Walking with Jesus in Our Relationships
The Reward of Submission
Text (Luke 7:1-10)
" When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered
Mention Push, Stretch, Breathe cds…! (Background to "When God Parts the Waters")
Review
This morning, after a brief detour into the book of Exodus, we return our ongoing study of the life of Jesus Christ as described by Luke in his Gospel record. During the most recent messages in this series, we have been dealing with what it means to follow Jesus in our relationships. As we worked our way through chapter six, we have learned eight important principles about relationships.
Two sermons ago in this series, we laid a foundation for our study of chapter seven by looking at "The Reward of Honor" as illustrated in the life of the Shunnamite woman in 2 Kings 4. She received a mighty miracle in the hour of her greatest need as the result of her right relationship with spiritual authority as represented by the ministry of the prophet Elisha and her persistent faith in the face of catastrophic illness in the life of her only son. Why did she receive her miracle?
· She honored his spiritual authority.
o By her humility
o By her hospitality
o By her generosity (unsolicited, God later more than repaid her)
· She did not presume upon his proximity.
· She saw beyond his humanity.
· She refused to let go of her destiny.
o She acted discretely.
o She acted confidently
o She acted quickly
o She acted persistently (I will not leave you…!)
In my most recent message in this series, we began looking at the account of the Roman centurion in the opening verses of chapter seven by asking a similar question, "Why did he receive this great miracle?"
The most apparent reason is quite obviously because of his faith. It was so great that Jesus marveled over it…! The question then arises, "What gave rise to his great faith?" Upon closer examination, we can see that his faith resulted from other qualities in his life. And so, in my last message on this subject, we took a long look together at why this man received this great miracle…
· He came in great need.
o "…servant sick and about to die…"
· He came with compassion.
o He felt his servant's need and he cared deeply "entimos" for his servant.[1]
· He came with great wisdom.
o Luke – "…sent some elders of the Jews…"
· He came in great humility.
o "…Lord…" (not divinity, but superiority)
· He came with great respect.
o "…not worthy for you to come under my roof…"
· He came with great faith.
o "…you do not even need to come under my roof, say the word, and my servant will be healed…"
Where did his great faith come from? I
The answer is found in his own words: His words indicate that it was his grasp of the nature, role, and power of authority. He was a man who was under authority and who understood authority and this is what gave rise to his great faith and set the stage for him to receive his miracle, i.e., for God to "part the waters" of incurable sickness on his behalf…!
And so, this morning, as we examine again the account of this marvelous healing, we are going to learn some very important life lessons about one of the most difficult, yet important, kinds of relationships we all have in our lives. I am speaking about those relationships that involve authority, whether those relationships we have with those who are over us in authority (teacher, parent, president, pastor, coach, boss, policeman); those who are under our authority (children, students, athletes, employees, church members); or those who are alongside us and who are under the same authority as us.
Because they involve authority, these relationships can be among the most painful and also the most problematic of our lives. If we sin, directly impacts those under our authority. If we suffer abuse of any kind, it is the most damaging when it comes from someone who is over us in authority.
The ability to walk out these relationships in a God-honoring way is not only an important test of our Christian character and maturity, but also a key to our destiny. God takes our attitude toward authority so seriously that He will not let us experience the full unfolding of His plan without getting this part right…!
In the final analysis, it is very important to realize that our understanding of authority also profoundly impacts our relationship with God…! He is a king and he reigns over a kingdom. When we repent of our sins and give our hearts to Jesus, we enter His kingdom. This was the heart of the message Jesus preached…! In fact, He called, "the gospel," the "gospel of the kingdom…." He was not primarily talking about the
God takes our attitude toward His delegated authority very, very seriously. Consider just a few of the general verses on the subject:
" Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2 NIV)
"17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)
"17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)
What then is the relationship between faith and submission to authority?
1. Submission to authority requires faith that God is sovereign.
"Who are you to judge another man's servant?"
One common way we sin with our tongues is through gossip and slander…
"20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. 23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart." (Proverbs 26:20-23, NIV)
"22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." (Proverbs 26:22, NIV)
Listening to a gossip (someone who tells you someone else's secrets) is about as foolish as dating a girl behind another guy's back. After all, if she betrayed him to go out with you, she will betray you to go out with someone else…!
Paul lists gossip right up there with other, shocking sins, even listing it a sign of a reprobate mind…!
"28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. " (Romans 1:28-32, NIV)
How should we respond when slandered?
Be sure that it is slander and not simply criticism…! (1 Peter – be sure that you are suffering for righteousness's sake and not as an evil-doer…!)
Jesus was reviled, but reviled not again…! (Did not return slander for slander…!)
When we defend ourselves, God cannot defend us. If we commit ourselves and our reputations to Him, He will defend us ("every tongue that will rise against us in judgment we will condemn…", etc.)
The point is not our reputation when we are slandered, but the impact those things have on other, innocent people (It is not about the man, it is about the plan…!)
Another particularly insidious way we sin with our tongues is through what the Scripture calls, "scorn" or "mockery."
Scorn is a form of disrespect and dishonor, particularly as it is expressed through words. Scripture has much to say about this kind of speech.
