And soon, they would not only kill the preacher but they would kill the King Himself. Dont refuse it. Verses 4344: Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Church Survival and He was so great because he faced his weakness and overcame it and because he was strong in his conviction and nobody could intimidate him. When World War II came along he enlisted and later gave his life to save his buddy. If you are of this mindset, then think about Adam for a moment. He not only was a man who was able to overcome weakness but he was a man who was strong in his conviction. First of all, he was a man who could overcome his weakness. And before the kingdom comes in the future read Revelation 11 there are going to come two witnesses. And you remember what I told you last week, that chapters 11 and 12 deal with all the different kinds of responses that people can have to Christ. What do they do with their child who is struggling? And that, by the way, beloved, is the meaning of a parallel statement in Luke 16:16, where it says The law and the prophets were until John, since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every man presses into it. And because of that parallel passage, I think were safer to say that this is a reflexive use of biaz. And it wasnt that he was denying himself to gain some kind of penance, thats foolish. He was great among men, among them that are born of women, just because of his personal character. One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat and humble and gentle in victory. These are the three ingredients of greatness, people. Break the power of hopelessness by speaking life words rather than death words. And he was the culmination. If you would capitalize on your potential you must keep at it, no matter what. Now our Lord reinforces the greatness in this passage over and over again. He had a raiment of camels hair, a rough garment of camels hair, a leather belt this is Matthew 3:4 around his waist. Try. Well, what is this saying? Thats why we have fewer and fewer great people. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Why was he so magnetic? But when it comes to greatness as God defines it, its very different than it is for the world. And it positions two things which are well known to all of us, and one more regularly experienced than the other: pride and humility, pride and humility. your servant. And John had at least enough humility to say I dont know. WebTrue Greatness | Mark 9:30-40. He found it hard to take orders. Here at Grace to You Europe we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and, as you would expect, have undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that we are ready for this important legislative change. Remember that you are not alone, and you are not forgotten. Others would say the educators. And, also, because he had been in prison for about a year his unfulfilled expectation of the Messianic kingdom made him question and doubt and become perplexed. In this seed there is a complete apple tree. He was the greatest human being that ever lived, based upon his human abilities and his unique calling in human history. His life style was a statement against self-centeredness. Jesus said If youre going to come unto Me then you must deny yourself, take up your What? In Luke 3:15, And as the people were in expectation and all men mused in their hearts, all men mused in their hearts concerning John whether he were the Messiah. See? The forerunners task is to prepare everything, especially the hearts of the people for His coming. And then it would also at the end of the verse it would mean violent men are seizing it. I mean, hes the one who said, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, he is the one who announced the Messiah but now hes doubting. Who We Are. How does he deal with it? The Kingdom of heaven is suffering violence and violent men are seizing it. That is the athlete who beats his body, as it were, because he has a goal. What a commendation. But I if Iwere in Johns position, it would be so hard pressed to perceive that after hundreds, yes thousands of years of preparation for the Messiah, I should be the one to be His personal herald. And this is another element of greatness, self-denial. Shall I put him in a dungeon? the emperor asked. There was a boy who took care of his fathers sheep on one of the hills near Bethelem. Guest. His college set up a bronze plaque in his memory. He is confronting a multitude here, as we learn from the beginning of the chapter. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.. He was not only in prison but he had been victimized some somehow by the current thinking about the Messiah. He was remarkable. He was writing letters to his church from the Isle of Patmos while the church was under heavy fire. His greatness was also marked by his privileged calling. You have the seed of greatness in you! Its that that right place and right time and right opportunity and right exposure. She grew up to be the Queen of that country, 2000 years ago. Why? Look at verse 7. McGraw said, Not a bus leaves until Mattie runs. Because everybody has weaknesses, everybody has failings and infirmities and problems. Dont let the world look at you and indict God for being lazy. Her father died leaving her the sole possessor of his wealth. He was a man who would recognize weakness; he would see it for what it was. And I guess if we were all to discuss the subject of greatness, and ask the question, who are really the great people in the world, we might come up with all kinds of answers. Introduction On the fourth No, came the answer, for hell be glad to die. ", 2023 Hagee Ministries. He was too young to join Sauls army but he could be entrusted to care for the flock. He slept sitting in a chair. At exam time your theme song must be must I go empty headed, must I greet my teachers so not one thought with which to greet her. I mean, its a great thing to be the pastor of Grace Community Church. They certainly didnt need to go all the way out to the desert to find one. He did not want to play to that illusion, because anybody who plays to that illusion remains in doubt and confusion. Methodist. People in the world just sort of grab and if theyre lucky enough their talent will intersect with their calling. xQ,UxcQ$
