Can you handle being anointed for 2nd? I've witnessed and still see many of my contemporaries in the ministry striving and competing for preeminence among the brethren in a manner completely contrary to the Holy Scriptures. They seek recognition under the false pretext of spreading the gospel, which is a lie they tell themselves and others to mask the ungodly pride that drives their vain ambitions. They want to be served but are unwilling to serve; believing their title or position makes them more deserving and above others. Adonai Yeshua the Christ himself said in MATTHEW 23:11, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." We have few great leaders among us because we have few great servants. The higher the calling the greater the responsibility and service that must be rendered by the one so called; not received. We are to faithfully work for the LORD without the thought of material gain or fame so that the pay and the credit is not our focus but our loving service unto YAH is. LUKE 17:10; "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." I find it ironic that it is almost always the leaders teaching the people these scriptures to remind them of their service to God as if it doesn't first apply to them, and they are also quick to use other scriptures that speak of receiving "double honor" and "being worthy of their hire" to justify themselves being served. Everyone seems to want to be a somebody without realizing that it is more rewarding and takes greater strength of character and anointing to be a nobody. For anyone who has ever been overlooked, made the underdog, counted out, shunned, ostracized, or is even a middle child let me offer you some encouragement and enlightenment on your situation in the eyes of the Most High.
1st PETER 5:2-4; "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."
The "crown of glory" is only given to those who have served without seeking glory, but gave the LORD all the glory. The 24 elders who sit around the throne of God Almighty in Heaven repeatedly throw their crowns down at his feet and glorify YAH alone and not themselves. REVELATIONS 4:10-11; "The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." They acknowledge only God's glory in Heaven while here on the Earth unworthy men and women who've created nothing seek their own glory which is no glory at all. While many seek to be increased almost none preach or teach about their decrease. It is in the "decrease" that you experience your "release". Once you can let go of who you want to be or think you are then you can become who GOD wants you to be and who you truly are in Him. JOHN 3:30; "He must increase, but I must decrease." John the Baptist had no ambition outside of fulfilling his mission for the LORD, and because of that he was able to start revival in the wilderness and draw folks out of their local places of worship and comfortable homes to hear the Word of the Lord. Most ministers today would've never been chosen to be a John the Baptist because they would've probably been to busy trying to be Jesus the Christ. John didn't come on the scene trying to be a celebrity personality but proclaiming himself as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness". This only highlights his greatness seen in his humility in that a voice is nameless and faceless. John wasn't trying to be famous but faithful, effective, and obedient unto the LORD.
JOHN 1:22-23; "Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23) He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah."
In the Bible the number "2" prophetically represents "redemption and witness". The prophets as God's witnesses have always been in 2nd place. In the Old Testament it was "the law and the prophets", and in the New Testament it is "the apostles and the prophets". Isaac was Abraham's 2nd son and the "promised seed". Jacob was Isaac's 2nd son and the father of Israel. Moses was the 2nd son of Amram and the deliverer of Israel. David was the 2nd king of Israel and YAHWEH's chosen through whom the Messiah would come. John the Baptist was the 2nd Elijah who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah as his forerunner. Yeshua the Messiah was the 2nd Adam, the Lord from Heaven and the Savior of the world. 1st CORINTHIANS 15:45-47; "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46) Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47) The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." The New Testament is the 2nd covenant made better than the 1st with the blood of Yeshua. HEBREWS 8:6-7; "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second." Being 2nd ain't so bad when you know you are chosen and why. In the Kingdom of God there is no last place, and every place is just as important as being 1st. Thank Yah for 2nd place, HalleluYah! ~ I.J. West
MATTHEW 20:16; "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
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