I want to say it's also a great joy to see some old friends in the midst, and after the meeting, we will have a chance to fellowship together. I want to say that to meet friends is always a joy.
Now, the task of a preacher is not to tell you stories. The task of a preacher is to tell you what Jesus said. To open up his words clearly by the grace of God. And what does the Lord Jesus say? He said, my words, they are spirit, and they are life. That is, they have power by the Spirit of God to bring life into your soul. He said, my words, they are spirit, and they are life.
Now, today, I have to preach in such a way as to shorten the message. You see, in Montreal, we have translation, but the translation is simultaneous. It goes through the earphones. But we don't have the facility here for that. That means that I more or less have to shorten my message in half because of the translation. So that is why without a lot of introduction, I come straight to the words of the Lord.
What does the Lord Jesus say in this passage? He said, truly, I say to you. Now, this passage is important because the Lord emphasizes it's important by two means. He opens the passage by using the word "truly," which always emphasizes he's going to say something important. And in verse 15, he closes the statement with stress on the importance of this passage. He says, he who has ears to hear, let him hear. That means to say, if you have the spiritual discernment to understand what I am saying, then discern carefully what I have said.
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has never risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Born of women, that means, it's another way of saying any human being. Among human beings, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. He is not saying that in the spiritual world, among spiritual beings, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. He is only saying that among human beings, since the beginning of mankind till now, no one born of women, no human being, is greater than John.
Notice also that he does not say that John is greater than Abraham, or John is greater than David, or John is greater than Moses. He is only saying that those great men of God were not greater than John the Baptist. That is, they may have been equal to John the Baptist, but they were not greater than he.
Now I should explain the purpose of the message. In the next few weeks, God willing, I shall be expounding a series of messages developing one theme. And today I am simply preparing the background for those series of messages. I would like you to catch a vision of what our Lord Jesus expected his church to be. Put in a more direct form, what he expects each one of us to be. Put even more directly, what he expects you to be, if, that is, you are to be a Christian. He is saying what he came into the world to do. What kind of a church he died to bring into existence. When he died for you, what did he expect to happen to you? Did he expect simply that he died for you so that you can live any sort of life you want and get to heaven? He has no further expectation from you and from me than that? Did he expect no more than that you go to church once or twice a week? If you think that way, you don't know the Lord Jesus. You don't know the way he taught.
His expectation of each one of us is exceedingly high. That is the point that I am going to present to you today. He is talking about greatness. He expects and he will accomplish greatness in the life of everyone that he redeemed. Of everyone who hopes to be by the grace of God in his kingdom. Strangely enough, this is not much preached in these days. When you listen to the preaching of an evangelist, you get the feeling that all that Jesus died for was hoping that maybe you will raise your hand after the meeting. You get the impression that Jesus was hoping that maybe you will come to the front and so-called make a decision for Christ. And Jesus will thank you for being so kind to make a decision for him. And after that, by all means do whatever you like. Only come to church occasionally, once or twice a week. Put a little bit more money in the church. And the rest of the week you can forget about him.
If people think that that is what Jesus died for, they don't know Jesus. I want to say to those of you who think of baptism, I'm even willing to frighten you off. I want to say something that may scare you, so that when you make your decision, you can calculate the cost, as Jesus says here in Luke chapter 9. So that in your decision, you really know that you are going to become the kind of Christian that Jesus died for. I myself am thoroughly tired of wishy-washy Christians in the church. And I didn't even die for the church. It is Jesus who died for our sins and for your sins. If I am tired of it, I dare not think what he thinks of it. He laid down his life for a church like this? The kind of church that fights each other out there in the world? Where the elders rush off to the nearest restaurant to have a meal and play mahjong after the service? Where you can go into that church and nobody greets you? What kind of church is this? Jesus died for this? No wonder the Lord Jesus said, when the Son of Man, when I come again, will I find faith in the church? Will I find faithfulness in the church?
Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John the Baptist. What kind of greatness is the Lord Jesus talking about? Is he saying that among politicians, there never was anybody greater in politics than John? Is he saying that in the business world, not even Rockefeller was more successful than John the Baptist? Is he saying that in the sports world, there was no boxer, no sportsman greater than John the Baptist? That is, John would have knocked them all out if he got in the boxing ring with them? That if you can run the hundred meters in nine seconds, John would have beat you in eight seconds? No, of course he is not talking about that. He is not talking about that.
