How To Know and Do Almighty’s Will
Are You Subservient?
by
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There is one more point on the need for subservience, when we are interacting with the ones Almighty dispatches as messengers to us. They are humble in character; and they become intimidated by the proud and arrogant. If we are not subservient, we make it nearly impossible for them to share the wisdom of Almighty with us. I know! For years, I wondered why I did not learn much of anything from the humble servants of Almighty. I was sincere in wanting to learn, but I repeatedly got feedback like this: “You intimidate them. They are not going to share with someone who intimidates them.” At the time, I had no idea of how that could be; because I surely thought that I was being a humble servant of Almighty. Later, I learned that I was being subordinate to The Big; but not at all subservient to his servants.
Over time, I have come to understand that this ignorance of their own intimidation of others is a common problem for pastors, preachers, evangelists, teachers, and leaders of all types. Seldom do they realize it. By the simple action of “taking the lead,” they are losing the opportunity to learn from Almighty’s assigned teachers. It took me a long time to repent (change my mind) from an attitude of “Have I got a good lesson for you!” to a more useful, “Father, what are your servants going to teach me today?” They may teach by what they say or what they ask.
I have done most of the rationalizations within myself.
1. But, I’ve spent hours preparing my lessons.
2. But, I researched the best sources; and I wrote the book.
3. But, I’m paid to be the __________.
4. But, I’m the one who went to Bible College, Seminary, or University.
5. I’m not going to let these uneducated, untrained people run my lessons.
6. The teacher has to be in control at all times.
There is a marvelous thing about these rationalizations: They are mostly true. And, because of our roles as leaders, by whatever name, these rationalizations make perfect sense.
When Jesus talked about this, he said what is recorded in this passage from Matthew.
Matthew 23:8-12 (TMB) 8But you(p) are not to be called, Rabbi [my master], because one exists your instructor, and all of you(p) exist brothers. 9And do not you(p) call anyone upon the earth your father, because one exists your father up-above [spiritual realm]. 10Neither are you(p) to be called teacher, because one exists your teacher, the Christ: Messiah [anointed]. 11And the biggest of you(p) will exist your servant. 12But whoever will elevate himself will be humbled; and the one who will humble himself will be elevated.
• You(p) are not to be called, Rabbi [my master], because one exists your instructor, and all of you(p) exist brothers.
• Do not you(p) call anyone upon the earth your father, because one exists your father up-above [spiritual realm].
• Neither are you(p) to be called teacher, because one exists your teacher, the Christ: Messiah [anointed].
Besides, the Spirit of Almighty prefers humility over pride. He will readily speak with and reveal himself to the subservient servant. He will refrain from giving his secrets to the person who is focused on his or her own learning resume or other accomplishments as pastor, or teacher, or leader.
I assure you; you will need some help from the Master to become subservient like he was.
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About the Book
Free will is the ability to choose, for one’s own plans and actions,
what Almighty defines as preferred or right; what Almighty has
chosen for his own plans or actions.
When we demonstrate subservience, we will bring our words
and actions down to the level of the lowest person (by education,
social status, etc.) in the room, in order to reach them. By our
subservience, the Spirit of Almighty will exalt our words and
actions so the least in the room will hear and heed.
The remarkable thing about this principle is that it works in
reverse, for when we are the lowest in knowledge or intellect in
the room. We may be the one who is expecting to ask the wise
and educated in the room, to learn from them. In my experience,
this is unlikely to be the way Almighty works. Instead, we need to
be ready to be subservient to the least in the room. This is likely
the one Almighty has dispatched. That is why he said in verse 20:
• Amen [surely], Amen [surely], I say to you(p): The one
getting hold of whomsoever that I dispatch, gets hold of
me.
• And the one getting hold of me, gets hold of the one having
dispatched me.
When we humble ourselves, Almighty will exalt us with learning.
Often, he uses the lowliest in the room to be the teacher.
About the Author
I was born at the height of World War 2, to a sharecropper who was totally in bondage to his landowner masters. I spent most of my pre-adult life in extreme poverty, partially due to the size of the brood, twelve siblings, and partially due to the greedy and manipulative overlords. Often, I was forced to go shoeless, in hand-me-downs, doing the chores of feeding pigs and chickens, and milking cows by hand, on the clay-nob farms of my childhood. I suffered malnutrition to the point that my belly was bloated and distended, looking more like a starving urchin in a war-torn land. Where was Almighty in this? I had no clue, other than that he seemed to have saved my life from utter destruction a number of times.
I was the runt of the litter in physical dimensions. Therefore, I was continually picked on, pummeled, and harassed by siblings and schoolmates. I learned protective defense mechanisms early on, like isolation and avoidance. I took to manipulating teachers who felt sorry for me, facetiously submitting to them for errands during recess, as the teacher’s pet, in order to avoid time on the playground. I soon calculated that this submissive demeanor had long-term benefits, like drawing favors and attention during class, and receiving elevated grades in the process. This provoked a cycle of increased jealousy and hatred from classmates, but increased attention and protection from under-appreciated tutors, who relished my willingness to heel to my masters. Where was Almighty in this? I suspected that he was just another authority figure to manipulate. I wept to somehow get to know him.
This obeisance to authority figures worked admirably throughout home life and primary and secondary schools. It failed miserably in the larger world of higher education and corporate wrestling for promotion. There were far too many unscrupulous competitors, with better looks, better talents, and familial resources to charm the ever-so-hungry academics and bosses. A new strategy was needed. That strategy was perfectionism. It first showed up in rote memory of all the professor’s enunciated whims; then, in attention to every nuanced detail of the desires of the superior. Unfortunately, this backfired when the superiors took all the credit for comprehensive research and profitable innovation. A crisis of resentment against authority and self-loathing followed. I had taught them to take full advantage of me. I felt abandoned by Almighty, another disappointed and disappointing superior.
The mismatch between striving for gains, and watching them being snatched away, prompted a new, entrepreneurial spirit. I was able, as an independent contractor, to truly develop better mousetraps. There was a marketplace for these in the form of creative solutions and efficient processes which satisfied the needs of management – who saw the needs (in many cases it was obvious); but did not have either the will or ability to take on the challenges themselves. As a consultant and contractor, I was able to travel to sites where management needed results, quickly; and were not so concerned with academic prowess. Word-of-mouth was the only marketing tool. Finding and filling this expanding pool of deficiencies became an exhaustive job of travel and work that soon consumed an average of 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. It could not continue. After nearly 25 years, the rat race came to a shattering end. I had exhausted my energy and my pride. I realized that my works did not make a lasting impression on my clients, nor a worthwhile impression on the Supreme Authority of all.
I spent several years with fill-in assignments and part-time agreements. However, in the spare time that these temporary distractions afforded, I was able to begin the search for wisdom. I began to find it concealed, where it was supposed to be, hidden in the word of Almighty. Applying the lessons of analysis and measurement I had learned over the years; I started to piece together the secrets of life. It seems Almighty had always had a plan and He, the real Supreme Authority, was more than willing, by his grace, to share this plan freely with anyone who would attentively hearken. Digging out, piling up, and organizing these pearls of great value has resulted in the The Meaning Bible (TMB) and these Learning Modules that you see. It is with great joy that I offer them to you. I hope you learn from them; and give him all the glory.
Your humble servant, Freedman Thune