Are You The Man With The Pitcher?

. .

How do you want to be known?

Saved. . .successful. . .effective steward. . .great spouse. . .visionary. . .excellent parent. . .wonderful son or daughter. . .the list could go on.

Frankly, I’d like to be known as all those things. . .but I’d also like to be known as the man with the pitcher.

The key to your success in the remaining six months of 2017 is to become: the man/woman with the pitcher.

Mark 14:12 in the Amplified Bible says:

“On the first day [of the Feast] of Unleavened Bread, when [as was customary] they killed the Passover lamb, [Jesus’] disciples said to Him, Where do You wish us to go [and] prepare the Passover [supper] for You to eat?”

This was a significant day in the life of Jesus. . .it was the last time that He would share a meal with His disciples before his arrest, persecution and crucifixion.

Mark 14:13-16 in the Amplified Bible says:

“13 And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, Go into the city, and a man carrying an [earthen] jar or pitcher of water will meet you; follow him.

14 And whatever [house] he enters, say to the master of the house, The Teacher says: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover [supper] with My disciples?

15 And he will [himself] show you a large upper room, furnished [with carpets and with dining couches properly spread] and ready; there prepare for us.

16 Then the disciples set out and came to the city and found [everything] just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.”

This is a significant passage of scripture with life-changing, destiny-shaping revelation.

Let’s talk about seven ways to be the man with the pitcher.

1.         Be a divine connection.

At this particular time in history. . .men did not carry earthen jars or pitchers of water. . .women did type of work.  The only way men carried water was in large animal skins usually atop a donkey.

Some would ask. . .why was this man carrying water?

Was his wife sick, disabled or dead?  Probably not, because he would have his children carry the water. 

Perhaps his world had come crashing down to where he was a servant in another man’s house?  That’s a stretch.

The man was carrying the pitcher of water. . .so that he could be easily identified in a large city like Jerusalem because Jesus told his disciples to look for the ‘man’ carrying a pitcher.

Unknowingly, perhaps to him, this man became a divine connection. . .facilitating the plan of God.  He was in the right place at the right time. . .by divine direction.

The question for each of us. . .are we positioned to be a divine connection? 

Have you ever had some extra money come into your hands. . .just in time to be a blessing to someone else?

I remember 30 plus years ago, my fine wife Bev felt led to send money to some single mothers.  These women had no idea who the money came from.

Several days after mailing the money, Bev overheard at church one of the women telling someone else with tears in her eyes how this money came through the mail just in time to buy some medicine her son desperately needed.

We became a divine connection for this woman to glorify God.

Every time we bless others at God’s direction. . .we become His kingdom connection.

God wants to bless us so we can be a blessing to others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”

2.         Be a servant.

Greatness is not measured by public perception but rather a deliberate decision to serve others as God directs you.

Mark 9:35 says:

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”  

It’s important to remember that Jesus spoke the words in verse 35 just after his disciples had been arguing about which of them would be greatest in the kingdom after He was gone.

The word servant in verse 35 is the Greek word (G1249) “diakonos” (de a ka nos) and it means:

“1) one who executes the commands of another. . .a master, a servant, attendant, minister: a) the servant of a king; b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use.”

A study of the other scriptures in which we find the word “diakonos reveals that Jesus is really telling His disciples that if they want to be a leader. . .a minister to the people, they must be willing to listen to what the Spirit is saying and obey . . .ahead of their own desires.

Matthew 20:26 says:

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” 

The Greek word “diakonos” is found 31 times in 29 verses in the King James Version of the Bible and the terms servant and minister are used interchangeably.

And that’s what I believe the man with the pitcher was doing.

3.         Be a leader.

There are defining moments in our lives when we step into a position of leadership sometimes knowingly and other times unknowingly.

The man with the pitcher of water unknowingly led the way for the Living Water (Jesus) to serve the disciples and ultimately each of us.

Whether you see yourself as a leader or not isn’t really the issue.  God created and endowed you with the seeds of greatness. . .He gave you the image of Himself. . .to be a leader in your own family. . .friends. . .church. . .business. . .life.

If there was no other reason to be the leader God called you to be, there is a profound reason found in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 in the Message Bible:

Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, "Don't muzzle a working ox" and "A worker deserves his pay."

Where are you in your role as a leader?  Are you willing to go the extra mile?”

Initiative is doing the right thing without being told to do it.”

Be ever ready to accept an assignment from God. . .it may seem meaningless or mundane.  You may never know this side of heaven what you accomplished for the kingdom but you can be assured of one thingIf the Lord gives you an assignment, it’s important. 

4.         Be a facilitator.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word facilitator means:

“one that helps to bring about an outcome (as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision”

The man with the pitcher was most probably being a facilitator without even knowing the full impact of what he was doing or how he was being used.

God wants to use each of us as facilitators.

Do you have a friend undergoing a difficult time because of a diagnosis from the doctor?  Is God using you to speak a word of comfort to them in season?  Are you being directed to send scriptural messages that will encourage them in their most Holy faith?  Then you are being used of God to facilitate a healing.

The same could be said. . .if the adversity is a financial downturn, family relationship or some other problem..

