Now, in these last days as persecution begins to come, a house divided can’t stand.  If self-indulgence, self-will, all of these different things are allowed in any area, in any way to begin to creep into our individual lives, the weakness that it brings to the whole, the inability, the more vulnerable members become in our midst.  All we’re encouraging ourselves in doesn’t come through osmosis.  It doesn’t come through just sitting here and hearing teachings.  Do you want to know how to become a better servant?  Serve more.  Just choose to humble yourself.  Choose to give your time.  Let’s take our time and spend it in a place that will strengthen the body of Christ, that will meet needs.  “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up,” (James 4:10).  God resists the proud, but He gives sufficient grace to the man that yokes up with Jesus, that will humble himself and say, “I want to serve.”  His grace will be there to enable you.  “I sought the Lord three times to have my will, and He said, My grace is sufficient for you.”

Do we believe that it’s more blessed to give than receive?  I’m not talking about money.  I’m talking about the spirit.  Our time, our energy—if we believe that, we need to humble ourselves.  Jesus humbled Himself, becoming obedient to that death on the cross.  We know very clearly, He did not want that, as man.  Everything in Him, the man, Christ Jesus, said, “If it be possible, let it pass.”  Who, in the midst of the trial, cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  That’s how the flesh responds to offering yourself up, of humbling yourself.  There are times in the midst of this thing, you’re saying, “My God, how’d I get myself in this?”  Can we drink the cup He drank of?  “Yes, Lord, we can drink that cup!”  No, you can’t, but you will.  You can’t do it in your own strength, but you can by the grace of God.  You will drink it, and do you know what?  You will come to the place of serving, of emptying yourself out for the community.  It’s coming, and you will do it, or we won’t survive.  So, let’s start getting practice.  Let’s start preparing ourselves.  Let’s offer ourselves up in humility.  When was the last time you washed somebody’s feet?  The washing of feet is not just a display of foot washing.  The “washing of feet” is recognizing the worth of that individual.  Jesus washed their feet to show them the servant’s heart.  “You want to emulate Me?  Here it is.  You want to be great in My Kingdom?  I just showed you what it’s all about.”  If we can become faithful in those things, He can then begin to make us rulers, and then we won’t question among ourselves, “Why couldn’t we cast this devil out?”  We will cast those devils out because we don’t think we’re great, we think God’s great.  We’re responding not to show how our great faith is at work and the power and the gifts that I have.  Our hearts are broken because our brother or sister is hurting and I want to get my hands on them as quickly as I can in the name of Jesus and see Him raise them up, praise God!  That’s the environment that people get healed in, as we’re touched with one another’s infirmities.

Father, we thank You for Your Word.  Help us to humble ourselves.  Help us to draw nigh unto You.  Help us to resist the devil in all those lies and accusations that say we’re going to miss out and, somehow, we’re going to be taken advantage of and, besides that, “I deserve this time to myself.”  Let us die daily.  Let us humble ourselves.  We’ll give You all the praise for it, Father, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.