Servant Leadership of the Holy Trinity

Authority Structure of the Trinity

This morning we are going to talk about the subject of the Authority Structure of the Holy Trinity. But, before we begin, let me ask, was anyone else challenged last night?
I think Brent did a wonderful job of setting the stage for this weekend, so thank you Brent.

What might the Authority Structure of the Trinity have to do with Servant Leadership you might be asking yourself right now? Maybe a better way to say it is the relationship that the members of the Trinity had with one another. I hope to being laying some important ground work for what Nick will be talking about later today. He has the unique pleasure of speaking to you all about the Authority Structure of the Home from a biblical perspective, but none of that will matter at all with out the understanding that the Trinity too has an Authority Structure.

To start off this topic of the authority structure of the Trinity we need to first take some time to in greater detail explain the unique personhood of the Holy Trinity.

There are some important points that make up this very unique Holy Trinity. First there is but one true God. Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!”

Listen again to what the Lord says in Isaiah 45:5a, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.”

And then there are Paul’s words in 1st Corinthians 8:4, “Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol on the world, and that there is no God but one.”

Second within this unique Godhead there are three persons. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

How does one plus one plus one equal one? Well God’s math is not the same as our own. You’ve heard the Biblical teaching of marriage. That, “the two shall become one flesh.” It is the same concept. The husband and wife do not literally become the same body. The two should become so close that they are in all intents and purposes they same person. Their thoughts, motives, experiences all driven by the will of God, who brought them together in the first place, there should be a single-mindedness about them.

It is foundational that we understand that when talking about the Holy Trinity that we do not make the mistake of making one plus one plus one equal three separate God’s, a concept known as poly-theism.

With that being said, the three persons of the Trinity have all the same qualities. Each is holy, each is all-powerful, each is all-knowing and each is ever-present.

The Father, the Son and the Spirit are each God, not each a God, but each The God. Believe it or not, this is a major debate amongst well know theologians, names some of you might recognize and it is of foundational importance for Christians especially American Christians to fight for this truth with every fiber of our being.

Here are some verses that argue the complex truth of the Holy Trinity.

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”

In the original language of Hebrew the word of God used here is Elohim. It is God in the plural form.

Genesis 1:26a, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our imagine, according to Our likeness.’”

If God is using a pluralization, who is He talking to? Well combine this verse with what we saw in Deuteronomy, Isaiah or 1st Corinthians and the obvious answer is He is talking to the other members of the Trinity. There is only one God and yet there are multiple beings at the time of creation. The only logical reasoning for this is that God is speaking to the other persons of the Trinity.

Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Of course the Word is Jesus Christ, John is telling us that Jesus was there at the moment of creation, not that He was created but that He took part in the creation process.

Listen to Colossians 1:16, 17, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Paul is supporting John chapter one here. He is telling us that through Christ creation was, well created. Not only that but it is through His power that we are still held together. It reminds me of that Louie Giglio video, remember Laminin? If you have no idea what I am talking about you need to check out that video, it is titled How Great is Our God, it will blow your mind! It still gives me goose bumps to think about.

Moving on, Matthew 3:16, 17, “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” Here we see each member of the Trinity in the same scene. God the Son is being baptism, God the Spirit descends and God the Father speaks.

And finally Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

This last passage in my opinion is one of the strongest passages there is that proves that the Spirit and Son are indeed God. Only God, our creator can or even has the right to bring us to salvation, and here we see the role each member of the Trinity has in bringing us to a saving faith. Let’s look at it again:

Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined (The Father’s work), He also called (The Spirit’s work); and these whom He called, He also justified (The Son’s work); and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Only God our creator who is omni-present, not just in place but also in time has the power and sight to predestine us to salvation. Only He can call us to salvation. In Matthew Jesus says the Father draws us to Him. And only God can call us justified in His sight and that is what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Not only is our sinful account cleared, but Christ’s perfect account is credited to us.

Only God can accomplish those things, and each member of the Trinity has a role to play in our salvation. Each part of the Trinity is equal. Each was there at creation. And each deserves our worship and gratitude.

I know this was a really quick fly by of teaching on the roles of the Holy Trinity but, I hope that I have succinctly established the truth of the person of the Godhead; now let us move toward the relationship they have with one another.

One of the major characteristics that are shown in the relationship of the Holy Trinity is that of submission. I know that that word, submission has a negative connotation in our society. No one likes to have to submit. However much we have a distaste for that word; we are still required to submit too many people, if we fail to do so we run the risk of consequences, another word no one likes.

We are required to submit to our parents or we run the risk missing out on earthly and heavenly blessings; Nick will talk about this some more later. We are required to submit to our bosses or we run the risk of losing our jobs. We are required to submit to governing authorities or we run the risk of fines or incarceration. The list could go on and on.

