Matthew 20:20-28

“Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The philosophy of the world is you have to be somebody to be somebody. That to be the best, you must have the most. That the way up is up no matter how you get there. 

James and John Zebedee’s mother wanted them to have a position of power and prestige. To be famous. To be something and someone. Jesus teaches them the way up is down; to have something, give; to be someone, be no one; etc.

There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things or to have a great impact, but this worldly philosophy has crept into our way of thinking. We need a big __________, more _________, a name, to be someone.

But God is no respecter of man. There is a call today for God’s people to be extraordinary, but the way we accomplish this is: 

1. Be yourself – Be who god Made you to be, not someone else. You are unique and this world needs you.
2. Be faithful – Don’t be a star that shines bright and burns out. Shine on faithfully.
3. Do your best- do all to the Glory of God.
4. Trust and rest in Him. (I Corinthians 1:25-29 – Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. II Corinthians 12:10 – “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am Strong.”)

There is a shortage of people who are content to remain nameless, but to be extraordinary.