FIRST PLACE

Mark 9:35

And he 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.”

 

To be the greatest of Gods kingdom (thy kingdom come) we would have to be servant of all.

How often have we tried to be first in the race and aimed to be something?  We have a calling on our life and we are required to complete all that is in our book.

Do we understand however that to do this requires something of us and that is to be last.  The Lord has been showing me this over last month the fact that to truly be first means to be last.  It means to put Him and others ahead of me all the way and that this is to be the desire of my heart.

An easy thing to do! Yeah Right!

How is it going for me?  It takes a complete reversal of what I have been brought up in so it is a day to day walk.

 

We are expected to do this

 Luke 17:9 

“Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

We are expected to do the basics. It is part of being in the team and part of our duty to the team. Let us just be about doing these things that we are being asked to do by the Lord.

 He expects us to be last and to serve others. If we are to move ahead in the Kingdom then this is who we are to be.

 

Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.

23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper

Chapter 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

 

So here Joseph was in charge, he prospered but he served the baker and the butler.

Regardless of his circumstance and position he was in Joseph’s heart was one of being the servant for all those around him and so he prospered and the Lord gave him favour. He just assumed the position of servant and I believe this was part of what the Lord was teaching him during these prison years.

 

The last shall be first.

It is not about us but others

 

Philippians 2:5

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

 

He came in the form of a bondservant of no reputation. A stance we are to take.  Can we work hard be as a servant and be have no reputation.

 

Why do we do this?

 Hebrews 3:5

And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things that would be spoken afterwards.

 

Whose house? His house Gods.

Let me be a servant for Gods house.

Let me finish all the work he has given me to do. Let’s be like Jesus was.

 

John 17:4

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

 

There is a prize

A graduation when you have this heart of being last.

 

John 15:14

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing bit I have called you friends for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

 

This is more like a bond servant relationship. I choose to be a servant and I love to be his friend and I will do what he commands me.

Why because I love him.

 

Philippians 3:14

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul was a great example of a servant and he didn’t muck around but put his everything into those around him and what the Lord had called him to do.

When we have those times where we are toiling away and doing the Lords work (which could be cleaning the toilets or sweeping the floor) and nobody sees this we need to understand that the last will be first.  If your heart attitude is right with this the Lord knows.

There may be the guy leading out in front doing the big stuff but his heart is wrong and it is about himself.  Wood, Hay, Stubble.  The first shall be last.

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ.

What it is to be a bond servant. In the right spirit is not to be concerned about men.

 

There is a time

Like Joseph who had to serve until the time appointed.  Even when He became number two he was still serving.  This was the point the Lord had brought him to.  It was an understanding that to be first you have to be a servant and be happy being last.  He had been there in prison and the Lord could use that position of acceptance.

 

Galatians 4:1

Now I say that the heir as long as he is a child does not differ to a slave though he is master of all but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

So we are children (Mark 10:15) we are slaves, servants until a time. This time is tied into being in the will of God. Paul goes on to say that we might receive the adoption as sons. So we step up into being a son at the right time.

We understand this as children, as bond servants and as Sons of God. We are under the grace of God who has us in the right space at the right time. Having a servant heart and being last impacts your appointed time.  This is a position to live in and not just something to do to tick the boxes so your appointed time arrives.  It is a heart attitude and He knows our heart.

 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Be as a servant do good.  The Lord sees and knows your heart.

 

Hebrews 12: 11-12

… Which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

A Servant

 

When We Have This Position We Are Standing in the Lord

He delivers us from the lions

Daniel 6:8

“Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”

9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

 

Now we know these verses. But I hadn’t clicked that when Daniel knew the decree had been signed he then went and prayed.

He knew the enemy was deliberately putting this in his face.

But he stood and went and immediately went and prayed with the windows open and deliberately put it back in the enemies face.

He knew his Father and he stood in Him. He was prepared to be last so his Father could be first.

 

Continuously serve God

Daniel 6:16

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.”

6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

 

So Daniel was a servant who continually served God and those around who were non believers could see this.

Now this is the position of being last.  It is not about you or being at the front or doing what you want.  It is about Him and what He would have you do.  Will you be last and then watch Him make you first.

 

“My children who love Me understand the meaning of this message.  It is second nature to them as they have grown a heart that is one with Me. When they come home they will know My blessing and reward as I see who has run the race and who has won the race and the precious jewels await those who come home first. Be excited children you have My word.”