Even I only

 

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Even I only

   Elijah, at a certain great crisis, thought he was the only one left to stand for God. There were others but he never knew of them. He was the only one in this field of God. He stood alone, one man against the King and Priest & people. It must have looked like utter foolishness, or splendid heroism.

   There comes a time in our lives, that it is all who are Christians, when we must stand alone for God, without companionship, perhaps without even sympathy or encouragement. Here is a young person, the only one of his family who has confessed Christ Jesus. He takes Him [Christ Jesus] as his saviour, and then stands up in front of the World, and vows to be His [Christ Jesus] and to follow Him. Elijah then decides to visit home. This is because the members of his immediate family circle are indeed very dear to him, although none of them are Christians, and so he must stand alone for Christ amongst them. Perhaps they even oppose him in his discipleship, in varying degrees this often happens in our own experience. Could be that they are just indifferent, making no opposition, only just quietly watching his/your life to see if is just a passing fad with you. If you were consistent for 60yrs. They would still have ready their ..’I told you so’ .. ready. In any case, how ever, we must stand firm for Christ alone without the help that comes your family’s companionships.

# So what if they make you feel alone,

and you feel like everyone is against you.

The fact is your not alone, don’t sit under

this attitude, for God is with you #

   It may be your in the factory, in School, pupil or teacher. As a young Christian you find yourself standing alone. You return to the Lords table to you weekly duties full of noble impulses, but find himself the only Christian. His companions are ready to sneer, and they point the finger of scorn at him with irritating epithets .. below of the word was formed …

… or they might even persecute him in petty ways. At least they are not Christ's friends, he is a follower of the Master finds no sympathy among them in his new life. He has learnt that he must stand alone in his discipleship , conscience all the while that unfriendly eyes are upon him. Many a young & older Christians find it very hard to be the only one to stand for Christ in your normal circle of friends & family, and to stand Christ in your circle in which his daily work fixed him to this one place.

This kind of aloneness, as it can put upon us great responsibility…

• Like .. your the only Christian in your family,
• Like .. your the only one at home through whom to reveal His Love ~ His Grace ~ His Holiness
• Like .. to show your family the beauty of Christ, to the Works of Christ, the things He would do if He lived there.

… Perhaps the salvation of all the souls of your family depends on you being true & faithful in your own place. If you falter, if you fail in your duty, your Loved ones may be lost, and the blame will be yours, their blood on you . . . [NLT]John 5:37/8 “And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, 38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me” … In like manner if the only Christian in the place where you work .. Shop ~ office ~ factory. A peculiar responsibility rests on you there too, a responsibility which no other would share with you. You are Christ’s only witness there, if you don’t testify there for Him, at this time there will be no other to do this.

[NKJ] Matthew 5:14/16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they  a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

   I read of this story about a lady called Miss Havergal from Düsseldorf in Germany ..

It tells of her experience in a girls school,in the early 1900’s. She went there to teach

soon after she had become a Christian andhad confessed Christ. Such her heart was

warm of love for her Saviour, and she waseager to speak for Him. To her amazement,

however, she learned among the hundredgirls in the school she was the only Christian.

Her first feeling was one of dismay , she couldnot confess Christ in that great company of,

Worldly unchristian companions. Her gentile,sensitive heart shrank from a duty so hard.

Her second thought however, was that shecould not refrain confess Christ. I am the

only one here, she said. And this thoughtgave her great strength and inspiration to her.

She realised that she had a mission in thatschool, that she was Christ’s witness there. His

only witness, and that she dared not fail.

[NLT]1 Thessalonians 2:4 “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts”

   The same sense of responsibility rests upon every thoughtful Christian, who is called to be Christ’s only witness in a place ~ in a home ~ in a Shop ~ in a School student or teacher ~ in a circle of friends. You are Christ’s only servant there, and dare not be unfaithful, else all your work in Christ, may fail. Remember He’s the light set to shine for his master, and if His light be hidden the darkness will be unrelieved [lacking variation, i.e.:- Monotonous] So there is special inspiration in this consciousness of being the only one Christ has in a certain place.

