"SERVANTHOOD--A KEY TO REVELATION"

Hey all...here is a word that came to Bob Jones. I think he received it through a dream. Anyways I thought it was a very good exhortation. I got this from the Elijah List website.

OBTAINING UNDERSTANDING

In one of these prophetic encounters, I was allowed to observe several young men on the campus of a well-known seminary. They were all dressed formally in a suit and tie. They marched single file across the campus with briefcases in hand headed for an evening class. As they continued in their procession, they all began to chant in unison, "We are going to get understanding...we are going to get understanding...we are going to get understanding."

I carefully watched as they one-by-one marched to and entered one of the educational facilities on the campus. Suddenly, the last young man in the procession stopped before entering the building and knelt to pick up a gum wrapper from the otherwise perfectly manicured campus lawn. As he did, my attention was drawn to the stars brightly twinkling in the evening sky behind him. While this scene was unfolding I heard these words..... "THIS IS THE ONE WHO HAS UNDERSTANDING BEFORE HEAVEN."

A SERVANT'S HEART

It seemed important to note that those who were marching intently with the purpose of "obtaining understanding" about God were indifferently walking over the gum wrapper, and its obvious intrusion on the beautiful lawn. While in pursuit of an intellectual understanding about God, they missed the heart of God and His divine attributes. As the scriptures point out:

"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28)

Although education is clearly an important endeavor, this experience pointedly illustrated that it was the issues of the heart that were most important. The servant's heart perfectly displayed in the life of Christ was also evident in the young man who knowingly considered others by performing this seemingly menial task. The Lord demonstrated His approval upon this young man and his heart of servanthood as one who truly had understanding in His eyes. The glimmering stars provided a seal of Heavens endorsement as one who brightly shines in the midst of darkness.

(Philippians 2:3-4) "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

GAINING TRUE UNDERSTANDING

There is an important link between acts of serving others and gaining spiritual understanding and revelation that we must lay hold of in this generation. When Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the Bible points out....

"When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but THE SERVANTS KNEW who had drawn the water) the master of the feast called the bridegroom." (John 2:9)

The ones who were serving actually had more understanding and insight into this notable miracle and the One who performed it, than those who were "masters" over the wedding.

(Amos 3:7) declares: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets."

Here again we discover a distinct connection between receiving revelation from God and being a servant. We often hear more about being a prophet than we do about being a servant, but they are inseparable. We see again the alliance between the two in the greatest revelation of all......

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-- things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John." (Revelation 1:1)

This great unveiling of the Lord Jesus intended for His SERVANTS, delivered through His SERVANT John. It has been said that the "chief service of a prophet is not to rebuke sin, nor instruct in virtue, it is to give the world a radiant idea of God." (John Watson). When are we showing the world what God is like more than when we serve?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)