Stepping Up To A New Level Of Power! Series

24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.

Seeking our own desire does not bring harmony or unity to the body, but instead it brings about disharmony and disunity! The other disciples saw and heard what was going on and were very upset with these brothers… with their nerve… with their request… with their attitude…

The implication here is that there was now a rift in the ranks… there was now a section of the disciples that did not want to be included with the ‘rest’ of the disciples other than being their superior!

Far TOO often in our fellowships today, we believers have those in our midst that seek to please THEIR desires and they cause great pain and strike down unity in the church!

Christ’s priestly prayer in John 17 called out to God for unity and harmony among His followers… in fact, harmony and love for one another shown through that unity was how the world could tell we were believers… it is how the world can tell we are the followers of Christ!

But far too often that is NOT true in the church, and the vision we give off to the world around us, especially to others within the fellowship is that our desires are more important than the unity and harmony of God’s church! And the sad commentary about this is that the power we use to influence this is seen by the world and it turns the world off to the things of God and the world of Christianity!

Now preacher, you said we needed to step up to a NEW level of power. What do you mean when you say that? Well, when I say step up to a new level of power… I am NOT saying that we have another source to step up to… we have the source!

In Christ we have all the power we will EVER need, but we need to step up to utilizing the power He has granted us… in the way He desires it to be used… to enhance and grow the Kingdom! Not to separate and divide and wall off…the Kingdom to the world around us!

Did you know that we are called to be RECONCILERS! We are called to the ministry of reconciliation! We are called to be bridge builders to the outside world! We are NOT called to build up walls of division but bridges of inclusion and invitation to the Gospel of Christ!

Are you a bridge builder OR are you building up walls? We are called to step up to using the power source of the Holy Spirit to GROW the kingdom and to share the Gospel… This means that there are going to be times when we don’t fully understand why things are done a certain way… but we are going to do them anyway…out of our love and obedience to Christ!

But preacher HOW can we do this… How can we step up? How can I, a believer in today’s world, in our church today… how can I step up? Well when we look at this passage one more time we can see that Jesus lays forth a template or blueprint to how believers are called to USE their power for the Kingdom of God!

Let’s read v.25-26:

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.