Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Friday, April 04, 2014
It is now considered acceptable and even normal for people to promote themselves, to praise themselves, and to put themselves first.
Many consider pride a virtue. Humility, on the other hand, is considered a weakness.
The preoccupation with self-esteem, self-love, and self-glory is destroying the very foundations upon which our society was built.
He had come unto His own people, the Jews, “and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).
It is the day before Jesus’ death, and rather than being preoccupied with thoughts of His death, which was sin-bearing, and glorification, He is consumed with His love for the disciples.
Knowing that He would soon go to the cross to die for the sins of the world, He is still concerned with the needs of twelve men.
In what were literally the last hours before His death, Jesus kept showing them His love over and over.
Sandals did little to keep dirt off the feet, and the roads were either a thick layer of dust or deep masses of mud.
As Jesus and His disciples all arrived in the upper room, they found that there was no servant to wash their feet.
“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave” (MAT 20:26-27).
If they had given mind and heart to His teaching, one of the twelve would have washed the others’ feet, or they would have mutually shared the task.
“Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves.”
When we think that we are automatically entitled to something, that is when we start walking all over others to get it.
One selfish soul will destroy the sweetness of life in any home.
PSA 8:6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,
PSA 66:9 “He keeps us in life, And does not allow our feet to slip.
SOL 5:3 “I have taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, How can I dirty them again?
SOL 7:1 “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The curves of your hips are like jewels, The work of the hands of an artist.
Because the feet represent the means or the vehicle that our Lord uses o bring the Gospel or the GOOD NEWS to others,ISA 52:7.
ISA 52:7 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Because the feet represent the total and complete victory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in MAT 22:44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet”‘?
MAT 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
Because the feet also represent that spiritual part of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ that we may worship, JOH 12:3.
Because the feet represent the principle of rebound as found in our passage, JOH 13:10.
Because the feet also represent the authority of the pastor-teacher in the Church-age passed down from the apostles, ACT 4:32-35.
The leading authorities in the early church made the decisions as to where the proceeds of the church were to go, in verses 34 and 35.
Principle of Bible doctrine – The leading authorities in the early church made the decisions as to where the proceeds of the church were to go, in verses 34 and 35.
The monetary gift which was to be laid at the apostle’s feet was withheld and therefore the body and soul of those who lied was laid at the apostle’s feet instead.
You either pay now or you will pay later.
Prin-God said – GAL 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
You can PAY now and PLAY later OR you can PLAY now and PAY later.
They live on less than what they earn.
They choose to invest for the future or retirement and long-term dreams but the future never comes.
LUK 9:25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
MAT 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Father alone.
I was led by God the Holy Spirit to conclude this message with the Four Reasons Why we should never Fear Death.
We either pay now or we will pay later.
You can PAY now and PLAY later OR you can PLAY now and PAY later.
They live on less than what they earn.
They choose to invest for the future or retirement and long-term dreams but the future never comes.
LUK 9:25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
MAT 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Father alone.
COL 1:25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the oikonomia – dispensation from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
KJ’s – COL 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;
In 2CO 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
My Job is in EPH 4:11-12, as a pastor is to equip the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
EPH 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.
2CO 4:14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
1. First of all, the believer’s death is a matter of the sovereignty of God.
KJ’s – PSA 68:20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from or of death.
You may have a sorrow for a short period of time but ultimately, if you trust in the character and nature of God, you will know that whatever He does or allows, there is a justified reason for it.
JOB 1:21 Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Dying is the one part of the Christian’s life that does not depend upon the individual’s free will or his volition; it depends entirely on the sovereignty of God.
The believer has no control over the time, place or manner of his death; it is a matter of God’s sovereignty, wisdom and integrity.
He is never wrong, He can never make a mistake, and everything that He has ordained is perfect and right.
ISA 57:1 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil,
Prin-Since the omniscience of God knows all of the facts in each individual case, the matter of the physical death of a believer is always a wise decision.
2. Death has lost its power over the believer.
ISA 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,”
PSA 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
HEB 2:14-15 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death
were subject to slavery all their lives.
The believer’s death is precious in the eyes of the Lord. PSA 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.
4. Death means being face to face with the Lord in a state of perfect happiness.