Everyone is Important to God

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Gal 6:3 NKJV

This verse is difficult to understand. How can a son or daughter of God be nothing?

 When I was a new Christian, a pastor tried to correct my tendency to pride. He told me I was “nothing”.. Of course, he exercised so much power to judge and control me, that he seemed to be saying he was super important, but I was quite literally “nothing”. This is not Christlike ministry at all. It was spiritual abuse.

Paul was a Jews, as was Jesus. In Hebrew thinking we often find extreme black and white statements which are really shocking if we take them literally.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Lk 14:26 NKJV

Jesus also tells us to love on another. Paul tells husbands to love their wives. Parents who hate their children are the worst sinners on earth. So Jesus is not telling us to hate people, but rather to love God more then we love our families.

Likewise, in Galatians, Paul is telling us not to be self important but to consider other people to be at least as important as ourselves.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Php 2:3 NRSVue

Here again, Paul is not telling me I should go around feeling inferior to everyone. That is sick.

No. I see an insane man pulling faces and talking to himself. He is just as important to God as I am.

Years ago I was a language teacher. A young woman in my class was dressing and acting like a prostitute and I think she was. She was as important to God as myself.

So many churches teach women that their husbands are more important than they are, because men as supposedly wiser than women. The bible talks about doctrines of demons and I am convinced this is one of them.

I look around church meetings and I almost always see more women than men. Women who love God often find it hard to find a husband who is spiritually strong enough to be their married partner, and yet people rip bible texts out of context and tell us that the husband should always be the spiritual leader.

Clear eyed observation tells me this is dangerous nonsense.

Jesus tells you that you are dearly loved by the Heavenly Father. If you believe that Jesus suffered the punishment for your sins on the cross, if you accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers, you have eternal life.

You are a son or daughter of God for ever and ever. You cannot be a nobody. You are a very important somebody in God’s eyes, but you are not more important than anyone else. Why? Because God loves everyone without exception.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NRSVue

Can Women Teach Men?

 Can women teach men? Can a woman teach a man? Can a wife teach her husband?

Smith Wigglesworth was an evangelist who healed the sick and raised the dead. He never went to school and he was illiterate until his wife taught him to read the Bible. 

Carl Benz constructed the first car but he lacked the confidence to test drive it. Two years later, his wife took it upon herself to drive the car from one German city to another.

In World War Two, a team of British women worked out how to defend convoys of ships against German submarines. Many seamen owed their lives to the lessons they learned from these women.

In the Bible, the prophetess Deborah governed Israel, sat in judgement in legal disputes and taught the ways of God to all the people. She was called and gifted by God to do this.

There are fundamentalist legalists today who use proof texts to give women even less freedom in the church than some women had in the Old Testament. 

This whole mindset is contradicted by Paul’s writings.

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 NRSVue

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts and especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1 NRSVue

This was addressed equally to men and women. The proof of this is in the following verses.

Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head, 
but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 1 Cor 11:4–5 NRSVue

Clearly women should prophesy if they are decently dressed according to the customs of the day. Otherwise the text makes no sense.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 NRSVue

The Prime Minister of Australia was a family friend who valued the advice of my grandmother. Many prominent men owe a part of their success to the advice of their mothers, wives, sisters or secretaries.

The cardinal rule of Christian love and fellowship is mutual submission.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21 NIV

This means that wives should submit to their husbands but husbands should also submit to their wives. This can be difficult to understand if you leave out the loving guidance of Jesus over both marriage partners. 

Mutual submission is not always easy. It cannot be taught with simple formulas. Every couple has to learn how to apply it. It takes time, effort and practice.

If a man lords it over his wife, he dishonours his wife but he also dishonours Jesus.

If a man is not willing to learn from his wife, he is very misguided and he will suffer the consequences. 

We must not hide our faults.

 Jesus demonstrated His humility by being baptised. He was identifying with sinners. When we go under the water in baptism, our sins are symbolically washed away but Jesus had no sins of His own to be washed.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptised by him.
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptised by You, and are You coming to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Mt 3:13–15 NKJV

When we go under the water in baptism, we are symbolically burying our old life of sin and our sinful nature and rising again with Christ to the new heavenly resurrection life. But Jesus had no old sinful life and no sinful nature to bury. Jesus became one with us in His humble birth, His humble childhood, His humble social status, His humble occupation and His humble baptism.

If I am humble like Jesus, I will identify with people who might be considered beneath me in social standing, education, age, wealth or position in the church. I will not try to elevate myself above the poor, the mentally ill, the ignorant or uneducated people around me. 

