RCCG Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast

"Jesus...laid aside His garments." Jn

13:3-4 NKJV

When it came to serving others, Jesus went first. He "rose from supper... laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself... poured water into a basin...began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded...Peter said to Him, 'Lord, are You washing my feet?'" (vv. 4-

6 NKJV). Try to imagine God incarnate with an apron on, kneeling to wash the feet of those who were unworthy. The Bible says, "Jesus... laid aside His garments." If you want to serve others, you must be willing to lay aside your image, your comfort, and your agenda. By laying aside His garments, Jesus demonstrated that God has no time for form or fashion. Real ministry isn't image conscious; it's done with complete disregard for distinction. But Peter didn't get it! He was embarrassed to think Jesus would let Himself be seen in such a demeaning light. So, Jesus said: "You call Me Teacher and Lord... If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you...If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (vv. 13-15, 17 NKJV). There are certain things in your life that must be set aside in order to serve others and do the will of God. If you want to be blessed, don't join those who delight in their own speeches and who trumpet their own accomplishments. Set aside everything you privately glory in and pick up the towel of servanthood. Don't wait for someone else to do it. You go first!

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"They go from strength to strength." Ps

84:7 NIV

The phrase "discover your strengths" was made famous by researcher Marcus Buckingham in what's referred to as the

"Strengths Movement." It calls us to stop focusing on our weaknesses and name and develop our strengths-which reflects God's design. God didn't say, "Moses, your craftsmanship skills are weak. Let's have you stop leading this people for a while and try to become more like Bezalel." (See Ex 31:1-5).

The Bible speaks of going "from strength to strength." And a strength is an activity which when you engage in it, makes you feel strong.

Certain activities will thrill and challenge you; others will bore and drain you. Once you discover this, you're not simply engaged in

"career planning," you're acknowledging

God's handiwork and your own core strengths. It matters that you do this, because the single little patch of creation you're responsible for stewarding is your own life. Dorothy Sayers said: "Work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker's faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God." What if your job doesn't fulfill your need for purpose or utilize your God-given gifts? Sometimes necessity requires that. That's why the Bible says,

"Whatever you do, do well" (Ecc 9:10 NLT). In the meantime, pray for opportunity, prepare yourself, and volunteer in an area that utilizes your strengths. Sometimes people who don't enjoy the work they do are miserable, and they make everybody around them miserable too. But God expects better from you!

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"When you give. don't shout about it." Mt

6:2 TLB

Jesus said: "Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to a beggar, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you.. they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly-don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. And your Father who knows all secrets will reward you" (vv. 1-4 TLB). Give generously and gladly but keep it to yourself.

It's nobody's business but yours and God's.

And if you make it somebody's business, you immediately have your reward and forfeit the opportunity to receive something even greater when you arrive in heaven. And you will receive it because, "God...will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people" (Heb 6:10 NIV).

Others may not notice your generosity, or quickly forget it, but God won't, and He will reward you for it. The next time you're sitting in church, realize there are faithful people all around you who have given and given again without ever letting it be known. You may even be one of them! Every Sunday you rub shoulders with some of the greatest givers of our day, and they do it "as to the Lord" (Col

3:23) by keeping it to themselves and waiting for His promised reward. Others may never know-but God will never forget.

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"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our

Lord." 2Pe 3:18 NIV

When Peter exercised enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water, he sank and looked worse than any of the other disciples.

When he tried to defend Jesus, he cut off a man's ear. When he promised to be loyal, he fell flat on his face. When he tried to advise Jesus, he was the devil's advocate (See Mt

16:22-23). Eventually he became a leader in the church-but he got worse before he got better. And his behavior didn't surprise or discourage Jesus one bit. He will never stop helping a follower of His who is sincerely seeking to grow. He will always lead us forward in growth; but growth requires risk, and risk sometimes means failure. Jesus knows that, but He never gives up on a student just because he or she fails. For example, if you haven't been confronting people when you should, once you start, the odds are that you will do it badly. If you have rarely encouraged people, your initial attempts may be clumsy. If you have never shared your faith, the first time you do, you may stumble all over yourself. Go ahead and stumble! Failure isn't about falling down; it's about refusing to try. One man told his pastor,

"If I were God, I wouldn't put up with someone like me." The pastor replied, "Then be glad you're not God, and I'II be twice as glad-for we would both be sunk." As long as you hunger for God, He will work with you and in you. Growing in grace means growing spiritually through the stages of childhood, adolescence, and into maturity. So, don't give up on yourself--God won't!

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"When you pray, go into your room." Mt

6:6 NIV

Jesus said, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (v. 6 NIV). The Christian life could be compared to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was divided into three compartments. There was an outer court to which everyone had access.

And you too have an outer court; the place you go to work, shop, and play. It represents your outward appearance or public persona, the part of you everyone sees. The tabernacle also had an inner chamber called the Holy Place, where most people weren't permitted to go. You also have a holy place where designated people like close friends or family can enter. You decide who comes in and who doesn't, and no one can force their way.

