A Servants Heart

Matthew 19:30 (King James Version)

 ³⁰But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

I read a story about a satellite named Pioneer 10.  This little satellite had only an 8 watt  transmitter.  It was launched in 1972 to photograph Jupiter and its surroundings.  By 1995, this small satellite was 6 billion miles from the sun!!  25 years later it transmitted pictures from tht distance back to earth!  They called it, "the little satellite that could".  Amazing, an 8 watt transmitter is about the equivalent to a night light!!  It was not qualified to do what it did.  It was only designed to last for 3 years!  It was still going strong 25 years later.

Thats the way it is for us when we offer ourselves to serve God.  God can work with someone with an 8 watt capability.  However, He cannot work with someone who quits!!  God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.  When we offer ourselves to God as servants, we become servants to all.

Philippians 2:12-14 says,  ¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.   ¹³For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.   ¹⁴Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

and Mark 10: 44-45 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  

Now if I was to ask you what you want for your life, I truly do not believe you would say, "I want to be a servant.  I want to clean toilets in the church, change dirty diapers in the nursery".  If we are honest with ourselves, being a servant is not #1 on our list of priorities.  We might say it is but when  it comes to doing those things, do we really want to?  Generally, we want the better things, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, preaching, etc.  We all think we know what God wants us to do but do we truly ask Him or do we only volunteer for what we want to do.  Do we say Lord, whatever it is,show me and I'll do it?  

When Jesus washed the disciples feet,He wasn't trying to make them feel guilty.  He was showing them a servant's heart.  Something that would not only change their lives but the lives of all around them.  Acts of service are NOT burdens we bear to please a demanding God, they are a path to true joy and significance in this life.  

The other side of humility is pride!  Pride will destroy us -- being a servant,  keeping a servants heart will keep us closer to God.  There is no greater sin than pride.  Pride is what caused satan's fall, got Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden of Eden, caused Cain to kill his brother Abel.  Every sin after has been caused by pride.  We don't think of ourselves as prideful.  We think of pride as bragging and boasting.  But anytime we put ourselves ahead of or above God or others, that is pride.  It's a sin we are all guilty of at one time or another.  If we look at most of our problems today, they come from pride.

Money problems - Can't say no to self.  Need/want more stuff.  (Stuff-thats a whole nother sermon lol)

Emotional problems - Focusing on self, self pity.

Children - We've taught them to think about themselves, we made them our focus, our priority in the wrong way so they became their own priority!

Marriage - think about self, what do I want?  me, me, me instead of spouse.

Jesus was trying to teach us humility.  He was Lord of All, yet He washed His disciples feet!!  He didn't have to do that!  He didn't have to walk everywhere He went!  He didn't HAVE to suffer and die!  He served us, now it's us that should be serving Him.  How do we do that?  By treating others the way Jesus would.  There is no great secret to a fuller spiritual life -- it's right there in the Bible, our instruction book.  It's called humility.  Being a servant, putting others first.  Why else would God say, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?  

There are 2 enemies to humility.  Philippians 2:3-4 tells us they are selfish ambition and conceit.  The secret to humbling ourselves is there also in verse 4.  We are to think more of others than we do of ourselves.  All through the New Testament that is what Jesus did.  He was ridiculed, he was interrupted many times, what He did was not appreciated most times - still, He kept on.  He gave until He gave His very life!  Amen  He was the ultimate example.The disciples learned from Him, the apostles learned from Him, we need to learn from Him.  There are basically 2 attitudes:  1)  Live by the flesh, provoke one another, or 2)  Live by the Spirit - love and serve one another.  So how do we become a humble servant?  1)  Give up the idea that it's all about me and what I want.  Do you really think Jesus wanted to die on the cross, have his flesh ripped open with a whip, wear a crown of thorns?  You say, well He was Jesus, it was different for Him.  How is that?  He became human, He felt all we feel and more.  Phil 2:5-8 says He gave up all His rights.  2)  Give up the idea that our interests, our wants, our ideas are more important than others.

What are you clinging to today?

What is it in you that makes you think your way is the best, maybe the only way?

Whatever it is, let it go.  Empty yourself of it.  Follow Christ's example.  Become a servant.  Begin at home with your wife or husband, (make the bed, do their laundry, put it away), move on to your mom and dad, friends, neighbors, then to your enemies!  Yes enemies.  Charity/love begins at home but what have you done if you have only loved and served those who love you back?  How much will does that take?  Be a servant, take your eyes off self, place them on Christ.  See Christ in everyone you meet. Feel the peace and freedom you will have when you begin to place others first.  Remember though, this is NOT a microwave religion.  You can't expect to see results the first time, praise God if you do but most times you won't.  The key is perserverance.  Keeping on no matter what.  If just one who reads this gets this message, God says it will be worth it.  

Are you that one?  Are you willing to say today - Jesus, I am not above You?  I am nothing, nobody without You.  I need a servant's heart.  I need humility.  You are King of Kings, Lord of Lords, yet you humbled yourself for me!!

Will you give Him your all today?  Say Lord, forgive me for being prideful, forgive me for always thinking of me.

It's all about You Lord, it's all about You.  Make me a servant, use me as You will.  Open doors and help me willingly go forth, whether it's cleaning toilets or preaching Your word.

Until next time,

God bless

tawanab

God said it, not me!

