How to Have Status with God
Matthew 18:1-14, 19:14
Introduction””
“I am opposed to millionaires, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position.” |
| Mark Twain |
In today”™s world, the face of “status” IS changing due to all of the corruption “at the top”. But, nonetheless, it seems the common human experience to desire status.
Do you like to be well-thought-of? Do you ever envy the place one of your friends occupies””their job or their social status? Do you like it when someone recognizes you as excelling in your work or at school? Truth be told””we all desire to have status and be recognized for it. Whatever our desired status might be, we all have some goal, some level we”™d like to reach.
Even Jesus”™ own disciples had a desire for status. And, at first glance, you might even admire their quest.
READ Matthew 18:1-14, 19:14 (NLT)””On Overhead
The only “status” that matters in the end is our status with God. What God thinks of us, how He ranks us, is the bottom line in life.
*To have status with God, a person must have a simple faith in Jesus.
WHAT does it mean to have status with God by having a simple faith?
Jesus gives us 5 Patterns of Living that are found in the lives of those who get God”™s attention:
1. I must have simple faith to enter God”™s kingdom.
(1-3)
The disciples”™ perspective on “status” was much like ours””very self-centered, each one jockeying for position above the other. The parallel passage in Mark 9 informs us that they knew they were being self-centered””“After they arrived at Capernaum, Jesus and his disciples settled in the house where they would be staying. Jesus asked them, ”˜What were you discussing out on the road?”™ But they didn”™t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.”
READ verses 2-3
“Simple faith” like that of “little children” is required to even have a relationship with God.
“Little children”””actual children,
But also . . .
ANYONE with SIMPLE FAITH=
—Uncomplicated Trust
—Wholehearted Dependence
—Helpless Confidence
—Humble Awareness of being Little and Needing Someone Big
These are NOT Natural Characteristics of people over 10!
But the only folks that can truly know God are those who come to Jesus with the simple faith of a child!
–Review Gospel
I must have simple faith to enter God”™s kingdom.
2. I must have simple faith to be great in God”™s kingdom. (4)
Mark 9:35””“Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
“God”™s best gifts are not on a high shelf but on a low one to which we must stoop. The badge of greatness is greatness in humility” (J. Oswald Sanders).
Philippians 2:1-11 [READ, NLT]
Martin Luther: “Oh, do not think to be great but to be little. Becoming great will come of itself if you become little.”
1 Peter 5:5b-7””“And all of you, serve each other in humility, for ”˜God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble”™. So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” (NLT)
Let me show you a picture of a conversation between God and one of His “greats” that shows just what it means to have a simple faith:
READ Psalm 131 (NLT)
I must have simple faith in order to be great in God”™s kingdom, because greatness (real status) in God”™s eyes is humility!
3. I must treat others with simple faith like I would treat Jesus. (5-6)
Jesus is talking about how we relate to at least 2 groups of people””and He makes the point that relating to others is really about relating to HIM!
First, to seekers””those who are on the verge of trusting Jesus with a simple faith. It matters HOW we relate to folks when we”™re sharing our faith””we need to be sensitive to them and talk to them on their level and show them that Jesus meets them right where they are.
We must be gentle, not overbearing; patient, not pushy; simple and clear, not fancy in our words; welcoming and humble, not intimidating, spiritual know-it-alls.
But also, to new believers. It takes time to grow up. It takes many experiences to gain maturity. God tells us not to exasperate our children””not to frustrate them by expecting them to be grown-ups when they”™re children. Sometimes in the church, because of our own pride/self-righteousness and resulting legalism, we expect new believers to act like they”™ve walked with Jesus for years””and it WILL hurt them! And when we hurt them, we hurt Jesus!
And don”™t forget””no matter how long we”™ve walked with Jesus, greatness in the kingdom is about humility! You know, if we were as mature as we often think we are, we”™d be less judgmental and more childlike and simply trust Jesus with whatever/whoever anyway!
Matthew 25:31-46 (*44-46) [READ, NLT]
And this whole deal extends to ALL believers.
I must treat others with simple faith (whether seekers, new believers, or even mature believers) like I would treat Jesus!
4. I must be willing to do spiritual surgery on myself in order to protect the family of simple faith. (7–9)
Jesus really values simple faith that results in simple obedience””and He”™ll hold us accountable if we hurt someone who is trying to simply “trust and obey”!
Matthew 16:24-26””“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Is there anything in your life that is hindering YOUR simple faith in Jesus, wherein you trust and obey Him? Is anything in your life hindering someone else”™s childlike trust and obedience to Jesus? If so, cut it out!
I must be willing to do spiritual surgery on myself in order to protect the family of simple faith!
5. I must remember how much God loves those with simple faith. (10-14)
Does it not overwhelm you to realize that God loves you like that?
a) God”™s love for His own should make us patient in loving others!
When we remember how God loves so continually us, we”™ll be encouraged to be more patient in loving others””whether seekers or other believers.
b) God”™s love for His own should make us urgent in sharing His love with others!
When we remember how God”™s love pursued us””and still pursues those who will simply trust Jesus””we”™ll find ourselves urgently talking to others about God”™s love as seen in Jesus!
I must remember how much God loves those with simple faith!
Conclusion””You may attain to many positions and enjoy a high status in various organizations or circles of influence. But unless I have status with God, unless I”™m great in His eyes, it”™s all useless. Because when this life is over, the only status that will remain is what God thinks of you!
“To rise to the greatness of grace, we must go down to the littleness, the simplicity, and the trustfulness of childhood” (Spurgeon).
Lyrics from Jars of Clay song, “Like a Child”:
Dear God, surround me as I speak,
The bridges that I walk across are weak
Frustrations fill the void that I cant solely bear
Dear God, dont let me fall apart,
Youve held me close to you
I have turned away and searched for answers I cant understand
Chorus:
They say that I can move the mountains
And send them falling to the sea
They say that I can walk on water
If I would follow and believe
With faith like a child
Sometimes, when I feel miles away
And my eyes cant see your face
I wonder if Ive grown to lose the recklessness
I walked in light of you
[chorus]
Little girl:
Ive got joy like a fountain!
Be kind one to others
In jesus christ your son
They say that love can heal the broken
They say that hope can make you see
They say that faith can find a savior
If you would follow and believe
With faith like a child
Simply trust Jesus and follow in His steps day by day for the rest of your life””trusting/loving Jesus and loving others with God”™s love for them. Then, you”™ll have all the status you need with God””all by, and because of, Jesus!