Every position in the kingdom of God has a preparation price. Let’s take a look at the request of James and John. Reading from the NIV Bible, Mark the 10th chapter starting at verse 35…
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, (Mark 10:35-39)
Just imagine being one of the disciples seeing Jesus perform all these miracles, exercise authority over unclean spirits, heal the sick, raise the dead and teach with authority. Looking at all that praise that He was getting from people and the fame that came along with it... we now understand why James and John wanted a ‘position’ in the kingdom. Everywhere they went people knew who Jesus was from His first miracle until His death. Who wouldn’t wanna be like Jesus? (Especially in His fame?) The Bible says He went around doing good. James and John definitely were not wrong for wanting to fulfill purpose and destiny... just like we’re not wrong for wanting to fulfill our purpose and destiny. But before they could obtain a position, there were some things that needed to happen in their soul, and they needed their new creation spirit to enable them to be able to pay the price that goes along with the position. Repeat after me…’the price of preparation.’ Also known as your upgrade.
A lot of times we think that we can just step into a position and function. But that’s not the case. For those who don’t believe it look at alot of current leaders today. We can clearly see that there was no cup or no baptism. How can we see this? The evidence is...Carnality, culture, and ‘good causes’, have taken the place of and/or are put above The King and His Kingdom...the problem with this is that none of these things can convert the soul nor will they get people to heaven. All of this doesn't make the nation of Jesus Christ strong, wise, nor does it populate heaven. On the contrary...not only does it NOT look like its author, but it downgrades the Nation of Jesus Christ and makes the Kingdom of God look like a laughing stock. God never employed businesses with 'good causes', culture, or carnality to lead the kingdom. Now, there is nothing wrong with good causes or culture but it's not kingdom protocol for it to lead the nation of Jesus Christ in a dying world and the body of Christ that needs kingdom (Eph 4:11, 1 Cor 12:28) leaders not mantras and self help. Those secondary services are not scriptural, prescribed, nor giving eternal life to the hearers. Nor are they able to convert the soul ...it's more like propaganda. And to be frank...it has no position in the Kingdom. These are not real positions scripturally or otherwise. You can't find anything in scripture to support the preaching of cultures and 'good causes'. Nothing wrong with it but...There is no cup or baptism for it. But this is how confused leaders have become today in an effort to be accepted. I see more leaders confused with wounded souls that just breaks my heart. This is what happens when you have no cup or no baptism to train you. We let novice’s with no knowledge, experience, or understanding talk about ‘self help’, and every other cause except the cause of Christ. We put emphasis on the secondary and let the primary (kingdom 1st) take a backseat. And in all actuality Jesus emphasized that you have to be prepared to walk out the position that was prepared for you by way of the cup and the baptism.
Let’s look at the example given in scripture of Jesus addressing James and John in Mark chapter 10 that answers and sorts out the dilemma of why ‘causes’ NEVER take precedence over Christ and the Kingdom.
So as we read they asked to sit on the left and right hand of Jesus in his glory, but Jesus knew there were some things that needed to happen with them before they even thought about stepping into a position. Those things were the cup and the baptism.
The first thing Jesus did is He focused on their lack of understanding of the price that goes with the call. Again, there are two aspects to the price of the call for any position in the kingdom of God. And again, they are the cup and the baptism.
The goal was that Jesus wanted to help them understand that ANY position in the Kingdom of God (not good causes and culture) has a preparatory price. Understanding that James and John lacked this revelation Jesus then informed them that indeed they would receive their position but NOT WITHOUT THE UPGRADE. Again, He made it clear that every call has both the price of a cup and a baptism. The cup reflects the internal pain of what God allows …meaning…in His sovereignty He either is allowing things to come our way or leaving us in situations when we know He could deliver us. Can you handle this? The baptism is the outer, physical discomfort that comes with the adversity that arises...can you handle this? This is what is called, 'School of the Spirit'...and guess what...how we navigate both the cup and the baptism…as we taste the Cross(dying to this world)…determines whether we can come to the fullness of our call or not be fit for the position. Joseph experienced a baptism and a cup,(The OT is the NT concelead.) Jesus had a baptism and a cup, the apostles had a baptism and a cup, and we have a baptism and a cup. Are you willing to drink from His cup and be baptized in His baptism? Authorized personnel only.
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