Great Leader Is A Great Servant | Victoria Osteen

0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:05.920 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 0:00:06.120 --> 0:00:08.440 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:00:08.440 --> 0:00:09.800 blessing and share it with a. 0:00:09.680 --> 0:00:13.040 Friend, reappreciate you, and pray for God's very best in 0:00:13.080 --> 0:00:13.960 your life. 0:00:14.360 --> 0:00:16.880 How many of you know that God is placed in 0:00:16.920 --> 0:00:22.920 our spirits a longing to achieve. You know, God told Abraham, 0:00:23.079 --> 0:00:26.279 he said, Abraham, I want you to increase. I want 0:00:26.280 --> 0:00:28.640 you to multiply, and I want you to take dominion 0:00:29.440 --> 0:00:33.760 over your land over what I've given you. You see, 0:00:33.840 --> 0:00:38.839 God doesn't find anything wrong with us achieving. He doesn't 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:43.559 mind if we rise to a noble position or a 0:00:43.600 --> 0:00:48.159 good position from our hard work. But see, God doesn't 0:00:48.200 --> 0:00:51.120 want us to think that that's what's going to cause 0:00:51.200 --> 0:00:53.840 us to be great in life, that that's what's going 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:57.400 to bring us fulfillment and happiness. See. I truly believe 0:00:57.480 --> 0:01:01.680 God wants his people in strategic places, but he wants 0:01:01.680 --> 0:01:05.559 them to do it with the right heart. You see, 0:01:05.600 --> 0:01:11.080 sometimes we get caught up in the wrong things. Jesus 0:01:11.120 --> 0:01:14.640 was walking with his disciples one day and a mother 0:01:14.760 --> 0:01:16.800 came up to him of two of the disciples that 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:19.240 were with him, and she said, Jesus, I have a 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:22.479 favor to ask you. She said, Jesus, this is so 0:01:22.520 --> 0:01:26.240 important to me. I have two sons, and she said, 0:01:26.280 --> 0:01:29.520 I want to know if you will allow one of 0:01:29.560 --> 0:01:31.919 my sons to sit at the right hand your right hand, 0:01:32.280 --> 0:01:34.560 and the other son to sit at your left hand 0:01:34.959 --> 0:01:38.319 when you come into your kingdom. Now, any good mother 0:01:38.880 --> 0:01:41.720 would try to work a deal like that, right, you 0:01:41.760 --> 0:01:44.640 can't blame her, huh. I mean, if you could pull 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:49.360 that off, go for it. Well. When the other disciples 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:52.440 heard that, they got angry with the two disciples because 0:01:52.480 --> 0:01:54.880 they were feeling like that. You know, they were trying 0:01:54.920 --> 0:01:59.160 to thwart their authority, was trying to put themselves over 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:02.400 the other day disciples. So they became angry and they 0:02:02.400 --> 0:02:06.040 became frustrated. I can imagine them thinking, well, you haven't 0:02:06.080 --> 0:02:09.079 done anything better than me. I've done just as much 0:02:09.120 --> 0:02:15.520 as you have. You see, Jesus understood these emotions. He 0:02:15.639 --> 0:02:19.840 understood stood the struggle, and he told her, he said, look, 0:02:20.320 --> 0:02:22.600 you know what, if they can do what I can do, 0:02:23.400 --> 0:02:26.720 which they can't, he said, but it's not my position. 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:29.040 You know, I'm just doing what my father wants me 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:32.440 to do you know, he's the one who makes the decisions. 0:02:32.880 --> 0:02:35.360 So as they were walking, you know, I know Jesus 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:38.120 was probably thinking about this, and he was probably thinking, 0:02:38.160 --> 0:02:40.320 you know, this is a good time to talk to 0:02:40.360 --> 0:02:45.800 them about this positioning title and authority. And so he 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:50.200 began to explain to them that the Gentiles, which were 0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:54.280 not governed by the Jewish laws, that those leaders would 0:02:54.400 --> 0:02:58.760 use their authority to press the people down, would use 0:02:58.800 --> 0:03:02.880 their authority the wrong way. And he wanted them to 0:03:02.960 --> 0:03:05.240 know that that wasn't the way they were to use 0:03:05.280 --> 0:03:08.800 their authority. In fact, he said to them, not so 0:03:09.120 --> 0:03:13.200 for you. He said, let me tell you what makes 0:03:13.200 --> 0:03:16.880 a great life. Let me tell you how to make 0:03:16.880 --> 0:03:22.200 yourself happy and successful. He said, if you're going to 0:03:22.280 --> 0:03:24.880 be great in the Kingdom of God, you have to 0:03:24.880 --> 0:03:29.720 be a servant of all. So he told his disciples 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:34.760 the key to obtaining this great life. Now, I want 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:37.440 to tell you he is was not mad at her 0:03:37.880 --> 0:03:41.040 for wanting them to be in a high position. He 0:03:41.200 --> 0:03:45.560 just wanted her and his disciples to understand that it 0:03:45.720 --> 0:03:51.560 wasn't the authority, but it was the misuse of authority. Well, 0:03:51.560 --> 0:03:54.120 you can have authority, but when you use it to 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:57.400 serve others. He was saying, that's what's going to give 0:03:57.440 --> 0:04:00.680 you a great life. Now, you know, it's hard some 0:04:00.880 --> 0:04:05.680 time to wrap our head around servant hood and a 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:12.000 great life, servanthood and success, because that's not what our 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:15.960 culture tries to teach us. In fact, the two disciples 0:04:15.960 --> 0:04:18.240 could have looked at their mother and said, that's how 0:04:18.240 --> 0:04:21.000 we get authority, that's how we get positioned. You know, 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:24.479 have you ever seen people manipulate situations, do things to 0:04:24.520 --> 0:04:29.360 try to get more authority, And it's aggravating, isn't it. Well, 0:04:29.400 --> 0:04:33.680 they were aggravated at them anyway. But we learn from people. 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:38.360 We learn how to do things from society, and we 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:41.479 think that's the way to obtain it. But see, you 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:46.040 don't obtain in God's kingdom. You don't obtain these things 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:50.599 by stepping over other people, by using your authority wrong. 0:04:51.560 --> 0:04:56.960 You see, achievement and success is not greatness in the 0:04:57.040 --> 0:05:01.400 kingdom of God. Jesus kind concept of greatness and his 0:05:01.520 --> 0:05:04.160 ideas of greatness. He was trying to explain to his 0:05:04.200 --> 0:05:10.000 disciple is service. See, a good leader is a good servant. 0:05:10.839 --> 0:05:13.520 And he was saying to them, until you can serve, 0:05:14.400 --> 0:05:18.400 you'll never be a great leader. Until you can learn 0:05:18.839 --> 0:05:25.760 to serve, you'll never be a great leader. See it 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:28.960 is difficult sometimes. And what I love about Jesus is 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:34.239 he was always giving examples with his own life about 0:05:34.240 --> 0:05:36.919 what he was trying to teach his disciples. Now, he 0:05:37.040 --> 0:05:40.080 never rebuked and pointed his finger and got mad at 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:42.080 his disciple and says you're out of here. But he 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:48.240 was always letting his life be an example the disciples. 0:05:48.640 --> 0:05:52.160 At the last Supper with Jesus, Jesus overheard some of 0:05:52.200 --> 0:05:56.880 them disputing among themselves who was the greatest. They hadn't 0:05:56.960 --> 0:06:02.480 quite got that lesson yet Jesus did something very profound. 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:07.400 Now I know that theological impact of this is very great, 0:06:07.720 --> 0:06:10.160 and there's many things that you can see in this example. 0:06:10.200 --> 0:06:12.720 But today I want to show you what Jesus was 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:18.720 trying to show once again his disciples about greatness. So 0:06:19.120 --> 0:06:21.880 as they were sitting at the table, Jesus arose from 0:06:21.880 --> 0:06:27.159 the table and prepared himself to wash his disciples feet. 0:06:28.160 --> 0:06:30.560 See it was a way for him to show them 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:38.359 that their position and authority was not below serving you. 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:42.839 See he rose up and got down. See he was 0:06:42.880 --> 0:06:48.599 the highest position. He was the highest of authority. But 0:06:48.680 --> 0:06:54.480 yet he knew that service was the greatest thing in 0:06:54.520 --> 0:06:57.279 the Kingdom of God, and that was the message he 0:06:57.360 --> 0:07:00.400 wanted to leave with them before he left this earth. 0:07:00.760 --> 0:07:03.839 He wanted them to know a great leader is a 0:07:03.839 --> 0:07:07.200 great servant. Serving one another was not below their position 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:11.600 and authority, but it was part of their position and authority. 0:07:11.680 --> 0:07:15.320 It's what made them great. See, God loves when you 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:19.480 use your power to serve other people. So I'm eighteen 0:07:19.600 --> 0:07:22.720 thirty five. David said this of God, you have stooped 0:07:22.720 --> 0:07:27.680 down to make me great. See that illustration. David was 0:07:28.360 --> 0:07:32.960 speaking out because God came down from heaven. He stooped 0:07:33.000 --> 0:07:36.160 down and became a man so that he could make 0:07:36.240 --> 0:07:38.600 us great, so that he could save us, and that 0:07:38.680 --> 0:07:42.000 he could help us. He came from the highest place 0:07:42.880 --> 0:07:47.000 and stoop down to the lowest place to basically wash 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:52.120 our feet. Jesus is saying, a good leader, a great leader, 0:07:52.520 --> 0:07:56.800 is a good servant. See, we should never place our 0:07:56.840 --> 0:08:00.560 position where God has placed you, the authority his given you. 