   We will often be the only one Christ has at a particular place, where we are in that moment. There may well be thousands of other lives about us, though we may only be one, of a large congregation where we live. Yet each one of us has a life that is alone in it’s responsibility in it’s danger, in the mission, and duty. You may be left feeling that though are others close beside me, but NOT one can take my place, or do my duty, or fulfil the mission, or even bear my responsibility..

   We can understand how that Elijah had failed God that day when he was the only one God had to take a stand for Him, the consequences would have been most disastrous, the cause of God would have suffered irreparably. Are we sure that the calamity to Christ’s Kingdom would be any less if one of us should fail God in our lowly place, any common day?

   I’m sure there are some of you think that “I have nothing to offer that god can use, S T O P, think again, as no matter how little , or lowly, you think yourself, God can still use you.

   There is a story of a child finding a leak in the dyke that shut off the sea from Holland, and stopping it with his hand till help came along, ending up he stayed there all night, holding back the floods with his little hands. It was but a little trickling stream that he held back, yet if he had not done this, it would have soon become a torrent, and before the morning the sea would have swept over all the land, (as Holland is for the most part flat plains), submerging fields homes and Cities. Between the sea and all this devastation that was halted by a boys hand. Had the child failed the flood would have rolled in with remorseless ruin. We understand how important it was the boy should be faithful to his duty, since he was the only one God had that night to save Holland.

[NKJV] Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand”

   Do you know that your failure in your lowly place and duty may not let in a sea of disaster which shall sweep away human hopes & joys, possibly human souls? The humblest of us dare not fail, for our one life is all God has at the point where we stand.

   The truth of personal responsibility is one of tremendous moment. We won’t escape it by being in a crowd, one of a family, or of a congregation. No one can live our lives ~ do our work ~ meet our obligations ~ bear our burdens. No one but ourselves can stand for us before God to render an account of our deeds. There is another part to this lesson, in that we are responsible for our own Life & Duty.

   The prophet thought his work had failed, because the over throw of ‘Baal-ism’ seemed incomplete. But God confronted him by telling him of 3 other men to come, each in his time, and to do his part of the work in destroying ‘Baal-ism’. In fact Elijah’s work had not failed but it was only a fragment of the whole work.

   The best work any of do in this world is but a fragment. We all enter into each other work, and other in turn will enter into our work, and finish or carry on the work we started till completion. Out duty is just carry on planting seeds, we are to simply to well in our part, no matter how small part. If we do that, we should never fret ourselves, about the part we cannot do. That part belongs to someone else, coming after us.

Elisha follows Elijah 1 Kings 19:19-21 “So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat ploughing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was ploughing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” 21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plough to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant”

   For all Elijah’s years of being alone prophet all his life, and only God by his side, now he has someone to work along side of him. This has to have been a foreign to him? Whilst we may feel alone in our own responsibility, we need to give no thought for our own duty, our own little fragment of the Lords work. The things we cannot do, after the work has passed from our hands to another. There will be comfort in this, for any who fail in their effort and leave tasks unfinished which they hoped to complete, no worry this finishing is for another mission.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank you for walking along side us, even when the road the going is tough. You are my comforter, strong tower of refuge. You have already traveled the path, and so made a way where there seems to be no way. help us to become a 'Baranbas' one who encourages.

 

2023

In this coming year, where there is going be

preasure heaped on to just survive, there is

always going to be those in a worst off state than

you, lets be kind.

Idols at Christmas

 

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Idols at Christmas

I got this from Betty, and I was amaized at it, as I had never heard this scripture before now. So thank you Betty.

Jeremiah 10:1-4 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple”

   Seasons greeting to all, I wonder how many of us so that it’s NOT Christmas till the tree is put up in the home. Donned with all manner of styles of decorations, lights. With an Angel ~ Father Christmas ~ a Star? Are we creating an idol in this moment on a real tree or artificial one, as we do. Spending time and effort, hours in fact. May be you have more than one, may be one out the front of your house, with just as much as inside? So you neighbour puts more than you, so you buy more to put out than them. Are you still feeling the Christmas spirit?Jeremiah 10:3 “For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe”

   When growing up I always wanted decorations like mum & dad, and better. Being a ‘non-Christian family’, they only learnt about Christmas from their friends and family about how to decorate their home from them .. V2 “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles” .. We always want to do it better than our parents, whom were ‘gentiles’, being completely Godless.

