OK, much of what I am about to say is very much like what I have already said. So, why am I saying it? Because there are some people in positions of authority who have not got the message, and other people are being hurt because of it. I will say no more on that aspect, so don't ask me.

Dear Reader, when you read this, you may react in one of a number of ways.

Firstly, you may agree with it.
Secondly, you may respond to it. You may see in what I have written a message to yourself.
Thirdly, you may ignore it. May God grant you grace to understand.
Fourthly. you may react to it. It might make you angry, or upset you in some way. You really need God's grace, so do those around you. You are not only holding back God's work, you are harming it.

Let me add that the things I write here I have already applied to myself. The effect has been one of liberation, joy, peace, and an expansion of faith.

End of introduction. Let's begin.

You are nothing.

That's right, nothing. Less than a speck in the whole expanse of space and time.

If you did not exist, the Universe would still continue, and God's plan would not be hindered.

There is nothing special about you. Nothing for you to be proud of.

Your knowledge is almost non-existent. The majority of what you think you know is wrong.

The wisdom you think you have is a mixture of self-importance, unsupported opinions, and unjustified assumptions. Anyone that comes to you for advice and guidance is a fool, because you have no idea what they need in their lives. You don't even know for yourself.

Your plans and ambitions are worthless, because you have no idea about the future.

Your nationality, race, beauty, intelligence, family name, talents and anything else you care to add were given to you at birth. You earned none of it. There is nothing there to be proud of.

Your education, status, wealth, fame, reputation - all worthless. Just things to separate you from other people, to inflate your ego.

Now, don't let all this get you down. It's all true. It's true of everyone on this planet.

So, accept you are nothing. Just like me. That means, no-one can knock you down, flatter you, insult you, annoy you, humiliate you. You can't be manipulated or controlled. You are nothing, so nothing can be taken from you. You are nothing. Enjoy the freedom!

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You cannot even be proud of being a Christian. Why? Because it was not your decision. You are a Christian, because God decided you would be, before the beginning of time. There is nothing special about you that would make God choose you. The Pharisees were proud because they were children of Abraham. What did Christ say? He said God could raise up stones as Children of Abraham. (Matt 3:9)

You must not value yourself in any way. You must value all others above yourself. Even those that hate you. Even those that hurt you. Jesus did not flinch from the hand of man, neither must we. He forgave all but the Pharisees, the hypocrites, the spiritually proud, those that thought they were doing God's will, when they were just doing their own. (Matt 15:9)

Even Jesus humbled himself. Read John 14. The words Christ spoke were the Father's not his. The works he did were what he saw the Father doing. Anything Christ did in his own authority was worthless. Only those things he did in the authority God gave him had any value. If true for Christ, how much more true for us?

Nothing in and of ourselves has any value. We mus kill off any thought that it has. We must be living sacrifices. We must die to self.

What is of value is the Holy Spirit that dwells in every believer. He gives wisdom, knowledge, guidance and power. We must be totally submitted to Him in every way. People surrendered to the Holy Spirit in this way have unity and purpose. They are of one heart and soul, because the Holy Spirit is one, they are one with Him, so they are one with each other.

If you are submitted to God, you will see His guidance and gifts more easily, which should fill you with gratitude. This gratitude leads to increased faith. Our only response to this is total surrender. We accept whatever situation God leads us into, knowing that it is all part of His plan.

God does good things for you. Why? So that people can see what He has done for you, and will believe. We are living advertisements for the grace of God.

The key to this is humility. Which is what I was talking about earlier. Humble before God and man is the only way to be. The only way to be part of God's Kingdom. The only way to build community. The only way to build the church.

Leaders, this is especially true of you. You must not teach people to follow you, but to follow Christ as you do. There is a great difference. Don't tell anyone to do what you are not prepared to do yourself.

God does not want your success, but your obedience. You don't know God's plan, so don't think that you know what is best. Especially when it comes to someone else's life.

Evangelists, you are not here to win converts, but to preach the Gospel. What happens then is the Holy Spirit's business.

Teachers, you are not to teach your own ideas, but to expound on Scripture. Don't go beyond what is written. (1 Cor 4:6, 2 Peter 2)

Prophets, when you say you speak in God's name, be sure that you do.

Pastors/Shepherds, your duty is to keep the congregation whole, to seek out and rescue those that stray. Trust in God's grace. Don't fix people as who they were, but trust that God has changed them. Listen. Understand. Find out who they are now. (1 Peter 5)

Elders/Overseers, you are responsible for the spiritual well-being of your people. You must serve them. To do that, you must be humble before them, putting their needs above your own. (1 Peter 5)

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Love all, forgive all, show mercy, condemn no-one.