DOING GREAT THINGS HUMBLY

When you step out in faith and act boldly with and for Jesus, you get bigger, not smaller. It is no longer you alone who is bigger but you and Jesus together who rise to the occasion.

Jesus said, without me you can do nothing but with God all things are possible.. 

• Notice not “All things are possible for God” which means God can do anything.. but “All things are possible with God."

  • That means you with God and God with you. God is looking for partners and co-workers.

This message was inspired by the following note pasted by Pastor Jeff Mills on Facebook.

"Wow! We never stop learning do we? I was reading a book today and the author said that many Christians take John the Baptist's prayer as a model, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30. 

He goes on to say that this is actually not a legal prayer for us. John was closing out a season as the greatest OT prophet. He was passing the baton on to Jesus who would initiate the existence of the Kingdom of God on earth. 

The focus was shifting from John and the Law, to Jesus and the Kingdom. John had to decrease. Jesus had to increase. 

But when Jesus left the earth He didn't say we were to decrease. 

Instead He passed the same baton on to us with His name, power, and authority and commissioned us to continue in what He started. "As the Father has sent me, I also send you" John 20:21. What is needed is not less of us and more of Him. What is needed is all of us covered and filled by all of Him. "      

True humility does not require you to hide yourself or to castrate your unique God given personality.

You and I are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Jesus and His Kingdom on Earth.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 2Co 5:20 (NKJV) 

An Ambassador must be humble, so that he does not promote his own interests or opinions but rather the interests of his country. 

• However, an Ambassador must exercise high authority in order to represent his President or King.

Is Paul here only speaking of himself as an Apostle and of his companions who are senior pastors and evangelists? He does not say so.

Just before He returned to His Father in Heaven, Jesus authorised all believers to exercise the full authority of heaven on earth.

Mk 16:17 (NIV)  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

In obeying this command, there are some extremes we must avoid.

I must not promote my own miracle ministry in a way that draws honour to myself.

• I must act boldly in miracle faith and not hide my light but at the same time giving all the glory to Jesus and also honouring other believers and their ministries.

I must also follow the example of Randy Clark, an American pastor. 

God started to use him powerfully through the word of knowledge and miraculous healings. 

• However, when some of his church members started to be used in even more dramatic ways, he felt intimidated. 
• Then his wife correctly pointed out it was better for him not to be the number one star all the time. 
• He humbly accepted his wife’s counsel and publicly confessed his error and testified how his wife had corrected him.

God wants to give us great gifts so we can honour Him, bless others and also raise up others to do even greater things through the grace of God.

• When you help God to raise up others, you must also not expect God will give them exactly the same kind of gift and ministry that He has given you. 

  • Many leaders go wrong in that they try to teach their disciples to be like themselves.

Ro 12:10 (NKJV)  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.