Snapshots Series: Be Faithful

Snapshot30 Mark 10:32-45 "Be Faithful" 1. Do you find that when you serve you are looking for others to notice? 2. When you pray do you find that it is all about you? 3. Talk about a time in which you wanted God to do something for you and He did not and the results were actually better. 4. It what areas of life do you feel you are a servant? 5. What areas do you need to improve our service? Today we are going to look at the concept of faithfulness... Vrs 32-34- What Jesus must go through. This is Jesus' third prediction on the gospel of Mark and gives the most detail. -Delivered over -Condemned to death -Mock Him -Spit on Him -Flog Him -Kill Him. That fact that Jesus predicts His death in this way is also a foreshadowing of His faithfulness. GOSPEL James and John want A God who is faithful. Vrs 35-37 Vrs 35 A familiar phrase that a mom might hear from her child. Mom can you do something for me. This week I was doing some yard work on my day off and Silah must have said Mom 25 times in 30 minutes so I said "hey Silah can you not say mom for one hour?" she said ok a minute later she said "dad". James and John were acting like children "Jesus we want" Vrs 36 like any faithful parent responds to their child "what do you want?" As Christians we can take comfort in that fact that when we are asking the Lord is faithful to listen Vrs 37 The request: We want to sit on your right and left in the kingdom. This is almost laughable. Have you ever made a ridicules request? "God help me to know the answers even though I did not study" "God help this situation I am in to not be happening" "God if you do this for me, I will do that for you". Or maybe we start to barter with God and say "if you do this for me I will be faithful to you" The question then becomes...would we be faithful Christians if God always gave us our own way? If a mom (or dad) gave a little child everything they asked for what would it look like? Dr Bryan Caplan from George Mason University in Virginia, U.S., said parents should ‘cut themselves some slack’ and stop trying to control every aspect of their children’s lives. He called for a relaxed and fun style of bringing up children — dubbed ‘serenity parenting’ — which involves us taking a backseat role. Say yes to everything. I read a brief article about a mom who tried this and the results were interesting to say the least. Some of the highlights were kids able to eat whatever they want and go to bed whenever they wanted to. The mom said her one child said "why are you being so nice to us" By the end of the week the kids were fatigued and in meltdown mode. Many times in life we think we know what we want or need but we do not count the cost and the toll it will take on us. James and John did not really realize what they were asking. They knew what they wanted but didn't realize the price tag. The cost of being faithful vrs 38-41 The cup and the baptism and the Fathers prerogative. Jesus was willing to drink the cup of God's judgment and be baptized by bearing the burden of the cross. In Old Testament tradition being underwater was symbolic of calamity. Jesus was taking God's wrath upon himself and the result was sitting at the right hand of the Father. It is the Fathers prerogative who He elevates. I will make note that James and John did eventually realize the cost of faithfulness. James Acts 12:1-2 James was killed with sword under Herod Agrippa John authored 5 books of the NT, legend has it that he was boiled in oil and lived. Under Emperor Domitian was exiled to the Island of Patmos where we wrote the book of Revelation. How we can be faithful to Jesus Don't self promote Vrs 41 The other disciples were upset about this. Probably because they didn't think of it first. But if we spend time self promoting who are we not promoting? Jesus Think about your prayer life is it always "me, me, me". Do you spend time praying on behalf of others? Don't lead like the world leads. Vrs 42 Lording it over. A follower of Christ is marked with humility in service. Don't look to be served look to serve. Vrs 43-44 Moms are a good example of this. Look to the example of Jesus Vrs 45 Jesus is the ultimate example. the God of this universe came in human form to serve us. A Mother…
When you’re a child she walks before you,
To set an example.
 When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
 When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together..