeling sweat drops of blood begin to come down his face. I mean he has a turmoil in his mind and his heart. He does not want to go to the cross because he knows what's gonna happen is not just the heating but also the sin of the world is about to be poured on him, but that is his father. If I could I would like for this cup to pass, but nonetheless not my will but your be done, just a portion of section entitled bonds are a master of it on shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview review community well focusing on loving God let each other in making Christ visible and everything. Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. visit us online@clearview.org join us for the rest of this message.

Today's message is called bondservant were Christ was not forced into servitude.

He was not forced to become a slave. He chose being fully God. He chose to become a slave and come in the likeness of men and was the result.

Why did he choose and and what happened. That's were going to see this morning that his choice to become a slave gave us listen carefully gave us the right to become sons and daughters of the King.

He took our slavery upon himself so that we could sit at the great banquet table as sons and daughters of the King of kings of the God of the universe.

And that's the message today from Philippians chapter 2 in our series called mind reset. If you have your Bibles with you turn to verse five Philippians chapter 2 in a saucepan is read God's word. They should have this passage memorized by now is the reason we read it again and again and in two months you should be able to say it out spit it out right.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

The goal of the series is for our mind to be like the mind of our Savior, for God, Jesus and was his mind like we looked at this for the past month and 1/2 who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God a better translation who, being in the form every bit as his father every bit as the Holy Spirit, and yet he did not consider equality with God something to grasp. He knew and he maintained that distinction to the father is in authority and he is the son who is to obey the father but what did he do instead but made himself of no reputation.

Another way to say that as he emptied himself, he didn't stop being God he didn't leave his power behind but he temporarily emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and that's when your focus on this morning.

I usually don't focus on bits and pieces but I believe there is so much packed into these verses we don't understand and that's why we never can get to the mind of Christ, but he taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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 was the result. Therefore, God his father also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name that had the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven. Those on earth and those are under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father question before we pray you truly understand what Jesus has done for you.

Do you understand what it means that he became a slave for us so that you and I could become sons and daughters of the King. How do you see Jesus how do you see him in this morning. Do you know him.

Have you come to him. If you've never done that. Listen, you have nothing to fear. He is a slave and he's inviting you to come and receive the salvation that he has purchased with his own life is that I'm saved but Artie carrying a burden today. Are you carrying a load. What Jesus they come to me all you are who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take that burden to him. Whatever it is I don't know and I don't need to know, take it to God in prayer, sickness, finances, conflicts, whatever it is taken to God in prayer, go back to the verse that I just read in verse seven it says, but he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. That word if you notice we put this over here is actually due to loss in Greek and do loss actually means slave. Now we call it bondservant but there's a difference between a servant and a bondservant.

What Paul is saying here is that Jesus came in the form of a slave. Let that sink in. As we gonna talk about that throughout this message. What is that mean why did Paul say that Jesus came as a slave to answer that question we need to answer to other questions. First, the first question we need to answer is that people understand slavery bagged and how was slavery.

Back in those days well. Unfortunately, slavery was a normal part of every culture and society. Back in those days, unfortunately, was even found among the main characters of the Bible in the Old Testament you a you hear about Abraham and Sarah. They have slaves okay Sarah had a slave and Egyptian slave woman by the name of Hagar and what did she do when Abraham could not have a child through Sarah.

She gave her slave woman over to Abraham so that he could have a child. But that was never God's plan that was never what God wanted to happen and so what happened, he rejects that child and he says that Charles can be blessed and dead child is gonna multiply but it's for you Sarah that this child is going to come through Abraham and Sarah, but his slavery stopped there.

Of course not, and you have a Rachel and Leah do the same thing. They gave their slave women to Jacob and now you have the 12 tribes of Israel, not God's plan. This is what man is doing good to hear about slavery again in the Old Testament all the time you hear about Joseph. What happened to Joseph, his own brothers did what sold him into slavery. And again, this was not what God had intended. You see, slavery was a part of the culture. In Old Testament times, and even into the New Testament. Let's focus on the Old Testament for a few minutes ancient Mesopotamia which is modern day Iraq from where Abraham came had slavery. Ancient Egypt had slavery that we have a good example of that or bad example of it where people of Israel were in slavery in Egypt and that's why God sent Moses to do what to set them free me. That's why he came.

He did all those miracles. Ancient Egypt who Elsa had slavery even ancient Greece not Greece is known for democracy right.

It's known for freedom there philosophers like Socrates and Plato and Aristotle. They talked about the ideals of freedom and democracy, but not for the slaves because all of them at slaves and it was never for every body so it was ideal for those who were already free, but for the slave that is applied to you. You see, slavery existed in the Old Testament or how I would be getting the New Testament.

Ancient Rome was even worse, having Rome as beautiful as Rome was and how powerful they were, according to certain estimates elicited according to certain estimates in Rome, there were 80 to 90% of the inhabitants were slaves or of slave origin. How if y'all seen that old movie Spartacus was Margo he was a slave right.

He was a slave but he was a slave from pray switches Germania and started the third a rebellion the slave rebellion. What did Rome do they crush that rebellion but something elicited when the rebellion was over Rome.

Listen to this crucified 6000 slaves in a picture that 6000 of them lying all over hills and valleys killed because they dared to rebel against role. Having this is how slavery was back in those days, not what I want you to really get this picturing whatever your opinion might be about slavery and what happened. I want you to focus on what I'm trying to communicate to you. How are the conditions of the slaves back then it depend on what they did if they worked in the minds well human I come home if the work in the homes of things were better for you. You were almost like part of the family. Maybe go back before Civil War, sort of like the same thing, but either way at the end of the day a slave was just a human property. A human tool. That's what a slave was many of them endured beatings, many could not participate in education even marriage was regulated by the owner so you can marry but uncalled at marriage can imagine that you matter your wife but that's not really marriage because at any moment. I can say that's over, I got a cell you will you better be ready to go and so slavery was, not something that we can praise in any sort of way. By the way, in the Western culture would like to talk about it. The slave trade of the 17th and the 18th century is a very sad and shameful experience.

In reality, the purchasing of West Africans and bringing them over to the Western world and using them is never right and I know maybe you grew up, he heard hearing that with things were better here for them that it would been over there. My suggestion to you is don't use those arguments as they may have sounded good.

At one time they don't sound good today and and don't use that argument because it's not right is never right for one man to another person, that's not right. You can't. You can justify it. You can't rationalize slavery at what happened. Well, when Christians had conscience and courage. This spoke out Christians like William Wilberforce, William Pitt, John Newton near the man who wrote amazing Grace was a slave owner at one time he worked on a slave ship and they get saved and he realizes what in the world was he doing why he was beating and killing slaves in his life gets changed and he writes amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me on his tombstone. I don't have the exact words but he said something about a slave of Jesus is who I am, so I must understand that for a moment that this is how slavery is it's not good it's not something you can never say there's some good sides to it. And by the way.

Slavery still goes on to this day. Did you know that about 28 to 30 million people right now in 2019 are trapped in slavery. In fact were doing a radio show that will be devoted towards this because some of y'all have written to us an estimate, amazing went people in the church who may not have any slave lineage or background their writing dozens and can you talk about this. Yeah sure we can as were planning on doing that. The whole point I'm trying to make to use this to be called a slave was never good and how did God see slavery well. He never endorsed it.

In fact, in the book of Exodus and Leviticus and Deuteronomy's God talks about how slaves were to be treated. Don't mistreat them.

And if you enslave your own people.

Seventh year what happens in the seventh year. You gotta let him go. What happens in the year of Jubilee. Let all of them go and there were strict laws about bringing slaves from outside. Many of them were dead slaves but even then God said no it's not right. This is not what I want, what did God want listen to Joe chapter 2 verse 28. Listen to this I want you to hear this carefully because this is where you hear God's heart on slavery, and it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh all flesh is in just the people of Israel know all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions, and also on my male servants which is really male slaves and on my female slaves.

I will pour out my spirit. In those days, as in the Bible.

What God is saying there's a day coming that there will not be any distinction between free and slave, all will be free. This is God's heart and if this is God's heart. That's what should be our heart. By the way, in the time of Jesus. Slavery was still practiced. It was there about talking about Romans 80 to 90% were slaves and slave were still just the bottom rung of society and the time of Jesus.

So here's the big question why did Jesus speak out against slavery.

Why did he do that can imagine what would happen if Jesus had said Masters set your slaves free. You think they would've done it note gets what they would've done two things well to the either they would have told the slaves you can no longer go and listen to Jesus or they were crucified they were killed him. They would've found ways to end their life so Jesus doesn't say anything against slavery. But guess what he does. If you read his parables carefully. There full of slave examples. The man had a vineyard, and he told his slaves, reread servants, but is really slaves.

A man goes away any gifts and talents to three of his slaves, one to him.

He gives 10 and then five and then one or something like that.

There will slaves and what did Jesus constantly do. He constantly talked about coming to serve Thomas to go back again to what Paul says Jesus made himself of no reputation, taking the form of faith slave. So here's a question. Who was Jesus a slave to the cam as a slave who was us who was he a slave to number one. He was a slave to his own father to God the father.

He was a slave by the way, what we know about slaves you don't have rights, you do what you master tells you to do.

Can you argue with you master no. If you see a need, what you do you just do it. There is there is no no, but let me think about it. Nothing. So when Paul says he took the form of a slave he was a slave to his own father. Listen to John chapter 6, verse 38, he says, for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. You see when Jesus came.

There was no time for him to negotiate with the father that I know what you said but coming down here I'm thinking, different now you two but the father has told you to do what else then he says in verse 39. This is the will of the father who sent me that of all he has given me I should lose nothing. I mean, a slave that goes out there and works and loses stuff and doesn't do his job and jeopardizes the business is not a good slave, but Jesus says here is listen. I am here to do the will of my father and my father's will is that I should not lose anything. No one that he has given to me but should raise it up on the last day, listen verse 40 John chapter 6 and this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the son and believes in him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

So what was Jesus's mind said he was a slave to his father. He did whatever he said without questioning and receipt in the garden of Gethsemane the night before he is crucified.

How is he feeling sweat drops of blood begin to come down his face. I mean he has a turmoil in his mind and his heart.

He does not want to go to the cross because he knows what's gonna happen is not just the beating, but also the sin of the world is about to report on him. Then he says father if I could I would like for this cup to pass, but nonetheless not my will but your be done as you are the master and I am your slave something else. This is important. He also came as a slave you ready for this to us. He also came as a slave to us. Lisa how to be out of you know that remembering jet Matthew chapter 20 in verse 28. What did Jesus say the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many. What he said is I haven't come to be a master I've come to be your servant or your slave outcome to serve you and give my life for you not to be see that in Jesus's life.

Those three years of ministry.

Of course we do well. What was a slave supposed to do in the house of his master supposed to cook right slave slaves cooked even in our own history.

You see slaves cooking in the in the kitchen and bring in the food in. What did Jesus do most of the time when he was ministering to people he fed them. He fed 5000. He fed 4000. He was always seeing people hungry and he would feed them what is that you do well look back and see a slave when he is called has to come a slave when their name is called, they have to come what happened to Jesus. Time and again. People called him gyrus his daughter was dying. In this it can we get the can you get your your teacher to come and use good is that what you mean.

Call thing on your slave or something know what it Jesus to God, let's go see what's wrong as he is walking this woman comes and touches the hem of his garment get angry with theirs and somebody touched me because power has gone out of UC because people are using me people are making use of me and he heals her and keeps on going, comes to gyrus his home and heals her daughter was that the only time that Jesus went somewhere when he was called think about Lazarus what happened Lazarus. He died and his sisters had already called him Jesus delayed coming and then he comes and he raises him back to life and repeatedly Jesus came when he was called. What else did the slaves do. The slaves were also responsible for teaching the children in the family. What did Jesus do in his three years of ministry.

