The Way to the Top

Jeremiah 45:1-5; Mark 9:33-37 / Psalm 139:1-12

I. Who Is the Greatest?

A. Jesus caught the disciples squabbling; disciples must expect to be called to account for their behavior and their progress in their gospel lessons. “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” (Mark 9:33)

B. The disciples were being childish; there is no mature way to raise some questions. “But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.” (Mark 9:34)

C. Self-centered pride makes people look bad; it reverses the graces of the soul, turning love into envy, humility into pride, and generosity into selfishness.“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10) “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)

D. Christian courtesy encourages a climate of modesty. “But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 14:10-11)

E. King Jesus is not like the rulers of the world and His kingdom does not follow the world’s patterns. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

II. The Bible Reveals a Career Path to the Top

A. Jesus was honestly answering the question being proposed; there is a path to the top: Start at the bottom and do what is being left undone. “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

B. Jesus illustrated the doctrine of advancement magnificently at the Last Supper. “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 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.” (John 13:2-5)

C. The Lord of Grace took one final opportunity to do the least attractive job available before going out into the night and on to the cross. “So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12-15)

D. Disciples must never forget their station in the community of grace. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:16)

III. Get the Question Right

A. Great writers and teachers create pictures in the mind; Jesus did this with a child. “And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,” (Mark 9:36)

B. A little child has nothing to offer but need and simple confidence that the need will be met; Jesus demands that the church focus its work at this level. “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.” (Mark 9:37) “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

C. Instead of asking, “Who is the greatest?”, people qualified to lead the church ask, “Who will hold the wet, hungry, and tearful baby?” “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. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” (Matthew 18:3-5

God Listens

I. God Will Not Overlook Blasphemy

A. Treating God’s name with disrespect is closer to a felony than to a misdemeanor; every society punishes what it considers to be blasphemy. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

B. God takes light treatment of His name as a personal insult. “And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:12)

C. When nations and civilizations fail to conform to God’s law, He punishes them until they understand; airheads get the opposite of blessings. “If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.” (Deuteronomy 28:58-59)

II. Do Not Be Confused by Bad Examples

A. Eli let his sons abuse the instruments of grace in his day, but God eventually destroyed them for their blasphemous behavior. “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.” (1 Samuel 2:12)

B. The sons had no respect for the offerings they received for the Lord, treating the religious value of the offerings with contempt and by their example caused other people to have no respect for the offerings. “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 2:17)

C. By doing nothing about the disrespect shown God and His word, Eli became a co-conspirator with his evil sons; Eli’s silence was a form of idolatry. “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (1 Samuel 2:22) “Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?” (1 Samuel 2:29)

D. God’s patience should not be confused with complicity. “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.” (Psalm 50:21)

III. Be Honest about Blasphemy

A. If people encounter silence when punishment is appropriate, they stop taking punishment seriously; such silence recruits further sin. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

B. The purpose in God’s withholding damnation is entirely gracious and the abuse of that reprieve multiplies the guilt of sinners. “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” (Romans 2:4-5)

C. Sin brings about a self-correcting punishment; imaginary money causes actual wealth to evaporate and disregard for God’s revelation causes moral capital to disappear. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” (Jeremiah 2:19)

D. God has no room in His house for the unrepentant wicked; do not let them think they are welcome. “But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?” (Psalm 50:16)

E. Self-excuses and silent complicity can be subtle, but they are no less serious in earnest believers than they were in the life of Eli. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” (Romans 2:21-22)

Triumph

Psalm 118:1-29; Mark 16:1-8 / Romans 6:1-14

I. Jesus Was Dead and Buried

A. At least His friends had seen Jesus die on the cross and the women who were close to Him wanted to treat His corpse with the appropriate respect due the dead; in Israel in those days people did not simply dispose of people they loved. “And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” (Mark 16:1)

B. On the third day of the nightmare, the women arrived with the sun to enter the cave where the body lay, wash it, and wrap it with funeral spices. “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.” (Mark 16:2)

1. Displaying holy boldness and contempt for the powerful people who had killed Jesus, the women to whom Jesus had been so kind would not abandon Him in death. “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.” (Song of Solomon 8:6)

2. The awareness of sin’s awful features draws the forgiven in a way that modern people with no grasp of law and grace cannot understand, much less emulate. “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)

C. Though bold in their faithfulness, the women borrowed unnecessary fear from their own imaginations; how would they gain access to the cave which had been sealed with a great stone and surrounded by Roman soldiers assigned to keep people away from the body? “And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” (Mark 16:3)

