RE-DEFINING GREATNESS(PART 1)Matt.20:26,Mk.9:35 || GIC || LAGOS-NIGERIA || APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN

Devotional

Day 1: Walking in God’s Strategy, Not Your Own Creativity

God’s promises require His methods. Like Joshua needing to march around Jericho instead of swinging swords, your breakthrough demands obedience to divine strategy rather than human ingenuity. When you trade clever plans for yieldedness, you position yourself for walls to fall. True victory comes not through force but through following instructions whispered in prayer. What seems foolish becomes miraculous when aligned with heaven’s blueprint. [03:22]

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
(Joshua 6:2-5, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you relied on your own creativity instead of seeking God’s strategy? What specific situation requires you to exchange “swords” for obedient marching this week?

Day 2: Waiting in the Wilderness for Your Season of Showing

John the Baptist didn’t rush his destiny—he stayed in the desert until his hour. Your wilderness season isn’t abandonment but incubation. Timing transforms potential into purpose. Like a nine-month pregnancy, premature delivery brings complications, but full-term promises healthy manifestation. God uses hidden years to calibrate your character for public assignment. The ache of waiting births the authority to declare “Prepare the way!” [05:22]

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
(Luke 1:80, NIV)

Reflection: What “wilderness” area of your life feels stagnant? How might this season be preparing you to steward greater visibility?

Day 3: Beauty as a Tool in the Hands of the Maker

Esther’s beauty wasn’t for vanity but for palace access. In God’s kingdom, nothing—not talent, wealth, or even pain—holds inherent value until aligned with His purposes. Your degrees, networks, and resources become holy when surrendered as channels for Christ’s glory. A donkey carried Jesus; tears anointed His feet. When you stop clinging to gifts and start offering them, ordinary becomes eternal. [39:12]

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
(Esther 4:14, NIV)

Reflection: What “donkey” (ordinary resource) in your life have you underestimated? How can it carry Christ’s purpose this week?

Day 4: Bearing Witness to the Light in Every Assignment

John’s entire existence centered on one mission: point to Jesus. Your career, relationships, and dreams are not endpoints but megaphones to amplify His glory. A business becomes a pulpit when profits fund missions. A song becomes worship when lyrics exalt the King. Every platform is geography for witness. When your why shifts from self-promotion to spotlighting Christ, influence gains eternal momentum. [50:00]

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
(John 1:6-7, NIV)

Reflection: What current endeavor needs reorienting from “my success” to “His witness”? How can you intentionally redirect praise this week?

Day 5: The Last Shall Be First: Greatness Through Serving All

Jesus redefined power as foot-washing. Kingdom greatness isn’t measured by who applauds you but by who you stoop to lift. While the world climbs ladders, believers carry towels. Your value isn’t in titles but in how many burdens you bear. True authority emerges when you trade crowns for basins, knowing the highest honor is hearing “Well done, good servant” from the One who served unto death. [19:50]

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
(Mark 9:35, NIV)

Reflection: Whose “feet” (hidden need) has God placed near you? What pride must you lay down to serve them without recognition?

Sermon Summary

God opens the night by speaking “season of greatness” and by insisting that emergence rests on three cords that must not be broken: the prophecy, the strategy, and the timing. Jesus names timing as visitation, so the Spirit urges clarity for assignment, Heaven’s blueprint for execution, and sensitivity to the hour. Matthew 20 and Mark 9 then locate greatness on a different axis: the text puts a basin and a towel in the center, “let him be your servant,” so that first place moves to last place and “servant of all.”

Greatness, in broad terms, often rides on five markers: achievement, character, impact and contribution, acquisitions, and influence. Even so, mastery of craft, measurable impact, and integrity remain the irreducible minimums for anyone called great. But the kingdom does not erase these measures, it reprioritizes them. Character and impact through service sit higher than acquisitions and accolades. The kingdom rearranges the shelves.

The dominion mandate makes greatness necessary. Souls, fruitfulness, maturity, societal transformation, and love all require capacity that shines. God is also glorified through the lifting of his people. “Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee.” The reflection principle means the church glorifies Jesus, and Jesus glorifies the Father, so God intends to be seen in a people until others “glorify God in me.”

