Niels Prip – Blog

For many years now, I have heard, “God is going to bring you to the next level”. I have always known what they meant by that. It usually meant greater power, greater gifting and greater recognition in the kingdom. It was something to be excited about.

Even John Lake in his “Letter to Elder Brooks” in 1916, seemed to sense that God was calling him to a new “level” of ministry. That letter can be read here- https://nielsprip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/john-g-lakes-letter-to-elder-brooks.pdf . I would encourage you to read it. John Lake already had a very successful ministry but was feeling something new was on the horizon. With all the excitement about the “gifts” and with “revival” in general, it seems we can lose sight of some very important Biblical principals. With man, our ministries are important, with God the man is important. God will sacrifice the ministry to save the man.

Matthew 23:11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

We have it the other way around in our minds. I have often said that the “next level” is down, it is lower and more humble, like Matthew says. When someone tells us that God is going to bring us to the next level, how can we Biblically only think of what God is doing for me? In John we read that John the Baptist said this of Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease”. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that “we are given gifts not for ourselves, but for the edification of the body”. The goal is for others edification, these gifts are not “self” gifts.

We are told several times in scriptures that “he who wants to be the greatest in the kingdom, should be the servant of all”. Matthew 23:8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9“And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted”.

Who is more humble than Jesus? His humility is shown forth in the fact that “He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant”. Who has more power than Jesus? It was His lowliness, His emptying of Himself that allowed Him great power. What did He think the next level was? Was He thinking in terms of greater power? Greater recognition and success in His Ministry. No, He thought the opposite, He did not grasp for power, “He emptied Himself”.

Philippians 2:5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the mystery! The kingdom works opposite of the world and its systems. Most of the American church has adopted the ways of the world. We need to break free from that and restore these Biblical teachings. We are to prefer one another in love, taking the low road and humbling ourselves in the sight of God. That is where the next level lies!

James 4:6But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.