Page 13 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU
WHICH WAS ALSO
IN CHRIST JESUS, Jesus must have taught His disciples well this
principle of servanthood. Look carefully at how
WHO…MADE HIMSELF
OF NO REPUTATION, five of the New Testament writers identify
TAKING THE FORM OF themselves as they open their epistles.
Although three of the five were definitely
A SERVANT…
holding the highest office in the government of
HE HUMBLED HIMSELF…” God’s church, that of an Apostle, (Jude and
Phil. 2:5-7
Timothy are debatable) they listed themselves
first and foremost as servants of Jesus Christ:

“PETER, “JUDE,

A SERVANT A SERVANT

AND APOSTLE OF OF JESUS CHRIST…”
JESUS CHRIST…” Jude 1

2 Pet. 1:1

Segments of today’s church leaders “JAMES,

A SERVANT
seem to cherish being introduced with lofty OF GOD AND THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST…” “PAUL AND TIMOTHY,
titles. Pastors place in front of their names
SERVANTS
the preferred title “Reverend” when only God James 1:1

is worthy of reverence. Television OF JESUS CHRIST…”
personalities flash on the screen, Phil. 1:1

“Apostle such and such” or “Prophet so and so.” Not that these

governmental gifts are not for today, but I don’t believe they

should be blatantly printed in large print on business cards or

seminar brochures. If one is truly an Apostle or Prophet in

God’s church today, the people will know and recognize those gifts without personal promotion. I pastor a local

church and have a calling to teach God’s Word. I reluctantly accept the use of these titles (pastor and teacher)

because they state what functions I do for God’s Kingdom. However, I prefer to be known best as “a servant of

the Most High God.” It is very interesting to note that this phrase, “servants of the Most High God,” appears

twice in Scripture, once in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. It is most noteworthy that both

of these references were spoken by the mouth of pagan unbelievers who recognized true servants of God

when they saw them:

“THEN Dan. 3:26 “...A CERTAIN SLAVE
NEBUCHADNEZZAR GIRL POSSESSED
WENT NEAR THE
MOUTH OF THE WITH A SPIRIT OF
BURNING FIERY DIVINATION...
FURNACE AND
SPOKE, SAYING, FOLLOWED PAUL
“SHADRACH, AND US, AND CRIED
MESHACH, AND
ABED-NEGO, OUT, SAYING,
SERVANTS OF ‘THESE MEN ARE
THE MOST HIGH GOD, THE SERVANTS OF
COME OUT, THE MOST HIGH GOD,
AND COME HERE.’ ” WHO PROCLAIM TO US

THE WAY OF

Acts 16:16-17 SALVATION.’ ”

These two testimonies remind me of a similar story of the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who
attempted to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus that Paul preached.” The demons replied, “Jesus I know,
and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:14). Jesus and Paul were servants of God, these men were not.