10-15-2023 – “The True Mark of Greatness”
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October 15th, 2023 - (AM outline)
“The True Mark of Greatness"
Luke 9:46-50
Read Luke 9:46-50…
This section of scripture begins the end of Jesus’ ministry in the area of Galilee.
Turn to Genesis 1:31; 3:5; 2:16-17; 3:17-19…
Turn to Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:11-15, 17…
Turn to Revelation 12:9; 20:1-3, 7-10…
Pride is the prime characteristic of the unbelieving, and throughout history it has been applauded as a virtue in the godless world that rejects the existence and holiness of God. Pride is the soil in which all other sins sprout, damning those who are characterized by what is rebellion against God, who alone is worthy off worship.
Of all the human authors in the New Testament, Paul had reason to brag (Philippians 3:3-6), “Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh, if anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”
Paul after meeting Christ, renounced all human virtues (Philippians 3:7-11), “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Turn to Romans 7:18-25…
Turn to 2Corinthians 12:9-10…
Godly humility (Matthew 5:5), “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth,” (Luke 14:11), “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,” (1Peter 5:6), “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”
Pride belongs to the unbelieving (Proverbs 11:2), “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom,” (16:18), “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling,” (29:30), “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor,” (Philippians 2:3-4), “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Read Luke 9:46… See again Luke 9:22-23, 44. Jesus is telling them about His suffering on their behalf, and they want to know who is will be the greatest among them. They really don’t get it, they are hearing but not understanding.
Read Luke 9:47-48… All the disciples were thinking about their own self-importance and individual glorification.
Jesus teaches them the error of their thinking. In Judaism, children under the age of 12 couldn’t be taught the Torah, so spending time with them was considered a waste.
In Mark 9:36, Jesus picks up a child in His arms, in Matthew 18:3-4 saying, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
There is no spiritual ranking of greatness in heaven. In Luke 9:48a, Jesus says we are equals in the kingdom of heaven (Luke 48b), “for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
Humility is the greatest characteristic of true and genuine salvation.
Matthew 23:11-12, Jesus said, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
John 13:33-35, Jesus said, “Little children, I am with you a little while longer… A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” 12, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.” 15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
Read Luke 9:49-50… John, seems to be having second thoughts about a previous encounter with someone was casting out demons in Christ’s name. The apostles tried to prevent him from doing so, because he wasn’t one of them.
Jesus again teaches the priority of humility and the danger of pride, Jesus said “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
Godly humility promotes unity among those who belong to God’s Son, no matter what denomination or group they they represent; whereas, godless pride promotes disunity among those who reject Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 16:5, “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.”
James 4:6, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
1John 3:18, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” 23-24, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Pastor Mike
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