Jesus came to serve, not to be served!!!
| God’s ways are very different from ours. Remember what happened when the son’s of Zebedee were vying for position in the Kingdom of God, as to who would sit on the right and left? Listen to what Jesus’ response was: But Jesus called them to Himself and said, |
Prayer in the Father’s House
Our Lord’s childhood was not immaturity waiting to grow into manhood— His childhood is an eternal fact. Am I a holy, innocent child of God as a result of my identification with my Lord and Savior? Do I look at my life as being in my Father’s house? Is the Son of God living in His Father’s house within me? The only abiding reality is God Himself, and His order comes to me moment by moment. Am I continually in touch with the reality of God, or do I pray only when things have gone wrong— when there is some disturbance in my life? I must learn to identify myself closely with my Lord in ways of holy fellowship and oneness that some of us have not yet even begun to learn. “. . . I must be about My Father’s business”— and I must learn to live every moment of my life in my Father’s house. Think about your own circumstances. Are you so closely identified with the Lord’s life that you are simply a child of God, continually talking to Him and realizing that everything comes from His hands? Is the eternal Child in you living in His Father’s house? Is the grace of His ministering life being worked out through you in your home, your business, and in your circle of friends? Have you been wondering why you are going through certain circumstances? In fact, it is not that you have to go through them. It is because of your relationship with the Son of God who comes, through the providential will of His Father, into your life. You must allow Him to have His way with you, staying in perfect oneness with Him. The life of your Lord is to become your vital, simple life, and the way He worked and lived among people while here on earth must be the way He works and lives in you. |
The above message from Oswald Chambers, I think, says it very well.
Look at how many churches there are today that are run exactly as our Lord said we are not to be; where the guy at the top is seen more as a CEO of a corporation, rather than a pastor; with all of his intermediate level staff to insulate him from his flock.
So much of what the church does today, it would seem, imitates the world, instead of it being the other way around; and therein I believe is a major drawback and reason why we often are finding ourselves so handicapped in our efforts to carry out the Great Commission.
For one thing, the Person the Lord sent to build, to guide, and to empower us, the Holy Spirit, is all but ignored today, in many churches and among many denominations.
Not only that, but to a great many church going people today this whole subject of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with all signs and wonders is controversial.
Well I can tell you this, any effort or work that is done for God, at God’s direction, that does not also include God’s Power Source is destined for failure before you get out the gate… and therein lies our problem.
Too much of the world, and not enough of the Word and the Spirit!
Let us each take this message to heart today, and may we each begin to live as children in our Heavenly Father’s house. Selah
Shalom,
Skip Barland
SB SALT AND LIGHT MINISTRIES 