Greatness Redefined!

by Pastor Calvin Lee

Matthew 2:1-3
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.


King Herod was disturbed (troubled, pertubed). Why?
- Herod was a man really good at power game, cos it's all about himself, very imposing, cruel, very insecure and jealous person
- He is conceited, cunning and calculative

Conceited
- I, Me, Myself
- Huge Ego (Edging God Out)

Cunning
- told Magi to find Jesus and said he wanted to worship Him
- It was a big fat lie
- All a show due to his crafiness, cunningness

Calculative
- he would do anything to keep his position and power
- fear because he felt his throne to be threatened

Angel told Magi don't go back. Herod was furious when he knew. Therefore, he gave orders to kill all children before age of 2 to eliminate any threat. He also killed his father in law, several of his wives and 2 sons.


3 words to describe Jesus
- Sacrificial
- Selfless
- Sympathetic

Sacrificial
- He sacrifice His life for you and me
- Jesus shed His own blood while Herod shed the blood of others

Selfless
- Thy will be done and not my will
- came to serve, not to be served

Sympathetic
- He understands our pain
- that's why He is our High Priest

# When your greatness comes first, your greatness will not last.

- While it is naturally for us to focus on own needs and wants, but excessive selfishness can be harmful to ourselves and others. Can be damaging, destructive. Focus on me and me only

1. King Saul (pride brought downfall)

2. King Usaiah (something shifted and he began focus on himself, he walk into temple and wanted to burn incense only reserve for priest, not king. 81 priests warned him not to do it. He was upset and angry with them and went on to burn incense. Thus, he was strucked with leprosy)

3. King Herod (remembered as evil and brutal man, his greatness did not last)

4. Jesus lives impacted millions and countless lives (so many found joy and meaning, His legacy and greatness lives on)


The pitfalls of selfish living
The power of selfless living


# The way up is down

Matthew 20:20-28
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

- To become great, first to serve


Jesus says : Be humble, Give yourself

DL Moody : The beginning of greatness is to be little. The increase of greatness is to be less. The perfection of greatness is to be nothing.


Why should I? I did nothing wrong. Why should I be the first to say sorry, enemy would whisper and say don't do it. Learn to take the downward escalator so that we may lift up the name of the lord in our lives


Don't ever allow your achievements and your accumulations, fame and fortune, position and powers, prestige and privileges, titles to go to your head. All the blessing you have is all because the grace of God. Let it go to your hearts and be thankful, humble and give glory to God.


It's all about Him and not about us.


Ask for a more grateful heart, take the downward escalator if need to. Admit our mistakes and shortcomings.


Learn to embrace differences. It's about what you think not always what I think.


1. Do it for our Master (He set the example for us, if the lord can do it, we can also)

2. It is missional (touch and impact someone)

3. It gives meaning to our lives (instead of harbouring emotions, take it to God and allow God instead of weighing down with all negative emotions)


James 5:6
Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!


# To live greatly is to live largely

- Herod lived for himself whereas Jesus live for others

- Jesus came with a mission and to give life to others


Of course we have a choice in this life.

We can choose to live,
Selfishly or Sacrificially?
Pointlessly or Purposefully?