PRE-427-427. Laying Down Reputation to Become a Servant to Christ

427. Laying Down Reputation to Become a Servant to Christ

Laying Down Reputation to Become a Servant to Christ

by David Wilkerson

May 23, 2005

[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]

'93Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus'94 (Php_2:5).

'93But we have the mind of Christ'94 (1Co_2:16).

'93And be renewed in the spirit of your mind'94 (Eph_4:23).

These are all exhortations from the apostle Paul. He'92s telling the people of God, '93Let the mind that is in Christ '97 the very thinking of Jesus '97 be your thinking also. His mindset is the one we all are to seek.'94

What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? Simply put, it means to think and act as Jesus did. It means making Christ-like decisions that determine how we are to live. It means bringing every faculty of our mind to bear on how we actually can have the mind of Christ.

Every time we look into the mirror of God'92s Word, we'92re to ask ourselves: '93Does what I see about myself reflect the nature and thinking of Christ? Am I changing from image to image, conformed to Jesus'92 likeness by every experience that God brings into my life?'94

According to Paul, here is the mindset of Christ: '93(He) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men'94 (Php_2:7).

Jesus made a decision while he was still in heaven. He made covenant with the Father to lay down his heavenly glory and come to earth as a man. He was going to descend to the world as a humble servant. And he would seek to minister rather than to be ministered to.

For Christ, this meant saying, '93I go to do your will, Father.'94 Indeed, Jesus determined ahead of time, '93I am laying down my will in order to do yours, Father. I subjugate my will so that I may embrace yours. Everything I say and do has to come from you. I'92m laying down everything to be totally dependent on you.'94

In turn, the Father'92s covenant agreement with the Son was to reveal his will to him. God said to him, in essence, '93My will won'92t ever be hidden from you. You will always know what I am doing and how I am doing it. You will have my mind.'94

Now, many people today who claim to be followers of Jesus have never made a decision to live as the Lord did. Instead, they live comfortably with their flesh '97 their tempers, their character flaws, their bosom sins. And they'92ve never wanted to change. They say, '93That'92s just my nature. It'92s the way I am.'94

But when Paul states boldly, '93I have the mind of Christ,'94 he is declaring: '93I too have made myself of no reputation. Like Jesus, I have taken on the role of a servant.'94 And Paul asserts that the same holds true for every believer: '93We [all can] have the mind of Christ'94 (1Co_2:16).

When did Paul empty himself of worldly reputation?

You may wonder: when and how did Paul actually take on the life of a bondservant? This man had been a persecutor of believers, a killer at heart. How could such a man ever have the mind of Christ?

Paul could pinpoint when it happened exactly. Act_9:1-43 describes how and where his decision took place: in Damascus, on a street called Straight, in the house of a man named Judas.

At the time, Paul was still known as Saul. He was on his way to Damascus with a small army, to take Christians captive, bring them back to Jerusalem, and imprison and torture them. But Jesus appeared to Saul on the Damascus road, blinding him and directing him to go to Judas'92 house on Straight Street. '93And (Saul) was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink'94 (Act_9:9).

In those three days'92 time, Saul'92s mind was being renewed. He spent the entire time in intense prayer, '93counting,'94 or reconsidering, his past life. And what he saw of it, he now began to despise. That'92s when Saul became Paul.

This man had been very proud. He had been full of misguided zeal and sought the approval of other high-minded religious men. But then, he said, '93Christ came and revealed himself in me, and I renounced my old ways. No more man-pleasing, no more following religious trends. I now became Christ'92s.'94

'93I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ'94 (Php_3:8).

Paul was a man who could say, '93I once was somebody. All my peers, including my fellow Pharisees, looked up to me. I was a Pharisee among Pharisees, climbing the ladder, and I was considered a holy man, a powerful teacher of the law. I had a reputation in the land and was blameless in the eyes of the people.

'93But when Christ apprehended me, everything changed. The striving, the competing '97 everything that I thought gave my life meaning '97 was surrendered. I saw that I had missed the Lord completely.'94

Paul had once thought his religious ambitions '97 his zeal, his competitive spirit, his works, his busyness '97 were all righteousness. He had thought it was all for God'92s glory. Now Christ revealed to him that it was all flesh, all for self.

Therefore, Paul stated, '93I laid aside all desire for success and recognition. And I determined to be a servant.'94 '93Though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more'94 (1Co_9:19).

Paul saw that Jesus took upon himself the life of a servant. Here was the very Son of God, yet with a servant'92s heart. Likewise, Paul knew that he also had been made a son of God, by Christ'92s sacrifice on the Cross. But, like Jesus, he also desired to be a son with a servant'92s heart. So he determined to become a bondservant to Christ and his church.

Beloved, I, too, know that I am a son of God. Yet, like Paul, I also want the servant heart of Christ. '93Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus'94 (Php_2:5). Having the mind of Christ means going beyond theology. It means subjugating our own will to take on Jesus'92 concerns.

I know of no other way to be emptied of self, ambition and worldly reputation '97 no other way to become a bondservant to Christ and his church '97 except through prayer.

The Holy Ghost came to a godly man living in Damascus named Ananias. The Spirit instructed this man to go to Judas'92 house on Straight Street, lay hands on Saul and restore his sight.

Of course, Ananias knew of Saul'92s reputation. And he realized this was going to be dangerous. Yet here is how the Holy Spirit recommended Saul to Ananias: '93Behold, he prayeth'94 (Act_9:11).

The Lord was saying, in essence, '93Ananias, you will find this man on his knees. He knows you are coming. He even knows your name, and why you'92re being sent to him. He wants his eyes opened.'94

When did Saul receive this inner knowing? How did he receive this vision, this pure word from God? It came through fervent praying and supplication. In fact, I believe the Spirit'92s words to Ananias reveal what moved God'92s heart about Saul: '93Behold, he prayeth.'94

Saul had been shut in with God for three days, refusing all food and water. All he wanted was the Lord. So he continued on his knees all that time, praying and seeking God.

When I was growing up, my preacher father taught me, '93God always makes a way for a praying man.'94 There have been periods in my life when the Lord has provided indisputable evidence of this.

I was called to preach at eight years of age, when the Holy Spirit came upon me. I wept, prostrated, praying and crying out, '93Fill me, Lord Jesus.'94 Later, as a teenager, I prayed until the Spirit came upon me in divine intensity.

As a young pastor in Pennsylvania, a deep hunger rose up in me that caused me to pray diligently. Something in my heart told me, '93There'92s more to serving Jesus than what I'92m doing. Oh, Lord, I can'92t live so far beneath what I read in your Word. I'92d rather die than live as selfishly as I have.'94

So I spent months on my knees '97 weeping and praying for hours at a time '97 when finally the Lord called me to go to New York City to minister to gangs and drug addicts. That was more than forty years ago.

I also was on my knees eighteen years ago, seeking God with tears and loud crying, when he called me back to New York to start a church in Times Square. Once again, the Lord said, '93I want your will, David. I want you to have my mind, my concerns.'94

If I have ever heard from God '97 if I have any revelation of Christ, any measure of the mind of Christ '97 it came not through Bible study alone. It came through prayer. It came from seeking God in the secret closet. If there is any visible measure of Christ in me, it is because of spending time with him in the secret place.

I also know what happened to me when I became spiritually lazy and dry, neglecting prayer.

There are dire, awful consequences for neglecting prayer. '93How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation'94 (Heb_2:3). How can any of us who are in Christ expect to avoid the consequences of prayerlessness?

I know what it'92s like to have the highway of blessings in my life slowly become uncharted. I know what it'92s like to have the well of living water choked at the spring, and dry up every blessing in my life. That'92s what happened during my periods of carelessness about prayer.

In those times, my prayer life consisted only of meditation and quiet times. I had no effectual fervency in prayer. Why? The cares of life robbed me of my time with the Lord.

So, what happened to me in those times? Servanthood turned to self-pity. Ministry seemed like a burden, not a blessing. And misery upon misery flooded my soul.

I battled loneliness, weariness, unbelief, a troubling sense of having accomplished little in life, even thoughts of quitting the ministry. And the blessings of God were hindered: my relationships soured, I lost discernment, and fresh revelations of Christ no longer came.

Yet I also knew the glory of returning to be with the Lord in prayer. As soon as I returned to my prayer closet, the blessings began flowing again. I had joy and peace, relationships were healed, and God'92s Word came to life.

'93(Uzziah) sought God in the days of Zechariah'85and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper'94 (2Ch_26:5). '93(King Asa) sought the Lord'85and he hath given us rest on every side'94 (14:7). '93All Judah'85sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about'94 (15:15).

Scripture makes it clear: praying servants find blessing and rest on every side.

When your mind is set on pleasing Christ, you will never need the applause and approval of men.

If I seek to please man, I simply cannot be a servant of Christ. If my heart is motivated by the approval of others '97 if that'92s my mindset, influencing the way I live '97 my loyalties will be divided. I'92ll always be striving to please someone other than Jesus.

A few years after the apostle Paul was converted, he went to the church in Jerusalem to try to join the disciples there. '93But they were'85afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple'94 (Act_9:26).

The apostles knew Paul'92s reputation as a persecutor. '93[I] was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ: but they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed'94 (Gal_1:22-23).

Barnabas helped the apostles get over their fear of Paul, and they offered him fellowship. But Paul decided to itinerate among the Gentiles. Indeed, Paul is careful to describe his calling very clearly. He states that it came '93not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead'94 (1:1).

He then adds emphatically: '93I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ'85. I conferred not with flesh and blood'94 (1:11'9612, 16).

What Paul is saying here applies to all who desire to have the mind of Christ: '93I didn'92t have to read books or borrow men'92s methods to get what I have. I received my message, my ministry and my anointing on my knees.

