Self-Emptying

Solitude Submission Service

By Mary’s Team

Service

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”-Jn 13:14,15

“Who, being in very nature God… but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,…- Phi 2: 5-8

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mk 10:45

Self-righteous Vs True Service

Comes through human effort. Is impressed with the “big deal” Requires external rewards. Is highly concerned about

results. Picks and chooses whom to

serve Is affected by moods and

whims. Is temporary and insensitive Fractures community

Comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside.

finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.

Rests contented in hiddenness. Is indiscriminate in its ministry. Ministers simply and faithfully

because there is a need. Can withhold the service as

freely as perform it. Builds community.

Service and Humility

When Jesus came in the form of a servant, he was not disguising who God is. He was revealing who God is. –John Ortberg

God is the Infinite Servant. God is the most humble being in all the universe. Jesus did not come as a servant in spite of the fact that he is God; he came precisely because of the fact that He is God -John Ortberg)

“For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1Jn 2:15

What we have or what are things inside us cannot bear to serve others.

Our sinful nature strains and pulls for honor and recognition. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. Flesh is the deadly enemy of humility.

How do we learn Jesus’ humbleness?

According to William Law, it is the Discipline of service that brings humility into the life.

In his book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, Law urged that every day should be viewed as a day of humility, counseling us to condescend to all the weak, cover their frailties, compassionate their distress, forgive their malice,…, and be a servant of servants.

When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is, a deep change occurs in our spirits.

Yes, But…

“If I do that, people will take advantage of me; they will walk all over me.”

When we choose to serve, -Become available and vulnerable. -Give up the right to be in charge. -Become slaves not involuntarily but voluntarily. Who can hurt someone who has freely chosen to be stepped

on? Jesus who endured the cross, scorning its shame…Heb 12:2 Apostle Paul frequently boasted of his slavery to Christ. “if we

share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Ro 8:17

Service in the Marketplace

Service of small things. Public service and hidden service Service of guarding the reputation of others.

(spiteful tongue) Service of being served.

-Jesus’ service was an affront to Peter’s concept of authority.

Continued…

Service of common courtesy Service of hospitality Service of listening Service of sharing the word of Life with one

another “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for

nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Jn 6:63

Solitude

Key verse “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark1:35)

Jesus calls us from loneliness to solitude. What is solitude? People’s problem - the fear of being left alone petrifies people. - our fear of being alone drives us to noise and crowds. Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment

Solitude and silence

Without silence there is no solitude. Without a heart listening to God, is not

silence. When we speak of ourselves and are filled

with ourselves, we leave silence behind. The purpose of silence and solitude is to be

able to see and hear.

Jesus lived in inward “hear solitude.”

Jesus inaugurated his ministry by spending forty days alone in the desert (Mark 4:1-11)

Before choosing the Twelve(Luke6:12) After feeding of the five thousand(Mt14:23) Following a long night of work(Mark1:35) With three disciples he sought out the silence of a

lonely mountain as the stage for the transfiguration(Mt17:1-9)

As he prepared for his highest and most holy work, Jesus sought the solitude of the garden of Gethsemane(Mark26)

The sacrifice of fools

“To Draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools.”(Ec5:1)

The sacrifice of fools is humanly initiated religious talk.-When Jesus was transfigured, Peter said “If you will I will

make here three shelters(Mt17:4) No one was even speaking to Peter. He was offering to

sacrifice of fools.

-The reason : Why we hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We tend to reply upon words to manage and control others. If we are silent, who will take control? God will take control.

The tongue is a fire

Under the Discipline of silence and solitude we learn when to speak and when to refrain from speaking.

The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. The reason: Why we can hardly bear to remain silent is

that it makes us feel so helpless. Discipline of silence puts the stopper on all self-

justification. - “But Jesus remained silent and gave no

answer”(Mark15:61) One of the fruits of solitude is the freedom to let God be

our justifier.

The dark night of the soul

The purpose of the darkness is not to punish or to afflict us.

The dark night is one of the ways God brings us into a bush, stillness so that he may work an inner transformation upon the soul.

We are living in obedience but we have entered a dark night of the soul.

What should we do during such a time of inward darkness?

Disregard the advice of well - they do not understand what is occurring.

God is your justifier, rest your case with him. Go to the spiritual desert – hold in your heart

a deep, inner, listening silence and let it be still until the work of solitude is done.

Steps into solitude

What are the steps into solitude? The first thing we can do is to take advantage

of the “little solitudes” that fill our day. For example We can find or develop a “quiet place” For example: garage, a special chair, a spot

in a park, church’ small room

Submission

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘submission?’

What value does our society place on submission?

What it is not VS what it is

Not an act of blind obedience

Not for the weak

Not self-hatred or self-contempt

Not rejection of individuality

A conscious act of a choosing to yield our will to the will of God

For the courageous

Self-denial

Self-actualization

Why must we submit to God?

“This is what the Lord says-the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker…It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it…Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god.” (Isaiah 45:11-14)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God”

(James 4:7)

The reward of Submission

Freedom A good place Honor Glory Grace Lifting up from God

God’s will Vs My will

EternalPerfectNever changingSelfless Certain

Temporal ImperfectEver changingSelfishUncertain

I am angry and I do not understand

In spite of our trust in God - there are times and events that may cause us anger.

‘Why is He allowing this to happen to me?’ Or ‘Why did He allow this to happen to my loved one?’

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Submission in relationship to one another

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.” (1 Peter 5:5)

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Colossians 3:18)

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20)

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” (Ephesians 6:5-9) 

How about them?

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Col 3:19)

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Col 3:21)

“Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair.” (Col 4:1a)

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) 

Contrary to God’s command?

“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!’” (Acts 5:29)

“But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.’” (Acts 4:19)

Key Verse

“ ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:36)

Is your will, desire, plan, and idea better than God’s?

Acknowledge God who is greater than you are. Consider your relationship with God. Consider your relationship with others.