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Living Hope SDA Church

Christian Martin

Not My Will: The Humility of Christ


His grace. We do call it amazing grace, don't we? Amazing grace. And today we are here today so that we can actually still be amazed. I get on my knees every day.

That's because His grace compels us to just come before His presence. And we're going to have that opportunity today. Maybe some of you came today not necessarily expecting a communion service. But God knew what was happening and he brought you here. So I believe that God is preparing you for an encounter with him.

As we open our hearts I know He will. So let's pause and let's ask Him to do just that as we continue. Father, we just want to thank You because we know that all things work together for good. You know our hearts. You know where we are in this journey with you, and you're doing everything you can to prepare us, Lord, so that when you show up, we find ourselves looking up towards heaven with tears in her eyes, tears of joy, because you've come, faithful to your promise.

And we will be ready because of your amazing grace. And so we ask Lord that you would come and just speak to our hearts even now as we take this time in your presence and we thank you in Jesus name. Amen. You know in the gospel of John, We're given a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of Jesus. It's interesting because as you know the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, they record the stories or the actions of Jesus, Right?

But it's in the Gospel of John that we see something more. It's a look into what was going on inside of Jesus. Again, into his thoughts and feelings. You know, and I sometimes I've wondered why. Why is the Gospel of John so intimate with Jesus?

And then the only reason I can come up with is that, wait a minute, Yeah, that would make sense. The gospel was written by who? Now that's a good question. Who wrote the gospel of John? John.

It was John. John wrote the gospel of John. But who was John? We're told that he's the disciple that Jesus loved. In other words, might there have been a more intimate, closer connection between Jesus and John?

I think so. I think so. And so should it be a surprise then that it's John that that intentionally opens our eyes to see the heart of Jesus because he knew it. Because he knew it. And so the thoughts and feelings of Jesus are revealed in the Gospel of John more than any other gospel.

Jesus spoke frequently about his relationship with God, not just relationship but the motives that guided his decision making. Jesus was 1 like us, fully God, but fully man. So he had to make decisions too, just like you make decisions. And so, what were his motives? Well, John reveals that to us.

You see, Jesus himself practiced what he taught. Aren't you thankful for that? That's 1 sign of a true teacher, a good teacher, right? In fact, the sign of the Christ. Not a false Christ, but a true Christ.

He practiced what he taught. And it's interesting because Jesus taught, for example, among many things, Matthew 23, 12, it says that Jesus taught whoever exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be what? Exalted. Not himself, but God. God will exalt him.

So Jesus taught that. And in the book of Philippians chapter 2 verse 8, Paul gives testimony of the fruit of the ministry of Jesus. When he wrote that Jesus humbled himself and then in verse 9 he continues, therefore God has also highly exalted Jesus and given him the name which is above every name. So do you see how Jesus practiced what he taught? And he was exalted because he humbled himself And God exalted him.

And so we're going to take a few moments here to listen to the words of Jesus. If you would take your Bibles, come to John chapter 5. We're going to stay in John. Yeah, we're going to stay in the gospel of John. John, and we're going to look at various verses in John.

And as you follow along, you can open your Bibles, of course, or you can listen. But listen to the words of Jesus as Jesus himself, not someone else for him, But Jesus himself spoke these words of his relation to God, to the Father. And you're gonna pick up on a pattern. There's gonna be a theme. There's like, wait a minute, he keeps on repeating this again and again and again.

Well, yeah, you would be right. That's what Jesus does. Listen to these words. We'll begin with John 5, chapter 5, verse 19. Then Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do, what?

Nothing of himself, but what he sees the father do for with whatever he does the son also does in like manner. John chapter 5 verse 30 now. I can of myself do what? Nothing. John chapter 5 verse well let's continue the rest of the verse in fact.

As I hear I judge and my judgment is righteous. Why? Because I do Not seek my own will, but whose? But the will of the Father who sent me. John chapter 6.

Let's go a few, the next chapter over. Verse 38. Jesus said, For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. Next chapter, John chapter 7. John chapter 7 verse 16.

Jesus answers them and said, my doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. Verse 28, same chapter, verse 28. Then Jesus cried out as he taught in the temple saying, you both know me and you know where I am from and I have not come of myself But he who sent me is true. John chapter 8. John chapter 8 verse 28.

Then Jesus said to him, when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do what? Nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I speak these things. Verse 42, same chapter, chapter 8, verse 42, Jesus said to them, If God were your father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God, nor have I come of myself, But He sent me. Verse 50, same chapter, verse 50. I do not seek my own glory.

There is 1 who seeks and judges. Let's go over now to John chapter 14 verse 10. John chapter 14 verse 10. And it says, there in verse 10, John chapter 14 verse 10, Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? He's talking to Philip.