If I have more intelligence, education, wealth, rank, power, social standing or any other advantage, I will use that to bless people apparently beneath me, not to make me feel superior or separated from others.

In Hebrews we read that the Old Testament priests had to sacrifice first for their own sins and then for the sins of the congregation. So many preachers subtly behave as if this spiritual truth did not apply to them.  

A preacher who gives the impression of living in superhuman victory above the level of his weaker church members can pay a great price for his subtle deception.

The people can form such a vivid mental picture of their leader as a supernaturally superior person, that all exhortations to pray for their leader do not penetrate their heart. Somehow they do not believe in their heart that this great man of God could really be so weak and vulnerable as to urgently need prayer support.

When a preacher plays at being Moses and then he falls, the people get a great shock but sometimes the gifted preacher brought it on himself. When he tried to persuade people of his great need for prayer support, it contradicted the image he created at the same time of being a virtually infallible man of God to whom everybody owed a debt of constant submission and even in some cases of lifelong allegiance.

The overexposed leader, inadequately supported by prayer, suddenly falls into personal sin or does something else equally mad, damaging to himself and his people. He reaps what he sowed.

Some preachers always talk about their achievements and never about their mistakes. This is a serious mistake.

Humility and Mutual Respect

 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Php 2:3 NKJV

How can we apply this in practice?

• Should Billy Graham have considered other preachers better than himself?

• Should every husband consider his wife better than himself?

• Should every father consider his children better than himself?

• Should every pastor consider the church members better than himself?

This would seem very strange, counterintuitive. So how can I apply this in practice?

If I am a world champion athlete, should I consider every opponent or rival better than myself? Of course not, but if I am the best in the world, I must not admire myself, but rather admire other champions, champions of the past, champions in other sports or events. I should look for things to admire in my rivals, integrity, courage, fair play.

If I am greatly blessed and admired as a preacher, I must not claim the credit, but thank God for the people who pray for my ministry. I must not admire myself but honour other anointed preachers and also faith heroes of the past. I can preach about the heroism of persecuted Christians and esteem them better than myself.

If I am a father, I can look at my children as potentially better than myself and hope and pray that they might be better than myself as they grow up.

If I am a husband, I should be keenly aware of the talents, gifts and virtues of my wife in ways that are better than my own. If I am superior to her in some ways, she will certainly be superior to me in other ways.

What ever your virtues, achievements, gifts and talents might be, you will find talents and achievements to admire in others. God gives different gifts to different people.

Just as stronger Christians or leaders must not consider themselves superior, so also should less prominent people consider themselves inferior.

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
 
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 1 Co 12:14–17 NIV

It is important to look for things to admire in others, but it is also important to thank God for the unique gifts He has given you.

Loving Partnership in Christian Marriage

 How should husbands and wives treat each other?

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Eph 5:21–22 NIV

Many Christians quote verse 22 alone, but verses 21 and 22 are two parts of one sentence in the Greek New Testament. The word “submit” only occurs in verse 21, not in verse 22.  

 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives,  …  to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Eph 5:21–22 NIV

This does means husbands and wives should submit to one another. There is no other way to meaningfully understand this single sentence.

There is much debate about what it means for the husband to be the head of the wife but that is a topic for another time.

Paul says husbands must love their wives as Christ loves the church, but he does not say the husband must command, direct or control his wife as Christ rules over the church.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Eph 5:25 NIV

Bible teachers often ignore the fact that a husband and wife are fellow Christians and therefore the rules that govern relationships between all Christians must apply to Christian marriage.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Jn 13:34 NIV

There are some overrated Bible teachers who teach male domination in marriage. They say a man must love his wife and a wife must respect her husband. Then they focus on wives respecting (and obeying) while they merely pay superficial lip service to husbands loving their wives. So much nonsense!

Jesus said the apostles must love each other. Was this only for apostles? Of course not. All Christians must love each other as Jesus loves us, husbands and wives included.

If the husband is the leader, which is sometimes appropriate, he should follow the teaching of Jesus about leadership.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— Mt 20:25–27 NIV

Some leaders demand to be heard and obeyed, but good leaders listen and consider the thinking of others.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, Jas 1:19 NIV

Many, if not most husbands are not good at listening to their wives. We all need to improve in this regard.

But many teach that the husband should always be the leader, ideally a kind Christian leader. Careful observation of men and women should lead us to question this belief.

Some men are natural leaders and many others are born to be faithful followers. Likewise some women are natural leaders and many others are gifted to be followers.

