GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM... A Servant of All?

[mfblume]

The greatest in the Kingdom has awesome faith -- he/she is SERVANT OF ALL! It takes HUGE faith to not seek to impress people, but instead serve EVERYONE. People who serve EVERYONE obviously do not need to impress people to cause them to think how great they are. Everyone who lacks confidence in the Word will at some point seek approval of man and seek reassurance to strengthen their confidence in themselves. But to serve EVERYONE means the Word of God is good enough!

So many believers have that grain of doubt, to say the least, that causes them to seek to gain their self-confidence from others by impressing them. When they hear people applaud them, they gain confidence they so lack. In fact, controlling-personality people are the least confident people in the world. They control the way they do in order to convince themselves they are great.

[mfblume]

John 13:3-5 KJV Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; (4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. (5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus KNEW all things were in His hand from the Father -- and yet with that in mind he did the most humble thing -- washed people's feet!

When we do not worry about impressing PEOPLE, and we have been delivered from PEOPLE and their opinions of us, we will not try to impress them to have them applaud us and say we are mighty people. We will know that God knows and we know, and that is all that matters. When we try to impress people, we are actually not very confident in ourselves, and seek the approval of people by impressing them, to reassure ourselves we are great. JESUS DID NOT DO THAT.

[Sam]

A while back, my wife and I were discussing spiritual gifts. I told her about the gifts in Romans 12 and the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and how the 1 Corinthians 12 gifts were more spectacular or noticeable. I told her that I had been praying for the gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 and also for the gifts of Romans 12 but the two gifts I desired most were serving and giving in Romans 12. I did not do this with a false show of humility, I actually do want those 2 gifts to be more in evidence in my life. I want to be a server and a giver (in contrast to a taker).

I used to be a pastor on call and part of some prayer teams at a local Vineyard Church. I no longer go to that church but often get calls to do hospital and home visitation prayer calls with a member of the Vineyard team. One day I was griping about all the calls I had been getting to visit and pray for people and my wife said, "If you're going to pray for the gift of serving, don't complain when you are asked to serve." I took this as a "word from the Lord" not as a smart aleck comment from my wife.

Lee Stoneking has been quoted as saying something about "when we pray to be used for the Lord we often wind up feeling used" or something like that.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by mfblume

John 13:3-5 KJV Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; (4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. (5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus KNEW all things were in His hand from the Father -- and yet with that in mind he did the most humble thing -- washed people's feet!

When we do not worry about impressing PEOPLE, and we have been delivered from PEOPLE and their opinions of us, we will not try to impress them to have them applaud us and say we are mighty people. We will know that God knows and we know, and that is all that matters. When we try to impress people, we are actually not very confident in ourselves, and seek the approval of people by impressing them, to reassure ourselves we are great. JESUS DID NOT DO THAT.

A great post in regard to one's self operation in the carnal mind instead of the mind of Christ as Paul said it" Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. The mind that loves to help others without any reward of recognition from others. Not only is it the mind of Christ but the nature of Him as well. I believe the mind of the flesh is our greatest enemy to the nature and purpose of the Spirit.Rom. 8:6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life, and peace.