Open heavens Devotional Saturday January 21 2017

HOW SELFLESS ARE YOU?

Memorise:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28

Bible in One Year:
Mark 12-13; Isaiah 18

Read: Matthew 20:24-28
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Message:
The Holy Spirit made it clear that some of the prevailing characteristics of people living in the last days would be selfishness, self-centredness and inconsideration for others (2 Timothy 3:1-5). But for those of us who are the elect of God, He says this to us:
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
 Philippians 2:4
If you are fully focused on yourself and hardly think of others, you have been overtaken by the bug of the last days. If all your prayer points are centred on yourself and your family, you will need the further work of grace to sanctify you. When you are filled with the compassion of Jesus, other people's interests will be paramount in your heart. You will not want to offend them, and you will think more about their wellbeing. You will also intercede for people with various challenges in your extended family, church, community, state or nation. If you are struggling with helping others, you need to allow the Holy Spirit work on your mind to bring it in conformity with the mind of Christ.
When you manifest the mind of Christ, genuine humility will be seen in you. The mind of Christ will affect the way you run your business, ministry, family, etc. It will affect your love for those under you and the level of sacrifice you are willing to make for God and His people. Jesus could give up His life for many because of the kind of mindset He had. If you have the mind of Christ, regardless of the number of signs, wonders and miracles God has done through you, you will be unable to boss people around, virtually expecting people to worship you. If you have the mind of Christ, you will be a true servant leader, and you will obey God without conditions or limits. Only the fellow manifesting the mind of Christ will be able to give anything the Lord requests of him or her. With this mindset, just like Paul, you will be prepared to suffer any hardship, take any risk and even lose your life for Jesus (Acts 21:8-14). With the mind of Christ, you will be able to say like Paul,
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Philippians 1:21

Hymn:
Sing Hymn 9

Prayer Point:
Ask that the Spirit of holiness will be manifest in the Body of Christ worldwide.