True Discipleship!

The True Costs of True Discipleship While Living in an Upside-Down World!

Unrestrained Sin in the Nation!

When it comes to John the Baptist, we can say that it was evil politics and male and female lust which played the major part which led to cutting his head off.  

The sin nature of men and women uncontrolled by Christian principles and submission to Christ will result in political corruption and sexual deviance in a nation’s culture especially in high and low leadership positions.

The unrestrained sin nature will eventually lead to the decline and fall of a nation.  In other words, its (head) government will eventually experience decapitation.

 Call to Repent!

John the Baptist was a holy prophet of God sent by God to the people to call them to account for their waywardness and to prepare the way of the Lord.  His message was “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven (God) is at hand.”   

After John confronted King Herod Antipas about marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias, he became someone Herod wanted to eliminate (destroy). Unsaved cultures do not love the true messengers of God who speak God’s Truth and His righteousness. They loath them!  This was true in John's time and remains so today.

Herodias was also thoroughly disgusted with John for her marrying King Herod Antipas for she was a divorced women which the law of the Jews did not permit. Therefore, in her wicked heart, she wanted John dead.  She wanted his head cut off and served her on a platter.

Political Corruption and Lust!

So, we have King Herod Antipas who married a divorce woman which contributed to the beginning of his downfall. He lusted to have Herodias’ ex-wife of his brother. But his bad decisions did not stop here.

We will also note that King Herod Antipas corrupted his kingship by promising half his kingdom to Herodias’s daughter, Salome, if she would dance for him at his dinner party.  Let it be said that uncontrollable lusts or passions will bring any man or woman down no matter what status in a society.

   So, at the king’s dinner party, Herodias persuaded her daughter to dance for the king, hoping he would grant her request for John the Baptist’s head.   Indeed, Herodias and her daughter succeeded with their scheme, resulting in John being beheaded and being brought to her on a platter.    

The True Discipleship is Costly!

John faced a world of corruption and ungodliness because he was a righteous man performing the call of the Lord. He did not fear or back down from his call and assignment. He was steadfast in serving Christ no matter what he faced from the secular or religious authorities.

He represented the Kingdom of God in a political and humanistic (without God) world of evil, violence, corrupt power, pride, and licentiousness.  He paid a deep price to do the Will of God, but Jesus would say later to his disciples….

Truly I tell you,

among those born of women

there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;

yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven

 is greater than he.

 Matthew 11:11 (AMP)

The Message Bible says it this way:

“Let me tell you what’s going on here:

No one in history surpasses John the Baptizer;

 but in the kingdom he prepared you for,

 the lowliest person is ahead of him.

To be a true follower of Christ will be costly for many.  It means sacrificing one’s life, if necessary, in advancing the Kingdom of Heaven.  Not a pleasant thought. 

But did not Jesus say to His disciples during His time on earth and to those who wish to seriously follow Him today:

……If anyone desires to be My disciple,

let him deny himself

[disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself

and

his own interests]

and

take up his cross

and

follow Me

[cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living

and,

if need be, in dying, also].

for whoever is bent on

saving his

[temporal] life [his comfort and security here]

shall lose it [eternal life];

and

whoever loses his life

[his comfort and security here]

for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

Matthew 16:24–25 (AMP)

True to Christ’s Mission!

One hardly hears these verses preached from the modern-day pulpit. They are “cutting” and challenging verses to those who sit comfortably in the church pews and are satisfied with their Christian life.

If one seriously considers these verses, things can get uncomfortable for the demand is great to follow Christ and live the Cross Life.  But the rewards are even greater – every lasting life with Jesus in heavenly places.

John the Baptist walked in denial of self and self-ways for the cause of Christ. He was not interested in self-preservation, the easy, cozy, and convenient life, the life of wealth, materialism, pleasure, the life of ease and plenty, and conforming to cultural norms of his time. He spoke God’s truth – “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come!” But few in the church today want to hear this.  

John would not buy in to corrupt politics, the “high life” of his times, or the sexual attractions as did King Herod Antipas, Herodias, and her daughter Salome. 

John the Baptist was put in prison and then beheaded for he spoke Truth, walked in faith, and stayed true to Christ to the very end. He was truly a righteous radical for Christ uncompromising with the world system and cultural malaise of his time.

No one was greater than John the Baptist. He gave up his life to gain eternity with the Master (Jesus).  Jesus further said about John……“he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” is so profound that it staggers the mind.