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:04.840 We should never place that position over the privilege of 0:08:04.880 --> 0:08:09.960 serving others. God has said it's a privilege to serve mankind. 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:14.440 I've seen people who use their authority the wrong way. 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:20.280 They don't serve people with it. But God He's stooped 0:08:20.320 --> 0:08:24.280 down to serve us. I think we should look at 0:08:24.320 --> 0:08:28.200 our busy and important lives and develop this attitude of 0:08:28.240 --> 0:08:33.360 stooping down, of helping those around us, of taking up 0:08:33.400 --> 0:08:36.120 their hand. See, we're not only to serve our family, 0:08:36.160 --> 0:08:39.000 but we're to have an eye to observe who else 0:08:39.679 --> 0:08:42.480 we can help? Who else can we wash their feet? 0:08:42.720 --> 0:08:47.520 Who can we encourage? It may not be convenient, you 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:50.040 may have to stop and get off of what you're 0:08:50.040 --> 0:08:54.640 doing to stoop down to serve someone. But can I 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:57.920 tell you that's what makes you great in the Kingdom 0:08:57.960 --> 0:09:00.880 of God. It's not your success here on earth, but 0:09:00.960 --> 0:09:04.280 it's the greatness that God wants to show you. See. 0:09:04.320 --> 0:09:08.640 I believe that's why many people aren't happy. That's why 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:12.880 many people aren't fulfilled, because they're thinking about themselves. They're 0:09:12.880 --> 0:09:17.439 thinking about their own dreams, their own desires, their own problems. 0:09:17.600 --> 0:09:20.600 They don't have time to think about anyone else. But 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:23.560 can I tell you, when you start living on the 0:09:23.600 --> 0:09:26.480 outside and not always on the inside, what's going on 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:30.800 with you, your life will change. You'll dramatically see yourself 0:09:30.840 --> 0:09:34.600 going places that you never thought before. You'll see fulfillment, 0:09:34.960 --> 0:09:40.480 You'll see joy, You'll see a new dimension in your life. See, 0:09:40.520 --> 0:09:46.120 we've got to develop this attitude of service is greatness. 0:09:46.720 --> 0:09:50.480 I was talking to a very wealthy man the other day. 0:09:50.520 --> 0:09:55.520 He was seventy five years old, celebrating his birthday. Immensely wealthy, 0:09:55.760 --> 0:10:00.360 not just a little. This guy was very wealthy. To 0:10:00.400 --> 0:10:03.200 tell me, he looked right at me and he said, Victoria, 0:10:03.520 --> 0:10:05.680 can I tell you some of the greatest things in 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:09.440 my life? Well? I really wanted to hear, because this 0:10:09.520 --> 0:10:12.640 guy was really wealthy. So I was just gonna tune 0:10:12.640 --> 0:10:15.440 my hair to what he had to say. And he said, 0:10:15.480 --> 0:10:17.720 the greatest things in my life as I look back, 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:20.400 the things that have brought me the most joy, happiness, 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:25.760 and fulfillment. I leaned in. He said, was that I 0:10:25.800 --> 0:10:28.240 was able to use my position, I was able to 0:10:28.320 --> 0:10:30.880 use my wealth. I was able to use the things 0:10:30.880 --> 0:10:40.440 that I had acquired to help other people. I thought 0:10:40.440 --> 0:10:42.400 maybe he was going to tell me about all his boats, 0:10:42.559 --> 0:10:45.840 his cars, and his vacation homes. But as I sat 0:10:45.880 --> 0:10:48.160 there and listened to him, I was so drawn in 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:53.400 by the satisfaction by this persuasive smile on his face. 0:10:53.960 --> 0:10:56.720 It drew me in to hear how he was able 0:10:56.760 --> 0:10:59.960 to use his company to sew seeds into people's life. 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:02.800 How he was able to not only sow seeds to 0:11:02.840 --> 0:11:06.880 people's life, but through those seeds, their children were being blessed. 0:11:07.320 --> 0:11:10.520 I got so excited just listening to him. You see, 0:11:10.640 --> 0:11:13.200 that's what we want to see when we reflect back 0:11:13.240 --> 0:11:16.040 on our life. We want to see a life of greatness, 0:11:16.320 --> 0:11:19.800 a life well lived. See. God does not mind that 0:11:19.880 --> 0:11:22.600 you have success and position. He wants you in those 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.600 strategic places because He wants you to make a difference 0:11:25.640 --> 0:11:29.360 in this world. He has appointed you, and he's anointed you, 0:11:31.440 --> 0:11:34.320 but he wants you to know that it's through service, 0:11:35.320 --> 0:11:39.680 it's through giving, it's through stooping down when it's not 0:11:39.840 --> 0:11:42.280 convenient and washing other people's feet. 0:11:43.040 --> 0:11:44.720 That that's what makes you great. 