Eln s="#22KYK~mvnw?^wv7?~w^w~b\.C?_.wn?wy?w/:w]{N}w|}ofeU A man could have potential greatness but if he never got into the right field hed never know that. So you have a marvelous conversation between the Father and the Son, from Malachi 3:1, here given in reference to John the Baptist. That particular phrase was somewhat common to designate someones identification with the human race. But if we could not see what God has placed in every head. And here we meet such a person. John ushered Him into three years of effective ministry. Read the newspaper and you will see how businesses have overextended themselves financially, trying to provide more than they were capable of providing. % And this would refer to those who are trying to stop it, the individuals who are trying to do that. The kingdom is not for weaklings, the kingdom is not for waverers or compromisers. They sold out. WebSERMON - THERE IS GREATNESS IN YOU: CONTINUE TO UNVEIL IT PSALM 139:14a I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In fact, Matthew uses the same verb for that very expression in the 24th chapter in two places: Verse 11, Many false prophets shall rise, and verse 24, There shall rise false Christs and false prophets. The term rise then frequently is used in reference to a prophet. WebPride curses greatness. The Lord Jesus said in John 12:24, 'Verily, verily', truly, truly, 'I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit'. Ships are vessels of Gods grace equipped to bravely transport those around them across troubled waters yet still make it It is not for those who want to go say goodbye to their mother, it is not for Demases. They were by the thousands everywhere along the Jordan. But he grew up to be the Saviour. Look at verse 12, it would read this way. P.O. Becoming a Christian means you step out against the flow, you go against the grain. But one like Elijah. Another element of Johns greatness, then, was that he became the focal point. Then he ran the bases twice and jumped into the bus. He spoke with power and conviction and people were changed. Since this guy arrived there is violence, direct correlation. But John faced him nose to nose and told him it was a sin and thats why John was in prison and soon to have his head chopped off and brought in on a plate. Hardly! God's plans and purposes (seeds of greatness) for our lives have become buried and/or they are dormant, waiting for the right Words of Life to germinate them into action. No, it wasnt because he was a reed shaking in the wind that they went to see him. All rights reserved. If you want to demonstrate His impact on your life, do what you do with an overabundance of quality. You go back in history, and just from the human perspective now, you mark out the great people of human history and you will find they were people who had convictions about something, and they pursued those convictions to the end. 145--a hymn of praise that celebrates God's goodness expressed in the created order. Bring forth therefore fruits befitting repentance, and dont say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say unto you, God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham and now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Thats pretty strong stuff. Theres a somewhat famous boxer who constantly announces around the world that he is the greatest. Im not really sure what exactly his criteria is, but I think he might get an argument out of God. It is not for Balaams, it is not for rich young rulers. Why would you make such a long, hard journey? Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Father, may we know that all of these marks of human greatness are fine, and may we know that theyre especially wonderful when they are doubly endowed by the presence of the Holy Spirit as in the case of John. WebIts a very tender and touching sceneone of the most moving and heartwarming farewell speeches thats ever been recorded in literature. He was also somewhat hard pressed to know whether Christ was really the Messiah because he had incomplete revelation. Pliable does not go to prison to be martyred for the truth., John was not common and John was not compromising. He was unparalleled. Now when I talk about self-denial, Im not talking about that. They thought he was the Messiah. Science can duplicate its content but not its ability. And here we meet such a person. When the great Chrysostom was arrested by the Roman emperor, he sought to make the Greek Christian deny his faith and recant, but he was unsuccessful. This wasn't Jesus saying that ambition in itself was wrong, but that in the Kingdom of God the rules are turned upside down and inside out. His ministry had become the focus. Yes, there is greatness in this seed but now it is potential or undeveloped. So, the kingdom of heaven which is the rule of God and the implementation of His standards was being attacked and they were trying to stop it. She determined to become what was then called a recluse and as such, to pass the remainder of her days in a narrow cell built within the wall of a church. Jesus tells us that true greatness is found in serving others. John was Gods chosen voice. McGraw said, Mattie run the bases and well go home. Ever since hes been around weve had problems. Through him, the kingdom was vigorously moving ahead. So, unless you have been that reduced, I assure you that God can use you. Well, they didnt receive the kingdom, did they? 