And so in what sense is he greater than everyone else born in this world? He is talking about spiritual greatness. In terms of spiritual greatness, no one exceeded the level of John the Baptist. What is spiritual greatness? Let us get every item very clear in our mind. When we say that Abraham was spiritually great, when we say that Moses was spiritually great, when we say that Isaiah was a great prophet of God, what do we mean by this word great in this context? Do we mean that Abraham was very tall? Do we mean that Moses was very muscular? But if we are talking about spiritual greatness, what do we mean? Do we mean that Isaiah was great because he was so eloquent that when he wagged his tongue, everyone's eyes just popped out? So what is the greatness?
When we speak of spiritual greatness, we know that we are speaking about a quality of life. When we say that Abraham was great, we are saying that Abraham was great because of his total obedience towards God. Even to the readiness, not so much only to give up his own life, which would have been easier, but to give up his only son to God. As Abraham was asked to offer up Isaac, it's much easier to give your own life than to give the life of your son. Nothing was too precious for Abraham to offer up to God. So we say he is a great spiritual man.
When we say that Moses is great, wherein was he great? Moses did some miracles. But that is not where the greatness of Moses was, was it? Again, the greatness of Moses consisted in the quality of his life. His meekness. His total obedience to God. More than that, his close relationship to God, whereby God was able to speak through him to the people. So that the people received the word of life, the word of God through Moses. Without him they would not have gotten that word. Again and again, he went up into the high mountain to commune with God, and then he brought back the word of God to the people. And God testified with mighty works that this was truly a servant of his.
Again, wherein was the greatness of Isaiah? Isaiah did no miracles, or very few miracles that we can notice. But again, his greatness consisted in his clear discernment of the word of God for Israel, and was able to deliver that word faithfully to the people of Israel.
And was able to notice in all this analysis of spiritual greatness, not one word has been said about status. Not one word has been said about status. David was not great because he was a king. There were many kings in Israel, but the Bible says that these kings were evil men, disobedient to God. The fact that they were kings counted nothing with God whatsoever. Their status did not protect them from their disobedience. So you see, greatness did not consist in that status. Now this is important for understanding our passage.
The Lord Jesus, let us remember what he is saying. He is saying that among those born of women, among human beings, no one is greater than John. John had no particular status. He didn't hold any rank in the nation of Israel. He had no office, no government office of any sort. What was he? He was simply a preacher. Wherein his greatness, it certainly has nothing to do with status.
This is not to say that in the Bible there is no such thing as status or rank. But no one can on the basis of rank claim greatness. You see, in the kingdom of God, rank is given or allotted on the basis of spiritual greatness. That is to say you cannot have any rank in the kingdom of God unless you prove worthy of that rank or that status. So that even if you gain that rank or that status, you will lose it if you prove unworthy of it.
Why am I spending time to explain this? Because there will be preachers who will tell you, why is the Lord saying that even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John? So the answer is very easy, they will say. You see, John was just a servant of God, but in the kingdom of God, we are sons of God. We have a rank. This is nonsense. Because this comparison is completely invalid. It is a failure to understand this principle concerning status and rank in the kingdom of God. You see, Israel was also called son of God. The title of son of God is not confined to Christians. You need only look at the Bible dictionary to understand that. If we want to talk about rank, then angels also are called sons of God. Even disobedient angels in Genesis 6 are called sons of God. The very people that God has rejected, they are still called sons of God. When Israel was disobedient to God, they were still called sons of God. That status holds nothing with God. It doesn't mean that because they are called sons of God, they will be saved. Why is this? Because they prove unworthy of the grace that was given to them. I have elsewhere expounded the Lord's teaching on worthiness, and I shall not repeat that here.
The principle here is this. The Lord is comparing spiritual greatness, not status. And we cannot compare two different things. Think again carefully what the Lord is saying. He is saying that of all those born of women, no one is greater than John. Yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John. That is a striking statement. Take a little time to absorb what the Lord is saying. John is spiritually so great that he is on the level of Abraham, Isaac, whatever you like to compare with. But the least one in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist.
