One Simple Question

Today on Summit life with Jeannie Greer if you're going to get the high place with God's Voice Way in Christianity is always the way they'll release God's power and blessing in your life is by taking the role of a servant by considering the needs and interests of somebody else is more important than your life after Jeannie, as always, I'm your host Molly's this is you as you go through your day, you might notice the needs and interests of other people around you and sometimes even at the best things in the day those interests of others are almost always secondary to your own.

So when we do with this reality today on Summit life after Jeannie shows us just how important the interests of those we truly love our were studying chapter 5 of the book of Ephesians. As always, if you miss any of our programs or if you're in search of our featured monthly resource you can find all online@jdgreer.com or by calling us at 866-335-5220. Now here's Pastor Jeannie, continuing our series with a message titled one simple question going a series on relationships points of view with the really quickly. First we talked about the fact that there are no married people issues. There are only single people issues that get worse in marriage. Marriage does not usually create problems. Marriage simply reveals problems that are already there. How many of you a few weeks ago Saul, the Louisville Duke game where the guy broke his leg raise your hands.

Okay, probably one of the nastiest sports injuries I have ever seen in my life. I got goes up the block a shot. It's not anything plan wrong just came down and when he did his shinbone snapped in half tore through the skin it was.

It was disgusting and as you're watching the replay just can't figure out how it happened because Amelia didn't land awkwardly just saying that kind of pressure should never have caused a kind of injury, and so they concluded it was read this article that there's something had to be wrong with the bone before the right to have something to disease or maybe a hairline fracture of some kind. Because the pressure of the jump did not create the problem in his leg. It simply revealed it when the same way little treasures that make your kids drink milk although that's a good application also.

But the point of that is marriage does not create problems in our heart.

The pressures of marriage.

All it does is reveal problems that are already there and I know that some of you don't want to admit that because it's very convenient for you to blame your spouse or to blame your marriage for your unhappiness and are any of your other problems but I'm telling you if you're honest with yourself, you're probably you have to admit that marriage is just unearthing the existing problems that are already in your heart, your marriage did not create selfishness and you your marriage simply revealed that desire that you have for control, marriage reveals your impatience, marriage reveals your propensity to anger into rage. Those problems are problems in your heart and then the your marriage only reveals the second then looked at was that marriage and singleness are according to Paul, probably the things that God most uses in our lives to teach us about our relationship to him is what Paul calls the divine mystery of marriage and when you unlock this mystery. I'm telling you it's really yield for you so much understanding so much understanding about what God is doing in your marriage why your marriage is the way that it is and why you feel the way you do in your marriage is even a reveal to you what he's doing in those seasons in your life when you're not married, and you really want to be both of those points are to be really important today because the apostle Paul is going to teach us a principle that should undergird all of our relationships. People say to me like you why you do a series on marriage related to marriage.

We get so many people in your congregation are single. I told you last week 65% of the adults listening to me right now are single but why would a world ruled you do a series like the marriage you get so many people are single.

The reason is because the focus of our study is just on the human heart and what marriage or singleness reveals about the human heart. That's why because as very few things it just shows you shine a light on the heart. The way the singleness of marriage do. Second reason is what some of you who are single to know what you're getting into. When you get married and I want you to go into with your eyes wide open so that you can be prepared as you as you go in to try to summarize this principle deposited teach us today about relationships summarize it in one question. One simple question that I want to tell you if you would ask this question in your relationships. It would transform all of them, all of it I am and explain you.

It's one of the unknown secrets to happiness. They'll probably do more to replace Rife with peace in your heart and in your home than anything else that you could do and not just in marriage in in in all of your relationships. One question that would just be the game changer for you right now I'm not going to be a question until about halfway through the message right you type a people wanted to drive you crazy, but I want to let the apostle Paul built for you. The reasoning behind the question because I am warning you. This is so counterintuitive is to go against everything you have thought everything you have been trained by the assumptions you grown up with is so counterintuitive.

