Blessed In The Doing Not In The Knowing

I have no idea what we are doing as Christians these days. It shouldn't be as complicated as what we are making it out to be. We don't have to invent anything or try anything new. Why we can't simply do what Jesus did is beyond my comprehension. It seems that we only want to use the gospel as a suggestion and not the example it was given us to be. What am I going on about? Check this out, from Jesus' mouth:

For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:15-17)

Jesus gave a wonderful illustration of servant-leadership which is the basis of the Kingdom of God. He set the example and then said, now do as I have done. But his words encompass more than this one simple act. These ares his last moments of instructions as the shadow of the cross has already fallen on him. It is a summary of all that he taught: Do as I have done. And look at what he says, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

We can go to college or university and study everything that has ever been written about the Word of God and yet fail to enter the Kingdom because we have not known enough to do the Word. Jesus spent three years with his disciples for a reason, that they would learn from him and do the same thing, which they did. When we look at the likes of Peter and then later Paul, we see how their lives followed that of the Master. So what don't we understand about this?

If we want to follow Jesus then we need to know Jesus, what he taught and the example he set. We need to be possessed by the Spirit in power just as he was. We have to love the unlovable just as he did. We have to go to them and not wait for them to come to us. We have to tell everyone that the Kingdom is at hand, to repent and to receive Jesus Christ. We need to let go of any claim we have on this world and operate from the Kingdom. We have to be surrendered morning, afternoon and evening to Father's will, seeking nothing for ourselves and always for Father's glory. Then we will be blessed.

"You should do as I have done to you." We are not isolationists. We don't remove ourselves from those who need Jesus. We give ourselves wholeheartedly to the mission of salvation. We put all our resources to that aim. If we are doing any less then we are not following Jesus' example. If our needs come before our neighbour's or our Father's will then we are not following Jesus. Anything less than our all is falling short of the example he set for us. It is simple but no one said it would be easy. It requires total surrender each and every day with no time off.  "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." It will cost you everything but you will be blessed in the doing, not in the knowing.

Passion Week: The Example

It is the end of the day, time to relax and enjoy the evening meal. Only this is not just any meal; it is the last one that Jesus will participate in, this side of eternity. The hour was approaching when Jesus would be separated from these men he had spent three years teaching and training. They had traveled much of Israel together, teaching, serving, learning, growing, changing. These men had no idea what was about to take place, but Jesus did. He had only a few short hours to emphasize the important lessons he had taught because after this night everything would become like chaos to them.

Everything that could be done had been done. Everything had been taught. The training was complete. The betrayer had already begun his betrayal. The trap was being set, so Jesus stood and took the place of the servant or the host. In a very poignant moment Jesus placed a beautiful cap on all that he had taught them by washing his disciples feet. This was usually the responsibility of the host who would have a servant perform this duty for guests as they arrived at the house. Here Jesus took the role of the servant which was a portrayal of what he had done; God coming as a man in order to do for man what man could not do for himself. But this was their Master, their teacher, the Christ who was washing their feet. They should have been washing his. Maybe now they understood how John the Baptist had felt. We know it made one of them feel uncomfortable.

Peter had a big problem with this, as we might expect and Jesus tried to tell him that there was a purpose in him doing this:

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”(John 13:6-7)

Peter protested but Jesus told him that if he did not allow him to wash his feet then he could have nothing to do with him. Was Jesus speaking of what was to happen the next day? That this was simply a foreshadowing of the greater cleansing that would happen with the blood of Jesus? Whatever it was, Peter now wanted all of it; he did not want to be separated from Jesus.

Once Jesus had finished the washing he left the role of the servant and took his proper place again as the host. He explained:

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:12-17)

With a very simple yet profound gesture Jesus summed up three years of ministry by telling them that he had set the example of what they are to do. Now the blessing will be found in doing these things. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. He called his disciples not to a lordship position but to the place of servants. There is no way that the world could learn about Jesus from men who sought power for themselves. These disciples, who would become apostles, men of great influence and power, must never lose sight of their calling as servants. Jesus said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet." 

