Give Your Life
The world might identify with the expression, “Live your life!”
Text: Mark 10:42-45
I. Heathen government
a. Power corrupts
i. “Nothing, indeed, but the possession of some power can with any certainty discover what at the bottom is the true character of any man.”
ii. Delilah’s power over Samson allowed her to betray him
b. Pride oppresses
i. Pride elevates self by pushing others down
1. Who Is King of the Jungle-the Lion or the Elephant? A big, mean lion met a monkey in the jungle. The lion pounced on the poor monkey and said, "Who is king of the jungle?" The frightened monkey replied, "You are, O mighty lion." So the lion let him go. The next animal the lion met was a zebra. He pounced on it and roared, "Who is king of the jungle?" "You are, O mighty lion." So the lion let him go. The lion next met an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant grabbed the lion, twirled him around the threw him 50 feet. The lion picked himself up and huffed, "Just because you don’t know the answer is no reason to get so rough."
ii. Proud Egyptians oppressed the Israelites
1. There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. (Exo 5:16-17)
iii. Prideful King Darius’ oppressive decree
1. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. (Dan 6:7)
iv. Proud Nahash the Ammonite
1. Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. (1Sa 11:1-2)
II. Heavenly government
a. Meek power
i. Gently helps and directs
1. Does not control by intimidation
a. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (2Ti 2:24-25)
2. Leads by example
a. One step in front of the disciple
ii. Given to the meek
1. They inherit the Earth because they can be entrusted with Heavenly government
2. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:3-4)
a. The sharp contrast between heathen and Heavenly government shows the power of the new birth
b. Ministering power
i. Rather than using others for self using self for others
ii. Really believes that it is more blessed to give
iii. Remembers Christ’s teaching of blessings for cursings
iv. Be not weary in well doing
1. Live for others as Christ did
2. Do not be surprised when you are received as Christ was and is
III. Humble example
a. Burden Lifter
i. When they worried about the lack of juice at the wedding He provided more
ii. Rather than charging for His teaching, He fed thousands of His students
iii. Healed the sick and cast out devils asking nothing in return
iv. Rather than adding to the sense of guilt He offered forgiveness
b. Servant
i. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luk 22:27)
ii. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (Joh 13:5)
iii. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (Joh 13:14)
c. Buried Savior
i. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (Joh 12:24-25)
Be NOT WEARY in WELL DOING