I gotta take time to actually build the logic for to relet the apostle Paul do that from Ephesians 5, which begin in verse 21.

Here we go. Paul is literally in the mid-Senate in midsentence. If your English translation as 20 verse 21 as a standalone sentence. It is a wrong translation.

I'll explain that later why that's important 21 submitting, Paul says to one another out of reverence for Christ. If he underlines up your Bible and you should underline out of reverence for Christ. Verse 22 wives, submit your own husbands, as to the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church's body and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Okay, this is probably the most unpopular verse in the New Testament if you're ever watching someone on TV trying to diss the Bible.

This is almost always the passage that I go to quote this in some way you can possibly believe the Bible actually says things like a milk quote some version of this verse in it so backwards.

The biologic possibly believe it. And sadly, this verse has sometimes been used as a justification for the subjugation of women, but that is because this verse has been misunderstood and lifted out of its context and twisted into quick observations here to show you that first of all, what is the first word in verse 22. Literature Bible what is the first word in verse 22 wives, that's right. Is he talking to in this verse wives, not husbands. He's talking to wives. Now you husbands are to get your own verse in the minute.

This verse was not written for you. However, it wouldn't written for you to give you a tool to wield against your wife.

If God intended for you to use this verse that way he would've addressed the verse to you so you say your wife verse that you like her messenger stop used at Harborside second, do not forget the verse right before verse 22 to begin. Verse 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ that you see a qualifier in front of that one note that's written to every follower of Jesus we are all to be submitting ourselves to each other wives to husbands husbands to wives, wives, submit to your husbands is a specific application of a principle that is given to every follower of Jesus. Now I'm not trying to deny that this has unique implications for women in marriage, just that this verse is given in an overall context of an entirely new way of looking at relationships and you can never separate this verse from its context. See Paul continue.

Verse 25 husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for our both husband and wife submit themselves to one another out of reverence for Christ. The husband submits his wife to the wife by laying down his life for his wife. The wife submit herself to the husband by submitting herself to her husband and this was done.

Paul said to teach us the mystery of our relationship to God. It was there to teach us what it means to love like God loves and what it means to experience God's love for ourselves.

Let's explore this further would be a shepherd to get your Bible flip over one book chapter 2 will Paul take the same concept and flushes it out a little bit.

Philippians chapter 2 verse three do nothing.

Paul says from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Verse four let each of you look not only do his own interests, but also to the interests of others have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant underline that being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross of the question specifically for you women was Jesus fully equal to God. Yes of course he was. He was God, but he voluntarily submitted himself to the father. This was not an assault on his dignity and did not imply any inferiority on his part. He was fully equal to God.

If it was not an assault on his dignity to do that.

It is not an assault on yours either by the contrary, it makes you more like him because you're doing what Jesus did. If it was not below him to voluntarily submit to another, to whom he was equal is not below you either and what Christ did is an example for you men to delay outside his glory.

He laid aside his comfort. He leveraged his power not for his own benefit, but for hours. There are two phrases in that passage that are so absolutely counterintuitive that if they don't like arrest you encounter shock you. Then you just didn't really write verse three. Tell others and their interest is more significant than yours. Even your own interest you know I when I walk around each day. I am vaguely aware that other people have interests you. And sometimes when I'm in a good mood. I'm empathetic to their interests, but always my interest rank higher in my heart and they're interested took my interest coming to conflict with your interest. I'm glad you got your interest. I'll try to make ways you can have some of your interest your interest in my view comes I get the Mac I get a parking spot reported the back right. If I get there first. Elise, this is my interest. This is not right will like that to go. Verse seven watch, he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. When I have power. What I do that I leverage it for me when I got the money when I have the position. I use it to serve myself. That's what we do. If I know that I'm in the right. That's the kind of power.

If I know that I'm in the right presses rights.

