SERVING NOT SELF SERVING

Matthew 20 - 23

So He said to them,

"You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the

baptism that I am baptized with;

but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give,

but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

Did she have any idea what she was asking?    Her son James did indeed drink the Lord's cup.   He was the first disciple to be martyred.  Acts - 12-2

Isn't it always the way, proud mother seeks special position/place/acknowledgement for her sons/daughters, but Yeshua (Jesus) is quite clear "it is for those His Father chooses"  Nevertheless she had just requested their death warrant.

Jealousy and rivalry are twin sisters, a deadly human weakness.    It really doesn't matter that the last will be first and the first last.   For many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 20 - 16.

JUST BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU STAND IN HIS QUEUE BY THE NARROW GATE - THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERED WORTHY TO PASS THROUGH.

If you truly follow the Lord you will have a heart for those society rejects.   Those imprisoned by their addictions, bodies rotting away, lost, hopeless.  Those who have succumbed to the deadly drip of porn and the permissive dictates of a rotten godless society.   All damaged and in need of a Saviour.   

I remember well a young man called Stephen.   He sat huddled on the pavement in the posh part of the city.   He wasn't begging.   He didn't ask for help.   The mother of the street boys arrived with her two large trollies filled with soup, tea, coffee and biscuits.   Large bread rolls filled with ham, eggs, cheese and pickles were carried in her companion's trolley along with toilet requisites, clean underwear and socks.

Stephen wanted none of it.    He was just another rejected boy.   He couldn't accept his new father-in-law and only his sister had no idea of his plight as she lived on the other side of the globe.    He turned to drugs.      

How could I tell him Jesus loved him.   Yeah, yeah - one look said it all -  they all say that.   How I wanted to take him in my arms and give him shelter, food and the love I gave my own two children.   All he would accept was a plastic cup of tea and a packet of biscuits.  It was time to move on to the next victim.

That night I had to do something.    I phoned the Salvation Army surprised they excluded those on drugs and drink from their night shelters.    I phoned the police.   "Sorry" said an officer "we can only pick him up if he collapses and then we'll get him into rehab.    "I don't think you will have to wait long" I replied "he is literally skin and bone" and I gave them Stephen's location.

That night I prayed "Lord - please let them take Stephen off the street.   There is such potential in this young man but he needs to know he is loved, that Your love is unconditional regardless of his habit, that You will walk with him through detox.   I phoned a local Christian station.    "Please pray for Stephen, he's in a bad way" and I gave a brief outline of his situation.   

The last report I had regarding this young man was that he was free of his habit and studying at college to get the necessary qualifications to work on computers.   I pray to God he has employment and has found the grace to forgive those who caused his pain.   Thank you Lord for answered prayer. 

There are people out there working to bring hope to the hopeless and often they are on the receiving end of abuse but they continue to reach out knowing time is short.

Six years ago I was blessed with a trip to the Holy Land.   Someone in our coach party suggested a book I might like to read when I got back to the U.K.   Not wishing to breach copyright I would merely say it was all about a town under siege.

The pastor and his wife were getting hit time and time again by demonic forces.   The pastor's little flock were frightened by the supernatural activity.   An elderly housebound woman knew exactly what was "going down" and she battled prayers of protection over the young people.  In this book the battle weary christians of that town won the fight along with considerable angelic support.

From which ever direction it comes sincere prayer will reach the throne.   However humble the request it will be heard.   It will be heard, but will it be answered?

The mother struggling with her grief at the loss of a child will find that a bitter pill to swallow, likewise the wife of the voluntary worker brutally murdered by an evil psychopath.  For those suffering souls hell is right here on earth.

As I gazed down at the face of the only man I had ever loved as he lay cold and lifeless gone so suddenly out of my life I knew there was only one prayer left.    THY WILL BE DONE.      One day the veil will be lifted and we will understand.  

2 Corinthians 18  
while we do not look at things which are seen, but at things that are not seen.  For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal. 

There was another example of hopelessness.   He was just a grumpy old man she passed in the street most days.  He was so full of misery and angst.   Deep in his heart he knew the end was near.   That's it.   Everything he treasured and coveted useless.   The devil will be dancing as his possessions burnt.   Yet still he denied God - "its a load of rubbish" he sneered at the local child of God.   "There's nothing, religion is load of rubbish, end of"   The child of God smiled "it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a relationship with Jesus the son of the living God.   The old man continued to sneer and walked on his way.

How sad the painful emptiness that fills his miserable existence.  He has backed the wrong horse all his life.   "Just give him a dream about hell - that should do it" considered the child of God.   

She prayed for his enlightenment, sooner rather than later because his time was running out fast.   Perhaps his final nightmare will be opening his eyes and realising he is still conscious of self facing    eternity in the biggest sink hole imaginable shared with every conceivable evil the devil and man are capable of.

Psalm 11 - 4 - 7

The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord's throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold,

His eyelids test the sons of men.

The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind

Shall be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.

Raui ata Adon Yeshua

Raui ata Malkenu.