Certain people may have authority over you vocationally or financially, but that doesn't automatically allow them entrance. When it comes to that inner chamber, you get to decide who comes and goes. The third compartment in the Old Testament tabernacle was the Most Holy Place, a very small, carefully guarded place, deep inside. It was accessed only by the chief priest, and there was room for only one person and God. You have one of those places inside you as well.

We sometimes refer to it as "the secret place" because only God is allowed in. And here is a truth you need to know: Your level of peace, joy, contentment, guidance, and victory is regulated by the amount of time you spend with God in your secret place. Prioritize it, protect it, and spend time there each day.

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Why? Two reasons: (1) You need time, maturing, and equipping so that the word you have received can take root within you, grow, and be fulfilled in the way God wants. 

(2) Sometimes God takes time to prepare the hearts of those He is sending you to. Paul writes: "Immediately after my calling-without consulting anyone around me and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was -I got away to Arabia...It was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter...Then I began my ministry" (vv. 17-21MSG).

21 MSG). Paul knew people would find his calling unbelievable, and he had the wisdom to wait. He allowed God to go ahead of him and orchestrate the circumstances. And while he was waiting, he allowed the word he had received to grow and make changes in his life.

Then, and only then, did he start doing what he was called to do. Paul didn't try to convince anybody; he let God do that. And the end result? "Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!" (v. 24 MSG). 

Don't move until God gives you the green light.

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"If you willingly obey me, the best... will be yours." Isa 1:19 CEV

People think they can't hear from God, when in reality, there are things they already know He wants them to respond to, and so far they haven't done it. The quicker you do whatever the Lord has already told you to do, the sooner He will reveal the next step to you. His promise is, "If you willingly obey me, the best...will be yours." Hearing from God is something you only develop with practice-especially if you're a talker! That's why He says, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps

46:10). Our flesh is full of energy; we always want to be doing something, and it can be difficult for us to be still. Don't just talk to God when you need something; spend time listening. He will open up many issues if you will just be still before Him. You say, "I don't think I have ever heard God talk to me." Maybe that's because you haven't learned to listen! When you ask God for something, tune your "receiver." Even if He doesn't respond at that very moment, rest assured He will in due time. You may be doing some ordinary task when He decides to speak to you. And if you have honored Him by learning to listen as you fellowship with Him, He will speak to you at exactly the right time. Perhaps you have spent years going your own way. If so, don't despair; it's not too late to change direction. If you're willing to obey God, He will guide you on the exciting journey of learning to hear from Him every day of your life.

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"Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him." 1Jn 2:27 MSG

When you pray diligently and believe you have heard from God, but then you start asking other people what they think, you're honoring their opinions above God's. That kind of mindset will prevent you from developing a relationship where you constantly hear from Him. You need to trust Him. If you have made bad decisions in the past, this can be difficult.

But you must learn to listen to God without constantly needing reassurance from others.

The Bible says: "The anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so]... you have no need that anyone should instruct you... His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true...so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him" (v. 27

AMPC). That doesn't mean you don't need teaching and instruction when it comes to understanding God's Word; it means you have God's Spirit living inside you and that He will guide and direct you personally. You might have to ask somebody for advice from time to time, but you needn't constantly go to other people and ask them about decisions you're making for your life. If you're ever going to develop the ability to listen to God and be led by His Spirit, you must start making your own decisions-and trust the wisdom God has deposited in your heart. The devil wants you to think you're not capable of hearing from God. Don't believe him. The Holy Spirit who dwells inside you will give you confidence, comfort, and counsel for your life. So, learn to listen to Him.

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"Christ.makes all of its parts work perfectly." Eph 4:16 CEV

You have probably heard that unless you're the lead dog, the view seldom changes. The problem is, however, not everybody can be the leading man or woman. And it's better to be a working actor than an out-of-work star; at least you get to be in the play! Besides, most great achievers, if they are honest, will tell you they couldn't have done it alone; they needed the contributions of each member of the team. So if God has placed you in a supporting role today, accept it without complaining. Do your part to make the entire production stronger. Not only will you learn all about team spirit, and that's important for when you do get to lead, you will also learn the Christlike virtue of humility. The Bible says you will "grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body... [who] holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly" (vv. 15-16 CEV). So, put your heart into your part. Stop and think about how you're living your life. Are you giving it everything you've got, or are you holding out, hoping somebody else will recognize your talent? It's not about the greatness of the part you have been given, it's about how much effort you put into doing it. If God has placed you in a supporting role rather than a starring one, it's because He recognizes that the team needs vour particular strengths and talents.

Ask Him to help you accept the role He has given you-whatever it is--and learn to fulfill it with gratitude and dignity. Contribute from wherever you are today.

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