The words that I speak to you, I do not speak on my own authority, But the Father who dwells in me does the works. Verse 24, He who does not love me does not keep my words, and the word which you heard is not mine, but the Father's who sent me. Did you get it? Did you catch it? Do you see that common theme?

That pattern that we see in the words of Jesus spoken again and again and again. These verses reveal the deepest roots of Christ's life and work. We know what he did, that he healed countless people, He taught multitudes. We know what he did. We see the Gospels and we see all the stories.

But these verses that we just read reveal why, the why, God was able to do his redemptive work through him. This is the why. This is the why. Because he was nothing. He was what?

Nothing. He was nothing. Why was he nothing? So that God might be all. He was nothing so that God may be all.

Andrew Murray, Andrew Murray, If you don't know Andrew Murray, find his work, his writings. Very inspiring. And in his book, Humility, he wrote these words. Of his own power, speaking of Jesus, of His own power, His own will, and His own glory of His whole mission, with all His works and His teaching. Of all this He said, It is not I.

It is not I. I am nothing. I have given myself to the Father to work. I am nothing. The Father is all.

The Father is all. And this kind of life, you know, with this kind of life and this kind of living Christ found it to be 1 of perfect joy and peace. Jesus lost nothing by giving all to God. Can you say amen to that? Jesus lost nothing by giving all to God.

And here's the miracle. Are you Ready for the miracle? The miracle is this. That you and I are made partakers of God. You, me, partakers of God.

Yeah. It could be said that his humility, the humility that took him down from heaven in the incarnation, the humility that kept him trusting in the father continuously day and night for his entire life here on earth. His humility that took him to the death, even the death of the cross, his humility is our salvation. And our salvation is His humility. True humility reaches its strength in the fact that it is God who works all in all.

It's the indwelling Christ who will live in us. And brothers, sisters, that's why we're here. That's what's happening today. In light of all this, enter the Lord's Supper. Enter communion service.

We're going to have emblems in just a moment. These emblems are just that, emblems. But they represent something very special. It's the body, the broken body of Christ. And His shed blood.

And while they represent the broken body and the shed blood, it also represents the welcoming of the living Christ to dwell in us. Can you say amen to that? It's remembering the death, but it's also acknowledging the living Christ who wants to be all in all and abide in us. It's not just a temporary sentiment, communion Sabbath every once in a while, no. It's something more than that.

It's even more than just a mere experience. It can be the very spirit of our whole life because we become partakers and it's the work of God in us and he asked what it takes you know Jesus prayed in the garden not my will but thy he could you could have easily just walked away but he said not my will but thy They took him and beat him and they mocked him and teased him. People kept crying, we got to crucify him. Yet he said, not my will but thine. They nailed Him there in public between the 2 thieves.

He tasted human torture of the cruelest kind, but yet He said, Not my will, but Thine. Poor Jesus, as he hung on the cross. He said, not my will, but thine. And he counted himself the servant. Of all.

He did, he came not to serve, no, rather not to be served, but to serve. He said, I did not come to be served. And so today, we're on this together. On the same plane, the foot of the cross. We're on this together.

We are men and women of like faith, of like nature, just like all the characters that we find in the Bible. We're the same. We are human beings that are loved with an amazing grace. And what I appreciate about the song that was sung is that His grace still amazes me. Meaning that His grace can be put aside.

It could be forgotten. It could be dismissed. We may not acknowledge His grace and our hearts grow cold. But may it be the miracle of God today that everyone who is here right now will be amazed at His grace. That everyone here today would be led to recognize that we are nothing and He is everything.

That we would open our hearts to the Spirit of God to just turn us into the men and women that God created us to be. My brother, my sister, today is a day of renewal, of re-consecration, of re-commitment. And are we clothed with humility? May our prayer be to ask Jesus. And the good news is, is that Jesus, in Jesus, there is a heavenly humility that can come in to you.

Today, As we take this moment to renew our hearts, we can do so right now by welcoming the Holy Spirit to have His own way in us. So that is your prayer. I invite you to bow your heads with me as we come before God. Father, we are thankful to be able to have the living word within our reach, to search the scriptures, to see glimpses of your heart, to see your humility, and How you were not just humble in moments of earnest prayer in the middle of the night up on the mountain, but you were continuously exhibiting a life of spirit of humility to the youngest child, to the forsaken or forgotten, to the rich, to the wealthy, influential, to multitudes and crowds, to individuals at night. You were moved with compassion because even though you were equal to God, you came not to be served but to serve.

And right here, right now, on behalf of my brothers and sisters, both who are here today and viewing online, we take this moment to welcome, to agree with you, to accept your offer, to come in, to bring in your life of humility, that we may be partakers of you, oh Christ. And may you be the change, create in us a humble heart, that we may be reflection of Christ in all that we do. Thank you for renewing our hearts today. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Not My Will: The Humility of Christ

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