"The Greatest in the Kingdom "

Luke 9:46-48

⁴⁶ Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. ⁴⁷ But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

Mathew 18: 

 18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

² Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. ³ Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁴ So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

⁵ “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf^[ is welcoming me. ⁶ But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

⁷ “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. ⁸ So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

¹⁰ “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

Luke  21

²¹ Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. ²² “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

²³ Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁵ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? ²⁶ If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. ²⁷ I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Luke 43

While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.” ⁴⁵ But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Now as we look on at the written accounts of Jesus and His Disciples, it is very clear that in that day they too were acting as we do today, in all of our human desires and carnal outburst of jealousy,  and vain glory, measuring success in rank and precedence.

It seemed that while Jesus was battling with His destiny to the cross, they like children were arguing who was going to be greatest in the Kingdom of Jesus here on earth, seemingly like we are, they only seemed to hear and see what was agreeable to them, notice each time the disciples began to argue this issue,

Jesus taught them by the example of a child, why is this?

Several reasons stand out, one is, that a child's humility is what Jesus was trying to portray...you can dIscipline a child  and they might cry and pout for a while but then come right back and love you as if you had done nothing, the spirit of a child is always forgiving. 

The next thing I want to point out is that younger children know nothing of rank nor prejudice.    The richest child will play with the poorest and dirtiest child, they know nothing of color nor race, each one excepts the other without distinction or ambition.

To them it just a friend to play with, and they all stand on equal ground.

What we see here is the Master of all wisdom and knowledge, teaching His disciples the most valuable lesson of His kingdom.

For He saw the need to teach them this valuable lesson, that He Himself was living out before them, in that The GREATEST one in the kingdom, THE KING Himself in all humility and self-sacrifice would lay Himself down as a lamb to slaughter, as His message rings loud and clear there must be a sacrifice before there is a heavenly reign.

And then He portrays the greatest in His kingdom must walk in the humility of a child,  standing in equality, not measuring success by rank or status,but focusing only on the task at hand.

Without fear of the unknown just knowing the destination and going there, notice a very young child has no sense of fear, they will unknowingly get into danger, that is why as parents  we are  protective of our children, to keep them from harm.

Being hurt and expereincing pain is what creates fear in us.

As a child grows and experiences hurts and pains along with this new knowledge comes the effect of fear upon them that brings them into the clutches of it's paralyzing bondage.

Jesus in all His great wisdom, portrayed it all in just these few litte words.

For He spoke about the great love and care that should be given to little children, how they should be nurtured, cared for and protected and He also made clear that those who willingly brought hurt to one of these little children would bring upon himself damnation.

So, what today can we learn about what it means to be in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And how far away have we in the modern church of today drifted away from the these simple teachings that Jesus gave His disciples in hopes that it would shape the foundation  of the future church.

Oh!! The crimes of ambition and self-glory, it is the fuel for all the murderous acts of crime in the past and in the future, it produced the painful history of nations  and leaders  that killed the innocent to protect their positions of pride, rank and riches.

These are the things today that will bring destruction in the world and in the church.

Wake up my little ones and shake yourselves, and to you, nations that are killing millions of babies,  you are breeding destruction upon your lands and your countries and your poeple.

You are placing yourself out of harmony with God, who's entire kingdom is exemplified in these words:

" Take heed "said He" that ye despise not one of these little ones,

for they are loving and humble but you are selfish and full of pride.

Put away, henceforth and forever, vain ambitions and selfish motives and pride, and let the meek and gentle spirit of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ take possession of your heart.

Let us take on the attributes of the GREAT TEACHER!!!

Overcome Hatred with LOVE

Forgive that you may be Forgiven

Be a  Giver unto others,  Break away from selfishness and self seeking desires that seek glorification for your self.

Be an Encourager to the bretheren, lift them up when they fall and help them make it the rest of the way.

Sow blessings into others and you will reap blessings for yourselves, for in giving good things you shall also reap good things.

Be a lover of God rather than men, seek only to please Him, for this is right.

Walk in all honesty and integrity, in the TRUTH of God's word and bind it on the tables of your heart.

Seek  Him in all of His Mighty  acts of power, walking in Faith and do not doubt before the Lord, but Believe!!!

For such is the kingdom of God, seek Him above all things today and align your life with His word and exemplify Him in your daily life, for the kingdom of God is within you, all that you are and all that you hope to be.  

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments

For the least in this kingdom here on earth, will be the GREATEST in the kingdom of heaven.

 The more of your selfish nature you give away to take on His divine nature of love and self sacrifice, shall give unto you a crown to be the GREATEST in the kingdom of heaven.

Mathew 19:28

²⁸ Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.

There is a place just for you reserved in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Seek today to find it.  Ask God the giver of Great wisdom and knowledge and once you have a clear direction, DO NOT WAVER!!!

If you set out to do all He has called you to do and suddenly fear grips your heart, cast it away, For fear is a device of satan to hold you back.

For God is not the author of fear but of courage and a settled heart and mind.

Fear is a cloud of dust raised by the devil, designed to cloud your vision and blind you to all the good things God has placed in your path,

and you will find them, just continue the journey, walking forward in FAITH!!!

For the suffering of this present time will be redeemed in that heavenly home.

Yes!!! We have a heavenly home, that GREAT city where JESUS is the light.

What a Glorious Day that will be.

When my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by HIs grace, and when He takes me by the hand and leads me to that Promised Land, WHAT A DAY, GLORIOUS DAY, THAT WILL BE.  MY JESUS, HE WILL BE

             " THE LIGHT OF THAT CITY"