'93I tell you, these things came while I was shut in with the Lord, interceding and fasting. Any revelation of Christ I have comes from the Holy Spirit, who abides in me and leads my life. I cannot allow myself to follow the trends and devices of others.'94

In fact, Paul points out that before he ever considered going back to Jerusalem, '93I went into Arabia'94 (1:17). He'92s saying, in other words: '93I didn'92t get my revelation of Christ from the saints in Jerusalem. Instead, I went into Arabia, to the desert, to have Christ revealed to me. I spent precious time there, being emptied of self, hearing and being taught by the Holy Spirit.'94

Please understand: Paul wasn'92t some proud, arrogant, lone-ranger preacher. We already know he had a servant'92s heart. He had emptied himself of all self-ambition, and had found total satisfaction in Christ.

Paul wouldn'92t need a single person to show him how to preach Christ, or how to win sinners to the gospel. The Holy Spirit was his teacher now.

Paul believed that the mind of Christ changes a person'92s affections for all time.

When Christ became his total satisfaction, Paul set his affection on heavenly things:

'93If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God'94 (Col_3:1-3).

Sadly, this isn'92t the practice of many Christians today. A church leader once confessed to me, '93My father was a dirt-poor missionary all his life. When he retired, he was still poor. He barely had enough to survive.

'93I was called to ministry as well, but I made up my mind I would not be like my father. I would be a minister who lived well. I vowed to make money and invest it, to constantly build up what I had.'94

This man did make money. But his motive was all wrong. He trusted in his own ability to build a future and care for his family. In the end, all of his investments went wrong, and he became embroiled in a controversy over his finances.

Thank God, eventually he was driven back to Christ. And he repented of setting his mind on the things of the world. Now he'92s set on having the mind of Christ, and things are changing for him.

When Paul wrote this message on the mind of Christ, he first delivered it to the church at Philippi.

It was to the Philippian Christians that Paul first introduced the truth, '93Let the mind of Christ be in you.'94 Paul wrote this message to them while imprisoned in Rome.

It was from a jail cell that Paul declared he had the mind of Christ, casting aside his reputation to become a servant of Jesus and his church. Now he wrote, '93I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state'94 (Php_2:19).

This is the thinking, the outworking, of the mind of Christ. Think about it: here was a pastor, sitting in jail. Yet he wasn'92t thinking of his own comfort, his own hard situation. He was concerned only about the spiritual and physical condition of his people. And he told his sheep, '93My comfort will come only when I know you'92re doing well, in spirit and body. So I'92m sending Timothy to check up on you, on my behalf.'94

Then Paul makes this alarming statement: '93For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state'94 (2:20). What a sad statement! As Paul wrote this, the church around him in Rome was growing and being blessed. Clearly, there were godly leaders in the Roman church. But, Paul says, '93I have no man who shares with me the mind of Christ.'94 Why was this so?

'93For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ'92s'94 (2:21). Evidently, there was no leader in Rome with a servant'92s heart '97 no one who had cast aside reputation and become a living sacrifice. Instead, everyone was set on pursuing his own interests. None had the mind of Christ. Paul could trust no one to go to Philippi to be a true servant to that body of believers.

Paul'92s words here cannot be softened: '93Everybody'92s out for himself. These ministers seek only to benefit themselves. That'92s why there'92s nobody here I can trust to naturally care for your needs and hurts, except Timothy.'94

As we look around the church today, we see the same things going on in many congregations. Ministers and parishioners alike are going after the things of this world: money, reputation, materialism, success. They are called to serve the church of Jesus Christ, but they don'92t know the mind of Christ. And Jesus'92 mindset is one of sacrifice, love and concern for others. In Paul'92s words, '93Everyone seeks his own agenda.'94

I look out at a world that is already spinning into chaos.

We live in a time when there is a worldwide threat of planned nuclear or chemical explosion. Millions of people'92s hearts are failing them for fear. And the church of Jesus Christ is being challenged as never before in history.

As I survey all this, I ask: '93Where is the voice of authority in Christ? Where are the shepherds, the congregations, the lay Christians who are thinking as Jesus does? Where are those who aren'92t pursuing their own agendas, but are seeking the mind of the Lord in these times?'94

Those who are focused only on bettering themselves are drifting away from intimacy with Christ. They may preach Christ, but they know him less and less. And they'92re opening themselves to great temptations.

I ask you: Is your church thriving, yet no one seems to be likeminded with Paul, setting their affections on Christ'92s concerns? What about you? When you see someone who'92s unemployed, do you pray for them? Do you seek ways to be of assistance, to serve?

Where are the young Timothy'92s today? Where are the young men and women of God who will reject the siren call to success and recognition '97 and instead set their hearts on fervent prayer, bringing everything in their lives under subjection to become true servants of Christ and his church?

Our prayer should be: '93Lord, I don'92t want to be focused only on myself in a world that'92s spinning out of control. I don'92t want to be concerned about my own future. I know you hold my path in your hands. Please, Lord, give me your mind, your thinking, your concerns. I want to have your servant'92s heart.'94 Amen.

By: David Wilkerson