Perhaps God is using you as a witness to others to facilitate His plan for their lives and yours.

My 90-year old father is a salvation facilitator.  He makes it his business to be used by God to help change the outcome the eternal destination of every person he meets.

Ephesians 2:10 in the New Living Translation says:

“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Being used of God to facilitate the good things He planned for us long ago is a blessed way to live.

5.         Be prepared.

Abraham Lincoln once said:

“I will prepare and someday my chance will come.”

Somebody once asked Lincoln what he would do if he had eight hours to chop down a tree.  Lincoln said:

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend seven sharpening my axe.”

How much time do you spend sharpening your ax?

How much do you spend on those trips to the beauty or barber shop for hair care, cuts, dos, bobs, weaves and/or coloring?

What about the money spent on hair sprays, gels, shampoos, brushes, picks or hair dryers?  All that money goes on the outside of your head.

The real question is how much do you spend on what goes on inside your head?  Your book and CD library reveals the depth of your respect for money and success that goes into your mind.

If you spend $400 on car payments; $130 on gas; and $1200 on your apartment, how much did you invest in books and tapes that will fed the greatest computer ever invented. . . your mind?

Are we preparing for our future by spending more on DVD rentals at Netflix or RedBox than we do on the pure, the powerful and the positive from the Word of God and His anointed teaching?

When was the last time you bought a book meant to help you improve yourself from a Christian bookstore or a CD series from your local church or a ministry like the Debt Free Army?

Preparation is important because we can never really know. . .when our Kingdom moment will arrive.

We’ve always taught that preparation precedes promotion.

The Boy Scout motto is:  Be prepared.

You can never be totally sure about when your opportunity for leadership and service will come to pass. . .so always be prepared.

The man with the pitcher probably didn’t realize he was about to become a Kingdom connection for our Lord. . .but he was nonetheless prepared.

6.         Be ready for things to change.

Circumstances and facts change. . .truth doesn’t … and God’s Word is truth.

The man with the pitcher saw his circumstances change when he went to do “woman’s work.”  Yet doing something that have been considered demeaning for some men was not to the man with the pitcher.

I believe the man. . .was ready for things to change.

When it comes to our finances. . .are we ready for things to change in a positive way?

Our financial condition can change for the worse by a sudden illness or accident, an unforeseen layoff or any sort of catastrophic event, such as a death or divorce.

Our financial condition can change for the better with an unexpected bonus, increase in salary or perhaps, an unanticipated inheritance.

Our financial circumstances can change in a heartbeat. . .for better or worse.

However, there’s one thing that will never change.

Malachi 3:6 says:

“For I am the Lord, I change not. . .”

Hebrews 13:8 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).”

If God doesn’t change. . .and He doesn’t.  If His Word doesn’t change. . .and it doesn’t.  If God’s promises remain the same. . .and they do.  Then it’s fairly obvious. . .we and our circumstances are the ones and things that can and need to change.

Now let’s go a little deeper. . .

Matthew 3:2 says:

“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

According to Strong’s Concordance the Greek word for repent is metanoeĊ (G3344) and it means:

“to change one’s mind”

The Amplified Bible translation of Matthew 3:2 says:

“And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Where a person will spend eternity. . .heaven or hell. . .changes. . .when you change your mind and accept Jesus as Savior.

Whether you live in lack or surplus. . .changes. . .when you change your mind and decide to do something about your situation.

Whatever circumstances you’re dealing with. . .change. . .when you change your mind.

Romans 12:2 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”

One more verse.  Acts 3:19 in The Living Bible says:

“Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.”

We need to repent. . .change our minds. . .about our circumstances. . .so we’ll be ready like the man with the pitcher. . .when our time comes.

7.         Be available (ready to be a blessing).

The man with the pitcher was available. . .and he became a blessing for all the generations since.

No question. . .God wants to bless us. . .so we can be a blessing.

Hebrews 6:14 in the Message Bible says:

“He said, `I promise that I'll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!’"

Personalize this scripture.

“He said, `I promise that I'll bless <<Your Name>> with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!’"

Wow. . .God says “I will bless you with everything I have.”  That sounds amazing!  I wonder how many people are taking God up on that one right now?

Sadly, there are some people who love God with all their hearts but “they think” when the scripture says God will bless us. . .it refers only to eternal life. . .the sweet bye and bye.

But that’s just not what the scripture means.

For instance, according to Strong’s Concordance the word bless found in Hebrews 6:14 is the Greek word (yeah la gay o) eulogeo and it means:

“to cause to prosper; to make happy; to be favored of God.”

We’re talking about being blessed, prospered and favored of God. . .right here right now.

One more thing. . .as a man with the pitcher. . .you need to be ready at all times.

Matthew 24:44 in the New Living Translation says:

“You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Be instant in season and out of season.  The man with the pitcher was ready for his assignment.  When his opportunity came, he was found faithfully executing the assignment he was given to do. 

The question is … are we ready?  Is 2017 going to be just another year … or our year of growth?  Our year filled expectations and manifestations of miracles because we would not quit pursing God and taking Him at His Word?

Are you listening for the Spirit of God?  Remember, the voices in your life determine the choices in your life. 

God wants to bless you but the decision is yours.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS