A Roadside Reminder and Reproof, Part 3

When Chuck Swindoll introduced the message that continues today on Insight for living. He told us about his seminary professor Bruce will Dr. Walkley was a brilliant scholar train young seminarians how to read and interpret the ancient language of Hebrew Chuck describe the arduous journey under his tutelage at times.

Chuck said he and his classmates were not on the same page with Bruce walking Chuck presented this illustration to set the stage for first century conversation between Jesus and his disciples must resume our study now picking up in chapter 20, following Jesus now for 3+ years. Their careers walked away from lucrative businesses and financial security. They spent more time with Jesus than they have with their own wives and children so there's been sacrifice.

They've heard Jesus talk about a kingdom, a number of different times and in different ways, for he would rule and if he rules they would help in the rain of that kingdom and they were on their way to Jerusalem which is the seat of power among the Jews thinking about their position and that kingdom and that's the change of subject. When you get to verse 20 your reading along, and it is really in the depths of seriousness when you read the verses that I just read 17 to 19 you get to verse 20 and suddenly the attention turns the mother of James and John the son of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor which your requests. He asked remember what he just told him you remember just talk about his own death, his own suffering his own resurrection is been all about that and he said what will what is it your request is that kind of response and she replied your kingdom and see what they're thinking about see what she's thinking about on the same page in your kingdom. Please let my two sons sit in places of honor. Next see you one on your right and the other on your left stop when the world are we doing thing about who sits on the right or left of Jesus in the midst of a conversation about his death and resurrection you do that when you are focused not on what is being said. But on what is on your mind. Jesus said, you do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering that I'm about to drink. You realize what is ahead. You know what, following me will include deal the happiness of what I'm facing. They not only had missed his point. They misunderstood the whole issue of kingdom promotion in his kingdom lifestyle and kingdom greatness in Jesus lifestyle is not about who sits on the writer who sits on the left is not about title is not about who's on top. What they didn't get is, there must be suffering before there can be significance there. There must be brokenness before there is usefulness that there must be humility before there is authority granted that there must be the bitter cup of praying to endure before there is promotion that so we asked him you realize what it is you're asking do you do you or are you ready to take this bitter cup of suffering and look at their answer. Look at how shallow Osher were in the what whatever. Just make sure were on the right and left. The idea Jesus comes back with a very firm you will indeed drink from this bitter cup no idea what your future holds, but the way in case you wonder if the other disciples were thinking noble of them to think like that. The next verse they were the other 10 probably were thinking why did we think you know what they think they'll so Jesus again called together. He begins by describing the F months the Gentile world. Look at it. He called them together.

Verse 25 and he said you know you know this, the rulers of the world system lorded over their people and their officials flaunt their authority over those under them.

Stop right there right there at that. So it is that's the way it is in the corporate world would be calm when we get more and more educated, more servant hearted just like to become more arrogant know what all look at the next sentence. If you see nothing else this day.

Look at verse 26, but among you get will be different. There are five words in the Greek language that are translated like this, not the us is it among you and the emphasis is on the not is placed out of order for emphasis, not so among you decide not so among you who follow Christ.

That's not the way it works in the family of God among you will be different. There will be no bride shall lording it over there will be no flaunting of authority on Jesus team. There is no place for self-serving ambition, personal promotion, shameless narcissism, presumptuous arrogance or bold even feel the pride. Few things are more different from our world system than that that isn't enough, Jesus goes one step further and describes the role of his followers, and he's talking to the 12 who have walked with him longer than anyone else on the planet.

They been his close followers. He has been their mentor so he tells them they must learn this if no one else when I'm gone.

This is what you must model and literati puts it, whoever wants to be a leader among you may notice her as a servant, and whoever wants to be first among you may notice someone else's sleeve or helper. The one who says, may I help you ticket cannot be of assistance to you or would you have done wrong I've ever I really owe you an apology for doing what I did. I was wrong. I was out of line. I spoke to quickly or I came across like I was a know it all and I'm not.

And on and on the way servants work sometime call random acts of kindness were you do for others without being goaded, having attention called to it least of all by you. Your realtor serve and you're in it to give one a good model last verse of our passage, even the son of man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a payment or ransom for many men, Peter, Andrew, James, John Barth, Judas, all you guys listen to me that that's why came this mother father sent me. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to remain equal with God, but made himself of no reputation du jour upon himself the form of a bond sleeve and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man, he became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Philippians 2539. That's my rule. Now with this enough to get them on the same page. It wasn't we read on your read more and you see how ingrained in them is the system which is it like ingrained in some of you I mean you know the laws of the office better than you know the verses of the Scriptures or the books of the Bible you know how to handle yourself to get ahead better than you know how to spend time with the Lord and connect with him in prayer. You made a study of that because that's how you can get ahead wrong goal. If I may be so blunt they go the same page was a result of this, James and John apologizing to Jesus for their ultra selfish request never once do you read of that this begin a journey toward unfamiliar greatness not yet have to hurt before that happens. Pain plants the flag of reality and the fortress of a rebel heart brokenness assaults pride have to learn that not just day the real question is, are we on that same page can't speak for you I wouldn't if I could. That's not my place. I can only speak as best I know my own heart. A few questions that will help as you do a little audit of your servant hood.

We were sort leading by serving husbands sort serving your wife. I sometimes say jokingly to Cynthia, but I really do mean it. I exist to serve you.

The truth is she feels the same as what we stay together all these years when you compete you don't stay together you are willing to serve the one that they can't return the service being of help to someone who may not say thank you or doing something very kind for someone who wouldn't even know you did with this change how you handle the role of leadership. Whatever may be your leadership is just the beginning of your applauding others and were necessary apologizing to others when is the last time you ever apologized for anything you see, it's ingrained Dennis, let me tell you about an editorial cartoon I saw some time ago. It was rather large at the top of this editorial page was in a square.

It was a monument drawn inside the square. The monument was in the shape of a pyramid in the pyramid were words that had been chiseled out of stone in this monument at the top. I below it. The word me below me mind below my myself at the bottom of this cartoon of editorial cartoon RRR hundreds of people with their hands held up by looking up as if worshiping at the shrine.

I me mine myself written on the border of the four sides that frame this cartoon were familiar sayings. Your number one, you deserve the best. Having your way if you can do it in a break-in at the very bottom of the cartoon is the clincher. The words speaking of American cults had different from what Jesus taught how different John ultimately learned it obviously because of his later years. His ministry was sort of limited to the words love one another love one another, care for one another. Peter ultimately learned in wound up crucified for his faith but he wrote to fellow elders and pastors saying don't don't do what you do because of what you get out of it, do it because you were called to do it. We will learn. I would love to know that every believer connected with stronger our community church is a model of this and people who come into our homes to do repair leave impressed with our kindness and our thoughtfulness. Those who do work on our roofs or in our plumbing around our cars walk away thinking hats nice people ribbon around me. The they even care that I had lunch and those we do business with and I'll realize you stop here if you don't know the Savior. If you've never come to the cross by faith. If you've never trusted in Jesus. This is all just talk.

You couldn't do this if you tried because it has to come from the Spirit of God that convicts us of our pride and shifts our mouth when we want to brag on ourselves or dropping it, or a name you come to the cross and you surrender yourself to the Savior.

You say, take my life. Let it be whatever you wish, I need you, Lord God, come into my life change me transform my thinking. Take away this ugly side of me that's dominated so much of my words and actions thought want to serve. People want to be able to help to people. I began by telling you about Dr. Wilkie. Let me go back there is a close and I return to this great man was years I remained at the school. I of course was around him and I saw how the next few years, began to shape and change in and you left a lot of that arrogance he left when he left Harvard and he was just one of us more and more about my fourth year understand from the others. Some of the other guys because I know what he said to be the time to meet with the 20 of us in different ways at different times privately. I'll never forget it. He pulled me aside and said with tears.

I want to apologize for what I put you guys through. I said you know Dr. Wilkie is a no no limit.

Let me finish and I didn't do a good job. I was so anxious to prove some things coming out this school is rated set a record. I thought you didn't get one with us. Man, when you taught us, but he said well realizes that years of past that I really didn't handle it well. Please forgive me. Since that graduation time in my life I've had the privilege to do a conference or to Dr. Wilkie and into the around him and I I will tell you the most gorgeous man I've ever known.

Over time is become a serving giving teacher leader melts me when I think of it, it's always magnificent when you're around uncommon greatness coming from one who is so bright so capable like so many of you this is what this is what this is what the Lord wants of us.

This is what the Lord wants of us was all said and done, it will be this that will give this church wings to fly in the heart touches people where they are bound together. I don't know where you are in this. I really don't but I know there's something here for everyone of us good place to start is in your home with your own family with those that you know best. They're the ones who would expect at the least, but what a great thing to serve and to give to them all for the glory of Christ help us all. Lord, in the journey. Help us to get past ourselves and get beyond the Army mind and myself nonsense and come to the place or just having breath in our lungs is enough uses. We pray in great ways. Uncommon greatness that no one would ever expect and that you would be so pleased to see you nuts minister father through these words to every one of us as we journey along this thing called life in the name of Jesus.

Everyone's a man in a world that's prone to celebrate fierce independence. It's refreshing to hear this reminder from Matthew chapter 20 even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Listening to Insight for living in the Bible teaching of Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Perhaps you've made a decision to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior.

For the first time today or you simply made a decision to pursue Christ in new and meaningful ways. I'd like to point you to a free resource that will guide you Insight for living produces a daily devotional that sent by email chucks down to earth writings cover a variety of everyday issues to help you live above the daily grind of life, and you're invited to receive the free devotional email from Chuck by following the simple instructions@insight.org/devotional then you often hear her say that insight for living is made possible through the voluntary contributions from our monthly companions and all those who give one-time donations well in recent months we've been pleased to add new members to our team because these new friends understand the impact of their investment in insight for living. As a result of the steady support from our monthly companions were empowered to touch more and more people through the daily program and the wide variety of resources made available to anyone wants to know more about God and the Bible. Perhaps today's the day you will become a monthly companions. In this role, God will use your gift to help us reach a hurting world with his compassion, truth and grace is the number to call for listing in the United States, call 800-772-8888 or sign up online it insight.org/monthly companions to give a one-time donation today go online to insight.org in March 2022 insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel carefully planned to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years. No place is been more meaning to God's children in the land of Israel. The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ's every nation and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll insight for living ministries March 6-17, 2022. Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with the refreshed heart for God and a renewed vision for the world. Really, I mean it every time. So I want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend filling in today for my friend Dave Speicher. I'm Wayne Sheppard. Join us again next time when Chuck Swindoll talks about seeing ourselves through blind eyes that's coming up next on insight for living in the preceding message, a roadside reminder and reprove was copyrighted in 2017 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles Moore Swindoll, Inc. all rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited