The Veil was Torn

Our history focuses upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead but when you read the bible you will see that there were others who had died that were resurrected as well as Jesus the day before Jesus was resurrected.    

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split;  the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,  and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  Matthew 27: 51-54

When Jesus died He tore the veil in the temple which separated us from entering into the Holy Holies.  This was a dawning of a new era for God because He made the decision that HE was no longer going to dwell in a temple made by human hands.   The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,  nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.  Acts 17:24-25 

Jesus established a new covenant with us.  But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.  For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.  Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.  For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.  For a will takes affect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Hebrews 9: 11-17


Jesus said , " I am the way, and the truth , and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me"   John 14:6  
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which HE opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.   Hebrews 10:19-25

Body of Christ

As members of the Body of Christ we need to respond to his leading in our lives to live in unity.  

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Rom 12:4-8 
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  Rom 12:16-17
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 15:5-6 

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Cor 10:16-17  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.  If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?                 If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many members, yet one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,  and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  1 Cor 12:12-27

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!  Psalm 133:1 
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephes 4:1-3
Until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.Ephes 4:13-14 
 Jesus prayed for us in John 17:20-23  

I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  Rom 14:19  

When we are unified the Holy Spirit is able to move and do miraculous things and accomplish things that we could never do in our own abilities.     

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1-2

When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  Acts 4:31-33

 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.   1 Peter 3:8-9 

Trust in the Lord

The definition of  Trust is a reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person ; confidence.  The confident expectation or hope in the certainty of a person in whom you can rely upon.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  
Prov 3: 5-6  

How do we TRUST?

Its not easy to trust people because we all have experienced circumstances in our lives in which we have been hurt at one point or another by people who we thought that we could trust but they failed to live up to our expectations.
Its hard to know who to trust and who not to trust anymore.  Trust can be achieved by getting to know a person enough to know how they will act in different situations and circumstances.  

This is much the same in our relationship with the Lord.   In order to get to know him we must read what the bible says about him in order to understand how he acts and reacts to the nature of our humanity.  Study the miracles of Jesus.  To whom did he help?   

Trust must be Earned

You must decide what will be required to earn your trust.   The price of your trust must be realistic.  You can't expect God to just come down from Heaven with a bolt of lightening and just fix things overnight when it has been years worth of bad decisions on your part which has gotten you into your mess.  Be realistic it might just take a while before you can be fully delivered.  Sometimes you just have to be patient and optimistic.   Look back and remember what HE did for you in the past.  If HE did it for you then then HE can and will do it for you again!  

You who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy.
Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?  Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?  For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;he forgives sins and saves in time of affliction.  Sirach 2:9-11
 
I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.  Psalm 37:25 

There are so many examples of why we should trust the Lord throughout the scriptures but one such person comes to my mind when I think of trusting in the Lord and that is Father Abraham.   In Romans 4: 18-22, it describes to us the level of trust that Abraham had.  

" Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."  

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.  

 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.  Hebrews 11:8-12

What God has promised that He wants to accomplish in and through your life is going to require some TRUST on your part.   You must determine and settle it in your heart.  You must be FULLY PERSUADED like Abraham was.  
 

David also trusted the Lord.  He said "  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song."

Psalm 28:7  


For our hearts rejoice in Him because we trust in His holy name.  
Psalm 33:21

 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.  
Psalm 37:4

Respect your Pastor

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Mid′ian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.  And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.  
³ And Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” ⁴ When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.” ⁵ Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God..  Exodus 3:1-6

If you notice Moses was traveling from the wilderness to the mountain of God. Many of you feel like your in the wilderness right now but I have good news for you sometimes you have to go through the wilderness to get to the mountain!   When you get to the place where you need to be the Lord will manifest in ways unusual!  He appeared to Moses as a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush to get his attention.  

Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces?  Jer 23:29

God knows what will spark our interest. He knew Moses was going to be curious as to why that bush did not burn.  When the Lord gets your attention He then can speak to you in ways that may seem strange.   When HE draws you near to HIM the first thing HE will require is a change in your heart that will require an ACTION on your part.  In Moses case he could not draw near until he took off his shoes from his feet. 

This was an act of worship and veneration towards the sacred mountain which was consecrated to the Lord.   You cannot expect to draw near to the Lord unless you humble yourself with a heart of reverence.  If you disrespect that which God has proclaimed as holy then how can you expect to draw near to the Lord?    There are many who go to church today and they profess themselves to be christians and yet they disrespect their Pastors by talking about them behind their backs and saying all manner of evil against them.  God has called them into ministry and declared them HOLY.   

If you cannot reverence and respect who God has placed as your spiritual elder whom you can see then how can you expect to honor and serve a God that you cannot see?  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,  that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life^{.  John 5:22-24}   

There are some of you who need to bridle your tongue and be more careful about what you say about those whom the Lord has placed in leadership over you. 

God will step into your life and He will not allow you to continue disrespecting who HE has called and anointed.    He allowed no one to oppress them;
 he rebuked kings on their account,¹⁵ saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
 do my prophets no harm!”  Psalm 105:14-16   

Your Pastor deserves an attitude or gesture of deep respect from you and if you cannot give it then you need to check your heart for unforgiveness and re-examine your ways quickly because if you don't you have just opened the door for the enemy of your soul to come into your household and cause pain and destruction. 

 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”  
^{1 Tim 5:17-18}


I'm pleading with you dear ones REPENT,REPENT, REPENT now before its too late!  
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28 

What is acceptable worship?  
Worship with an attitude of reverence to God and submission to one another in the fear and admonition of the Lord. 

Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 20:7-8

Be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints.  Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving.  Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not associate with them,  for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret;  but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Ephesians 5:1-13 

 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;  love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.  Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:9-11   

Get Wisdom

Wisdom is accumulated philosophic or scientific knowledge.
The ability to discern inner qualities and relationships or insight.  
Common good sense or judgment.   
A wise attitude or course of action.   

How do we accumulate wisdom or knowledge?   We look back on our youth and we realize that we don't do the things that we used to do in our teenage years not because we are older now but because we had to come to realization that how we were living and what we were doing was not only hurting ourselves but the loved ones around us.   We learned the hard lessons of life through the things that we suffered because when we were young we did not have the ability to to discern the innermost qualities about the relationships that were forming with people and situations.  We didn't have the good common sense to judge what was happening to us spiritually or financially.  We didn't have the wise attitude to know what course of action that we were to follow to make sure that we were not screwing up our lives and destroying the plan and purpose that God wanted to fulfill in and through us. 
True knowlege and wisdom can only come from the Lord.  

The LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
1Sam 2:3  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

When you are promoted and elevated into a position of authority your first priority must be to seek the Wisom and Knowlege of God to know how to exercise and use the authority that has been given to you.   If you look at the life of Solomon.  What happened?   He was given the office of a King but he knew not how to rule the people look at what he did.  


O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 

God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king.   Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”  
2 Cronicles 1:9-12 

There are alot of Christians out there right now praying for finances to come into their households but if you don't have the Wisdom to be able to handle what God has already given you then how can He bless you with more?   You have to have WISDOM and KNOWLEGE first so that when God blesses you with things and finances you will know what to do with it.  Little is much when God is in it.  You have to learn how to be faithful in the little things before you can become ruler that God called you to be. 

Being rich is not all that its cracked up to be.  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matt 19:24   It is because they spend their days in prosperity,and in peace they go down to Hell. They say to God, ‘Depart from us!  We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?  And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’  Job 21:13-15   

People today walk around with the attitude of " what am I going to get out of it " .  They actually ask themselves this question before they will do anything.  They aren't serving God they serve the god of SELF.   
Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  1 Tim 6:9  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 16:26  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  Col 2:8 
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?  James 2:5

The ability to discern and have insight as to what is going on in the relationship and circumstances that you are facing can only come from the Holy Spirit.   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Prov 9:10 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10

The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17 

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13

You cannot expect to discern or have insight if you are willfully denying the TRUTH of the relationship or situation you are in!  The Holy Spirit on the inside of you will lead you and guide you into that truth but it is up to you if you will accept or reject His insight.  You need to ask yourself "Why is God revealing this truth to me?"  What course of action do I need to implement as a result of this discernment and insight?   Truth will require you to ACT!  This is why scripture says you will know the truth and the truth will set you FREE!   Freedom will not come for you unless you ACT upon the INSIGHT and DISCERNMENT that you have been given!
 
