Mosese

The world's pattern of leadership is to be served. Because it is the self that is leading. The self exalting itself is pride. It is acting like it is a god, or even the god. There is also deception, because overtly we are serving others however the heart is set on serving the self. The world operates like this, for example, politicians rally and praise themselves about serving others while covertly serving themselves. Jesus pointed this out several times of the hypocrisy of chief priests, Pharisees, scribes, and also in the parable of the publican and the Pharisee who were praying. The hypocrisy of Pharisees who would let all know that they were fasting and praying out loud in the streets for all to hear at the same time covertly engaging in wickedness. Christ leadership is humbling onself to serve others, as Jesus was the proof of this. Philippians 2:6-8 [6]Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, [7]rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.[8]And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! In addition to this, His gospel was about humbling oneself and serving others. Paul urges us to do this, Philippians 2:3-5 [3]Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,[4]not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. [5]In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. We place this in context of 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. God is asking each one of us to be true leaders and true leadership is humbling onself and serving others. In fact we cannot serve others when we have pride, we cannot lead when we have pride. We can only serve others when we are humble, humbling ourselves in God. We may also refer to Matthew 22:36-40 in particular verse 39 “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love your neighbour as yourself is using the talents and resources God had entrusted in you to be in service to your neighbours. Your neighbour is each person you are connected to, it is anyone you come in interaction with despite how fleeting. When one is putting the self first, using the talents and resources entrusted to them for their own selfish gains, that is not leading, that is serving the self and/or whatever it is one's focus is on. It is pride, it is definitely not serving God.

Q15. (Matthew 18:1-4) In what way does "becoming like little children" require us to humble ourselves before God? Humbling the spirit, a contrite, failed, broken spirit, a spirit that is completely dependent on the grace and mercy of God, a spirit that knows that it cannot live without God. Children are fully dependent on their parents for all the needs in life. Their life is at the mercy of their parents. They hold their provider in high esteem because their provider protects, provides and sustains them. They know they are helpless and lost without their provider. This is the only way we will receive the kingdom of God. Mark 10:[15]Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” The kingdom of God is not received by someone who knowingly or unknowingly thinks and/or acts like they do not need God. Who thinks and acts like it is by their own strength or capacity that they are living in this world, that they are the provider, protector of themselves. This is pride, putting the self before God. Why would they enter the kingdom of God? This was the very reason the devil was cast out from his place in heaven.