"10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended." (Proverbs 22:10, NIV) (KJV – "scorner")[2]
One of the most infamous examples of scorn in the Scripture is that of Shimei, who cursed David, pelting him with stones and throwing dirt on him as he fled Jerusalem before his rebellious son, Absalom (2 Samuel 16:5-17). Abishai wanted to cut his head off, but David forbade him from doing it. Later, when David was restored to the throne, Abishai came to him before anyone else, begging his forgiveness, and David allowed him to live. (2 Samuel 19:16-23). Before he died, though, David told his son Solomon to keep his eye on Shimei (1 Kings 2:8-10). Why? I think it was because David knew that it is very difficult for someone like Shimei to change their attitude toward an authority toward which they have developed an attitude of scorn…! Solomon told Shimei to build a house in Jerusalem
Beware the flattering tongue, especially if pretends to be prophetic…!
"17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." (Romans 16:17-18, NIV)
- I am amazed, by the way, at how many people fall for false prophets and false prophecies simply because they are flattering in nature…!
- 1 Kings 22 tells the end of Ahab, how he had four hundred false prophets around him who told him what he wanted to hear. There was only one true prophet, Micaiah, who told him what he needed to hear…!
2. Submission to authority requires faith that God is active.
Gpd not just a "Watchmaker God" who made the universe then walked away from His creation. That is a "deisitic" view of God, not the Scriptural view of God which is "theistic." God, but a personal, infinite God…! (Hairs of head are numbered – Matt. 10:30; Luke 12:7).
3. Submission to authority requires faith that God is good.
If we have any question about His nature, then we will find it difficult to submit to His authority.
4. Submission to authority requires faith that God is just.
"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay"
Jesus fully understood and practiced this principle - "Who when he was reviled, reviled not again…"
What did the centurion understand about authority?
1. He knew that authority was real.
"I say 'do' and he does…!"
The centurion knew he had civil authority, but recognized that Jesus had spiritual authority.
Ø In order to benefit from authority, I must be willing to accept and respect God's sovereignty.
2. He knew that authority was relational.
The centurion cared for his slave.
Ø In order to increase my authority, I must grow in compassion and influence.
He cared about his servant and sent the elders to Jesus first (understood the value of relationships.)
3. He knew that authority was delegated.
The centurion knew you had to be "under" authority in order to "have" authority.
Ø In order to have authority, I must be under Christ's lordship.
The way we respond to delegated authority reveals our true attitude toward higher authority.
God takes this issue of our attitude toward delegated authority very seriously – "What is Aaron, that you murmur against him?" even though Aaron was the guy who had made the Golden Calf…!
One of the wonderful truths in the New Testament is that Jesus has given us His authority…
5. He knew that authority is partial.
The centurion knew he had authority over soldiers, but that Jesus had authority over sickness.
Ø In order to exercise authority, I must recognize the limits of my calling and gifts.
6. He knew that authority is supernatural.
The centurion knew Christ's authority could bring about miraculous healing.
Ø In order to receive more spiritual power, I must walk in more grace.
Why are we tempted to REBEL against authority?
Cf: Child who was "sitting down on the outside, but standing up on the inside…!"
1. Imperfection
2. Compassion (Absalom)
3. Underappreciation
4. Ambition
Notes:
One common way we sin with our tongues is through gossip and slander…
"20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. 23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart." (Proverbs 26:20-23, NIV)
"22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." (Proverbs 26:22, NIV)
Listening to a gossip (someone who tells you someone else's secrets) is about as foolish as dating a girl behind another guy's back. After all, if she betrayed him to go out with you, she will betray you to go out with someone else…!
Paul lists gossip right up there with other, shocking sins, even listing it a sign of a reprobate mind…!
"28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. " (Romans 1:28-32, NIV)
How should we respond when slandered?
Be sure that it is slander and not simply criticism…! (1 Peter – be sure that you are suffering for righteousness's sake and not as an evil-doer…!)
Jesus was reviled, but reviled not again…! (Did not return slander for slander…!)
When we defend ourselves, God cannot defend us. If we commit ourselves and our reputations to Him, He will defend us ("every tongue that will rise against us in judgment we will condemn…", etc.)
The point is not our reputation when we are slandered, but the impact those things have on other, innocent people (It is not about the man, it is about the plan…!)
Another particularly insidious way we sin with our tongues is through what the Scripture calls, "scorn" or "mockery."
Scorn is a form of disrespect and dishonor, particularly as it is expressed through words. Scripture has much to say about this kind of speech.
"10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended." (Proverbs 22:10, NIV) (KJV – "scorner")[3]
One of the most infamous examples of scorn in the Scripture is that of Shimei, who cursed David, pelting him with stones and throwing dirt on him as he fled Jerusalem before his rebellious son, Absalom (2 Samuel 16:5-17). Abishai wanted to cut his head off, but David forbade him from doing it. Later, when David was restored to the throne, Abishai came to him before anyone else, begging his forgiveness, and David allowed him to live. (2 Samuel 19:16-23). Before he died, though, David told his son Solomon to keep his eye on Shimei (1 Kings 2:8-10). Why? I think it was because David knew that it is very difficult for someone like Shimei to change their attitude toward an authority toward which they have developed an attitude of scorn…! Solomon told Shimei to build a house in Jerusalem
Beware the flattering tongue, especially if pretends to be prophetic…!
"17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." (Romans 16:17-18, NIV)
- I am amazed, by the way, at how many people fall for false prophets and false prophecies simply because they are flattering in nature…!
- 1 Kings 22 tells the end of Ahab, how he had four hundred false prophets around him who told him what he wanted to hear. There was only one true prophet, Micaiah, who told him what he needed to hear…!
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