Jesus clearly stated, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Go and make disciples as I have discipled you. Go and train and prepare others as I have trained and prepared you. Today too many apostles, pastors, evangelists, teachers and prophets have taken on celebrity status. Leadership in the church and denomination is becoming a "career" choice again. So many have the ambition of becoming an overseer or an administrator and see their lowly position as temporary, only a stepping stone. How we must grieve our Lord with such an attitude and perspective.

What a wonderful, precious thing it is that Jesus Christ, Son of God, living Word, did taking my place, dying on the cross for me, a nobody. In turn he says "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Obviously I can't die to save anyone but I can lay my life down in service to the lost. Jesus set the example in the way he served with no thanks or appreciation being shown. He did not live off of the admiration of adoring crowds. He served whether people loved him or hated him. He did it in obedience to the Father and in love for those without a shepherd. He says, I set for you an example.  

The world needs to see Jesus not just hear about him. We need a major attitude check and a deep renewal in the Holy Spirit. This evening, as we reflect on this final meal, it is good for us to reflect on our service as well. We are more than worshipers; we are missionaries, ambassadors, healers and teachers. We are those who intercede for the lost, the channels of food and clothing, the vessels that carry God's blessings to the lost. Jesus has been our example and it is time to do as he has done. And he told us that the blessing is found in the obedience.        

A God Who Gives Us A Choice

I think we both know that there is a difference between Jesus and his followers. There shouldn't be but there is. More often than not we say we follow Jesus but what we do is subscribe to his teaching without actually examining how he put it into practical application. We hear James tell us to not just read the Word but to do what it says, and then we discuss it to death. Jesus did not just come to die for us, he also came to set the example of what it is to live by the Spirit in submission to the Father's will.

I dare you to find a moment when Jesus forced anyone to do anything, other then when he cleared out the temple of the thieves who had converted the house of prayer to a market place for the desperate. Jesus never even forced his teaching on anyone. The only ones who were forced to obey were the demons who he cast out of people so they would be free to receive the good news. Jesus always invited. He came to give an invitation to those who would accept it.

The truth of this struck me as I refreshed myself in the Word this morning and was reminded of those first invitations to the disciples:

The next day, John was there again, and two of his followers were with him. When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Here is the Lamb of God!” John’s two followers heard him, and they went with Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi, where do you live?” The Hebrew word “Rabbi” means “Teacher.”  Jesus replied, “Come and see!” It was already about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him and saw where he lived. So they stayed on for the rest of the day. (John 1:35-39)

Jesus is far from a wimp, taking on Satan, demons, storms, and the Pharisees, but neither is he a bully. He showed us the Father's heart as he was patient with those lost in sin. He invited and never coerced. He told people they had a decision to make and they will be judged on that decision, but still it was their decision. He spent his days giving people the information they needed to make that decision. He revealed the power, mercy, grace and love of the Father in contrast to the ugliness of the enemy and the sin he helped introduce to this world.

Too many of us act like salesmen, pressuring people into something they are not sure about. Often they allow us to pray with them to just get rid of us. Those who encountered Jesus never walked away the same. They were never undecided. They were either with him or against him. Not because his presentation angered them or because his mannerism put them off but because of the words he spoke. He spoke the truth with sincerity and people were either attracted or repelled.

We do not own people's decision to the good news we share. We don't have to force them, trick them, manipulate them, or guilt them. But we do have to speak the truth. We speak and the Spirit convicts. We speak and people decide. We speak. We tell the truth and we do it without a sales pitch. We do it without a "method". We just speak and God gives us the words.

Of course we are emotional and compassionate and desire above everything for people to know what we know. We want them saved. But we need to know the Father's heart, to do what he has done and not as we think we should. God does not force himself on anyone. We need to see Jesus' example and accept it. He spoke with the power of the Spirit. He spoke and demons fled. He spoke and the dead rose. He spoke and the blind could see. He spoke and disease was healed. He spoke and salvation was received.And then he told us to do the same. He told us to do, not to talk about it or talk against it. Either you believe or you don't. Either you have faith or you don't. Either you serve or you don't. Either we follow or we don't. Let's make up our mind.

