Am I My Brother's Keeper? - The Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ

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T HE SPIRIT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Matthew 20:20-28 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saoth unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with? They say unto him, We are able. And he said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If you are going to aim for a position, you might as well set your eyes on the highest level. This is the desire of the mother of James and John.

When the ten disciples later heard of the duo's intentions, they were filled with indignation? Why? Because each one wanted the position of the highest level of authority: but, the mother and her sons struck first. Ah, the frailty of human nature.

The qualification for this position? Drinking Jesus' cup and partaking of His baptism of suffering! Can you handle this? Oh, sure! No problem! We can handle it!

You will be given the opportunity see if you possess the capability. The cup was very difficult for Jesus to embrace. He didn't want to drink it. He sought every possible means of escape. In resignation, He cried, "Not my will, but thine be done."

But the disciples? Nothing to it. We'll take the cup. We'll drink it.

They had no idea what lay within that cup.

Matthew 26:38-42 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Luke 22:41-44 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:31-44 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, that the cock shall not crow this day, before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Luke 22:61,62 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Acts 15:16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And the baptism of suffering?

Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Luke 9:43-45 And they were all amazed at the might power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Jesus offers, "I can promise you the cup! I can promise you the baptism! I can not promise you the positions of authority for which you seek."

These positions will be occupied by the Bride of Christ; those who willingly embrace the will of their Father; those who willingly drink the cup and partake of Jesus' baptism of suffering.

If you would be great, become a minister.

The Greek word for minister is diakonos and is translated minister, servant, deacon.

If you would be the chief, become a servant.

The Greek word for servant is doulos. It means a slave in the sense of subjection or subserviency. It is derived from the root deo, to bind: be in bonds, knit, tie, wind.

A slave has no mind, will or purpose of his own. He seeks only to do the will of his master. He has no say in the food he eats, the clothes he wears, the places he goes, or the house he lives in.

Let every minister become totally dedicated to executing the will of God in his life. Let him have no other purpose than to please his Master.

Like Jesus, let the minister of the Lord not come to be ministered unto, but to minister.