What did he do.

He was constantly teaching and who wasn't teaching to the multitudes. They came there sad.

It was so hard that sometimes use that as I got ago. I have to get away because I haven't even eaten and he would take the disciples away because so many were coming and going. Didn't even have time to eat the rubber slaves. Many times it would even get a chance to eat and Jesus.

You see, if you read the Gospels carefully throughout. You see him working like a slave at night.

Nicodemus shows up devoured negative job at GW like a look come back in the morning. I hundreds of time to rest, is an outcome on an what you want talk about well you know a great teacher. You know the things you do ghetto and his light come on Nicodemus get to the point is getting late. I gotta get up early and start helping people again. Unless you are born-again you cannot see the kingdom of God and then you see the rest of it he sees always serving people. He is always feeding the hungry and giving water to the thirsty, always going in teaching the people as slaves did the menial labor washing the feet. What did Jesus do on the night before he was crucified. Would you do, knowing that he is come from God and going back to God. He picks up water in a little apartment little basin with a towel and began to wash the disciples feet. Your member that and Peter said oh no no no that's what slaves do.

He said if I don't do this to you Peter, you have no part with me as I best occasion. Give me a hold back no know you're quaint but I need to do this and he washes the feet of all the disciples and sits down.

He asked the question, do you know what I've done to you. If being your master has just been your slave, you need to do that to each other.

You need to be generously and slaves back then, or even in our Western culture would have to go and fight in battle for their masters many times that happen where the master would say I want you to go fight for me and it was signed them up so either you go or someone goes in your stead, and many times the slaves would go and fight.

But think about it what it Jesus come to do became to fight our battles. You are supposed to die on the cross and I was supposed down the cross being the slave that he is, he said, look, take the cross and go fight your battle for you now know how you feel about this but did you know your God is a slave. As it is his heart and out of did that he really, really say those things I want to read with me Matthew chapter 11 in verse 20 attorney attention to her that we love this verse. We just don't think about it.

I'd already read with mates on the screen.

Come to me.

I was so weak. That's try one more time, come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus had a yoke is a you have a burning learn from me, let's exchange the bird and I listen to verse 29 he says and take my yoke upon you and learn from me from gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls know verse 30 read with me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. I don't if you get this and I hope you do the Christian life is a free life, but is also a slaves life for slaves life is a will come on now. Jesus came to set me free and I'm free indeed.

Yes, you are free. You are free from the penalty of sin. You are free from the bondage of the slavery of sin. But now you are a slave to each other and to the world. We are to serve. We are to do what Jesus came to do which is to give his life for us husbands. This is how you should be toward your wife, wives. This is how you should be two words, your husband charge family. This is how you should be towards each other and this is how we should be towards the world but I don't feel like you don't feel you know if I felt and I've been feeling this way a slave, it doesn't matter what feelings you got what I can explain it and I don't feel like I love him like a rush in out like I used to and I do love slave is not present matter what your feelings are felt so angry you don't have the right to be angry. I felt like you know I felt like they were not. You know you know that the hit dinner treating me like the shoes I would think people treat me like picture your slick can imagine what would happen if the charge every person has the heart of a slave starting with me radically change the way we treat people. If you have a burden.

I should be sitting back and saying visually whatever God heard Aurobindo doing well know.

My job is to go share their burden to help carry their load not talk about it, not gossip.

The slaves don't do that. Why because were in the same predicament, but do we get in second Corinthians 8 in verse nine says we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as though he was rich in a keep in mind. He was not a slave he chose slavery, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through this power deed might become rich. Thank you so much for joining us for this message. Christ came not to be served but to serve, look at the Greek, means that he came with the heart of a slave's might be hard for us to understand that we see the example of humility. The Christ set before us, which inspire us to humble ourselves to go out and serve others in his name.

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