But the question remains, why should we submit to anyone? It’s a dog eat dog world after all, besides I don’t see it modeled for me, you might say. I would respond to such questioning, by saying, we are to be a servant least of all because God says so. But, also because it is indeed modeled for us if we only take a deeper look into the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

In John chapter 16 Jesus tells us that the Spirit who He calls the Helper is submissive in nature. Listen to John 16:7-15, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

There is some really good meat, in here that I want to point out from this passage. First check out verse 7, the Spirit came because of what reason? (Wait for response) Yeah, He didn’t come on His own accord, but He came because Christ sent Him. He obeyed, He submitted.

Second, look at verse 13, who’s authority is the Spirit speaking from? (Wait for response) Yeah, the Helper has not come to speak from His initiatives but whose? (Wait for response)

It is vital again to point out, that the Spirit has the authority to speak on His own. He is a part of the one true God. He shares the same qualities that God the Father shares, and yet, the Helper does not speak from His initiative. Only what He hears the Father speak does He speak. In a word the Spirit submits.

And lastly, look at verse 14, the Helper has come to what? (Wait for response) Yeah, He came to glorify who? (Wait for response) He came to glorify another, not Himself. Though the Holy Spirit has every right to glorify Himself, after all He was at the beginning, He has all the attributes of God the Father and God the Son, yet He chooses to glorify another.

Let us turn now to the attitude of Christ. Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, most of you know it, and it goes like this:





Our Father who is in heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
As we also have forgiven our debtors
And do not lead us into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen

Notice what Jesus was in the forth line. Jesus isn’t merely simply acknowledging that indeed God’s will, will be done, but He is asking God for His will to be done.

Listen to what Jesus has to say about servant hood in Matthew 19:30, “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”

If you always put yourself number one, always want to be the top dog and never consider others more than yourself, Christ says in the end, come judgment time your account will be nothing. However, if you will humble yourself, be a servant to others you will be exalted in heaven.

Again listen to Christ’s teaching in Luke 22:24-27, “And there arose also a dispute among them (the disciples) as to which one of them was regarded as the greatest. 25And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26But it is not that way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.’”

But, perhaps more important than Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership is that fact that He absolutely modeled it for us. In John chapter 13 we find the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. It was a scene of immense humility if there ever was one. The Lord of creation, the author of our salvation took time to literally stoop down before those He was about to rescue, and He performed something that only the lowest of house servants carried out. To help us understand the feet washing a little better it is important for us to remember that in those times people wore sandals, most if not all shoes were open shoes, no laces, no socks.

The roads that they walked on were dusty and dirty, often times covered with animal waste. You can understand why only the lowest of servants ever performed this action, and yet Jesus washed dirt, and waste off of His disciples feet.
And then He says in John 13:14, 15, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

Jesus wasn’t only telling His disciples to continue to wash one another’s feet, though he was telling them to do that. He was telling them to live a life of submission to one another, to think of others as more worthy than themselves, to truly be servants.

Jesus also says in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” That is quite the statement. Jesus obviously wasn’t saying that He didn’t ever eat anything. What might He be saying? (Wait for response) Exactly, I think what Christ is saying is this: He is so moved to do the Father’s will that it sustains Him. How many of you in here today have ever been on some sort of fast in their life? Go ahead and raise your hands. (Wait for a show of hands) And I don’t mean as a means to lose weight. If you have perhaps you can understand where Christ is coming from.

There is a life sustaining power when you are so connected to God; that your entire purpose, your entire being is to do His will. That is what Christ is teaching.

Finally, listen to the prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. It is something many of you have heard before I am sure. Jesus says in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus, who though was God, was also 100% man. He knew what was ahead of Him. He knew the beating He was about to endure. He knew the excruciating pain He was about to face. He wanted no part of it. He told the Father He didn’t want to have to go through it. But, He also understood what His Father’s will was; and the importance of what was about to take place.

And so, Jesus, submitted!

God, Jesus, understood His Father’s will and put it ahead of His own will. Now might be an appropriate time to ask the question, when is the last time that you did that? When did you put someone’s will ahead of your own?

We can see that clearly that Christ has not only taught, but also lived out the attribute of submission. Is it always easy? Of course not! But, whether something is easy or not does not ever release us from the responsibility to do it.

In closing, either one, the Spirit of God, or Jesus Christ could have lead by walking around and carrying a big stick. We all countless times could have been snuffed out, had our lives ended for disobedience and rightly so. God says that the punishment for disobedience is death. However, Christ modeled something different entirely. He modeled to us that we should lead through submission. That is a radical thought in our society these days.

But the flip side of the equation is that there are certain people who wield more authority than others. It isn’t my standard; it isn’t even Nick’s or Brent’s standard. The standard we are to live by is the one that is laid out before us in the Holy Scriptures, namely the standard modeled to us in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Are you willing to be led by those who are an authority to you? Are you willing to use the authority you have been given properly? Are you willing to submit to those authorities God says you are to submit to?