Where Are The Privates?

In this generation everyone wants to be a general in God’s army. Prophecies abound that tell people they will be rich and finance the Kingdom. They will have a worldwide dynamic ministry. They will win thousands to the Lord and so on. No one seems to get a prophetic mission to be a good parent, a respected worker in some career, a deacon or an awesome spouse. They are all glory positions that are prophesied, but who gets the glory? Where are the privates and sergeants in God’s army?

If you cannot serve well as a private or sergeant do not expect to be promoted to Captain or General. Indeed, many ministers that have problems in their churches may have them because they have a church full of privates with the same attitudes as they had when they were under the leadership of a different Captain. They might be called buck Privates because they buck everything the Captain says. They are like the Corinthians that even had the gall to question Paul’s apostleship when he had led them to the Lord.

While there are some great Captains and Generals in the Word, there are also many Privates and Sergeants. Indeed, Jesus called us to be Privates if we wanted to be great in the Kingdom.

Luke 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Contrary to our corporate thinking, the way up is down. The least shall be great.

Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 

44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

Jesus furthers clarifies the concept of least being great when He says that to be chief, you have to be a servant of all. The lowest servant, which is the place the Lord took when He washed the feet of the Disciples. Not just a servant, but the lowest. By the way, minister meant servant as in one who waits on tables. It was later assigned to pastors because they were to be God’s servants serving His people, not Lords of the flock to be glorified or served. No demanding a limousine to pick you up at the airport with your beverage of choice and the best room in the motel and other frivolous luxuries. No kissing of rings and bowing down to them. Respect, yes. Glorification, no.

Acts 14:11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 

12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 

13  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 

14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 

15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 

16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 

Paul had to tell them they were men just like them, not gods. Only Jesus is God in the flesh. King Herod accepted praise from the people who said he spoke as a god and not a man. An angel struck him down and he was eaten of worms. It is good that God has not sent angels like that lately, or has He from time to time?

Acts 10:25  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 

26  But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 

We have a natural tendency to exalt men. Hence we have our Hollywood and sports celebrities. We also have celebrity preachers. We have to beware of celebrity preachers. After all, there were nine potential kings by man’s standard but God chose the one they did not even consider a private and made him a king. There were many grand prophets in the king’s courts and yet God chose a picker of sycamore fruit and a man whose name we do not know to call those much higher in rank to task. We love the Hall of Faith and know the names and their deeds, but we forget that the unnamed and forgotten of men are there as well.