Beware of Covetousness - Part 6 WHAT IS TRUE GREATNESS? By Mazino Egbuwoku Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. How could Jesus Christ the Lord of lords, suggest that of all the old testament kings, prophets, judges, preachers, billionaires, and priests, heavens verdict was that this man whom the world termed as poor and wretched, was the GREATEST - Greater than Kings Solomon, David, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharoahs, etc? A man who ate locusts and slept in the wilderness? With such a clear divine verdict declared on this man John, one would expect that his life and ministry ought to be the most important case study of greatness in the old testament, especially carried out by the church. Whenever the church quotes an old testament scripture about greatness, and by this meaning the acquisition of money and social status, be sure to know that such greatness was not real greatness from heavens perspective. So, what is true greatness? Matthew 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Well, another might say, the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. What does this mean? Does this mean that just being born again makes me great, even greater than the greatest man of old? What is greatness from Gods perspective or according to new testament Truth? Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus shows us who the greatest and the least in the kingdom of heaven are. The greatest are those who are converted and become like children- Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven and those who teach and live like Christ - the righteousness of God (Obtaining grace to live like Christ is how our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees). Greatness for the converted believer is about meekness and humility. Meekness speaks of yieldedness to the Holy Spirit. This is the secret of greatness in Gods kingdom - Christlikeness or to live as Jesus did in yieldedness to God. Like a child, Jesus yielded to the Father always. To be great in Gods kingdom, we must seek grace with which to yield or be led or controlled by the Holy Spirit always. This is the first and foremost meaning of being a child in Gods kingdom, without which any other greatness is empty and futile. Before we discuss the twin meaning of greatest - meekness and humility - let me stress that those who teach and lead Christians to the greatness of Gentiles, shall suffer great loss in eternity. This is the word of truth. True greatness, is primarily about obtaining grace to be meek before God - to yield to His Spirit. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Romans 8:13-14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Every false gospel of our time is generally blind to Gods realities. Truth means Gods realities or perspectives. When we teach believers with concepts from mans perspective instead of Gods, we are not offering truth to them. It doesnt matter what men, gentiles or the world defines success, greatness, wealth or beauty as, what matters is how God sees it and what God says it is. For instance, the most glorious beauty available to man is Gods holiness and anyone offering men anything else as real beauty, is giving a counterfeit beauty and does not speak on behalf of God. Anyone offering the Child of God a greatness which is not yieldedness to the Spirit or Chrislikeness, is offering a counterfeit greatness and a false truth. Psalms 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation behaviour)... The True greatness which is greater than John the baptist is the Spirit Controlled lifestyle. This is what makes the least or last recruit of the kingdom of heaven greater than John. John 3:30-31 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. Even though John did not have the indwelling Spirit of God, he gave up and yielded everything including his comfort and ultimately his life, for the increase of Christ. John was the greatest of all men of old because He was the first to locate Christ, yield to Christ, even though he lacked the baptism of the Spirit or the inward leading of the Spirit. Brethren, you may not how great we are in Christ yet, but ask God to show you. True greatness is is forged by yieldedness to Christ through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Do not envy those who have money or worldly fame, but rejoice that you have heavenly fame because you yield to the Holy Spirit. Eternity will celebrate those who let the Spirit rule them on earth, and all creation is awaiting our glorious eternal coronation. True faith, Christs faith, captures and believes these realities. Worldly faith, corrupted faith teaches greatness as money and fame grabbing. John the baptist would have given anything for the Holy Spirits baptism, enabling him to live like Christ, partaking in the divine holy life and so wouldve Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or David. Hebrews 11:39 And these all, (old testsment saints) having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 2 Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Today, many bible teachers are leading Christs flock in the way of the Gentiles, selling greatness as material gain and worldly wisdom as truth. What a scam, what a shame. This covetousness borne from of worldly realities is the broad road to destruction. It is flesh and blindness. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 6:24-26 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Continues...
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 10:45:39 +0000
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