Who is the Greatest? Luke 22:24-31

    Years ago, when I worked in a church in Petersburg, Virginia, a deacon came up to me and showed me a chart of the leadership of the church.  He had the deacons above everyone else.  He was trying to tell me that this was his understanding of church leadership that he was in charge.  I replied that the word deacon actually means one who waits tables and is in reference to a servant of others not a lord over others.

     That deacon didn't like my answer and he never really did talk to me much after that.  But, the disciples seemed to have the same idea that this deacon did.  In Luke 22:24-31, the very night that Jesus would be betrayed, they are arguing over who is the greatest.  This has occurred several times since it is mentioned in Matthew 18:1 and also Mark 9:33-34.  These disciples had a dispute.  The word dispute here is philoneikia which means to love of strife, eagerness to content.  This was a heated argument over who was the greatest.

     Jesus' reply is amazingly patient and kind given that his time with them on earth is running out.  In fact, later in this passage he tells each of them that they will rule on thrones and eat at the table in the kingdom verse 30.  But, he reminds them since he has taught this to them before that they are not judged as great the same way the Gentile rules were.  The Gentile rulers were called "Benefactors" this is because they would sometimes reward those who followed them faithfully with tracks of land and other rewards.  But, Jesus said that he was among them as one who serves.  Here is Luke 22:24-29

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

    This is again how the gospel contradicts our views of greatness and importance in the world.  Jesus said you want to be great become like the youngest (the one with the least rights and privileges).  You want to be great follow my example and wash feet (John 13:13-20).  You want to become great in the kingdom of God then lose your life for my sake and the gospels.  It would lead Paul to write in Philippians 2:5-7

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Where is God part 3

   This is just some comments about pastor Jonathan's recent message on the series "Where is God?"  Pastor talked about where is God when there are times when he seems distant.  He said that there are four main things that God is up to when he seems distant.  The four things are:
1. He may be correcting you
2. He may be growing you
3. He may be preparing you
4. He may be reminding you

    I think about when a farmer or person prepares a field or a place to plant a garden.  They have to get rid of all the weeds and things that would hinder the plants from growing.  It is a preparation time.  From what I have seen it can be a very intensive work experience, but important for the overall outcome.  I think it is no less important spiritually for us to undergo times of preparation, so that the fruit that we bear might be fruitful.  We do go through times when God wants to correct us.  In Hebrews 12:8-11 it tells us that God discipline is proof of his love.

He may be growing you.  I think many times this is what God wants to do in my life.  He wants me to walk by faith.  That means I have to trust Him when I don't see him at work or feel his presence.  Otherwide, it isn't walking by faith it is walking by feelings.  Along those same lines it may be a time of preparation.  Charles Swindoll in his book "A Man of Grit and Grace: Paul" wrote about Paul's time of solitude in Arabia before he began his public ministry.  But, the truth is that most of the great teachers of the Bible including David, Moses, Joseph and even Jesus went through periods of solitude and testing before fruitful ministry.  For Jesus it was 3 days.  For Moses it was fourty years.

It may also be to remind you.  In Hebrews again it says that Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us as believers.  I am to not put my trust in feelings.  I know I like the feelings of a good sermon or service when you really feel like God spoke directly to you as much as anyone.  I love it when you hear a worship song and it felt like God's Spirit was ministering directly to you.  I hate the times of feeling empty, drained and all alone.  But, there is some fruit that God can only bear by removing all the weeds and thorns and junk in your life, so he can prepare you and get you ready to move on to new levels with Him.  Remember that before every great season of growth there is a time of preparation.

God's People = God's Presence

    Pastor Jonathan at the Summit Church today shared his second message from the series "Where is God?"  In this series, he emphasized "God's People = God's Presence".  That when Jesus was spending his last night with his disciples he prayed a prayer in JOhn 17:20-26 that we might be one.  That includes all believers even us today.  It says that he prayed that we might be one that the world might believe.
   The plan that Jesus put in place is that through the power of the Holy Spirit the church today is to be the feet and hands of Jesus in the world.  The word Christian actually means "little christ".  We are suppose to reflect that we know Christ by doing the kind of things that he would which includes things like helping the poor, homeless, the sick, the needy, those who can't speak for themselves.  And when the church has been at its strongest, the world has seen the church do this.  When the church is dysfunctional it forgets its goal and focuses only on itself.
   It isn't just a matter of us trying harder though.  Because someone could hear this message and think of all the time we fall short.  All the times when we don't do what we are suppose to.  Galatians 5:22-25 lists the qualities called the fruit of the Spirit.  These fruit are not the result of working harder.  Which might be the conclusion of someone who heard this sermon, "I'm not like that, I need to work harder."  Because these fruit are the result of trusting in God to transform us from the inside out and not simply pretending or wearing masks acting like we are something we are not.
   The Summit church has a mottor which is to "Receive and Share the Love of Jesus".  The key is that it starts with receiving the love of God.  That means that we spend time with God and allow him to change us from the inside out.  The light that we reflect is like the moon.  it is a reflective light.  it is reflective as we spend time with God and in His word and allow His presence to change us from the inside out.  We receive it because we are changed primarily as a result of being in his presence and by his power

watch the message here
http://tsc.churchonline.org/