The couple who led me to faith were my uncle and his wife. She was created and gifted to be a natural strong leader, and her husband was an introvert with the qualities of a good partner and a faithful follower.

My aunt loved and respected her husband and he loved and respected her leadership qualities.

Stars and Celebrity Preachers

 People today are infatuated with celebrities and stars, but in the Bible we see that God has a very different view.

Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A humble and completely unknown girl in Nazareth, a town with no good reputation. Mary was a nobody in Nazareth.

Shortly after the beginning of his ministry, Jesus chose Philip.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. Jn 1:45–46 NLT

None of the first apostles were rabbis. Only one was rich, Matthew, a tax collector with a bad reputation.

Mary and the first apostles only became world-famous much later, long after their deaths.

Despite their humble origins, the disciples were not free of ambition.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Mt 20:20–21 NIV

Jesus had no desire for worldly honour.

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. Jn 6:15 NIV

Many in this world want to be famous. Many are infatuated with celebrities and stars. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who also have this attitude.

Christians in the traditional protestant churches and in the independent churches reject Catholics because they ascribe superhuman authority to the pope, but in America there is a church on every street corner where the head pastor rules like a pope.

 In the Old Testament, the Hebrews wanted a king even though that was against God's will. They demanded a king and God gave them Saul. Saul was humble at first, but gradually he became proud and self-centred.

Paul rebuked the Christians in Corinth for wanting to identify themselves as disciples of this or that preacher.

Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 1 Cor 1:12 NLT

Many Christians want to find their identity in the glory of a great preacher, but your true identity as a Christian is only that of a beloved daughter or son of God because Jesus sacrificed his life for you on the cross.

Only God is the Judge

 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. Mt 7:1 NRSV

What does that mean? Are we supposed to gloss over all sin? Are we to think that Hitler or Stalin were only mentally ill?

What is God trying to say? Should we differentiate between good and evil? Absolutely.

Should we confront and resist sin? Of course.

If you are a church leader or pastor and someone in the church is causing trouble or abusing children, should you passively allow it? God forbid.

On the other hand, if a pastor or priest becomes arrogant and authoritarian and causes trouble in your family, are you allowed to rebuke that man even though he is the leader?

What does Jesus say?

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Mt 18:15 NIV

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21 NIV

We must confront other Christians strongly, sometimes.

But we must never forget that only God sits on the heavenly judgement seat, not us.

If you correct another Christian, you must first bow before God's judgement seat. We are all flawed.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Mt 7:3–5 NIV

We must sometimes confront other Christians, but if you're acting like a policeman always on the lookout for sins in the community, then you've really gone astray.

It is sometimes all right to correct other Christians. Sometimes.

But am I appointed by God to correct all the faults I see in other Christians? Christians who think this way are proud and self righteous.  

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Gal 6:1–3 NIV

“You who are spiritual” is an important qualification. People who think they are always right are not spiritual. Spiritual Christians are humble, gentle and loving.

No one Knows it all.

 Are you the kind of person who is always right?
What does the Bible say about this?

Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Cor 8:2–3 NIV

The apostle John said of Jesus that he was full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14 NIV

Truth is so important. Bible knowledge is essential because the Bible is God's Word.

But if Bible knowledge is your first priority, if you think your assignment from God is to always rebuke Christians who think differently, where is your humility? Where is your love for your neighbour?

John didn't say Jesus was filled with truth and grace. He said Jesus was filled with grace and truth.

Grace and truth, not truth and grace.

What did Paul say about Christians with different opinions?

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters.
One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Rom 14:1–5 NIV

Perhaps you are a trained Bible teacher with excellent spiritual gifts. You have a calling as a pastor or church leader.

But be careful! Being opinionated is not a virtue. Know-it-all attitude does not come from God!

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13:2 NIV

Do you always know better?

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 1 Cor 13:9 NIV

Here Paul includes himself, confessing that he did not know it all.

But maybe you're not a trained church leader, but your pastor or an elder behaves like an infallible pope. You are not obliged to always give in.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 NIV

If the leaders in your church or denomination are dictatorial, if they demand unconditional submission, if they always put you down when you express your own thoughts, then just leave ...

But Paul himself could also be very harsh and dogmatic. He was particularly tough on legalism and lawlessness. Some thorny issues are important and others are not so important. We need the wisdom that only comes from God.

But if you experience bullying in a church, just leave ...

Paul himself admonished Christians not to give in to spiritual dictatorship.

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 2 Cor 11:20 NIV

Disciples of Jesus not People Pleasers

 In the ancient world of the Bible, prosperity was an experience for the few. Many were poor day labourers and many were simply slaves. When we read the teachings of Jesus, he often speaks of poor day labourers, servants and slaves.

He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mk 9:35 NRSV

When the Jewish disciples were doing missionary work among the non-Jews, a whole new movement of God came into being. The time came when the majority of the disciples were no longer Jewish.

In the Roman Empire, the economic system was based on slavery. Many of the first Christians were slaves. They had virtually no rights. They had to obey every command and fulfil every wish of their masters.

St Paul wrote that Christian slaves should obey their masters. Otherwise the master was allowed to whip or kill his slave.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ;
How are we to understand this teaching from Jesus today? Eph 6:5 NRSV

…  whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mk 10:44–45 NRSV

There are Christians who feel obliged to fulfil every wish of their family, every request of their boss, every instruction of their pastor, as if they were slaves and everyone around them their master.

This is exactly how they understand Jesus' teaching that they should be the slave of all. But is that actually true?

Jesus was obedient as a child, but as a preacher he was different. He was always willing to help. He wanted to do good to everyone, but he was not there to do the bidding of the religious leaders.

If everyone is your master, you cannot follow Jesus.

“No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Mt 6:24 NRSV

God promises to provide for our natural needs. I do not find any glorification of poverty in the Bible. But there are Christians who spread an extreme doctrine of prosperity. That's where I sometimes see greed showing up.

Greed can be your master, but it is not only greed that can distract us from true discipleship.

“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Lk 14:26 NRSV

So should you hate your family? God forbid! The Bible teaches us to honour our parents.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, Eph 5:25 NRSV

So what did Jesus mean?

If you are a follower of Jesus, your love and loyalty to Jesus must be greater than your obligation to please your family, your friends, your church, or your church leaders.

Christians who always feel obliged to fulfil the expectations of others may be in heaven after they die, but they cannot follow Jesus here on earth.

Those who say yes to Jesus must often be able to say no to others.

Your Life is a Work in Progress

 God is our creator. If you have achieved some things, who gave you your talents?

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Cor 4:7 NIV

Do you have a very good knowledge of the Bible? There is always someone who understands better. Who gave you a mind to understand?

We cannot understand anything of God's truth without the grace and revelation that comes only from the Holy Spirit.

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Ps 127:1 NIV

Imagine you're working on a building site. The architect is a genius. His plans are available, but you want to design everything yourself. A bit silly, isn't it?

Your life is a building site. We are all a work in progress.

Paul, the great apostle, knew that he had not reached God's holy perfection.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Php 3:12 NIV

God has given you his plans. You have the Bible, the Word of God. But how can we understand God's deep wisdom in the Bible? God has given us his Spirit.

If you have given your life into Jesus' hands, He has given you His Spirit. Do you know the Holy Spirit personally? Or is the Spirit of God just a theological concept for you?

“If you love me, keep my commands.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— Jn 14:15–16 NIV

Without Jesus we are lost and without God. If you trust Jesus and want to follow him, he will forgive your sins. Firstly, Jesus says that he wants our love. If we love him, we will obey his commandments.

But what Jesus is asking is impossible. It's like telling your five-year-old son to build his own house, get married, find a job and have children.

That is why Jesus promises in the next verse that He will give us His Holy Spirit as our counsellor, who alone can enable us to live a life with God. The Holy Spirit can do this because He Himself is God.

The first disciples could only follow Jesus because Jesus was with them.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1 Jn 1:1 NIV

Jesus wants to give us an experience of God's presence that is just as tangible as the fellowship of the first apostles with Jesus before the cross and then after his resurrection.

Have I come that far? Not yet, although I have wonderful experiences with God.

Like Paul, I can say.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Php 3:12 NIV

God lifts up the humble

Paul describes himself as a slave but also as an apostle.

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, Rom 1:1 NASB95

The Greek word for bond-servant is DOULOS, which means slave.

He had completely surrendered his life to the will of God, submitting himself like a slave, but God had entrusted him with a high office.

God wants us to humble ourselves before him, but not because he wants to humiliate us.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk 14:11 NASB95

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Jas 4:10 NASB95

Those who always humiliate or despise themselves do not understand God's love.

If your family, your boss or your church leader keeps putting you down, it's not from God.

I no longer call you servants because a master does not take his servants into his confidence.
You are now my friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:15

If you dedicate yourself completely to the will of God, like a faithful and willing slave, but love and trust God like a beloved son or daughter, Jesus will embrace you and cherish you as a dear friend.