   We went to store and bought some new decorations for a tree, [artificial one] .. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple” .. Though my parents always bought real trees, as they loved the smell, mixed with dad cigars smell, dad would then proclaim it’s now Christmas. Mum would decorate the tree, if lucky by Christmas morning the cats had not stripped it, or destroyed it, like one Christmas in London.

   I wonder like our selves how many of you have a nativity scene of sorts in with your decorations? Is it put out in a way that would make you ‘idolize’ it? Or even the humble tree, could be idolized so be careful at this time of the year. Teaching about the ‘real meaning of Christmas.

Prayer

Our heavenly Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. You are the God of Abraham~Isaac & Jacob. We love you with all of our Spirit ~ Soul & Body, at this special time of year when we gather, lets us pause and remember it's because of you who are alive, that we have Christmas, NO Father Christmas, NO Buddha, NO Harry Krishna, whom are dead, or any body else. We pray for your blessings whilst we travel, receive family, we thank you for the food & gifts, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

Why Life’s Better as a Servant ... Part 4

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Why Life’s Better as a Servant

Part 4

[NKJV] Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”
Question: “Why does being a servant/minister matter?
Answer: John chapter 13; shows how blessed your life becomes from doing this’

   Jesus gave us the example of a servant when He washed His disciples feet. Leadership should be measured by their willingness to be a servant. Not for want of repetition, our Lord came, NOT for us to serve Him, instead for Him to serve us, as shocking as that may be, then in the end freely giving His life for us.

    1) ’What is life, if not as a servant?’
   What you have known is that, especially as a Christian, there are going to consequences if you have not a servants attitude. . . If not a servant, then you can only be someone whom is self-seeking. This can only lead you down the path to ENVY ~ Jealousy and worst. . .Ultimately today’s society in which we live. You will struggle with, and fail to understand, why you feel this way, this is now the by-product of not taking on a servants life style. Here in the UK during WW11, there was a poster saying ..”Ask not what the Country can do for you .. rather.. Ask what you can do for your Country” .. Just because we are not at War, we ALL should be asking the latter part of this War poster/slogan. Imagine the society we, all over the World, could have?

[NLT] Luke 22:24/30 Strife & Destiny .. “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”

[NLT] Philippians 1:27 “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News”
[NKJ] Philippians 2:2/4 “fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”

   If you only ever used 2 verses as a template of how to best be a servant, then I’m sure it'll be .. ‘A good and faithful servant’ you could ware without blemish. So, looking at yourself, and ask ‘where am I at?’ .. then ask 'how can you help/serve others, more than yourself? For instance, like finding someone’s need is great, purchase a food hamper, purchase the food they eat, then send them a hamper/basket. You send/have delivered, without a name on it to say who sent it, who did this kind act.. This is not your glory, but Gods. Facing disunity in your life? Then it’s time to check yourself in the mirror, and ask this hard question .. ‘Am I being a servant like Jesus was?’

    2) Failure to into Ministry

   If your NOT living too serve, then don’t just become another seat warmer, you need to get involved with your Church in some capacity. For we all have attributes our Church can use. There are sadly those who just go to and NOT partake, and just take for themselves saying ..’What’s in for me?’ .. ‘what can they do for me?’ .. As long as they do, behave, this way they will always be left wondering, all because they don’t have a servants heart. John 13 – even the apostles needed to be taught how to be, and what it is to be a servant. The bases of the absence, of not having a servants attitude, causes you to sit back whilst others serve you. They even will go as far as saying .. ‘Sure I’m not needed, look lots of others are there already’ .. ‘I no skills they need’ .. Careful, don’t just be a taker!

    3) Burn out, and those whom are Ministering
   This ‘Burn-out’ comes when it always falls onto a few, doing everything, whilst others sit idly by. Don’t sit back and let other run themselves ragged and into the ground. ASK ..’How can I help?’ .. If you don’t know how, to do something ask, to be shown how. Being involved in the Church is rewarding, may be, you even learn a new skill.

