Sunday Morning Podcast March 26, 2017. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JOHN 13:5-17
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Luke 22:24-27
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 themselves 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.
2 Timothy 3: 1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come,
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Men that love and live for the flesh, religious or not, squelch out any power of God for their lives. Their life then produces more and more sinful fruits of selfishness, wanting and choosing their own way. This is seen in society, politics, and the world at large. This creates more divisiveness, not getting along, having a “form of godliness” (religion), but without any power of God and His grace. It is that factor of a “not full consecration” that denies God’s power to work through a life. God’s people have work to do, to not become part of the problem. The intent and motivation of God’s children should be to do nothing to hurt anyone. This requires desiring true power, and not just a religious form of it. “Service” and “who is greater” is talked about in John 13, and Luke 22.
In John 13, Jesus’s example, was by His humble service to the disciples, even though He was The Master. We cannot live a life of service, unless we first sacrifice self. Sacrificing self …until nothing is left, is what allows God’s power to work. If this were your last day with your friends, what would you speak about? About worldly “things”, …or serious spiritual thoughts? We need to heed that sobering mindset. The “formula” to Christ-like service, is to not cater to self. Happiness and contentment never comes from pleasing self at the expense of God. In Luke 22, Christ asks who is greatest, the one sitting to be served, or to be the one that serves? Jesus then reminds us that He chooses to be one that serves. The lesson? One must be as the least of all, to be a true servant of God. How can anyone see a testimony unless people see us loving others more than our self? Loving your neighbor as yourself. Serving them. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. Luke 10:27” To love God, motivates to serve.
Power from God comes from serving our neighbor. Everyone is our neighbor!