Wisdom requires obedience. Excercising a good common sense course of action means that you do not always get to do what you want or go where you want or hang around who you want to. You must discipline yourself to listen to the truths of the wisdom God gives you.   Your heart might be willing to obey but your flesh may be weak in some areas.   
Even Jesus had to learn how to die daily to his fleshly desires and wants. 
 
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Hebrews 5:7-9

Through your obedience many will be saved.   You do not realize how much your life affects the lives of others.  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  Romans 6:16

There are those people around you that may never darken the door of a church building but because they have seen how you carry yourself and how you live they are drawn to you by the Holy Spirit so that you can share with them the Love of God on the inside of you.   

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 1 Peter 1:22

Testing of Your Faith

There are times in every Christian's lives in which the Lord himself will test your faith. 

Sometimes this testing is not desirable and it can be painful at times. This might not be the road or path that we really wanted for our lives.  Why does God test us?    God wants to see if you will hold fast and cling to Him and His commandments and follow Him in all of your ways not just when things are going good for you. 

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous,but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.  Psalm 11:4-6

You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet swell these forty years.  Deut 8:2-4 

But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them  for to you have I committed my cause.  Jeremiah 11:20 

He will test your heart and your mind to see if you are committed to His plan and purpose for your life or if you will serve the devil.  "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Luke 6:13

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.


But as for you, O man or woman of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Tim 6:9-11 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we can confidently say,  “The Lord is my helper;  I will not fear;  what can man do to me?”  Heb 13:5-6  

If you follow and obey the commands of the Lord during your time of testing then you will be blessed. 

When I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak with them or command them concerning burnt offering and sacrifice.  However, I did give them this command: Obey Me, and then I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you.  Yet they didn’t listen or pay attention but followed their own advice and according to their own stubborn, evil heart. They went backward and not forward. Jeremiah 7:22-24 

If only My people would listen to Me and Israel would follow My ways, I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes. Psalm 81:13-14  

My eyes favor the faithful of the land so that they may sit down with me.
The one who follows the way of integrity may serve me. Psalm 101:6

Jesus said " If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. " Matthew 16:24-25 

The results of this testing are necessary to the welfare of your soul.   


Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. Job 23:10-11  

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16


“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Servanthood

The term "Servant" in the New Testament usually is referring to a bond slave.   The freedom and liberty of a bond slave was subject to the authority of their Master. They were not at their own disposal but they were the Master's purchased property.   They were bought to serve the need's of their Master and be at their every beck and call.  True Christian service means that we first and foremost must come to the realization that we are not our own. 

" You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."  1 Cor 6:19  
We must give up our own will that the will of our Heaven Father be performed in and through us.   The life of Jesus Christ was characterized by his quality of unselfish servanthood.   He said " the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. " Mark 10:45  He also said " O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matt 26:39   
As we strive toward spiritual maturity we must not neglect this quality of servanthood because it is so important.  We should not be so focused on our own interests that we have no time to devote to the interests and concerns of others.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:4    
If we want to be in Leadership then we must be willing to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ even when our flesh rises up and really doesn't want to do it.   This is why Jesus said " Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matt 26:41    So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Phil 2:1-3  Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory God the Father.  Phil 2:5-11  

If we are to grow and mature in a Christ-Like manner then it will require us to give of our time and our abilities and ourselves to our fellow Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.  
Our loyalty to our Master should be expressed in our service to ministering to the Saints.  Jesus is coming soon my friend and He will separate the sheep from the goats.  Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.  Then the righteous will answer him, Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?  And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?  And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then He will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;  Matt 25: 31- 46

Each day we live we have a choice to either live to serve ourselves which actually nullifies our capacity to live as a disciple of Christ or we can seek to live as servants out of our faith relationship with God and be a blessing to everyone that comes across our paths.  He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:11-12   
You cannot be great in God's kingdom if you refuse to humble yourself before the Lord and become as a servant to God's people.  Your "Greatness" is never to be based in your own power and abilities and position of honor and your title and prestige.  If you attempt to build your ministry on your own "Greatness" my friend you will be humbled by the Lord.  I can list many examples of men and women who had built what looked like mighty and prosperous ministries on their own "Greatness and Power and Prestige and Abilities"  but because they did not give God the Glory they were humbled and brought down.  Jesus solved the dispute of who would be the greatest. " And He said to them, The Kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves?  Is it not the one who sits at the table?  But I am among you as one who serves. "  Luke 22:24-27