   4) The Church fails to accomplish it has been called to do .. such as Evangelism:- and all the aspects of edification, because a lack of Ministry people. 

   A church only lacks due to there NOT being enough people willing to give their free time being Volunteers ~ helpers ~ Servants. Sadly there is a lack of parishioners coming forth with their free time. Let me ask another question here, if you will . .
Question:- “What if Jesus in His early twenties said, why do I have to do this, when NO one else will help?” & “What if Paul or John or Timothy said why do we bother when NO one else is?” . .

   May be now this is starting to sink in? 

. . Now, having a servants heart will help you become successful at work, this attitude will make you stand out. The failure in Evangelism, has to hurt and up set Christ Jesus, because of the lack of people volunteering their free time willingly. Jesus came to serve us, so much so He left us a model, with instructions on how to become a servant, wow how big is that? The Son who is God’s Son, came to give and to serve us, and make a way, where there was no way, for us to be able to be received by God, through Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thatnk you for giving us your Son so that we may be recieved by you, through His sacrifcie, that we may set free, for we know whom the Son sets free is free indeed. May we not just be hearers of you living Word but also doers, becoming servants at heart, whilst shinning your light and edifying your name. Amen

Why Life’s Better as a Servant .... part 3

56:170921 

Why Life’s Better as a  Servant

Part 3

Mark 10:45 [KJV] “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”

   One thing stood out, was how many in His life time, was how ‘unselfish’ Jesus was too. This flowed through, in many ways on how to be this way. . . Mark 10:45 [NLT] “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” . . . WOW, this could not be made any clearer, watch out for this next point, for if He [Jesus] came to be served unto only. We wouldn’t have the opportunity to come to our Father God. What a hoy mess we would be in right now. How do we even begin to quantify the magnificence of gods glory pouring Himself into flesh for us, just to serve us.

Before you carry on reading please open your NKJ Bible to John 13:1-5 & V12-17,

 I will provide the ‘New Living Translation’ of the Bible.

   At that time the rads were dirty with all manner of waste, human & animal, coupled with at that time the rads being very dusty and muddy. So it was custom when you visited someone’s home there was a ‘Servant’ to greet you, and would wash your feet. This was done so you did not walk anything into their home. Is what the ‘Son-of Man’ did by lowing Himself to that of a servant. Showing the Apostles therefore how to behave, and NOT to think it below them to serve others.

   Here, Jesus ‘The Son-of-Man’, told His apostles that He chose to serve .. [NKJV] V12 “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?” .. In a more modern tone .. “Do you fully comprehend what I have just showed you?” .. You have to understand ‘What I Am’, then fully grasp who I have just become to you, you are to serve .. Humbly .. Willingly .. and just to be served.

V13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am”
As I, Jesus, have washed your feet, so you should wash one another feet, hence becoming servants, unto each other. The common theme here is .. Humility .. it can never be stretched enough, a servants heart is one who looks NOT for personal gain whilst serving. .

# Serving is not what you can do for me,

rather, you should be asking ‘What can I do for you’ #

. . this why our social fabric is in tatters, because today all people think is .. ME ~ My ~ Mine ~ I want & self needs .. It profits me not .. I deserve that new Job ~ New Car ~ 4 Holidays a year ~ even though I did nothing to deserve them.

   Just as Jesus served His disciples, so He was saying to them, now I want you to serve your neighbours & fellow man as I have you … [NKJV]V15 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you”  ... This bigger, so much bigger than just simple foot washing. No matter if your a King or Queen, a General or Prime minister , or even a company owner. You need to strip away all these titles, heirs & graces, if you want to become an effective servant of God.

[KJ] V13 “Ye call me Master and Lord, so I am”
If Jesus can humble himself, then, so why can’t we?
To Serve our Bosses ~ 

To Serve our Friends ~ 

To Serve our neighbours ~ 

To Serve our Partners .. always remember serving fully is Not for personal gain, in fact the glory goes to the Lord God, and only God.

[KJV] 13:16 “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master ”
V17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”
V17 [NLT] “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them”

   Jesus’ is telling us that now you know, and understand, just what being a servant is about, God said that for being a good servant, He will bless our faithfulness.