No More Excuses

I wonder how confident we are about our Christian walk. Would we be willing to tell someone to look at our example? More often than not we make excuses: "I'm only human", "I'm not perfect, just forgiven". I guess it is our way of apologizing or seeking forgiveness. Or is it our way of avoiding holiness? All I know is that when I read Paul's testimony he was not afraid to say to people, "Do what I do", "Consider my example".

Look at what Paul wrote to Timothy, someone who spent long periods of time with Paul and would have seen his private as well as his public face:

Timothy, you know what I teach and how I live. You know what I want to do and what I believe. You have seen how patient and loving I am, and how in the past I put up with trouble and suffering in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. (2 Timothy 2:10-11)

You know what I teach and how I live. There are two "you know" statements and then there is the amazing, "you have seen". Paul is reminding Timothy that he lives what he preaches, and Timothy knows it. Paul did not hold up high standards for others that he was not living himself. Neither was he excusing other people's attitudes and behaviours so he himself could live such a low standard. Paul was determined to be like Jesus and he expected others to have the same desire.

Paul took Jesus at his word and he had faith to believe that everything was possible through Jesus. That includes holy living. It includes the righteousness of God. I don't see in any of Paul's writings where excuses were offered and I don't see where excuses were extended. We have been called to live according to the Word God has written on our heart, confirmed by the Spirit and the written testimony he has given to us. It is a daily surrender and a growing process but it is not a system of poor excuses.

We have not been left here to struggle with sin. Sin is done with and if it happens then God's grace and forgiveness is abundant but we are not to use that grace as an excuse to sin. We need to be careful of our attitude that it is not a "God will forgive me because he understands how weak I am". We were weak but we aren't any more. We are filled by the resurrection power, possessed by the Spirit of God. When we sin it is a rebellious act against God, lacking in love. For such a thing, we had better repent and not expect God simply to "understand". He does understand and he sent Jesus to take care of the matter. Now we are more than conquerors and had better start acting that way instead of like the weaklings we like to project.

More than conquerors, I am telling you and it means that when God tells me to be holy as he is holy that he has made it possible for me. Not because I will my behaviour, attitude and desires to change but because I submit to the Spirit's authority to change them in me. It is a decision to decide for Jesus every single time and when I fail to do so, not to excuse it but deal with it. "Lord, you made me capable of saying no but in my selfishness, I decided against you and said yes to my selfishness. Forgive me and help me understand more fully how your love has transformed me. Sin no longer has authority over me but I gave it that authority and for this I am sorry. I will run from evil and run to you."

All of us should be able to say to a "Timothy", "Look at my example". All of us. No more excuses. No more slogans. No more easy outs. We are called to be God's holy nation, set aside for his purpose, by his design. He has declared us to be holy and has transformed us to be holy. We are more that conquerors through Jesus Christ, our King.

Leader-Managers or Leader-Servants

Here we are, the day before the crucifixion, the day before Jesus was cruelly beaten and then nailed to the cross. Completely innocent of all charges but it was never about the charges and always about the Father's plan. Jesus' death was not a mistake but the plan since before the beginning of time. Unfortunately Jesus' disciples could not imagine what was about to happen and so missed all the foreshadowing Jesus gave them.

Now imagine that you are about to face a time of cruel torture. You know what is about to happen and you know it is not your fault but you are still going to be facing the hardest moment of your life. And while you are preparing yourself and your friends for what you are about to go through, your friends start fighting over something insignificant. Not only is it insignificant but it goes against what your life has stood for. They just don't know you at all. I wonder if that is how Jesus felt.

Here Jesus was, preparing his last meal, stealing himself for the onslaught that will take place in a few hours, and his disciples start arguing about who of them is the greatest. The argument arose when Jesus revealed that one of them would betray him. I can see how that could happen to these pre-Spirit-filled disciples.Each would be defending themselves from the thought it could me one of them which would lead to "I love him more than you" which would lead to "I am greater than you, look at all I have done." Jesus must have lost his appetite.