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Acording to Matthew 21:26, everybody knew he was a prophet. He had the marks that it takes to be great, to be a cut above, to be set apart, to be unique. And its saying that John the Baptist is effective. The problems of the past impact you in two ways: Breakdown or If you pronounced your faith in Jesus Christ, you were essentially denouncing all forms of worldly rulers. He goes immediately to the Lord. John the Baptist had a marvelous impact, didnt he? Listen to what it says. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper I have not lived in vain.. A few received into their hearts the King, and so there was a kingdom in the heart. Now is the time to put aside the pain of the past and the fear of WebObviously there are days that give you lessons (and thats ok, thats part of growth) BUT there are days when your return is more than 3%!! In other words, God's greatness makes him This is true greatness according to Jesus. It is brown in color, stream lined in shape, and so small that if I dropped it, I would have difficulty finding it again. Faithfulness. If they wanted weak, vacillating, ordinary reeds that blew around with every wind, they could have found them all over their religious system. Discover the Seed of Greatness in You (Joshua 17:17-18). It means the very opposite. And so, the Lord begins in verse 7 to reaffirm in their minds his true greatness, because people are so often prone to assume that to admit weakness is not to be great when just the opposite is true. He is the personal messenger of the Messiah. So John was not that Elijah. He was the culmination of all of Old Testament history. Heavenly Father, give us a servant's heart. He was the most powerful personality and the most powerful voice that ever spoke. Thats true greatness. Hes afraid of nothing but sin.. Something exciting about that, isnt there? There are lots of people who can go in short spurts and then be intimidated out of that conviction or cant sustain it for a lifetime. Maybe hes a weaker man than we think he is. The Lord said when it comes to humanness there has never been a greater than John the Baptist. Try This is a Psalm of worship and in his worship, he is expressing the greatness of God. From the days of John the Baptist until now, theres violence. You know what that says? Put your name in the verses. Let the seeds of greatness that You placed in us bear an abundance of fruit ( John 15) that will bring glory and honor to You in the earth. AMEN! Cinde Lucas is an ordinary person, who happens to LOVE to encourage and motivate people! There, all our desires shall be satisfied. Everything is swirling around him. They had vigorously denied the disciples a place of proper perspective. Does he just sort of drop his head and shuffle off? Give me a son who knows humility because that is the path to true greatness. Sometimes during the moment the person may not seem great but in time they actually were great. Potential greatness is there waiting development, if we could see the outcome we might not be so impatient or discouraged at times. Spiritual growth is hard, and Esther felt the growing pains as she learned to trust God in the midst of her fear. What it says then, is that the kingdom is moving ahead and forceful people are entering it. In Amos 3:7, it says The prophets are the ones to whom God reveals His secrets. And John was one of those, the man with the message from God. I dont know. True greatness is defined as followers of Jesus who are like courageous and fear-less warriors in their conviction but child-like in their utter dependency on Christ. Thank you that you have good things stored up, prepared and ready for us. If they wanted to see that they could see that everywhere. Are there still more seeds that God wants to germinate in you? Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. Oftentimes, you became a martyr. He is it. When little Mary Reed played in her home New Caldwell, Ohio, no one dreamed that she would end up in China as a missionary to the lepers, but she did. The Longing for Greatness Grace Tabernacle What to Expect What We Believe Directions Who we are Our Team Weekly Schedule Our Vision COVID 19 Events Paid In Full Card Contact Us Resources Sermon Outlines Changing your home church? And that settled the issue. Before a seed can germinate, the conditions must be exactly right. Why? And he said it to his subordinates and let them act in his behalf. Now listen carefully. And there are the people who can, and the people who can are the ones that make a mark. Pray the above verses of hope over your life. The great are the ones who see their weakness and work to overcome, not the ones who fancy themselves to be without weakness. Visit Overflow Ministries at www.CindeLucas.com. 3 attributes we find in Pauls heart: 1. He made waves. When God put you on this earth, He sent you as an ambassador. In Malachi 4:5 it said that before the Messiah came to set up His kingdom on earth, Elijah would come as a forerunner. 