Prayer

Lord god we humble ourselves to this study that hearts and minds may be opened to revelstion to a way of living, that you'll bless. For as it was as easy for Christ Jesus to do then may we also come to servanthood with a humbled heart & spirit, that it blesses those we serve.

Why Life’s Better as a Servant ... Part 2

Part 2

Why Life’s Better as a  Servant

   Now I have your attention, I want to speak to you a little about this subject. Being, or having, a servants attitude has far greater connotations, In that this is a way of life. To make this point clear I’m not talking about the servants o ‘Downton Abby’. I’m talking to husbands, serve you wives, and wives serve your husbands. For you can’t be a servant of God, this without serving first.
   Many of you know how long I’ve been married to Bet [23yrs for those who didn’t. Whilst doing this study I have become challenged, in as much as God said I needed to serve Betty better, “He asked me do I serve, or make me each day better servant for Betty?” I truly found myself wanting on both counts. Now after thanking God before breakfast .. for a roof over our heads .. A good bed to sleep on .. The very air we breath ..

• I ask god how can I make/serve Betty in any way.
• The best wife a man could pray for.
• Fresh water & Food to eat...and so much much more.
• Hence why I ask how can I make the day better.

   Surely being a Minister/leader, you are there to serve? A ‘Minister’, is not just there for Sundays, they are not looking to just around during the and only giving sermons on Sunday, they are there t0 serve lead & comfort folk. They greatest leader of all was Christ Jesus. Always remember to inter lock together you can’t be a leader without the knowledge of how to serve, and visa versa.
Matthew 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve”

   Its crazy to think how such a simple message does not get tough as much as it should. May be it would highlight their our short comings. When it shows clearly we need to be Servers to others just as He did . . .
Philippians 2:15 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”
. . . lets just pause here for a second .. “Let this mind” .. in other words to take on the same mind set as Christ Jesus, which can’t be a bad thing. Surely as Christians our attitude towards how we believe, should be one of a ‘Servant’, and sereve just as Christ came to do.
Philippians 2:6/7 “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” ..

   He didn’t choose , nor look for the equality with God, instead He chose to be that of a servant. Jesus could have made His role far more powerful. For sure He had the power to do so. Instead his ..Humanity .. was ans is unparalleled, for He always shows His quality of having a modest, or low, view of His own importance. Christ, like humanity is manifest in the freedom of God’s Son to affirm the fullness of all God has placed in Him. We should be openly willing to look beyond our own interests, for the sake of others. How come is it in today’s society we think of ourselves too good to be servants, even thinking it is well below us . . .
V7 “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant”
. . . it would be the CEO/ Owner of a major company shedding his fancy clothes, and becoming a regular ‘Joe Bloggs’, on the factory/shop/warehouse floor ..”of no reputation” .. so he saw what you did, heard what you did. Jesus, (and I’m paraphrasing here), was like ‘I don’t care what you think of me’. Unlike today we are consumed be our ‘image’, for some it’s all they can think about, ‘smile for perfect pic’ click goes the camera on their phone, from when they wake in the morning, till they close their eyes at night.

   We should not let what others think about us ..”of no reputation” [V7].. How can you even contemplate being a servant, if your worried what other people think of you? The only one that should worry about is Jesus, so with humility in your heart is the only way to approach being a servant. . .
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, . . . OK wait for this next part .. He humbled Himself and became obedient”
. . . so our call to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift us up. Surely humbling ourselves, opens us up to increased grace?

   It’s been pointed out the major reason for NOT humbling ourselves to being a servant is the question of .. “What’s in it for me?” .. Commonly known as ..Self~centredness .. even .. Pride ..pops it’s ugly head and says ..’Woo Hoo everyone is looking at me’ .. ‘Ain’t I great for doing this1’ .. even to point opf lying to make themselves look~seem important. . .

Jesus humbled himself, even the Son of God.

Are you, also willing to humbling yourself?

Even to being more Christ like?

. . .It is time to humble yourself to what God has called you to be, are you ready? Don’t be scared as God will supply ‘ALL’ your needs, all He asks for in return is, humbled faith from us, the truth is can we do this?

John 13:12 “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?”

   As we have allowed for God to be taken out of our schools ~ Work ~ even our Courtrooms. The later meaning swearing on the bible means so little you might as well swear on a ‘cook-book’. In ?Hebrews it tells us to .. “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” [Hebrews 2:1]. Just because we live in a technological World, there are so many distractions it takes/requires immense discipline to black them out, instead of letting Gods living World to dominate your life, and not your mobile phone ~ game boys ~ Xbox ~ Play stations etc.
[NLT]Hebrews 2:1 “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”

   Being a servant is far greater just washing feet. [John 13:15] is where Jesus explains His example .. “I have given you an example to follow” .. All Jesus wanted to do was getting His point over, in as much as Jesus example, they are to serve one another, as he had just done. Serving is so much more, much bigger than washing feet. I know I’m repeating myself here, I’m trying to get the old sticky penny to drop. What is serving I here you asking? Well .. Some of theses examples should know more than most .. Church Minister ~ Paster ~ Clergyman ~ Church Deacons ~ Ushers ~Evangelists ~ Christ Jesus our King of Kings Alpha & Omega .. Father God came to serve us, we have NO excuses to serve one another.

 It is NEVER beneath us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father thank you for you living Word, in the coming week, place in our hearts humility, that we become more like yourself. With a willingness to humble ourselves to be better servants. That it profits us not, only those we are serving.

56:170921

Part 1 of 

Why Life’s Better as a
Servant

These are the translations I used in this study, and their abbreviations ..
*[KJV] :~ King James Version
*[JKV] :~ New King James Version
*[NLT] :~ New Living Translation
*[JKV] Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”
   In this verse there is one major thing that stands out, that goes to the heart of Jesus’ character, was how much in His life, Jesus was unselfish. You don’t ever read about when Jesus had turned one’s down, because He could not be bothered, for instance when dying on the cross, He could have turned to the other 2 and said “I’m dying here your too late .. leave me alone” ...
*[NLT] Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” ...
. . .The NLT In this verse it says .. “ but to serve others” .. as we slowly unravel Jesus’ message, which is one of the more prevalent ones. Listen closer to this next segment. Just think, what if Jesus only came to ‘be served’? We could never have had the opportunity to come to The Father God, man the mess, in the dark oppressive life we would be blindly facing.

   How can anyone measure the awesomeness that is the ‘Enmity’ of God’s glory, pouring himself into human form flesh, all for us, W O W. To this date since finding this out it still truly still blows my mind. Every time I spend any length of time giving this thought, I’m left thinking with a great appreciation, and love for our God. I know I have a very large body of text, but you’ll need to read to understand the rest of this sermon as I will be referring to it as we go forth. This is Jesus’ exemplar of being a servant ..
KJV:~ John 13:1-5 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 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"
NLT:~ “Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him"
KJV:~ 13:12-17 “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. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them"
NLT:~”After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them"
   I want you to think back to what both called a road, what foot ware. The roads back then, when towns roads were dirty, with all manner of waste (that’s the polite way of describing them), and dusty too. It was customary that when you attended someone’s house, there was a servant to wash your feet. This was so that you did not walk anything from outside in. This is what Jesus wanted to try and show the Apostles that He came to serve, and to be a servant. He showed that He wanted that they were to behave this way and think not to think of it below them, no matter the subject. Just to think of as did Christ Jesus, that the very Son of God chose to serve, and washed and dried their feet, He came to serve, but NOT be served. V12 says .. “know what I have done to you?” .. Jesus was telling them ‘Do you fully grasp, even comprehend, what has happened here?’ .. ‘Think of who I AM, think of what I’m showing you, now let the penny drop, then know who I become to you?’

   V13 Tells them .. “ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” .. Jesus washed their feet, and asked, so you to should now wash one another's feet, therefore becoming servants to each other ..

Please Note#

“Serving, is not about what others can do for you,

rather what you can do for others, whilst NOT

looking for anything in return”

. . . This is why our society today is falling apart at the seems. The reason being as most peoples thinking ig .. I Me My Mine .. always have selfish wants .. ‘If it profits ME not, I don’t want to know’ .. or .. ‘I deserve that job’ ..or even more a thought of ..’I did nothing to deserve them, but should have four [4] holidays a year ..With regret I know all to well this type of person, do you?