If you are truly in the kingdom of God, the Lord is saying, you are greater than John the Baptist. Now notice another point carefully. He does not say that one day you will be greater than John the Baptist. That is to say, one day when you get to heaven, you will be greater than John the Baptist. Or one day in the new heaven and the new earth, when you are completely transformed in the kingdom of God, you will be greater. There is no future tense here. In the Greek and in the English translation correctly, the present tense is used: is greater. The least in the kingdom of God is greater. That is, not in some future age you will become greater, but in this present age you are. This thing becomes more staggering all the time. How are we going to cope with this? How are we going to understand these words?
Now notice further that the kingdom of God here is spoken of as present. We will see that in the next verse, in verse 12. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. If in some sense the kingdom of God is not present, no one can take it by force. No one can cause it to suffer violence. The basic idea is that there is something present that can be subjected to violence.
How is the kingdom of God present now? The kingdom of God in the Lord's teaching, and this will take too long to expound, but putting it very simply, the kingdom of God is present now in a hidden form. The Lord makes this clear by speaking about a hidden treasure or a pearl that you have to search for, that it does not stand obviously before your eyes. You have to look for it. So the kingdom of God is present in a hidden, that is in a spiritual, non-visible form. It is present in the coming of the Spirit of God, and present in the preaching of the word of God, when it is preached in the power of the Spirit. That is, when the word of God by the Spirit is being proclaimed to you, you can take hold of the kingdom of God by taking hold of the word of God. That is why John the Baptist was the first to proclaim the kingdom of God. Therefore, since the time of John the Baptist, through the proclamation of the kingdom, the word, the kingdom of God has been coming.
What then does it mean that people are doing violence to it? These words, of course, as any of you familiar with scholarly literature, have been a problem to scholars. They have been trying to wrestle with this verse. Many learned articles by various scholars have been written on this verse. Putting it very simply, because the kingdom of God, the word of God and the Spirit of God has been working with power, it produces a very strong reaction, a very violent reaction in people. That is, whenever the kingdom of God or the preaching of the word comes with power, it produces a very strong reaction in the hearers. And therefore calls forth a very extreme or radical response.
That is to say, when the word of God is preached with power, you either feel very uncomfortable in yourself, as very often happens with the preaching of the word, or you feel very happy, joyful. Your response to the word of God, to the kingdom of God, to the message of the kingdom, is either going to be one of love or of hate. But it is very difficult to remain neutral, that is, without response.
Therefore, I found many times when I expound the word of God, I find the same reaction among people. Many people feel very uncomfortable at first. Because they are frightened by the claims and expectations of the Lord. That is what the Lord said. Count the cost. Because there is going to be a cost to count.
You see, to those who come to the church in Montreal, there are two kinds of people. Or more correctly, two kinds of response. Some people come, and they hear the message, and they say, wow, they are angry. This scares me. I am going. I don't come back here again. So they literally run away from the word of God. They can't stand it. Other people stay on, and they know it's the truth, so they better stay and wrestle with it. And they keep fighting it, fighting it. Sometimes they fight it for one month. Sometimes for even nearly a year, they are still fighting. And finally, sometimes in the grace of God, God's grace wins through. And finally, they receive it with joy. Usually, they break down in tears, as often happens in our church. When they finally yield their life to the kingship, the lordship of Christ.
Now, you can see that the word of God produces this kind of radical or extreme reaction. It's always the case. And sometimes it has a stunning effect. When I preach in a church where they have not heard me before. When I open up the teaching of the Lord to them, it has a stunning effect. Why? Because they've been used to a kind of preaching that has watered down everything. Now they get it straight and it stuns them. They realize that they are faced with having to make a radical decision.
In fact, this preaching frightens even the pastors and preachers. Even the pastors got so terrified that they said this is too frightening. Because all the people were rushing to the counselors and asking for help.
But I am determined to be faithful to my Lord. Whether people love me or hate me doesn't matter to me. And I can tell you there are not a few. Many in fact, many people hate me thoroughly. In fact quite a few have made some attempts on my life. It doesn't matter to me. I shall preach God's word faithfully. It may cost me my life. It is essential. Because this is what Jesus died for. Am I going to hide this thing? But I ask each one of you not to take what I say simply because I said it. I ask you to look carefully at this word. I ask you to decide, is that what Jesus is saying? Ask yourself honestly, isn't that what Jesus is saying? If you dare to say this is not what Jesus said, then you can forget about the whole thing. But do not destroy your conscience in the process. Let the word of God speak to your heart.