I demand a demand and for me, I'm in the right. I got a position of power. You recognize my right you to give me what is due to me. But Jesus had these things and what he knew he emptied himself, and he told the form of a servant in just a moment that let me tell you about our latest resource created exclusively for arsenic like listeners 15 day devotional on relationships and rest called devotions for the distracted family. As with all of our resources. This is exclusive to arsenic like family. You want to contact us right away. These messages and accompanying conversation cards are perfect for using the grant family helping you know one another more intimately.

All to Jesus and reserve your copy today by calling 3352 24 visit us online@jdgreer.com.

Thanks for being with us today. Now let's return to today's message here is Pastor Jane.

You'll usually take the form of a servant assigned form of a servant.

If you have a roommate you think of your interests and you recognize that they have some sort you got a compromise and you work it out with a have some the records you have some yours. And if you're a good roommate and you just figured out where the boundaries are and how you can both be happy get along.

Jesus taught entirely different. He thought not of his interest when he had power. He considered our interest more significant than his own. You sooner say that is so counterintuitive. None of us think like that. Elise naturally verse nine what therefore God has highly exalted him, why because he did those things, and bestowed on him the name that is above every name because he took the low road. God gave him the high place because he took the form of a servant, God gave him the name that is above every name that is crucially important principle to do over to talk about today because you got a trust that if you are going to get the high place with God to take the low place that the way up in Christianity is always the way down the way that you release God's power and blessing in your life is by taking the role of a servant, and by considering the needs and interests of somebody else is more important than your own is completely counterintuitive. Marcello Tinker back to the beginning of your New Testament Mark 10 James and John who were to Jesus closest disciples was entering the disciples right there was three of Peter, James and John say to those guys, James and John come to Jesus and I hate Jesus, we got a favor and she's like it was favor is okay when when you come in your kingdom. When you come in your power. We want to be at your right hand your left ear when VP Secretary of State all of your Europe melody over Asia gets is basically what they're saying. And Jesus says why is that envelope you hate. We stuck with you with you for the beginning we bought him and the stock was low so we should benefit when the stocks I will make sure we get your box seats overlooking your partner feel because we stuck with you all way we learned.

Jesus said that's how people outside of the kingdom of God. Think verse 43, but it shall not be so among you, whoever would be great among you must be your servant whoever would be first among you should be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. This was a revolutionary view about that somebody would use their power to serve somebody else know why his power through the use of the benefits yourself and what you go after power in the way you make money while you go out to the position you will address or you can have the power has a way of blessing and benefiting yourself John chapter 13 due to more books to the right will be in the Gospel of John is the last stop through the New Testament to her will to their will direct.

Ephesians 5 John 13 on the night before Jesus died, his disciples, they just need your last meal together verse four. Jesus stands out for the meal.

He laid aside his outer garments, important phrase and taking a towel, he tied around his waist.

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet. Now that would be gross today if a little awkward, just be honest with you thinking about this all about watching another bromance foot that just creeps me out my life, but in those days it was ending to themenu they will with open toed shoes and and there's animals everywhere and there's animal poop and pee all over the roads are right. It was disgusting. Neither their feet were absolutely and totally and completely discussing. These were not in a nicely manicured feed where he slipped up there for such Italian slippers in their satin socks and dabbed her feet with a hot lemon fresh tabs. That's not what happening right this is humiliating.

It is disgusting. It is the work of the lowest kind of servant here is the son of God who deserves all power and glory, who commands the armies of angelfish preschool world into existence. Laying it all aside and taking the form of a servant and washing dirty disgusting people and not just 30 feet thing about these feet. These feet are about securing the disciples away from Jesus in just a few hours when they abandon him in the hour he needed the most.

These are betraying feet and Jesus is washing their betraying disgusting dirty feet and perhaps giving them listen. The clearest picture of the cross that he would give them that night even clearer maybe than the bread and the cup because in just a few hours he would take off the garments of his glory. He would lay aside his power and his right to rule and he would clothe himself in the garments of shame so that we could be washed in his blood.