   Just as Jesus served His disciples, He was saying to them, now I want you to be servants, even a servant to your neighbour .. KJV - 15 “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” .. it’s more than just washing each others/neighbours feet. For to serve has to start with a question like ..’How Can I help you out?’ .. or .. ‘know they are in need, how can I full fill that need without fanfare for myself?’ .. This is much bigger, so much bigger no matter if Royalty ~ General of military ~ Company Directer or CEO.

John 13:13 [KJV]* “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” *King James Version
John 13:16 “The servant is not greater than his lord"
[KJV] :17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”
[NLT] :17 “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them”
   Jesus is trying to let us know and understand, just exactly what being a servant is about. God has told us that for being a good servant, He will bless our faithfulness. God will want to know, are you being a good servant? Well are you. Who have you helped out without fanfare? He wants to know who we have helped out without the ‘look at me and what I have done’, like ~ Work ~ Friends ~ Family ~ Neighbours? Even your bosses? I want to show you now something from Philippians that breaks down the elements of being a good good servant …

Philippians 2:1~7
V1:~ “Consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love”
V2:~ “being like-minded, being of one accord, of one mind"
Having the same thoughts of Jesus, wanting the same as
Him.
V3:~ “nothing be done through selfish ambition [comparing
yourself to another] or conceit or vain glory, but in
lowliness” ... [ vain glory:- serving for selfish ends] If,
and be careful here, you serve in Vain glory will only
in strife, who honestly wants MORE strife today.
V4:~ “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests”
So not your own interests, but we encouraged to look out
and help others with out reward.
V5:~ “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”
V6:~ "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God”
V7:~ “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” . . . This attitude, being our own attitude. Like say that of a .. Butcher ~ Baker ~ Sales person ~ an Athlete or a Soldier and so many more. I know of a person who had a family ‘mask’ the replaced with one for work, we all do this. In other words, they changed their attitude. To be a servant to all who come to their work.

  Because now in the flesh, He [Lord God] humbled Himself even unto death .. V8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” .. humility has to be the main ingredient of being a servant. For without humility, it would be almost impossible to to be a servant. Whilst being a servant, it is no longer your will being done,, but you masters will that be done. Whilst here it is gods, but can equally be your .. Parents ~ Work Bosses ~ friends ~ neighbours, hoping by now your getting what I’m trying to convey.
    1) Humility :~ Often when looking for in today’s society, Humility has become as rare as white Truffles. In the space of a generation, we have gone from being able to speak frankly (even to a friend), to having girdle our mouths, in our own homes, as much as having to close our windows, to be able to speak openly with your spouse.
    2) Power :~ What we need to think on is that your energy suppliers, give us this power, (praise god for them), to make light where there is none, to bring heat where it’s cold. The energy suppliers leave this power in our own hands, to decide how use it, and up to us to turn the power on. Just as our Lord has given us power to us.

‘How will you use your Heavenly power?’

   One of the biggest reasons for unanswered prayer, is that we ask God for that which he already done, even if we don’t see it right away, or He already has given us both the power & authority to use. It would be like asking your gardener to mow the lawn when he he just done so, how stupid that would be. . .

• So then why would God answer your prayer, when He has already done so?
• No amount of badgering will make a bit of difference.
• Answer you for what He told you to do?
• How many really believe they have power from God in their prayers?
• How many speak in authority whilst praying?
• How many have faith in their prayers?We have to walk in Faith ~ Belief ~ Authority? That’s if we truly want change .. in our lives .. Jobs .. where we live!

[NKJ] Matthew 10:1 “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease”
   What Jesus is warning here is, for us to be born again and whom are not. You need to ‘Born-again’, [John 3:3*], or you will not know; be frustrated; left banging your head against the brick wall. SURPRISE .. We have had power the moment we became saved – Born-again.

Q: What is it to have this power?

A: It is the ability to get the job done.

# As a Christian, I’m not powerless #