Be A Slave!

             

           
In NT the term “slave” is often used for followers of Jesus.  The term “Lord” (kurios) is a slavery term.  It is given to a master or owner of a slave.

You can’t call Jesus Lord 

without declaring yourself his slave.

We may think of slavery as something your forced into, but Jesus invites you to deny yourself. But why would anyone choose to be a slave?  Who signs up for that?

It’s only by becoming a slave to Jesus that we ever truly find freedom.

Only when we deny ourselves will we truly discover joy of following Jesus.

Let me tell you about my Master who calls you to follow Him…

§  He will provide for you.

§  He will protect you.

§  He has the power to forgive you.

§  He can take the pieces of your life & turn them into beautiful mosaic.

§  He can give rest for the weary.

§  He adopts you as His child.

§  He calls you a friend.

Now, where else will you find that kind of a slave/master relationship?

Instead of raving fans, may our churches be filled with true followers, with slaves!

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”    -Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Think of someone you know who needs Jesus.  What do you think it may be that they need to deny or give up in their life?.

What Is It That You Need To Deny

Or Give Up To Be A

True Follower Of Jesus?

Deny Yourself

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”    -Luke 9:23 (ESV)

We talk a lot about believing in Jesus but don’t say all that much about denying ourselves.   How do you deny yourself in a culture that says it’s all about yourself?

In Matthew 19 Jesus meets the Rich Young Ruler.  “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”  (vs.16)

Jesus eventually tells him what he needs to do…

“…sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.”  Luke 19:20

This man can follow the path that leads to materialism or he can follow Jesus; but he can’t do both!

What is the crossroad you are at?  What decision do you need to make whether to follow Jesus or not?   You can’t follow Jesus without walking away from a different path.

Jesus never left open the option for selective commitment.  “I’ll follow Jesus but…”

o   Don’t ask me to forgive the person who hurt me.

o   Don’t ask me to give, my resources are already spoken for.

o   Don’t ask me to save sex for marriage.

o   Don’t ask me to serve, I’m too busy as it is.

They call themselves Christians, but they’ve made some exceptions.  Like the Rich Young Ruler what you are truly committed to is revealed when you refuse to deny self.  He wanted to be close enough to Jesus to have eternal life, but not so close that it required personal sacrifice.

The American Church in large part has been seduced into infusiing the idea of American Capitalism into areas of faith. 

We have a culture of consumers in our churches.  Instead of approaching their faith with a spirit of denial that says, “What can I do for Jesus and His Church?” they have a consumer mentality that says, “What can Jesus & His Church do for me?”

Many congregations have become companies that measure success by the number of customers they have attracted.  And how do we get more customers?  By trying to make the customer feel comfortable, important & happy.

The message of many churches sounds less like “Deny yourself” and more like Burger King’s slogan, “Have it your way.”

So when someone comes in “church shopping” we try and show them what we have to offer.  But it’s not about us, its about Jesus.

EXCUSES

The Ozone in the air flattened my tires.

I had to attend the funeral of my wife’s cousin’s pet           
because I was a pallbearer.

The doctor said I needed more Vitamin D, so I’m heading to the beach.

I have to get either the vet or a mechanic because my cat is stuck inside the dashboard of my car.

What crazy excuse have you considered in not doing what the Lord has asked of you?  Perhaps one like this, “It’s not that I’m not willing Lord; it’s just not good timing.  I’m not saying, “NO”, just not right now.”

In Matthew 4:18-22 we have the account of Jesus calling His first disciples.  In verse 20 & 22 it says they “immediately” left what they were doing and followed Jesus.  “At once” or “Immediately” that is the response and commitment Jesus is looking for.

Some treat Jesus like the diet they keep meaning to start on or like the workout program they keep meaning to begin.  When Jesus gives an invitation there is an RSVP date, “TODAY”. 

How long have you been telling Jesus “tomorrow” or “soon”?   The most dangerous thing about saying you will follow Jesus tomorrow is that tomorrow may never come.  The longer you put Him off, the more likely it is that following him will never happen. 

“EXCUSES ARE THE NAILS USED TO BUILD A HOUSE OF FAILURE”  -Source Unknown.

Saying “tomorrow” to Jesus is like hitting the snooze button on your alarm clock.  The more you hit the “snooze” button the harder it is for you to hear and respond the next time.

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”  -Hebrews 3:15

Jesus says, “Follow Me”.   Will you do so immediately…or what crazy excuse are you going to give to put Him off again?

"Immanuel" or "Jesus"?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.                                     -Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name - Immanuel” (which means, God with us).    
                         -Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV)

The question is raised in connection to the birth of Christ as to what He was to be named. Upon a casual reading of the passages above it appears that it was prophesied that He is to be named “Immanuel”. However, in Matthew 1:21, 23 & 25 it indicates He was named “Jesus”. Is this a contradiction or failure to fulfill Isaiah? Not all all!

First let us understand that in the ancient world, particularly among God’s people, names had meaning and often reflected the character of the person or of events associated with one’s parents who named them. It was not unusual to have more than one name or for God to rename someone as well. For example, Abram was renamed Abraham, and Jacob was renamed Israel just to name two. The name of Israel went on to be used to refer to the entire nation of God’s people. Let’s look at some other passages that indicate what some of Jesus’ other names are:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
                                    -Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.              -Revelation 19:13 (ESV)

There are many other passages that give names or titles for Jesus:

· Alpha & Omega
· Amen
· Bread of Life
· Chief Shepherd
· Messiah
· Son of God
· Son of the Highest
· Holy One of God
· I Am
· King of Kings
· Lamb of God
· Prince of Peace…and there are several more!

Let’s go back to Isaiah for moment. Not only do we have the passage in 7:14 & 9:6 as listed above but there are two other places in Isaiah where the term “Immanuel” occurs.

and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” -Isaiah 8:8 (ESV)

Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand,
for God is with us. -Isaiah 8:10 (ESV)

In all three passages (7:14; 8:8; 8:10) the name or term “Immanuel” is used. The emphasis in all three focuses on the presence of God among His people.

It is this theology of the name that lies behind Matthew’s use of this passage of Isaiah. By linking Jesus with the concept of Immanuel in Isaiah Matthew is making a theological statement about the mission of the Christ child in the world. Matthew is making a statement about who Jesus is, and why His birth is so momentous.

It is interesting that Jesus is never called “Immanuel” outside of this one verse in Matthew that is quoted from Isaiah 7:14. The term does not occur anywhere else in the gospels being applied to Jesus and is nowhere to be found elsewhere in the New Testament. Yet Matthew does use the concept of “God with us” in one other place.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”                  -Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

The concept of “God with us” becomes a key theological structure for the entire Gospel of Matthew since it brackets the story of Jesus at the beginning and the end. “Immanuel” like other names and titles attributed to Jesus would characterize His character and what others would say about Him as opposed to his proper personal name, “Jesus” which also tells us that He is our deliverer & savior.