The Four Tenets of Not-So-With-YOUSýnishorn

Why do we need to listen to the Not-So-With-You Command?

Little Johny shook hands with the pastor after the service enthusiastically. The pastor lovingly asked him his name. He said “Johny”. The pastor wanted to check his level of smartness and asked him “Johny, great name. What is your second name?” Johny thought for a minute and then said with great confidence “Johny Don’t”. The pastor was taken aback. “Johny, how do you know that your second name is Don’t?” he asked. Johny smiled and said. “That is what my mother calls me most of the time. Johny Don’t do this, Johny Don’t do that, etc, etc.” Can you relate to this? The fact is, we get fed up with this “Don’t do” advice throughout our childhood and teenage years, and when we become adults, we think the quota of “Don’t do” is over. Adults do not like to be told what not to do. And yet, Jesus chose those exact words when it came to educating people about leadership. The reason for this is because of the fall, our default setting is to do things that we should not do. Paul himself admitted this Rom 7:14-19

This is the reason we have to listen constantly to the Not-So-With-You commands of Jesus Christ.

What is the Not-So-With-You Command?

Jesus Christ has made His upside-down approach clear in many instances. He said, to have abundant life you must die to self, first (Matt 16:25). He said, if you really want to punish your enemy, love them. (Matt 5:43-44, Rom 12:19-21). He said, to become rich you need to give everything you have. (Luke 6:38, Mark 12:41-44)

So it shouldn’t surprise us when he says, to lead you must serve. Let us dig into this upside-down philosophy today. He made it clear through Matt 20:25-28

This is commonly known as the Not-So-With-You command.

What will we learn in this plan?

During the remaining days of this plan we will consider why Jesus had to give this command and explicitly say, "Not-So-With-You."

My studies reveal four tenets of this Not-So-With-You command.

1. Power
2. Purpose
3. Values
4. Significance

We will study these four tenets in the next four days.

Prayer

Father, I confess that my natural tendency is to do things that are not pleasing to you. Help me to understand your son's Not-So-With-You command, so that I can live, love and lead like He did.