GENERATION ONE (JAMES the GREAT)

"Extraordinary Service" Overcomes Self Centeredness

Acts 12:1-2

¹Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. ²Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

This Herod was the nephew of Antipas who beheaded John the Baptizer and was known as Agrippa.

James was called "the Great" probably due to his being the older brother of John.  Also, is called James the Elder.  This is why his name is listed first before John it appears.  We do not have many specific details of his life and personality because he not by himself in scriptures.

This verse that we have read is the only time he mentioned by himself in scripture.  However, he is listed with what is called the "Inner Circle" a term that they would not be familiar with in those days.  This has become a term to describe what appears to be a special relationship with Christ as he walked this earth. 

Also, James and John are one other two sets of brothers that Christ chose to follow Him.  Peter and Andrew were the other set of brothers.

Matthew (20:20) refers to them as the "sons of Zebedee".  Zebedee was a prominent man in this area and had some financial success and prestige.

It could well be that James and Johns desire to have a prominent place in the Kingdom was natural with the status they had here on earth.  These Sons of Thunder were about to learn how His Kingdom functioned and it would take their leadership to whole other level.  It is also noticeable that James is listed right after Peter many times and that probably meant he was a strong leader.

This inner circle witnessed the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1), and invited to attend the prayer at Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).

James witnessed the power of John in these small settings and this equipped him to face the suffering he would face shortly.

His fiery personality was evident on one occasion when he desired to call down fire from heaven to destroy a city that had refused them hospitality (Luke 9:51-56).  ⁵¹Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. ⁵³But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, ^£just as Elijah did?"

⁵⁵But He turned and rebuked them, ^£and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ^56£For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village.

 

Explain briefly the story ending with...the spirit was wrong the motive was wrong the arrogance was felt in this suggestion.  Jesus had refuse several times to do this miracle so James and John were asking Christ give the power to do what they knew he would not do.

Luke 9:55-56 Jesus said that he did not come to destroy the lives of men but to save them.

Matt. 20:28²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

John 3:17  ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Jesus is not saying it was wrong for Elijah to have done this and that these people did not deserve such judgment but this was not time for it.

Ecc. 3:1-8  there is a time for everything and now is the time for salvation.

Philip went to Samaria later (Acts 8:5) and many came to Christ and many were the very ones that James and John had desired to consume with fire.

They as well recruited their mother who was one that followed Jesus and the Disciples taking care of their needs and daily necessities and financial needs.  Being of some wealth she was able to be there often.  (Matt. 20:20-24)

It is interesting that they wanted prominence, power and glory and Jesus is not rebuking them for that in particularly and he gives them suffering - servanthood - and a sword.

Acts records the events that led to James being the first Apostle to give his life for the one that showed him extraordinary love.

Agrippa I beheaded James and this is the only biblical record of the death of any of the Apostles.  James did drink that cup and he was first the first to die just some 14 years after Christ rose from the dead.  John his brother was the last to die so I guess they were on the right and left.  They were first and last in God's way of looking at things.

One historian Eusebius, records an account form Clement of Alexandria.  That the  man that led him to the executioner after hearing James testimony was moved and confessed Christ himself.  He asked James to forgive him and James paused and said, Peace be with you and they both were beheaded.

So James the man with passion and desire and strength became like Andrew and brought people to Christ rather than being judgment on them.

The extraordinary love of Christ constrained James to extraordinary service and he overcame Self Centeredness.

When Herod decided to attack the Christians and the church he went straight to James and then Peter.  James must have been a strong witness for Christ and against the wickedness of the Empire. 

John tells us of the incident when in the upper room Jesus stuns the disciples by washing their feet.  This final lesson finishes Christ's teasching on what he expects from his followers.  It is totally against the culture and against the flesh.

 

John 13:3 ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵After 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. ⁶Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?"

⁷Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."

⁸Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"

Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

 

The student is not above the teacher and the servant is not above his master is a lesson that Jesus taught and modeled until these men got it.

Explain this event.

He did not criticize the fact that they were not prepared and had forgotten something like many do today.  He simply got up and fixed the problem.  He got HIS hands dirty.  He humbled Himself. No committee just saw the need and filled it.  That is the service that will take an ordinary church to extraordinary status quickly.  Far too many are finding many faults without any effort to correct those faults.

