Note: This is a message originally preached by David Kemp from the Fort Mill Church of God. It made a big impact on me and I used it and changed it to fit the church I pastor. I thought it was worth sharing.
Title: A Title or a Towel! - Servant hood
Text: John 13:3-5; 12-15
Thesis: We need to decide what is important to us. To become a servant or have a title.
Mark 9:33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."
John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Introduction
It is interesting to see the contrast here in these passages between the view of the disciples and the view of Jesus. The disciples focus was on titles. They wanted titles. They wanted to know who would be the greatest. They wanted to be lifted up. Yet Jesus focus was on a towel. The towel of service. To bend down and be a servant and wash one another’s feet. Oh how it must have disappointed him to hear this discussion. They just didn’t get it. “They are trying to be lifted up and Jesus is trying to get them to bend down.
I am afraid that there are too many of us that are living our lives for the wrong reason. I am afraid that there are people here today that are going to wake up one day and realize that their life is slipping away and they have nothing of eternal value to show for it.
God brought you into this world to advance the kingdom of Almighty God and you will discover that you settled for spending your life establishing your own little kingdom that will pass away and quickly be forgotten.
God created you, molded you in his image, and put eternity in your heart that a lost world could see His reflection in you. But you will wake up one morning and realize, that instead of lifting up Jesus: who is the answer to life’s problem, the source of all joy and benefits, the one person that could have made a lasting difference in the lives of the people you love and are associated with…instead…it has been all about building your name, putting yourself forward and making sure that your agenda carried the day.
I am afraid that there are people here today that will wake up one day and realize that God had destined them to run in and win the race but they settled for the stands.
God had planned on you having a part of his eternal rule and reign and you settled for building sand castles that will be washed away.
God desired for you to enjoy the abundance of a life lived following his will, but you settled for chasing fool’s gold and trinkets.
God wanted to place an anointing on your life but you are choose to live in the power of your own strength.
God had great dreams and visions for you that would have brought you deep peace, great joy, and deep satisfaction, but instead you chased shadows and mirages in the sand.
You could have been impacting lives for good but you were consumed with your own problems and priorities.
You could be saving the lost from a devil’s hell but instead you’re drowning in whirlpool of endless activities and trivialities.
You could be building a majestic cathedral, but instead you’re building a mud hut
You could be painting a wonderful masterpiece, but instead you’re spray painting wasted graffiti.
You could be composing symphonies but instead you’re singing the shallow songs of this world.
You could be leading the charge but instead you’re hiding in the background.
Yes, it will be a sad day for many when they wake up and discover they have been living their lives for all the wrong reasons. My purpose, my heart’s desire for this message is to cause you to make a decision that will bring you in line with God’s best for your life. I want you to step over into the abundant life that only comes from serving God’s purpose for your life. I want you to leave here today with a new focus, a new ambition, and a new lease on life. And it all has to do with having purpose in life, it all has to do with a Title or a Towel.
I want us to notice three things about Christ here in John 13 that will help us to become a servant in this New Year.
Outline
Security – Knowing your Place in God.
Surrender – Losing Yourself in God.
Service – Fulfilling Yourself in God.
I. Security – Knowing your Place in God.
The example of Jesus…
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
KEY: There is a place in God in which you do not need anything or anyone else to make you feel secure.
But – We think we have to have God and…
Luke 12:25 And which of you by worrying can add one inch to his stature?
When it comes to security there are two syndromes that people get wrapped up in:
A. The poverty syndrome – humble beginnings
People suffering from this problem are always playing catch-up. They feel that to be accepted and valued they must have the material trappings that society says means you are successful.
B. The inheritance syndrome – you didn’t earn it
People suffering from this problem are always playing “top that”. They are where they are because of someone else’s success. They are dealing with the pressure of doing something to earn their own place in the world. (This often is manifested in being the opposite of those who provided them their inheritance, i.e. rebellion.)
KEY: Both of these are focusing on the wrong standard – they are comparing themselves with people instead of their place in God.
Your place is in God…
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…
Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
I’m not asking you to understand it, I’m simply asking you to accept, that in Christ you are complete. You do not need anything or anyone else to make you whole.
Security – Knowing your Place in God.
Surrender – Losing Yourself in God.
Service – Fulfilling Yourself in God.
II. Surrender – Losing Yourself in God.
We see this in John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
KEY: Because Jesus was secure in his place with God the Father, he could lay down his title.
The enemy of laying down our titles … FLESH
What I need (who will wash my feet?)
My position (washing feet is for slaves, disciples)
Security – Knowing your Place in God.
Surrender – Losing Yourself in God.
Service – Fulfilling Yourself in God.
III. Service – Fulfilling Yourself in God.
Finally we see this last principle in John 13: 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Example: “Salt of the Earth” – for it to fulfill its use it must be poured out
Example: The alabaster vase – it had to be poured out (broken) to be of any use
Conclusion – Laying down the title and picking up a towel changes everything.
People are rarely offended when you pray for them – when someone is troubled, sick, or stressed at work, you can lay down your title and pick up a towel.
Towel toting teachers, etc.
Towel toting family members
Towel toting workers
Example: Jesus taking the disciples to the mountain (Mark 9:2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.) The test of our spiritual life is not the power to ascend, but to descend. The mountain top experiences are for times of revelation and inspiration, but we are built for the valley – where the people are.
Closing phrase…
“Trading a title for a towel.”
