The Mind Of Christ
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
One of the reasons most Christians churches are dead, anemic and impotent and devoid of much people and power is because of the one man “pastor,” the man of the hour, all words and no power! Religious and political leaders have always been deceiving their hearers by their eloquent words devoid of life, truth and power. Yes, the preaching in most churches has been with persuasive words of human wisdom, and not demonstration of the Spirit and of power, lest our faith should in the power of God and not in in the wisdom of men. And the reason why the hearers are dumb and foolish is because they have rejected the person of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom and counsel that He gives and have substituted it all for the words and wisdom of men. God’s word is unchanging:
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Carnal ones who behave like mere men with their envy, strife, heresies, outbursts and divisions don’t have the mind of Christ. They do not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them; nor can they know the things that have been freely given to us by God, because they are spiritually discerned. Hence because they have received the spirit of the world that is in the son of disobedience and not the Spirit who is from God, they speak in words which man's wisdom teaches and not which the Holy Spirit teaches. They cannot compare spiritual things with spiritual because they are blind and deaf ones who cannot see or hear the things of the Spirit. Yet God’s word is unchanging about the responsibility of the true shepherd:
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. "The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them." Ezekiel 34:6
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:10-14
"Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 0 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:26-35
True shepherds not only lay down their lives for the sheep but they heal the sick, they strengthened sick, bind up the broken, bring back what was driven away, seek what was lost and not rule with force and cruelty. They shepherd the flock of God which is among them serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; be submissive to one another and clothed with humility just like Chief Shepherd was and is, who washed the feet of the disciples. God’s word is unchanging:
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:12-17
Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Lord of Lords rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.Yes, He took off His robes and all He wore was the servant's towel. He took a basin of water, looking like an ordinary servant, came to His disciples' feet, took off their sandals, start wiping and washing their feet and the disciples were stunned. He didn't just wash one or two, but all - all their feet, no exception, even Judas' feet too. Judas was still there! After Jesus completed it, He explained to them - Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord and you say well, for so, I am. If I, then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. Jesus was telling them that He would them apostles; He give them authority as apostles - a head of all the ministries. And Jesus said, For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Jesus wanted the disciples to always have an attitude of a servant even though He would give them great power. He didn’t establish “the ministry of washing feet” but they would have a servant's spirit among them. And so Jesus Christ is also telling us to receive the positions of God, to receive the graces and authority of God and to receive the spirit of a servant. God’s word is unchanging:
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. "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 10:42-45
WALTER KAMBULOW
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