Now this foot washing was figure of his death that would cleanse them as well as Christ being a servant.

When Peter refused Jesus was quick to teach him that he must be willing to receive the gift or be none of His.  How many here would let anyone else here wash their feet right now much less Jesus do it?

You would not feel comfortable with that would you?  No I will wash my own feet, Kevin.  Many will not allow God to cleanse them either.  This was Peter's response.  So many outside the church has the perception that they are not good enough and sinless enough to be in the church.

So much of what we do in our culture is self centered and we do not even notice or feel it.  Pride and self centered will always kill your joy of serving the Lord.  Extraordinary service is the fact that Jesus washed Judas's feet knowing that he would not accept him.  Peter represents the community of faith and Judas represents those that reject Him.

So when I say we live in a church culture that strives to be LIKE Christ without being like Christ - this is the POINTE I am trying to make.

How can you BE like Christ without DOING the thing that HE leads you to do?  We have a hard time making this happen, don't we?

We try and do the things that we are willing to do but never move to extraordinary service or the things that HE desires for us individually.  It usually will not be the thing you want to do or have fun doing but things that serve people in a way that leads to see God's love and kindness for them.

The disciples had been given an extraordinary purpose (making more disciples) but they were taught by Christ to do it in with extraordinary service.  I believe this was to enable them to never think too highly of themselves and to discipline themselves against SELF CENTEREDNESS.

If our master in a Servant  King then we must be servants of that King.

How can you know what God really wants you to do?  Remember that many many times more often than not people are wrong about where and how God wants then to serve.  The Flesh is slick and deceives your own heart.

How do we know how to serve God?

• 1. God's Word. General will for every believer. Begin to obey the Word before you ever find specific direction and assignments. Follow the commands personally and build deep devotion to God.
• 2. Circumstances. Providential hand of God. Where has God placed you? What are your talents, abilities, skills and preparation? Wrong choices will not hinder God from accomplishing His purposes in your life but you can suffer through some of the issues and lessons. Romans 8:28...All thing work together for good ... You are responsible to make the best choices and suffer if you do not.
• 3. Counsel. What do those that have the rule in your spiritual life have to say right now? Prov. 12:15 he that hears counsel is wise. Safety in much counsel.
• 4. Conviction. The Holy Spirit will press on you and push inside to do what is the best. As long as you have a will in the matter stay put. Lose your will and you will see clearly. Paul want to go certain places but God said no go here... etc. 2 Cor. 2:12-13.

Extraordinary Service will come at a personal cost to everyone even Christ made Himself of NO reputation and became a man and humble Himself and died. (Paul)

Ephesians 5 details a picture of extraordinary service in the home. 

¹⁷Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

²²Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

 

The idea here is that the husband is to serve the wife and she is to reverence the husband.  The church is the bride of Christ and Jesus is the groom and that is the picture.

 

If we live like Christ lived then it will move us to extraordinary service.

Most men believe that the wife is to serve them.  But here we are to submit t one another just like Christ submitted to the church.

Men when you ask a girl to marry you this is what God intend for you to be saying... I chose to love you and serve you only the rest of our days.  That is only done through extraordinary love.

Ladies you are to show reverence and respect to him. 

 

Today, we see little reverence toward Christ in the church.  We have plenty of praise and self worship and obligation but little reverence.  This is a reflection of our marriages and the state of the home.  It is a reflection of our culture that I can do what I want when I want where I want.

 

Do not take your church for granted.  This is the place where are able to respond to Christ as a Bride.  We experience the X- love of Christ and the X- faith, X- unity, X - purpose, X- forgiveness, and then live in X- service.

 

We then will overcome all circumstances, obstacles, differences, mediocrity, self righteousness, and self centeredness.

 

Are you washing any feet?  Are you still being served? 

 

We have many opportunities to wash feet here at EPC.  We are training leaders to help you go into the world.  We need to humble ourselves as a church to see the weak and needy here at home and decide to be Jesus to them.

May we reverence Our Lord and see how He loves us and serves us every day in extraordinary ways.