Humility and Authority

 Numbers 30-31; Mark 9 

“After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘This kind can only come out only by prayer.’…Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’”

Mark 9:28, 29, 35

The spiritual authority required to drive out unclean spirits, or lead in the kingdom of God, comes from intimacy with God. When Jesus pointed to prayer (and fasting) as a requirement in some deliverance situations, he was pointing to the need for greater intimacy with God and the need to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than a formula for success. The desire to be first is a misplaced desire. Jesus calls those who want to be first, to a life of servanthood. Our primary focus as followers of Jesus must be our intimacy and obedience with Jesus. It is God’s responsibility to assign our position and titles in his kingdom. We focus on the depth of our walk with God. He can address the scope and impact of our ministry.

“Lord Jesus, I humble myself before you and others and choose to serve as you did, for your glory.”