So then let us look at this matter. He is saying that the least in the kingdom of God, that is you and me, the nobody in God's kingdom, these people are greater than John the Baptist. You look around the church today and you say, who is greater than John the Baptist? I don't see anybody around here these days who is greater than John the Baptist. At least today in the church it is very hard to find anybody even barely coming halfway to the level of John the Baptist. Never mind being greater than him.
Now let us ask. Some years ago, about four and a half years ago, I expounded this passage in Montreal. I expounded this passage by pointing out that the least is in the kingdom of God. In the teaching of the Lord Jesus, also the greatest. That is to say, the Lord Jesus said many times, he who is least in the kingdom, he who becomes the servant of all, will be the greatest in the kingdom. He will become the greatest. I pointed out that no one could be the greatest in the kingdom of God except Jesus himself. Because he himself chose to be the least, the servant of all. This is what Philippians chapter 2 tells us clearly. And therefore we saw that basically what this means is that Jesus is greater than John the Baptist. Because he being the greatest, he became the greatest through being the least.
So that exposition is correct, there's no doubt about that. But it isn't complete. There is more to it than that. And the point here is what is that more? I don't want to go through the exegetical details of this, especially when you have no training in exegetical details. You may find it hard to follow. Putting it very simply, we can say this. If the Lord merely wanted to say in this passage that he is greater than John the Baptist, he could have said that in a very direct manner. But if that's what he wanted to say, it makes no particular point in this passage, in this context. What is more, he would not have made his point, because it is doubtful if any who heard him say that would have understood that he was referring to himself.
You see, if you want to make a point, just make it so that your hearers understand the point. Because put in this way, his hearers would not have got the point. Moreover, the Lord tends to say his point very clearly and very directly. In fact, he makes this point very plainly in John 5 verse 36. Where he says that his testimony from God is greater than that of John the Baptist.
# Spiritual Greatness (Part 2)
Then your failure to respond to me will be even more serious in the eyes of God. He makes the same point in Luke chapter 11 verse 32 very plainly. There he says that those who responded to Jonah's preaching were saved. If they had failed to respond to Jonah's preaching, their consequences would have been disastrous. How much more serious for you that you have rejected the preaching of someone greater than Jonah? You see, he makes his point very clear. He doesn't go around in a circle to make his point.
Secondly, as to the greatness of those in the kingdom, he leaves it open to everyone. He has not closed off any position. In Matthew chapter 18 verse 4, for example, let me just read it to you so that you see it for yourself. He says, whoever, anybody, who humbles himself like this child, he, this whoever, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He does not say, I am already the greatest, so the most you can achieve is number two. You see, whoever is like this little child, humbles himself, will be greatest in the kingdom. He leaves this opportunity open to everyone. Again, he makes the same point in Matthew chapter 20 and verse 27. He said, whoever will be first in the kingdom is the one who will be servant of all. So the point here is that in the Lord's teaching, the least and the greatest is open to whoever.
Thirdly, we notice that he identifies himself always with the least in the kingdom. He says, insofar as you did not do it to one of the least of these my brethren, you didn't do it to me. You see that in Matthew 25 verses 40 and 45, for example. Luke chapter 9 verse 48.
Now fourthly, when we consider this matter of spiritual greatness, when you think of the apostle Paul and John the Baptist, who do you think is greater? I think none of us would have any doubt in our mind, both from the power of his preaching, the insight into the word of God, and the miracles manifested through Paul, that there is no shadow of doubt that Paul was greater. You see, so it is not only Jesus that is greater than John the Baptist in the kingdom, we see that Paul is greater too.
But the astonishing thing is that when Paul speaks in Philippians chapter 2, he seems to be speaking on the same principle. When he says that among the saints, he is the least. This mighty apostle Paul says, I am the least of you all. Now, do you think Paul is just being humble? He is not just being humble. He is serious. For example, in 1 Corinthians 15:9, he explains this clearly. He says, because I persecuted the church, I am the least of the saints. You see, he himself had done violence to the word of God. His reaction was so violent, he dragged Christians off to prison. He even had some put to death. For example, the stoning of Stephen. This event always haunted Paul. He said, I am not even fit to be called an apostle. The whole church, every one of you is better than me. Because none of you ever persecuted the church. None of you ever had anyone put to death. But I am the one. Therefore I am the least in the kingdom.
