GOD'S PATTERN OF APPOINTMENT IN HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH

"HE sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
Mark 9:35 (NLT)

• To be great in the Kingdom is through service. Jesus says whoever wants to be the first must take the last place (Mark 9:35).

• Some people in the body of Christ today lobby for positions, they become political, because they wanted to be appointed to lead (Matthew 20:20-23).
• If you have the heart to serve, you would eventually become a leader. It is the principle of the Kingdom, although this might not be consistent with the principle of the world.
• The Kingdom pattern of appointment is service. It is service that will take you up in God's Kingdom on earth.

• The truth is: If you serve with all your heart, where God wants you to be, you would be considered for leadership.

• In the Kingdom work, If Man, humans, appointed you, you would do the work with your own strength. God will never be part of whatever He has not commanded or commissioned.
• Do not work or serve in God's Kingdom, or vineyard, without being commanded or appointed by Him.
  a. Let God approve you before you embark on any assignment for Him.
  b. If you serve sincerely and faithfully at the level you are presently, your work would be approved by God.
  c. Service in the Kingdom leads to greatness. Howbeit, service has been what many do not want, but they do want greatness.
• A number of people do not want to serve because of pride. They could not do menial works, waiting on others, in the house of God. Be willing or make yourself available, in order to serve others, that you might be great!
• Jesus' greatness emanated or stemmed from the humbleness to serve, and that gave Him a name which is above every other name on earth, underneath the earth, and in heaven (Philippians 2:5-11).
• To come first, you have to choose to be the last: "AND HE [Jesus] SAT DOWN, called the twelve, and said to them, “IF ANYONE DESIRES TO BE FIRST, HE SHALL BE LAST OF ALL AND SERVANT OF ALL" (Mark 9:35 NKJV).

• Note: Greatness is found in God.

• Read and study the Word of God, the Bible, and apply it to your daily life, that you might understand the things that matter to God.
• When you read and study and practice the Word of God daily, it would help your relationship and communion with God (James 1:22,25). It would also change your perspectives about life.
• If your mind could be transformed through the Word of God, and begin to live in line with God's plan for your life, which you have discovered through the Word of God and communion, you cannot but be great according to God's standard.
• It is through service that you strategically positioned yourself for greatness in the Kingdom.

• God's pattern is completely different from that of man (Isaiah 55:8). He does not want you to trust in the self—your human nature; ability or power (Proverbs 3:5,6).

• God detests the people who trust in their own human abilities, the self. Whatever emanated from the self, human nature, and the flesh, are not at all welcomed by God.
• He does not want you to put your trust in any person either. If you did, He would allow the person to let you down. God wants you to be submissive unwaveringly and be humble to Him.
• If you are self conceited, thinking you know how to do it, without acknowledging Him; It means you are not a candidate for greatness in His Kingdom.
• Pride would not make some to serve. This same pride would not make some believers to submit and learn. Remember, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
• A believer who does not deal with the elements of pride found in his or her life would be far from greatness—it would be a mirage.

• Take Note:
a. It is pride that would make you think that you are better than others. It would make you assume too much of yourself. In other words, you think of yourself more than you ought to: "BECAUSE of the privilege and authority God has given me, I GIVE EACH OF YOU THIS WARNING: DON'T THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN YOU REALLY ARE. BE HONEST IN YOUR EVALUATION OF YOURSELVES, MEASURING YOURSELVES BY THE FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN US" (Romans 12:3 NLT).
b. Pride would make you think that without your involvement, in whatever to be done, such a thing would not be done, or be a success.
c. Pride would make you seek for a recognition, If that was not done or given to you, you would be offended.
GOD relegates the proud! God will not promote a proud person (Proverbs 16:18). He always stands on the way of the proud, frustrate his or her plans and efforts: "LIKEWISE YOU YOUNGER PEOPLE, SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO YOUR ELDERS. YES, ALL OF YOU BE SUBMISSIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY, FOR “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE” (1 Peter 5:5 NKJV).

• Some people's problem is not the devil per SE, but the pride found in their lives.
  God is the One resisting such, not the devil (Proverbs 8:13; 16:5). And the truth is, If pride is found in your life, you will have God to contend with.

• Do these in practice:
(i) Do not always consider yourself first, think of others before the self:
3 LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT, BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF. 4 LET EACH OF YOU LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS" (Philippians 2:3,4 NKJV).
(ii) Let God's Will be your utmost priority.
THOSE who always want to do His Will, often enjoy His favour and mercy.
A DAY'S favour in God is much more than years of labour and toiling without God's involvement.

• Whatever you aspire to be in God's Kingdom on earth could be achieved only through service (1 Timothy 3:1).

• This is achievable when you allow God to work through you, not by trusting in the self ability (Proverbs 3:5,6; John 6:63).
• Thus, to be the First, you had to put God first in your life, and if you did put Him first in your life, you would no longer strive or struggle or fight to do things by your own physical strength again (1 Samuel 2:9).
• Putting God first means to always acknowledge God; relying or depending on the Holy Spirit on the inside of you to take over and lead you in all things.
• You would be the First, If you chose to be at the rear. It is paradoxical, but that is the Kingdom Principle and reality:
  43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; BUT WHOEVER DESIRES TO BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT.
  44 "AND WHOEVER OF YOU DESIRES TO BE FIRST SHALL BE SLAVE OF ALL.
  45 "FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN [Jesus Christ] DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY" (Mark 10:43-45 NKJV).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, I declare your healing now in Jesus' name.
• You are completely made whole and the Affliction will not rise again in Jesus' name.
  Peace!

• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!