D. The stone was out of place and there were no officials to stop them from doing what they came to do. “And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.” (Mark 16:4)

E. The women were frightened when they found someone other than Jesus apparently waiting for them. “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.” (Mark 16:5)

II. Jesus Was Missing

A. Jesus had been buried in the tomb where the women stood, but He was gone. “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)

B. Jesus had gone to Galilee and the women were to tell the church leaders to follow. “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” (Mark 16:7)

C. At first, the women were paralyzed with fear and the world wants the story to stop at this point; dead people do not come back to life. “And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:8)

III. Jesus Is Active and Present

A. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” (Mark 16:9)

B. Mary Magdalene went to tell the authorities, but they didn’t have what it took to believe her. “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.” (Mark 16:10-11)

C. Jesus then appeared to a pair of disciples, but the important people would not believe this report either. “After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.” (Mark 16:12-13)

D. Finally, Jesus appeared to the Apostles and gave them a hard time before sending them into the world to tell every creature that God keeps His promises. “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:14-18)

E. God’s own church is still following instructions, telling the world that Jesus triumphed and is now in heaven governing the world. “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:19-20) “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6)

Watch Your Tongue

I. Reference God Cautiously

A. The third commandment directs Christians in how they are to use the name of God. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

B. References to God are different from references to anything else; they must never be made casually. “And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:12) “And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:16)

C. Jesus directed that prayer begin with the request that God’s name be treated with respect; consider His doctrine a gracious warning and an encouragement to righteousness. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9) “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

D. Though it may be unfashionable in particular times and places to show proper respect for the name of God, the crime will not be ignored in heaven. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Deuteronomy 5:11)

E. Words can be deadly sources of sin. “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:2-6)

II. Reference God Affirmatively

A. God’s reputation is being observed in everything a believer says as much as in what a believer does. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)

B. People talk about what matters to them; for believers, this should be God and what He does. “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.” (Psalm 105:2)

C. Believers should always be ready to talk about what God has done to give them hope. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

III. Use the Gift of Language Graciously

A. Avoiding sin is valuable, but it is not the same as taking action to promote the gospel. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

B. God entrusted His revelation to His people so that they might use it. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)

C. In contemporary society, people say righteous things but do not follow through with them and that causes other people to sin, toleration of sin weakens the condemnation of sin. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11)

D. Avoid the verbal instruments of evil; being “the devil’s advocate” or being broadminded about sin is ungracious. “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” (1 Timothy 1:4-7) “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5)

Keep Yourselves from Idols

Deuteronomy 12:29-32; 1 John 5:13-21 / Deuteronomy 5:1-22

I. Christians Live Forever

A. Eternal life begins with knowing the truth—Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

B. John wrote so that people would know the result of belief in Jesus Christ. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)

C. With assurance of eternal life comes confidence that God hears appropriate prayers. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14)

D. With confidence about access comes certainty that God gives good gifts to His people when they seek them from Him. “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:15) “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15:29)

E. Belonging to God strengthens believers even when the entire world is against them. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:19)

II. Pray for the Family of God

A. When brothers and sisters fail to pay appropriate attention to God, lift them up in prayer. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” (1 John 5:16)

B. The Shorter Catechism says: “Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.” “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” (1 John 5:17) “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

C. Believers will eventually give up their beloved sins because God is at work in their lives to protect them and cultivate them. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5)

III. Stay Close to God

A. What is inside people eventually comes to the surface. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:13-18)

B. The warning is personal, but it is also cultural and national. “When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” (Deuteronomy 12:29-30)

C. The direction for dealing with personal sin applies to national sin; the sin, not the punishment, is the problem. “Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.” (Deuteronomy 12:31)

D. The narrow way is the safe way; walk in it. “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32)

E. Knowing all these things, avoid everything which distracts from your high calling. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21)

Are You Ready

The Coming Supper

I. God Commands People To Prepare

A. Examine yourself. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28)

B. Are you trusting Jesus for salvation? “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

C. Would anyone who knows you be able to give evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in you? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

D. What do you know about Jesus? “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

II. Ignoring the State of the Soul Kills

A. Carelessness opens the door to hell. “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (1 Corinthians 11:29)

B. Attentive people know the greatness of their own sin and wretchedness, the wonderful liberation from sin’s consequences, and the unlimited gratitude appropriate for full redemption. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Titus 3:3-8)

III. Remember Jesus’ Love

A. Jesus first loved us. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

B. Believers won’t perish; though we were sinners, we will live forever. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

C. Redemption is as reliable as God because it was His idea, not our effort. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)

D. The Christian life is entirely a matter of grace. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:4-5)