Kingdom greatness begins with a new definition of value. In the kingdom nothing has intrinsic value; value comes only from alignment to God’s will. Beauty without assignment is empty. Strength without obedience is noise. Wealth without consecration creates a “rich fool.” A cross becomes precious when it carries the Savior. A donkey becomes significant when it carries the King. The part of a life that cannot worship God is the idol in that life.

Purpose is then reframed. John is “a man sent from God,” and his job description is witness. The central purpose behind business, governance, art, ministry, and scholarship is to reveal Jesus to a world and to bring him glory. If the why is corrupted, the rise will crush the man. When the why is clean, God, the Maker of men, supplies wisdom, influence, and grace, and then supervises humility as a daily project. He lifts vessels who will hide behind the cross. He trusts stewards who say, “If you will let men see Jesus, there is nothing you will not give.” Finally, Paul can plant and Apollos can water, but only God gives the increase, so the hand that makes men great must remain the hand that is seen.

Key Takeaways

1. Prophecy requires strategy and timing True emergence marries what God said with how and when God says to do it. Invention looks intelligent but fails if it ignores Heaven’s blueprint. Jesus wept over a city that missed its hour. Desire is not destiny without alignment to God’s methods and moments. [02:55]
2. Kingdom value equals aligned usefulness In the kingdom nothing carries worth by itself. Value is measured by a thing’s ability to serve the will and program of God. Beauty, strength, money, degrees, even tears and failures become precious only when they help Christ be seen. Anything that cannot worship becomes an idol. [39:12]
3. Purpose centers on revealing Jesus’ glory A believer’s unifying motive is simple: reveal Jesus to a world and bring him glory. Promotion, platforms, and profits are tools, not trophies. When the why is to exalt Christ, God can safely add the what, the where, and the how much. [50:46]
4. Greatness flows through humble service Jesus locates first place at the back of the line. The towel is higher than the throne in kingdom math. Service is not a detour to greatness, it is the road itself, where character and contribution outrank applause and acquisitions. [19:50]
5. God alone gives the increase Diligence, mastery, and systems matter, but they do not open hearts. Only the Father of spirits persuades a generation to pay attention. The safest path up is to let men see Jesus and let God do the lifting. [72:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:42] - Prophetic declarations of greatness
[02:55] - Prophecy, strategy, and timing
[04:19] - Jericho strategy and yieldedness
[05:22] - Timing and birthing prayer
[10:41] - Redefining greatness Part 1
[11:16] - Servant as the path to first
[12:33] - God makes great and strengthens
[20:10] - Five measures of greatness named
[27:19] - Why greatness: dominion and glory
[35:06] - Kingdom versus worldly metrics
[38:10] - Value redefined by alignment
[50:46] - Purpose: reveal Jesus and glorify
[01:00] - Three anchors: value, purpose, service
[72:51] - God alone gives the increase

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV)
"It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Observation Questions

What three elements does the sermon identify as essential for fulfilling prophecy and divine emergence? ([02:55])
How does Jesus redefine the concept of "first place" in Mark 9:35, and what physical objects does the sermon associate with this redefinition?
According to the sermon, what happens to beauty, strength, or wealth if they are not aligned with God’s purposes? ([39:12])
What two core motivations should govern a believer’s pursuit of greatness, according to the sermon? ([50:46])

Interpretation Questions

Why might "invention" or human creativity fail to fulfill God’s purposes, even if it appears intelligent? ([04:19])
How does the "reflection principle" (God glorified through Christ, Christ through the Church) challenge common cultural definitions of success?
The sermon states, "A cross becomes precious when it carries the Savior." How does this metaphor explain the difference between intrinsic value and kingdom value?
Why does the sermon emphasize that "God alone gives the increase" even when believers plant and water? ([01:12:51])

Application Questions

What is one area of your life (skill, resource, or experience) that you’ve treated as having "intrinsic value"? How could you intentionally align it with God’s purposes this week? ([39:12])
The sermon warns that "the part of your life that cannot worship God is the idol in that life." Identify a habit, relationship, or possession that resists being surrendered to God’s glory. What practical step could you take to consecrate it?
Jesus prioritizes serving over being served. What specific act of intentional service (using your unique gifts) could you perform for someone this week to practice "kingdom math"? ([19:50])
The sermon says, "If the why is corrupted, the rise will crush the man." How would you evaluate your current motivations for pursuing goals—are they primarily to reveal Jesus or to build your own legacy?
Think of a situation where you’re waiting for a breakthrough. How can you actively seek clarity on God’s strategy and timing for it rather than relying on your own plans? ([02:55])
The sermon compares believers to "a donkey carrying the King." What mundane or overlooked aspect of your daily life could become spiritually significant if viewed as a tool for Christ’s mission?