God is so awesome. This is the way the Lord spoke to me and wanted this delivered. Help me Lord as I try to deliver this the way you gave it to me. In Jesus name.

Galations 6:4-6 But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galations 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty, only use NOT liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

Galations 6:1 Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the Spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:4-6 But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:16 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-25 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:10 10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

Galatians 6:4-6 But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

The word of God speaks for God. When I write what the Lord gives me, it is written out to help me and others understand. This may be an odd blog because it uses nothing but scripture but this is the way the Lord gave it to me and I've learned never to question Him. If only one person reads this and "gets" it, it will have served it's purpose.

To be morally right by living and following God's commandments will make us a better person but it won't save us. We are saved by grace and that by faith in Jesus Christ. He did not take away the law, He added to it. Love the Lord thy God and thy neighbor as thyself were His instructions to us. None of us can get to the Kingdom of God by hanging on to our pastor's coat tails or momma's or daddy's. At the same time we can't drag anyone into the Kingdom, as it says, every man (everyone) shall bear their own burden. Meaning we all have to stand before God for ourselves. We are to lift each other up, love our neighbors as Christ loves us. My my my, thank You Lord. I love you, thank you for Jesus.

Galatians 6:4-6 But let every man prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Be sure and drop by my friend Joseph's page, Serious things for more on how God speaks to us.

God bless

His servant

Spiritual Atrophy

Have your spiritual muscles atrophied?

Atrophy: degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse.

How many of us have let our spirits atrophy? We try to ride on past gifts, past ministry, past Bible reading, past praying. We cannot get by on what we used to be or what we used to do. I've heard many people say, "I used to read my Bible", "I used to pray everyday", "I've been a christian all my life." Being a christian all our lives doesn't necessarily mean we are going to make it into the Kingdom of God. What are we doing with Christ right now? Who is He to us right now? Are the works we did 10 years ago, 5 years ago, even 6 months ago going to get us into the Kingdom of God? Not necessarily. The Bible says we will be known by our fruits. If we are not continuously bearing fruit then how will we be known. I believe God will make exceptions for those who are ill or have real problems that keep them from working for Him but what about the rest of us? We have to be about the Father's business and we cannot rely on our past works to carry us through.

I've heard an old expression, "once a preacher, always a preacher" and theoretically that may be true but if a preacher doesn't get fed, continue to study his bible and pray, eventually he will start preaching the same messages over and over again. As preachers, teachers and children of God we need to be continuously searching the word of God for revelation from the Holy Spirit. If we don't we stagnate. There is more in the Bible than one person can possibly remember or get the first time through. God has many messages for us. The first being to have no other Gods before Him. The second to love our neighbor as ourselves. However, there are many, many things God wants us to know and share with others and the only way we will know is by continously studying His word. Sometimes what He wants to reveal to us is the truth behind an old belief we have carried around all our lives.

We are told in the gospel of Luke, chapter 9 vs 23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. The key word here is "daily" not once in a while, not serve me for six months and then coast, not serve me for 40 years and then coast but DAILY. Paul did not cease to teach and preach the gospel. Jesus taught until His death. We are not once saved always saved, we must continue to fight the good fight.

1 Timothy 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ! Does that sound like we are supposed to sit back and rest on our laurels until the Lord comes. No, we must be about the Father's business. We've got to exercise our spiritual muscles. How do we do that? By hitting our knees, reading God's word, teaching, preaching and testifying until Jesus Himself splits the clouds in glory and the trumpet sounds. Then my friend, we can rest, not only that, we can rest for eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord when He says to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Praise God! What a day, glorious day that will be!

Until next time, may God richly bless and keep you and yours,

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Tawana

A Thankful Heart

Do you ever stop and ask, "who am I, that God should love me and bestow His grace on me"? I don't do that often enough. But, I do wonder, with the way I act at times or some things that I do, how does God put up with me? Sometimes we go through our days and whether we voice it or not, we just expect certain things from God. Just like any parent He gives us those things we don't even ask for. How many times do we stop and say thank you? How many things do we recognize what He gives us? How many times at the end of the day do we look back and realize what God has accomplished for us instead of lamenting what we didn't get or what didn't happen? I know I'm not talking to anyone else, I'm the only one that does that, right?
Something I used to hear my husband say all the time: "I just thank God for the precious breath of life, He didn't have to give me today."
Tonight, I am thankful. With all that I feel is going wrong, for tonight I want to recognize what is going right. God did give me the precious breath of life this morning. He gave me a beautiful day. He's given me an awesome family and precious friends. He's provided a roof over my and my family's head and food to eat. He has been faithful and it's my turn to acknowledge Him, in all things. It doesn't matter to God that I acknowledge Him publicly, only that I do realize and appreciate what He has done for me, and I do.
Sometimes I let the worries of the world get me down and I don't fully appreciate what a loving, forgiving, graceful God we serve. I'm the only one that does that too, right?
I've heard it said many times, "when you are down to nothing, God is up to something". How true that is. Also the old cliche, "don't sweat the small stuff". It's all small stuff to God so that means we aren't meant to "sweat" anything. Nothing is to big for our God.
With a meek and thankful heart I thank you God for all You are, all You have done and all You will do in our future, with or without our asking. I remain your humble servant and child. Even at my age, I know You aren't finished with me yet.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.