But this one who is least in the kingdom, because he is least, he is also great. Or consider the apostle John compared with John the Baptist. Who is greater? I believe none of you would have any doubt that the apostle John is greater. Not because of the apostolic office, but because of his spiritual greatness.
When you examine the Lord's teaching, you find the same phenomenon. It is amazing. The more I study, the more I find his concept of a disciple, of a follower, is quite astonishing. Today we have a concept of a believer that is very shallow. If you have that kind of concept, you haven't even begun to study the Lord's teaching. His expectation of what a believer should be is quite astonishing. Put another way, what Jesus expects of every one of you as a Christian is quite astonishing. So don't hide behind other people. Jesus is speaking to you directly. What does he expect of you?
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do. Now the second part is even more astonishing. And greater works than these. Greater works than I do, you will do. Talking about greater than John the Baptist. Greater works than the works I do, you will do. Does that need any explanation? The words are plain. Plain in English and plain in Chinese. Whatever language you like. We don't have to mess around with the words at all. Just speak straight to you.
What does the Lord say? Did he say that the apostles will do great works like I do? Did he say that prophets will do the works that I do? Don't run away from the words. Look carefully at it. He who believes in me. Any believer in me. Are you a believer in him? If you are, the Lord says, the works that I do, you will do.
Think carefully of this. What kind of a Christian does the Lord expect the believer to be? What kind of a person? He expects every Christian to be a reflection of himself. That is, his greatness will be implanted into every believer. The works I do, the Lord says. You have seen what I did. You will do it. Moreover, it would have been convenient if he had just used the word you. He would say, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's talking to the apostles, not to me. It's very comfortable. Unfortunately, he didn't use that word you. He said, he who believes. Anyone who believes.
You see his concept of the church? Indeed, Jesus is the greatest. He is greater than John the Baptist. Yes. But the beauty of it is that he wants to implant that greatness into every believer. So that you become a reflection of him. Wherever you go, people see Jesus. That is Paul's preaching too. Paul is simply preaching exactly the same thing, as we will see in a moment.
But there is something here that touches my heart. If the Lord simply had said the works that I do, the greatness, my greatness will be implanted into you. But what is he saying? He is saying greater works than what I have done you will do. Why does it touch my heart? It reveals the mind of Jesus. He did not reserve the greatest works to himself. I did the greatest. Now from now on, you can only do the second best. No. He said, I want to do greater works through you.
This kind of mentality, that somebody else will be greater than me, that he will do something greater than me, that is typical of Jesus' thinking. He is always willing to lower himself. And I always smile when some of those in the first training team once asked me, what happens if one day our preaching will be more powerful than yours? What if one day God will use us more mightily than you? What do you feel? I smiled and said, nothing will give me more joy than that. I would just thank my God for such a wonderful thing to happen. I would say, hurry up, do greater works than I do. The world is desperately in need of this.
Here is the beauty of Jesus' thinking. I could have done all the mighty works that anyone could ever do during my earthly ministry. I will not do it. I want to do greater works through you. Of course, we work only through his power. So through you, he will do the mighty works. What a wonderful Lord. No wonder he is greater than John the Baptist. He wants to impart his greatness.
This is not the only verse the Lord ever said about the believer. Another verse that I love to quote, of course I cannot quote them all, but another verse I love to quote is in John chapter 7, verse 38. This is what the Lord Jesus says. Again, notice the words, he who believes in me. He's not saying the apostles will do this. The mighty men of God will do this. Anyone who believes in me. What will they do? Out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.
You are a believer. The waters, living waters coming out of you? Not just to say rivers, plural, rivers. Let's not even talk about one stream. Is it coming out of your heart? Oh, people are telling me it's so hard to be a Christian. I'm fighting all the time, losing the battle all the time. What's Jesus saying? Every believer, rivers of living water. What kind of a Christian is the Lord Jesus expecting? Let me talk about greater than John the Baptist. There's no problem here. The deserts will blossom with roses with the rivers of water coming through.
This is what the training team, the first team, saw in Israel. You come down to the desert and what has happened? You drive and wonder where is the desert? The desert is being pushed back all the time because water is being brought into the desert and the desert becomes a fruitful land. So in my student days, the desert was much further north. At this time, we were moving south and said, hey, funny, I remember the desert was here. Where has the desert gone to? It's gone much further south. Rivers of water transformed the land. This desert of the world thirsts for living water. Yet when they get to church, they hear a preacher that tells them stories. Where is the living water? You expect them to grow on stories?