In his typical nature, Jesus gently corrected his disciples and reminded them what he had been teaching and demonstrating from the beginning. It is a lesson we would do well to learn and apply to our own service to the King:

Foreign kings order their people around, and powerful rulers call themselves everyone’s friends. But don’t be like them. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant. (Luke 22:25-26, CEV)

We hear far too much about leadership these days. All people seem interested in is developing leaders and everyone wants to be a leader, but what we need to be doing is developing servants. "Don't be like them" is what Jesus says but we run after classes and courses that are based on best business practices in leadership development,from the world. Crazy. The only example we should be learning from is Jesus.

I have met too many pastors who act like world based leaders. They are powerful, professional, intelligent and run a well organized church. Their church is run like a well oiled organization or small business. But they act like the church owes them something, like a CEO expecting good bonuses for his hard work. Yes, they work hard but no one owes us anything, at least not in the sense the pastors think. God says that people need to take care of those who minister to them but it is a completely different sense than what these pastors were thinking.

Ministers of the gospel are servants and their purpose is to live and die for their sheep. They sacrifice in the same way Jesus did, where there is nothing held back and everything that is given is poured out. It is not a life of ease or popular vote. Pastors have to teach just as Jesus did, whether people like it or not. They have to deal with the tough stuff and if it costs them their lives to bring the truth then so be it.

Pastors are not managers. They do not manage finances, buildings or people. Pastors are servants who minister the Word of God, operating through the Spirit of God, to bring good food to God's children, to be wise in God's will and to plead for the lost to turn to Jesus. Unfortunately too many of us still have the mentality of the early disciples and try to be the "greatest" in the Kingdom. Jesus is not interested in how big the church is we "manage" but instead looks to our faithfulness in our service, regardless of where he has placed us to serve.

We who are pastors have a great responsibility to sacrifice everything to share with everyone everything we have been given by the Spirit. It is wrong for us to measure success in offering amounts, size of our building or the numbers in our congregation. The number of books we have written, the time spent on speaking tours amounts to nothing compared to setting it all aside to sacrifice all we have achieved to bring Jesus to those who need him at that moment. We are servants here, not lords. We are servants, not kings. We are willing to be abused in order to have one opportunity to help someone with Jesus.

As we consider the cross and what it cost Jesus, let's consider whether our attitude and service are pleasing to him. After all, it isn't about us and all about our King.

You Say You Want To Live For Jesus

Have you ever felt too young, or really too anything, to serve Jesus in boldness? You read the Word, feel a deep burning inside to live what you are reading, but then step back from it because you are afraid what people will say? You see something in Scripture that you don't see anyone in the Church doing so you back away from it even though you have a conviction to live it? Please don't do that. There are many things that Christians are not doing as we lead a life of duplicity. We are not living as we aught and if Jesus returns soon we are going to have to answer for it, but don't let that stop you from living the life of bold faith.

Paul had left his spiritual son, Timothy, in Ephesus to oversee things and to guide the saints in God's way and in solid Biblical understanding. We have no idea how old he was but he was young to be in this position. He must have been a remarkable man for Paul to put such trust in him. He told Timothy this:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

I know many young people like to quote this verse but not many actually do anything with it. It is great to read it and to be encouraged by it but it is even better to put it into practice. The only way you can do this is by a complete, and I mean complete, surrender to Jesus. So many young people are distracted by their own false sub-culture. They get caught up in fashion, entertainment, friends, even education. They lose sight of the greater values of faith, love and family. A complete surrender is when we come to realize that there is nothing greater than Jesus; when we "sell" everything we possess to follow him. Consider what Paul wrote to his friend.

