“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall 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

A Different Way. These words of Jesus provide an example that is totally different from the human framework we inherited from man’s fall. Stop and really think about it. It’s incredible that God was born in a manger and not in a palace. Jesus did the opposite of what the people of the time thought revolutionaries were supposed to do—He didn’t brag or try to get praise—He came to serve. And through that, He altered the eternal course of humanity.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

Refreshing. Sometimes it seems as if seasons of refreshing elude us, but they are available when we abandon our constant introspection and preoccupation with “me, me, me” and get out and serve others. I’m most miserable when I have my arms crossed in inaction. But when I recognize that God has done something good through my life, when I become grateful, when I praise and worship God—I am refreshed.

Acts of Love. God wants to anoint your daily routine. Start praying on a daily basis: “Here I am, God, use me,” and let the Holy Spirit use you. The little things you do for people—a text, a thank you, a door held open, an extra tip—are the big things. If we function in these little acts of love with the heart of a servant, we can create a revolution in our world.

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2011 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Don’t underestimate your life. Jesus is the head of the Church and we are the body. While the world celebrates the visual part of the body, the seemingly unimportant things are what really make the body tick.

But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable. 1 Corinthians 12:20-23

Jesus designed the Church to have variety, and each gift is important. If the little toe is missing from the foot, the whole body finds it hard to balance. Christianity is not about the performance of one celebrity or the function of a few “cool people,” but it is the “proper working of each individual part” (Ephesians 4:16)—that means you and your unique gifts are crucial, even if you feel like you are just a little toe!

There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served. God works through different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purposes through them all. Each man is given his gift by the Spirit that he may make the most of it. 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 J.B. Phillips Translation

The best way to understand God’s plan for the Church is to start with yourself and figure out what God’s particular gift-download is in you. As you meditate on the Word and see yourself how God sees you, you will break out of insecurity, painful comparisons, and others’ molds, and be who God called you to be!

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. Romans 12:2 J. B. Phillips Translation

Look to Jesus,
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright ©2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. JB Phillips reference: Copyright ©1958-1972 by JB Phillips; The Gospels. All rights reserved.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded. Ezekiel 47:3-5

There’s rich symbolism in those words that God inspired Ezekiel to write. The river is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and God has called every one of us believers to flow in it.

Ankle deep water symbolizes our walk in the Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Every day we are being invited to get out of our beds and not let our primal instincts govern us but, instead, to walk by the Spirit.

Knee deep water reveals the importance of getting on our knees and praying. “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). We are at our best when we make our prayer life central.

Loin deep water represents serving in the Spirit. Your loins are the part of your body where your leverage comes from, and when these muscles are being worked, you have a greater bounce in your step. We are to translate our walk and prayer in the Spirit into action by serving in the Spirit. “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials . . .” (Acts 20:19).

Enough to swim in. Now you are completely saturated with the rivers of living water: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Let’s get filled with the Holy Spirit and let it spill out into all of life.

Jesus said, “‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”’ But this He spoke of the Spirit.” (John 7:37b-38). Christianity is not meant to be a sub-culture contained in a reservoir, but a mighty flowing river of God bringing healing to the nations.

Jump in – the water’s fine!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.