Humility and a Servant's Heart

 

Humility and a Servant's Heart

 

(Matt 20:25) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

 

The ways of this fallen world are contrary to the ways of God. Many boast of their knowledge, or seek after money, power, or fame. However, God is opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble. Those who desire to be first will be last, and those who desire power, will be brought to shame. If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must learn to be a servant to all. We are not above our master; Christ came to teach us the ways of the Father, as well as to give his life as a ransom for many. Christ was an example of servanthood; he came to serve, rather than to be served. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in humility and told us to do likewise. The lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life will pass away with this fallen world, but those who do the will of God will live forever.

 

(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

 

The apostle Paul was given many great revelations and performed miracles through the power of God’s Spirit, but he was also an example of humility. Paul said that God gave him a thorn in the flesh (a messenger from Satan sent to buffet him), so that he would not become puffed up, due to his many revelations. Paul prayed three times that this thorn be removed, but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” It is better to be humbled by God, than to lose your soul.

 

I have seen many ministries fall because of pride, as well as the love of money and power. Many of the generals of the faith were spiritually killed, because they were given over to the lusts of their flesh. Sexual immorality and greed has killed many ministries. Kenneth Hagin Sr. is the founder of the heretical prosperity gospel. On his deathbed, Hagin repented for leading many astray with this deceptive doctrine. He urged other ministries to abandon what he called the Midas-gold doctrine.

 

Sadly, this doctrine which justifies fleecing the flock, is very much alive. Many television evangelists, mega-church leaders, as well as common churches worldwide, embrace this doctrine of spiritual death. The ministers who rob the poor, in order to live in mansions, and drive luxury cars, will answer to God on Judgment Day. Christ said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter heaven. Pastors, teachers, as well as other ministers, need to lead by example, as the early apostles did. Rather than to be served, we need to learn to serve others. Let us all walk in the fear of the Lord.

 

(Prov 16:18) Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

 

(John 13:3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

 

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Faithfulness

 

 

Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Faithfulness

 

The Lord is always faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. One way to show faithfulness to the Lord is obedience. God’s Word states that God desires obedience more than sacrifices. Christ said, that if you love him you will keep his commandments, and his new commandment is that we should love one another. (John 13:34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

To be truly born again is to have the love of Christ in your heart. Bitterness, hate, envy, strife, and jealousy are traits that will lead to spiritual death if you do not repent. Regardless of your level of faith, if you do not have love in your heart, you do not know God. This is what the angels of the Lord have told me. I was once a prisoner of sin because of bitterness toward others. The Lord taught me how to look beyond the faults of others and see the need. When I learned to forgive the trespasses of others and to love them unconditionally, I found true peace and freedom.

 

There are many members of the body of Christ, and each role is essential to the Kingdom of God. It does not matter if you are a hand, or foot, if you are faithful to where God has placed you, then you have a reward in Heaven.  You may be a janitor, street evangelist, Sunday school teacher, pastor, teacher, or evangelist, each role is necessary for the body of Christ to function in harmony (1 Cor 12:12-30). If you are found faithful in the position God has placed you in, He may promote you to a higher calling.

 

It is very important to be faithful to your calling in life because the souls of men are at stake. The great commission to spread the gospel to every nation does not apply to missionaries or evangelists only, but to everyone who belongs to Christ. We are ambassadors for the kingdom of God and it is our responsibility to let our light shine before all. Not only is our life to be an example to all, we are to share our faith with others as well. There are people all around us who are on their way to hell and we may be their only lifeline. Students, co-workers, family, and friends, are people you may share your faith with. I have shared my faith with people in Wal-Mart, as well as on hiking trails. If you will pray for divine appointments, God will bring people along your path. Remember the world is watching.

 

We also need to be faithful to God with our lifestyle. God refers to cold, or lukewarm Christians, as an adulterous bride. Jesus Christ told the church of Laodicea, that because they were lukewarm, He would vomit them out of his mouth (Rev 3:14-22).  You cannot have one foot in Christianity and the other in the world, the compromise of your faith will lead to spiritual death. Any tree, which does not bring forth good fruit, will be cut off and thrown into the fire, for without holiness no man shall see the father. (Heb 12:14) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.  (2 Cor 7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

(Matt 25:14) "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'

21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'

23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'

26 But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'  

31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'

44 Then they also will answer Him,saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'

45 Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."