Now notice, in each case, the Lord is talking about a believer. And that is vital to notice. That is very important.
I said that the apostle Paul taught the same thing. It is wonderful to observe that the apostle Paul is always so faithful to the teaching of the Lord. And also wonderful to observe his insight into the teaching of Jesus. I have always said the apostle Paul is simply a commentator on the teaching of Jesus. He never said anything original. Let me just show you an example of this. Let us turn for a moment to Colossians chapter 1 verse 19.
In Colossians chapter 1, the apostle Paul is explaining and expounding the greatness of Jesus, the spiritual greatness of Jesus. Exactly as we saw in this passage of the Lord's teaching. And having gone through this description of the astonishing greatness of Jesus, in this you can read for yourself from verses 15 to 18. In verse 15, he begins with the words, Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn, that is the eldest son, the highest position in all creation. In verse 19, he explains why. For in him, that is in Jesus, all the fullness of God, notice this term, fullness of God, was pleased to dwell in him.
Why is he so great? This spiritual greatness because God's fullness, God's Holy Spirit and all his fullness dwells in Jesus. Indeed, not only the Holy Spirit, but the whole person of the Godhead dwells in him. As he says in chapter 2, verse 9 of Colossians. So why is he great? Because God's fullness dwells in him.
Remarkably, this is exactly what he also says of the Christian. Just a little earlier in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 19. In verse 14 he prays for the church, the Ephesian church. And what does he pray in this last sentence? In the 19th verse, he prays for the church, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses, that is exceeds all knowledge, that, notice the term, you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Why was Jesus so great? The whole fullness of God was in him. What does Paul pray for? That same fullness in Jesus will be in you. Exactly the same words of the Lord Jesus, now put in a different way.
In the next chapter, chapter 4 and verse 13, he goes on to say, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of what? The fullness of Christ. That you become like Christ in all his fullness.
But there is more. The apostle Paul says that he directs his whole energy. What for? To bring some conversions? He says he will use all his energy to produce what? Let him tell you in Colossians chapter 1 verse 28. Him, that is Christ, we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man, every believer, perfect in Christ. The whole fullness of Christ. He says we proclaim Christ. We encourage everyone, we teach everyone, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. That is what he works for. He tells you that in verse 29. For this, to present every Christian with the fullness of Christ, for this I toil, striving with all the energy which God mightily inspires in me.
For this. Because he wants his salvation to reach every person in this world. What did these mighty men of God in the Old Testament do? Why were they great? They became channels of living water to the multitudes. To bring salvation to those who perish. God cares about the world. But they will not be saved as long as they see a wishy-washy Christianity. They will not be saved as long as they see you without the fullness of Christ. And if they are not saved, let me tell you, my dear brothers and sisters, you are going to answer for it. Because Jesus died to implant this greatness in you. And you failed his purpose. Therefore, the people looked at you and they saw no light.
You are to be the light of the world, the Lord Jesus said right early in the Sermon on the Mount. So that those who sit in darkness can see a great light, not just some light, some dim light, a great light. That they may be saved. I dare not stand in God's presence on that day if I fail of his purpose. I am astonished that Christians do not have this fear of God in their hearts.
God is exceedingly loving. But he will not change his plan to suit your convenience. His love is expressed in the fact that he wants to save the world through you and through me. And therefore, if this world is not precious to you, forget about being a Christian. I don't beat around the bush with my words. If you claim to be a believer and out of you flows no living water, forget about being a Christian. If you claim to be a believer and the works that Jesus did, the life that he lived is not manifest in your life, call it a day, forget about the whole thing. Because in the Bible, there is no Christian who is not a servant of God.
Peter says it so plainly in 1 Peter 2:16. Live, he says to all the Christians he's writing to, live as servants of God, because that's what you are. Servants of God was the title for the prophets of the Old Testament. For the great men of God, they were all called servants of God. It is the title that Paul most highly treasured. I am a servant of Jesus Christ, a slave of Jesus Christ.
Why is there not this power in the church today? Because the cross is not in the life of the Christian. It is precisely this cross in the life of the Christian that is the key of power, which I shall be expounding, God willing, in the next two weeks or so. Let us pray.