Let God be the Judge.

Moses was a good man. He was loyal to his oppressed Hebrew compatriots, although he could have enjoyed his privileges as an Egyptian prince.

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 

choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, Heb 11:24-25

He loved truth and justice. He hated cruelty and oppression.

One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labour. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 

Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:11-12

Preachers of New Testament doctrine like to oversimplify this story. They say Moses was a murderer but God forgave him because He saves sinners.

Moses was a freedom fighter, a liberator. For him, killing the oppressor was an act of justice and mercy for the oppressed.

Nevertheless, it was not God’s way. Moses’ greatest strength was his weakness. His human reaction was completely counterproductive. He had to flee the country and live as a fugitive in exile for 40 years.

Before God could use Moses to liberate his people, Moses had to become a mature character conscious of his human weaknesses.

After 40 years shepherding sheep in the wilderness, Moses was called to liberate his entire nation. By this time Moses knew his limitations. He was actually reluctant.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11

You may have a passion for truth and justice, but as long as you pursue your cause in your own way or relying on your own gifts and talents, you will not realise your dreams, even if those dreams came from God.

I know a preacher who had wonderful gifts. He was an amazing missionary and personal evangelist.  He wanted to rescue the worst sinners. He desperately longed to help rebuild broken lives.

He was sincerely ministering to dangerous sex offenders, but in his zeal he made terrible mistakes.
He failed to protect vulnerable young women in his church from extreme peril through contact with known sexual predators.

If we resolutely fight against evil, but rush into battle according to our own ideas, we will battle against one evil but in the process allow another evil to flourish.

There are preachers who are zealous to preserve Christian marriages. They will do anything to keep a family together and prevent divorce.

But this single-minded crusade for marriage can have catastrophic consequences.

There are husbands who coldbloodedly plan to entrap a woman in marriage and then systematically manipulate her to become his abject tormented slave. 

This also happens in Christian churches.
When wives protest, they may be beaten, raped or deprived of contact with friends.

When tortured wives try to assert themselves, zealous preachers blame the woman for being rebellious. If the woman leaves her husband, she may listen to sermons accusing her of breaking her marriage vows.

The wife who argues with her husband is judged as rebellious.
The woman who leaves her husband is condemned for breaking her vows.

But the man who rapes, beats and tortures his wife or criminally assaults even his own children is respected.

Tragically, all this actually happens. These abuses are widespread in Christian circles.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. Isa 55:8

 

Loving Humility, Not Cruel Humiliation

Paul describes himself as a slave but also as an apostle.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- Romans 1:1 (NIV)
He had surrendered his life completely to the will of God, subordinating himself like a slave, but God had entrusted him with a high office. 

God wants us to humble ourselves before Him, but not because He wants to humiliate us. If you are always putting yourself down, you don’t understand God's love.

If your family, your boss or your church leader keeps putting you down, it is not from God.


I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. 
Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 (NIV)

 
In many English translations we read the word SERVANT but in the original Greek text the word is DOULOS, which means SLAVE.

If you dedicate yourself to God’s will fully, like a faithful and willing slave, but love and trust God like a beloved son or daughter, Jesus will embrace you and treasure you as a dear friend.

BLESSING IS SO POWERFUL

Human history did not begin with a political leader or the work of a great genius.

...God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; MALE and FEMALE he created THEM.

• And God blessed THEM...Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV) 

History began with a happy couple blessed by God. 

Human life is not all about the dominance of great men, great kings or great preachers. 

The essence of human life is friendship and partnership.

• Man and woman, husband and wife, brother and sister are called to be friends and partners with each other.

• Not only that. You and I are created to be friends and partners with God in ruling the world.

WHAT IS RULING THE WORLD? 

• BLESSING, FRUITFULNESS AND LOVING SERVICE, NOT DOMINATION OF OTHER PEOPLE.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply... (physically and spiritually). Genesis 1:28 (NLT)

• Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Matthew 20:25 (NIV) 

Throughout human history, men have dominated women and stronger men have dominated weaker men. 

IS GOD AGAINST LEADERSHIP?

By no means.

• Jesus taught a completely different concept of leadership, an idea that goes right back to God’s original blessing before Adam and Eve believed the lies of the devil.

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant... Matthew 20:26 (NLT)

Now we need to carefully consider what this means. 

• There are mothers and fathers who work like slaves for their children but in return, they demand total obedience to their own ideas. 
• The children can never discover the meaning of freedom. 