0:11:45.200 --> 0:11:48.120 See anything done here on this earth, I want to 0:11:48.160 --> 0:11:50.680 tell you, God will make sure you receive it back. 0:11:51.280 --> 0:11:54.800 Be a person of good works, stoop down, let your 0:11:54.880 --> 0:11:58.720 life shine in greatness. Amen. Amen. 0:12:01.559 --> 0:12:04.320 Each week I stand on this stage and remind you 0:12:04.480 --> 0:12:07.480 of what God says about you. Because it's easy to 0:12:07.520 --> 0:12:10.200 be defined by who people say we are, or by 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:13.760 our own negative thoughts. That we're not talented or problems 0:12:13.800 --> 0:12:16.520 too big. The key is to go back to who 0:12:16.559 --> 0:12:18.920 God says you are. I love to send you by 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:21.880 new book one hundred and one Great Things that God 0:12:21.920 --> 0:12:25.599 Says about You. I'll help you discover your true identity. 0:12:26.040 --> 0:12:29.880 God says you're blessed, You're chosen, You're forgiven, you have 0:12:29.960 --> 0:12:33.600 seeds of greatness. Your future is bright. When you get 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:37.280 in agreement with God and declare his promises, you'll rise 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:40.120 higher and become all you were created to be. 0:12:41.120 --> 0:12:43.520 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.080 of any amount this month, we would like to send 0:12:46.080 --> 0:12:49.120 you a copy of Joel's brand new resource one hundred 0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:52.920 and one Things God Says About You Faith reminders when 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:56.720 you need them most. As you read and reflect the 0:12:56.800 --> 0:13:01.040 story of your life, the way you see yourself will change. 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:04.000 It will become a reflection of God himself and what 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:07.520 He says about you. Use this resource to encourage your 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:10.679 heart and remind you of who you are in Him. 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:14.240 You are everything God says about you within these pages, 0:13:14.640 --> 0:13:18.080 So read it, experience it, and believe it. As an 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:21.040 added bonus, you can detach the beautiful poster at the 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:24.040 back of the book to read and declare these reminders 0:13:24.080 --> 0:13:27.440 every day. Yes, you are who God says you are. 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.880 Now is your time to start believing it. Be sure 0:13:30.920 --> 0:13:33.600 to request your copy of one hundred and one Things 0:13:33.679 --> 0:13:37.560 God Says About You. Visit Joelostein dot com or call 0:13:37.720 --> 0:13:40.080 eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:13:40.920 --> 0:13:43.480 As you dwell on what God says about you, You're 0:13:43.520 --> 0:13:48.160 going to see yourself for who you really are. Strong, talented, valuable, 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:52.040 a victor never a victim. Victoria and I want you 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:54.240 to know that we love you and we pray for 0:13:54.320 --> 0:13:58.200 you every day. Thanks so much for your prayer and support. 0:13:58.440 --> 0:14:02.400 Your generosity is helping people around the world. Special thank 0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:05.559 you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly support. 0:14:05.920 --> 0:14:08.880 If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 0:14:09.160 --> 0:14:12.560 Remember you can watch the services online every Sunday morning, 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:17.000 download our daily podcast, listen on Serrious Exam, watch our 0:14:17.040 --> 0:14:21.120 YouTube channel and the new Jewel Ostein Network streaming twenty 0:14:21.120 --> 0:14:23.840 four hours a day until we meet again. Meid the 0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:25.480 Lord bless you and keep you. 0:14:26.280 --> 0:14:28.840 Be sure to request your copy of one hundred and 0:14:28.880 --> 0:14:32.760 one Things God Says About You visit Joelostein dot com 0:14:32.920 --> 0:14:36.480 or call eight eight eight five six seven Joel for 0:14:36.560 --> 0:14:39.880 an additional donation. This month, we are also offering one 0:14:39.960 --> 0:14:43.800 hundred and one Great Things God Says About You card set. 0:14:43.840 --> 0:14:47.200 These cards can serve as daily reminders of who God 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:51.600 says you are. Additionally, you can request the beautiful copy 0:14:51.720 --> 0:14:56.320 of the Passion Translation, Power, Provision, and Peace. This book 0:14:56.360 --> 0:15:00.560 brings fresh insight and deeper understanding to the early Church journey, 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:05.000 Paul's teachings, and the practical application of faith in daily life. 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:08.960 You can request these unique resources by calling eight eight 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:13.040 eight five six seven Joel or logging on to jolostein 0:15:13.120 --> 0:15:14.720 dot com today. 0:15:14.760 --> 0:15:15.880 Call or click. 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:20.000 Anytime, twenty four hours a day. Discover your true identity 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:22.840 in Christ. Request your copies today