Sermon Clips

87s

#RevealJesus

“``Any other definition outside of this is corrupted. The desire to reveal Jesus to your world so that they believe and the desire to bring him glory. That is the overarching is the anchor motivation for any believer. If you want to do business with God, that's the deal that you must have. That my life and everything about me must be all about revealing Jesus and bringing him glory. Then you're ready to see greatness God's way. Please listen to me. It is not very difficult for God to lift people. When I sat and I was listening to music, I'm a very meditative person. Sometimes it it it makes me I feel very embarrassed because, you know, sometimes you need to be alive and active, but once I see things, my spirit and my mind takes them seriously. So while she was singing and dancing, I was just looking at the wordings of her songs. My imaginations have turned to reality. Oh my God, you do this one and I say how true. I was just looking at the truthfulness of what was there. That God can pick a man from anywhere to anywhere. But you see the key is that there must be a determination like a covenant within you. That God my rising will be the lifting of your name. That I have no other agenda. Are we together now?”

79s

#HumilityAsPractice

“A time comes where humility in your life does not just become a desire, it must become a project. Where you supervise yourself daily, where you become a prophet of your destiny, you say myself, be in check. Because of the excellency of your rising, You should be wise enough to learn from Lucifer by now. Are we together? Something happens to men when they rise. Something happens to men when pain goes away. Something happens to men when others call you great. Something happens to men when you feel you have arrived. Using message someone's line, something happens when your imagination becomes your reality. So this is how my life can be. So this sky is my own. So this house is my own. So this likes and follows belong to me. So this estate belongs to me. Do you really need God at that point? Do you really need to pray at that point? What then is the value of fasting? Go back to my lecture. When he becomes the epicenter of your worth, nothing that comes in or goes out affects his place. That is the posture of the great in the kingdom. And nothing interrupts your mission.”

75s

#ValueByAlignment

“So when we define value in the kingdom, it has nothing to do with your bank account. It has nothing to do with your skill. It has nothing to do with your qualification. Are we together? Anything including your failure becomes valuable once it aligns to serve the program of God. Anything that comes into divine alignment to serve the will of God and the program of God is considered valuable. Who is understanding me? So the definition of anything mundane in the kingdom is that whatever it is, no matter how noble, no matter how glorious, it lacks the ability to serve the program of God. Don't tell me you are beautiful. That's a useless language as far as kingdom is concerned. Show me how Esther uses her beauty to get to the palace and serves the program of God. Now Esther is valuable. Don't tell me Samson is strong. That's a useless concept. Until you show me how the strength of Samson can serve the program of God. Are we together now? Everything in the kingdom derives its value from its alignment.”

52s

#JesusAtTheCenter

“When you stop defining your value by what comes in and what goes out, I bought a new car. Meaning levels have changed. You are right. If you are speaking to unbelievers. But in the kingdom, level has changed. If there is a greater determination to serve God with that tool, call your vehicle. That's the only condition by which you say level has changed. Apostle, thank you so much. Some more money has come into my account. Now I can give more to the work of God. I can live a more efficient life. Take care of my health. So that this body can serve the program of God more. Now you are talking kingdom. Once Jesus is not the endpoint of your discussion, you are canal.”

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RE-DEFINING GREATNESS(PART 1)Matt.20:26,Mk.9:35 || GIC || LAGOS-NIGERIA || APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN

Devotional

Day 1: Walking in God’s Strategy, Not Your Own Creativity

Day 2: Waiting in the Wilderness for Your Season of Showing

Day 3: Beauty as a Tool in the Hands of the Maker

Day 4: Bearing Witness to the Light in Every Assignment

Day 5: The Last Shall Be First: Greatness Through Serving All

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

RE-DEFINING GREATNESS(PART 1)Matt.20:26,Mk.9:35 || GIC || LAGOS-NIGERIA || APOSTLE JOSHUA SELMAN

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