Set an example in speech. The words you choose to use say a lot about what is on your mind, in your heart and what you are allowing in through what you read, listen to and watch. Your vocabulary is often the result of your environment and your entertainment choices. When you spend the majority of your time hanging out with Jesus he will become your greatest influence. Your vocabulary, the kindness of your words, the priorities you show in your speech, will all reflect this. May I add, the stuff you blog about, that you re-blog or re-tweet is an extension of your speech. I follow a lot of Christians on Tumblr and you would be hard pressed to believe that some of them were followers of Jesus by the things they include in their re-blogging. Set an example, not for the world but for fellow believers. They need some good examples.

Set an example in life. What is life to you? What is it's purpose? What is your attitude toward it? Understanding this will impact what you do with it. We are only here for a short time and we are here as servants. Servants operate in obedience, doing what they have been instructed to do. Servant's are not here for their own pleasure and enjoyment. You must realize that our reward is in the life to come but here we must work hard and in boldness, to present Jesus to those who are lost. Acts of kindness are important but our higher calling is to testify concerning Jesus and to make disciples. This is life for us, not to be thrown away on pleasures but to be invested in the lives of the lost. Set an example for the believers.

Set an example in love. This is a big word in a teenagers life. It is a big word in an adult life. It is a word that is abused and it is an emotion that gets trampled on. The fact is Jesus has defined love as a willingness to lay down our life for someone. He then tells us to love our neighbour, to love our enemy. He also tells us that this love must be of the same quality as his love for us. Wow! Have you studied 1 Corinthians 13? Have you considered the cross? Is this how you would define love? Is this what you are living every day? As long as we allow ourselves to be injured by offenses and seek revenge for what is done against us, we know that we have not yet matured in love. Love is constant sacrifice and giving without any expectation of getting back. Love is pouring ourselves into the lives of other people, especially into those who hate us. Love is giving up everything for the benefit of other people. Set an example for the believers.

Set an example in faith. This is a big one considering that most people don't even know what faith is. Faith is beyond belief, it is actually acting on that belief. Faith is being certain of what you cannot see. Faith is stepping out into the dark, trusting that what Jesus said is true. Faith is not words alone but words that provoke us into action. Faith is doing and being. Faith is taking God at his word and living our life according to that word. Faith is leaving behind everything that makes sense in the natural and striking out on a new path that very few people can even see, where we speak to mountains to make them move, where we walk on the water, where we give sight to the blind, give hope to the hopeless, heal the sick, raise the dead, pass through the dark valleys while singing and dancing to the Lord. Go beyond belief and enter that realm of faith in action, which pleases God. I will tell you this, faith without cost is no faith at all. Set an example for the believers.

Set an example in purity. Sex is what probably jumps to mind but purity is more than a physical thing. It is a lot of what I have already written. It is a purity of spirit, soul and body. Our spirit is where God speaks with us and where we worship him. We do not want to allow anything to pollute this part of us. We do not want to introduce any idols, including self in this place. Keep it pure, for God's use alone. Our soul is really everything that makes us human. You may think of it as your personality and it includes your intellect and emotions. The Word tells us to keep our mind and heart fixed on things above. These two areas are so open to other influences, we need the Spirit's help to keep our soul pure. Being careful of what we allow in goes a long way. Stop watching movies and shows that we know do not honour God and use sin as entertainment. Then there is our body, which often follows the lead of our heart and mind. Your body is no longer yours, it was purchased at great cost. Honour God with it by keeping it pure. Sexual sin and and abuse to the body are the most devastating sins as they are done inside of us, they go in deep and are long lasting. Set an example for the believers.

You want to live your life for Jesus? Then stop sitting on the fence. Stop trying to keep a foot in both worlds. Stop living a double life. Go for it. Dive in the deep end and give to Jesus every aspect of your life, the whole thing. Set an example for believers in what it is to live a passionate life for Jesus, especially living by faith. Don't fit into the crowd of believers who are going in the wrong direction. Instead, set an example as Paul has told Timothy to do and consider this:

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (Timothy 4:16) 

You have no idea who you are influencing by the example you are setting, so make sure it is an example you can be proud of when you stand before the King of kings.