He says verse 12. Do you understand what I have done to you. You call me teacher and Lord, and you're right so I am if I've been your Lord and your teacher have watched your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet drive given you an example that you should do just as I have done to you in places listen where you are Lord or teacher or boss or head. We are to use that not to be served but to serve husbands whatever power you have in a marriage you use it to serve your life wives whatever power you have you submitted to your husbands and you serve him you say he does not deserve it, or you say she does not deserve it. She is so selfish that the disciples deserved for Jesus to washed their feet all know is remember that phrase that anything is a 520 want to know about their submitting to one another out of reverence for home reverence for them. No out of reverence for Christ. They don't deserve it but Jesus does.

Can you imagine being so grateful somebody that anybody that was connected to that person. You just had to pour out kindness on them.

That's what Christianity is, is being so overwhelmed at the graciousness and the sacrifice of Christ that anybody that is connected to Christ you have to do something like wash their feet, because you are so overwhelmed at the power and the grace that he showed you when he stripped himself of his garments and he bade not your feet but your soul, not with water but in his blood in your serving somebody else including your spouse becomes a way of saying I love you and I'm so grateful for what you've done for me that this is one of the ways I can show it by washing the feet of another center. When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory.my richest gain I count the laws and pour contempt on all my pride. The whole realm of nature mine. I have all the power that were present far too small.

Love so amazing, so divide demands my soul, my life, my all. Of course, washed the feet of another center try Lisa Fitzpatrick will ladies will go to church her last year.

She said this quote. The primary point of marriage is to teach you to watch the feet of another center.

Maybe thing the primary point of marriage is to fulfill all your needs and make you happy. Which is why which is why you're frustrated in your marriage is not working visit. You got married thinking this person would meet all your romantic all your emotional needs you to marry that roommate that was just going to be blessed to make everything come true. But God's primary point in marriage is not to make you happy. It's to make you holy is to make you like him and how you learn to be like him. By learning to wash the disgusting betraying self-centered feet of another center just like Jesus washed years watch weighty last week when you feel like you married the wrong person right, of course, you married the wrong person by God's design, you always married the wrong person because you always marry a center. Here's what I told you last week by God's design the wrong person is the right person for you because God has a higher agenda for your life and giving you a flawless roommate and that agenda is to make you more like him. Let me rephrase that him in your child's review married would you like the statement down and I would use it once a day because you need to shatter that false paradigm you and in the marriage with your single, you need to get this in your mind before you get married by God's design the wrong person is the right person for me because God has a higher agenda for my life and giving me a flawless roommate and that agenda is to make me more like him. Now I'm not saying that you deliberately choose somebody that you hate okay I'm not that I owe you the wrong person be married. You thought washing disgusting fee or maybe even increase body. You're my girl. I am not saying that I is marriage is a blessing God does and I love you mama why she loved being with me as the greatest blessings of our life. What I am trying to tell you is you get through the infatuation which you will want you to find is that person. There was something so wrong so bad about that person that Jesus had to die to fix it if there were so bad that Jesus had to die to fit some that thing is probably gonna cause you some irritation right fair is just my guys I knew, never to marry a flawless perfect person you marry somebody like yes what happens is you conclude you made the wrong person because that sin nature. The truly bad starts to come out and you think I do get out of this marriage and get into a new one unless you plan on marrying an angel which still exist on earth right in your noggin, amazement, another center there to put on the wrong person because God's point in marriage one is appointed to teach you to love like him to be love by him wait until tomorrow to learn one simple question is how the heifer it either.

What a beautiful picture of the gospel through marriage you're listening to Senate life, pastor, author and theologian fear that we have a 15 day resource called devotion for the distracted family. As I mentioned earlier and also comes with that conversation to say thanks for your valued participation in this ministry is Randy set of resources against $35 or more request and thus today we think think I 24 generally online.com Molly Winternitz don't miss tomorrow's program when castigating one question on the Thursday right here on Senate night night