The Uncomfortable Call!

 It is a call to us to examine our lives and ask – “Do I consider myself “least,” a nobody, a person not having anything really to offer the Master, a person willing to empty myself of striving to be somebody which the Master has not called me to be?

  Am I willing to lay down everything – my desires, my wants, my pride in self, my self-deceptions, my materialistic bent, my degrees, my ambitions of serving the Lord when it is more of my flesh than the leading of the Holy Spirit? Am I willing to sacrifice everything I have when the Master says to the rich man and even to us today……

……If you would be perfect

[that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character],

go and sell what you have

and give to the poor,

and

 you will have riches in heaven;

and

 come, be My disciple

 [side with My party and follow Me].

 Matthew 19:21 (AMP)

Am I willing to be the “least” in God’s kingdom? What did Jesus say, ".....many are called but few are chosen" and of the chosen only a remnant serve in complete discipleship giving up everything for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Missing “Least’s!”

          In a previous oracle, I penned the following which I have embedded in this oracle which sums up everything presented above.

Where are the men and women of today who think and live of being “least, last, and unworthy” while walking out their lives in lowliness, humility, and brokenness? 

          Where are the men and woman of today who allow the Cross of Christ to crucify the flesh, desires, ambitions, and self-promotions and consistently live “the law of the Spirit in Christ” as Apostle Paul penned in the Book of Romans, chapter 8:2. 

Where are the men and woman of “LEAST” and “LAST” who are filled and overflowing with the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit healing the sick, casting out demons, flowing with the Gifts and Fruit of the Holy Spirit as well as confronting the evil which has pulled many into all kinds of bondages? (See Mark chapter 16).

Where are the men and women willing to wash each other's feet in utter humility and brokenness as Christ washed His disciples’ feet?

Where are the men and women who will walk the radical life of Christ like John the Baptist no matter what the costs?

My Take on L.E.A.S.T:

L   =   Lowliness, Least, and Last

(My continuing position before

the Lord and others).

E   =   Exalted 

(God will exalt me in due time for I am least and last

in His Kingdom).

A   =   Anointed 

(God anoints me for living a life of last and least

for serving Him in the power and anointing of the Holy

Spirit).

S   =   Sent

(God sends me into the world as a least and last

servant of His to witness and testify for Him.  He chose

me to go and bear fruit, much fruit (souls) for the

Kingdom of God.

T   =   Thankfulness

(My least and last position before Him for

everything He does for me which I do not deserve).

How about you, my friend?  Where do you stand in relation to considering yourself “LEAST” – “LAST” - “UNWORTHY” – “BROKEN” - and “UNIMPORTANT” in the Kingdom of God? Your answer will determine your usefulness to the Lord in serving Him and His Kingdom.

Go Speaks to Me!

Let me close by sharing with you a prophetic word the Lord recently spoke into my heart which I pray will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.               

  UNWORTHY

I say to you My Son

that even though you see

yourself as unworthy

 as you stand

before me,

I see you as

worthy because

of what My Son

accomplished

for you on His Cross.

You are worthy

to Me because

 you have been

 washed

 and

made clean by the

 blood of My Son.

All those

who come to Me

I see their worthiness

while they see themselves

 as unworthy.

It is those

 who see themselves

 as unworthy

 who are the ones

 who walk

 and

live in humility

 and

 brokenness

before Me

 and

who I greatly use

to foster

My Kingdom Light

 into the

world of darkness.

Those who see

themselves as

unworthy

are the ones

 who penetrate

the darkness of the world

 and

 bring My Life of Salvation

and

healing to the lost

and

to those falling away

 from

My Word and Ways.

So,

I want you

 to know there is

nothing wrong

with your feelings

 of

unworthiness

when you come to Me

but

know in My eyes

you are a

 worthy servant

whom I have

 call to serve Me.

Allow me to add that as we see ourselves as LEAST, LAST, and UNWORTHY to serve the Lord and His Son,

…..[They – Father and Son]

…..have

 crowned [us]

with

glory,

and

majesty

to

rule

over the works of

 [Their hands]

and

…..have

put all things under

[our feet].

Psalm 8:5-6, (NASB)

Thank you, Jesus, I praise and exalt Your Name!

Help me to be

LEAST, LAST, AND BROKEN BEFORE YOU WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! 

Rich Arnold

Servant of the Lord

311 Adelaide Ave SW

Hartville, Ohio 44632

330-704-9306

richarnold3@gmail.com