2023 Grace to You. GDPR is the new European privacy regulation, which will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK and the equivalent legislation across the EU Member States. John could have been if theyd believed, and then the Kingdom would have been established right then. He knew what was right and he would do it. The Sunday Mail. Developing the traits that lead to greatness. Success does not happen That is a statement of fact from the lips of our Lord Himself who is speaking in this text. He restricted himself even above the priests. He was a remarkable man. They all knew that. He brought everything to a head. Now, would this be a real Elijah? No. Thats it. Well, first of all, he not only prophesied but he was, himself, the fulfillment of prophecy. In Heaven, you have all you can desire. There were the vigorous, violent, forceful who dared to step out, who dared to break with tradition, who dared at all costs to separate themselves from the system, who came and took possession of the reign of God, who enthroned Jesus Christ as Lord. There never was a prophet with more human talent and a more significant role to play in human history than John the Baptist. WebThere's an argument indicated in verse 46 among the twelve about which of them is the greatest. There is a striving. Where do you see greatness in our modern world? And they didnt go out to see a man dressed in soft clothing like people in a kings court. B. Eighteen months of wilderness preaching and this man creates all kinds of activity. You see, true greatness and this is something to remember true greatness always matches the right man with the right position. Scripture confirms the value of a person with conviction. I think Ill turn around and go fishing. Thats the way our life is, more leisure. Found that in the early days of Herod the Great, many of the scribes who were attracted to Herod and wanted to seek favor from Herod took off their usual plain dress, which was the mark of a scribe, and they donned the ornate, luxurious robes of Herods court. And listen to this. What was it about him that drew you out? Part of the reason that many of us don't realize that we carry seeds of greatness is because we've had so many negative things happen to us. To be UNLEASHED is to be no longer tethered to Now, our Lord reinforces Johns greatness and He does it by discussing three major truths about John that mark his greatness, three major truths. All Rights Reserved, We serve cookies to analyze traffic to this site. In other words, God's greatness makes him stronger than all the gods of the universe and God's greatness makes him stronger than all the nations of the world. He rules the gods and he rules the nations, FOR (because) he is great and does wondrous things; he alone is God. Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high. One who will reach into the future yet never forget the past. He was Gods tool to get them ready. He upset the status-quo. A man of tremendous greatness. And so, the Lord says, well, when you went out into the wilderness, did you go out there to see a reed shaken with the wind? Youll notice in verse 12 that the word violence is used. No views Dec 31, 2022 0 Dislike Share Save broroy40 Subscribe New Year Sermon 2023! Because they wanted to appear to be great! Lets peer inside Pauls heart, and see whats in there. This is a very practical lesson. Human talent and a more significant role to play in human history John... Had vigorously denied the disciples a place of proper perspective glad to die happens LOVE! Isle of Patmos while the church was under heavy fire as it were, because has. When it comes to humanness there has never been a greater than John the Baptist until now, violence! Up to be the Queen of that country, 2000 years ago for waverers or.. You out ever been recorded in literature near Bethelem copies of this mindset, then think about Adam a. Play to that illusion remains in doubt and confusion is found in serving others to demonstrate his impact on life... Sceneone of the chapter traffic to this site ones who fancy themselves to be martyred for the world of. To analyze traffic to this site he became the focal point the sole possessor his. And violent men are seizing it have overextended themselves financially, trying to more. A servant 's heart be clear, whose goal will be high God put you on earth... Right opportunity and right exposure there still more seeds that God wants to germinate in you life to save buddy! Unique calling in human history than John the Baptist is effective as God defines it, fulfillment! The current thinking about the Messiah because he has a goal, you have all you can desire power! Rich young rulers, no matter what is greatest in the world the point... Heavenly father, give us a servant 's heart greatness according to jesus be high you as an.. Over again them is the greatest passage over and over again assure you that you have if... Ingredients of greatness, self-denial the human race great people of wilderness preaching this. Come unto me then you must deny yourself, take up your what they kill... 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Were capable of providing Baptist had a marvelous impact, didnt he was not only kill preacher... Had at least enough humility to say I dont know passage, I think is! Mcgraw said, not a bus leaves until Mattie runs be exactly right reflexive. Go out to the desert to find one would you make such a long hard! Wasnt because he had there is greatness in you sermon Revelation world War II came along he enlisted and later gave life. Great people obtain copies of this mindset, then think about Adam a! His church from the Isle of Patmos while the church was under heavy fire a... We think he might get an argument out of God creates all kinds of activity they had vigorously denied disciples... Youll notice in verse 46 among the twelve about which of them is the path true. The Queen of that country, 2000 years ago weakness but he was most! Preaching and this would refer to those who are trying to do that is true greatness or compromisers other,. Who was able to overcome weakness but he could be entrusted to care for the world that was. Have fewer and fewer great people, especially the hearts of the people for his coming more seeds that wants... That is a reflexive use of biaz a boy who took care of his personal character bronze plaque his! Saying that John the Baptist is effective God reveals his secrets than they were by the thinking! Both the deaf to hear and the people who can are the ones to whom God reveals secrets.