I once read the story of a middle aged man who killed himself and left a suicide note. 

He was a farmer’s son who faithfully served his father,

• but could not even buy a garden tool for the farm without his father’s permission. 

• He chose to end his life rather than continue to live as a slave.

Sadly there are government officials, business managers, teachers and even pastors who rule over people like this. 

• They work harder than those under them and in return, they demand complete control over everything and everybody.

What does the Bible say?

We must not rebel and start a fight against a bullying leader. The Bible tells us to respect authority. 

• But does that mean we must remain unquestioning slaves?

David served King Saul, even when Saul came under the control of dark spirits but there came a time when David had to claim his freedom.

• When Saul tried to kill David, the young man fled for his life. 

When a leader imprisons you with control, you have God’s permission to leave. 

• Some people leave too quickly but others stay too long.

The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Galatia not to submit to self appointed church leaders who wanted to control them with man made rules.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

After Paul planted a church in Corinth, bossy preachers came in and took over.

• How did Paul tell the Christians to respond? DON’T SUBMIT TO THEM!

After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

• You put up with it when someone enslaves you, 
• takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, 
• takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:19-20 (NLT)  

Paul has one word to describe bossy and controlling church leaders: FOOLS.

Bossy leaders can only control your life if you allow them to.

You must resist bossy leadership but be careful how you react.

• Don’t start a fight ... 
• ...but also don't run from necessary confrontation.
• Don’t set up your own ministry with a vengeful or competitive attitude 
• ... but don't bury your gift if you are called to pioneer a new ministry.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:14 (NLT) 

Blessing is not weak. It has the power of God’s original creation.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) 

IS GOD HUMBLE?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) 

Clearly Jesus lived a humble life on earth. 

He lived in glory as God the Son in heaven with the Father. 

• He never had a beginning. 

• He was uncreated and equal with the Father yet He chose to be born in a stable surrounded by farm animal. 

• He chose to work as a village carpenter and He chose to associate with people rejected by the elite of society.

Was Jesus humble because he was a man who needed to be humble in submission to God? 

• ...or was Jesus humble because humility is an essential aspect of the eternal nature of God?

There is some theology that emphasises the kingly honour and authority of God to such an extent, that it is difficult to see humility as an essential part of God’s heavenly character.

This theology emphasises the sovereignty and authority of God more than His love and compassion, yet John, the especially beloved apostle, tells us that “God IS love.”

• Some theology tells us that God seeks His own honour more than He loves men and women. 

It is clear in the Bible that God DOES seek to glorify His name, so how can this God seek His own glory and still be humble?

• The New Testament reveals that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• The Son seeks to glorify the Father and the Holy Spirit.

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30 (NIV) "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, 

• "BUT I HONOUR MY FATHER AND YOU DISHONOUR ME. 
• I AM NOT SEEKING GLORY FOR MYSELF; BUT THERE IS ONE WHO SEEKS IT, AND HE IS THE JUDGE." John 8:49-50 (NIV) 

Jesus the Son seeks to honour the Father and the Father honours the Son. 

Paul teaches the Roman Christians to humble themselves by honouring one another in love.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 (NIV) 

Jesus demonstrates that God Himself is like that. The Son and the Father are devoted to one another in love, seeking to honour each other.

The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us and seeks to honour Jesus above himself, although the Holy Spirit is also God, in no way inferior to the Father or the Son.

• So as we reverently and thoughtfully read the New Testament, we see that God demonstrates perfect love and humility at the same time as seeking to glorify His name.

So much theology is contaminated with abstract Greek theology. 

Behind the rigid Reformed theory of Divine Sovereignty and Glory is Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, who was a disciple of Plotinus, who turned Plato's philosophy into a mystical gnostic religion.

• When Augustine became a Christian, he repented of his sins of the flesh but he never renounced his experience of being united with the mystical supreme deity through Platonic meditation.

I prefer the simple theology of Bill Johnson. His first principle is this: “JESUS IS PERFECT THEOLOGY.” 

Is humility an essential eternal characteristic of God?

• Firstly, humility is an attribute of LOVE.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) 

• Secondly, GOD IS LOVE.

And the final proof is this:

John 14:6-9 (NIV) 6  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

7  IF YOU REALLY KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER AS WELL. FROM NOW ON, YOU DO KNOW HIM AND HAVE SEEN HIM." 

8  Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 

9  Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? 

ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER. HOW CAN YOU SAY, 'SHOW US THE FATHER'? 

If Jesus is humble, the Father is also humble. Their character is the same.

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.