Whose Kingdom?
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Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (AV)
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or
[whether] I speak of myself. (AV)
Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that
sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (AV)
Jesus has given us a primary principle of ministry here. He has already said:
Mt 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. (AV)
Mt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit. (AV)
Mt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (AV)
Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (AV)
Now he is telling us how to determine the true motive of a person’s ministry and message. “If the
message glorifies self – if it brings attention to self – if it benefits self primarily – then it is
basically self-centered and not God-centered or Christ-centered.” If the person speaks mostly of
themselves, or generates their own doctrine, then ‘watch out’.
A true minister of God will receive the message from God and it will glorify God and benefit and
build the Kingdom of God. When ministries start getting too big, too popular, too man-centered,
then be careful of that ministry.
I remember attending a ministry event where several people groups were scheduled to minister.
The person at the microphone was taking longer than his allotted time. The people in charge
were getting upset because he was taking someone else’s ministry time. But the person who was
scheduled to minister next said, “Leave him alone. God is moving. It doesn’t matter if I minister
or if he ministers. Let’s let God have his way.”
Now that man was a true minister of God. He wasn’t concerned about ‘getting his turn’. He was
concerned with God’s ministry time. He wasn’t concerned about ‘self’.
We have to remember, the power is of God, not of us.
Zech. 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Hear what Paul says:
1 Corinthians 2
1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {enticing: or, persuasible}
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake. (AV)
God help us if we preach ourselves or trust in ourselves to accomplish anything of eternal value.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our
sufficiency [is] of God; (AV)
We cannot make any really valuable changes in our world in our own strength. Powerful men
and women appear to change their world, but when you examine it, the changes they have made
have no eternal value. They can only make changes that will be temporary and of only earthly
value.
What we want to accomplish, only God can do.
Hear what Jesus says:
John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any
man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of God, and not of us.
Remember, it is by His spirit.
Jesus has invested himself in us. It is not by “might” – not by our strength or ability – but by His
that we can do anything. What we accomplish in this world will be because of our dependence
upon Him.
We have a treasure in earthen vessels. Christ is us – the hope of glory.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or
[whether] I speak of myself. (AV)
Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that
sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (AV)
Jesus has given us a primary principle of ministry here. He has already said:
Mt 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit. (AV)
Mt 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit. (AV)
Mt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (AV)
Mt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (AV)
Now he is telling us how to determine the true motive of a person’s ministry and message. “If the
message glorifies self – if it brings attention to self – if it benefits self primarily – then it is
basically self-centered and not God-centered or Christ-centered.” If the person speaks mostly of
themselves, or generates their own doctrine, then ‘watch out’.
A true minister of God will receive the message from God and it will glorify God and benefit and
build the Kingdom of God. When ministries start getting too big, too popular, too man-centered,
then be careful of that ministry.
I remember attending a ministry event where several people groups were scheduled to minister.
The person at the microphone was taking longer than his allotted time. The people in charge
were getting upset because he was taking someone else’s ministry time. But the person who was
scheduled to minister next said, “Leave him alone. God is moving. It doesn’t matter if I minister
or if he ministers. Let’s let God have his way.”
Now that man was a true minister of God. He wasn’t concerned about ‘getting his turn’. He was
concerned with God’s ministry time. He wasn’t concerned about ‘self’.
We have to remember, the power is of God, not of us.
Zech. 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Hear what Paul says:
1 Corinthians 2
1. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {enticing: or, persuasible}
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for Jesus' sake. (AV)
God help us if we preach ourselves or trust in ourselves to accomplish anything of eternal value.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our
sufficiency [is] of God; (AV)
We cannot make any really valuable changes in our world in our own strength. Powerful men
and women appear to change their world, but when you examine it, the changes they have made
have no eternal value. They can only make changes that will be temporary and of only earthly
value.
What we want to accomplish, only God can do.
Hear what Jesus says:
John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any
man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of God, and not of us.
Remember, it is by His spirit.
Jesus has invested himself in us. It is not by “might” – not by our strength or ability – but by His
that we can do anything. What we accomplish in this world will be because of our dependence
upon Him.
We have a treasure in earthen vessels. Christ is us – the hope of glory.