THAT I MAY KNOW HIM (Phil.3:10)!
Theme: The Call To Righteousness (1Cor.15:34)!
NEVERTHELESS,AT THY WORD (LK.5:5)
****"***********************"**************
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (Luk 5: 5)
This story... Peter's encounter Christ Jesus is very significant. Unlearned as he was , he knew something was different from this Man(Christ Jesus). Thus, when the order was given to relaunch his nets. PETER WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT OF THE FISHERMEN AT THE LAKE. But his experience failed that day he came back empty-handed...but listening to Christ Jesus teachings, he said,*NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD*
And after,Peter became prominently recognized among his peers and others in the community. LATER ON PETER, AFTER CHRIST JESUS' ASCENSION TO HEAVEN THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP FELL ON HIM. HE NEVER NEVER ASSERTED HIMSELF AS THE LEADER... CHRIST JESUS ENSURED IT WITH HIS THRICE RESTORATION OF *FEED MY SHEEP!*
Now the point here is that he never abused his authority,not talked about himself,aside from the mandate of leading the other disciples in the spreading of the Gospel. Imagine when Paul brashly rebuked publicly because,as termed it hypocrisy that Peter stopped eating with the gentiles because he saw them. He didn't care about the fact that Peter could have responded in a way that those that yet pained of what Paul did then to the church would have had him (Paul) thrown out.
Fast-forward to our present, who will dare to challenge the senior pastor (right or wrong), for they have been deified by their congregants or members.
On a normal Sunday service day, when the pastors mount the pulpit to preach, once they manage to read a verse or two, the remaining part of the sermon would be filled only with countries wonders they have done. Fake or true, from that moment to the end,it will be the story of their exploits... how they healed blind and deaf and dumb. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD is no longer tenable. The recounting of greàt miracles they have performed,not God anymore. AN ENTIRE SERVICE WILL SPENT ON PREACHING OF SELF... A TERRIBLE PLAGUE THAT HAS BECOME A NORM IN OUR SOCIETY.
Even at them, Paul’s concern is to set the record straight by declaring his true motives, because many in Corinthian church were both blaming and mocking his frailty, ‘We preach not ourselves,’ he says.
Ministers face temptation as do ordinary Christians
Now, it is always a temptation to ministers to preach themselves. Some of us may seek the limelight and crave the approval of our congregations, or want to make a name for ourselves in the wider Church.
But ,amidst apostle Paul’s highest aim was to proclaim Jesus Christ. He lived and breathed to make known the good news that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor.5:19). For him, the church’s message was ‘Christ crucified’ (1 Cor.1:23), and he could state, ‘I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Cor.2:2). Whatever text he began with, whatever topic he touched on, he would somehow relate it to salvation in Christ.
May God touch our pastors of today ,to realize that even if their signboards are bearing their names, they should realize that as long as they have dedicated the church to God, they should be concerned about making Christ Jesus known and not themselves..
When we obey God faithfully,He knows what to do,to make our pilgrimage easier and worthwhile..!
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM (Phil.3:10)!
🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥
Theme: The Call To Righteousness (1Cor.15:34)!
🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥
NEVERTHELESS,AT THY WORD (LK.5:5)
****"***********************"**************
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (Luk 5: 5)
This story... Peter's encounter Christ Jesus is very significant. Unlearned as he was , he knew something was different from this Man(Christ Jesus). Thus, when the order was given to relaunch his nets. PETER WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT OF THE FISHERMEN AT THE LAKE. But his experience failed that day he came back empty-handed...but listening to Christ Jesus teachings, he said,*NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD*
And after,Peter became prominently recognized among his peers and others in the community. LATER ON PETER, AFTER CHRIST JESUS' ASCENSION TO HEAVEN THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP FELL ON HIM. HE NEVER NEVER ASSERTED HIMSELF AS THE LEADER... CHRIST JESUS ENSURED IT WITH HIS THRICE RESTORATION OF *FEED MY SHEEP!*
Now the point here is that he never abused his authority,not talked about himself,aside from the mandate of leading the other disciples in the spreading of the Gospel. Imagine when Paul brashly rebuked publicly because,as termed it hypocrisy that Peter stopped eating with the gentiles because he saw them. He didn't care about the fact that Peter could have responded in a way that those that yet pained of what Paul did then to the church would have had him (Paul) thrown out.
Fast-forward to our present, who will dare to challenge the senior pastor (right or wrong), for they have been deified by their congregants or members.
On a normal Sunday service day, when the pastors mount the pulpit to preach, once they manage to read a verse or two, the remaining part of the sermon would be filled only with countries wonders they have done. Fake or true, from that moment to the end,it will be the story of their exploits... how they healed blind and deaf and dumb. NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD is no longer tenable. The recounting of greàt miracles they have performed,not God anymore. AN ENTIRE SERVICE WILL SPENT ON PREACHING OF SELF... A TERRIBLE PLAGUE THAT HAS BECOME A NORM IN OUR SOCIETY.
Even at them, Paul’s concern is to set the record straight by declaring his true motives, because many in Corinthian church were both blaming and mocking his frailty, ‘We preach not ourselves,’ he says.
Ministers face temptation as do ordinary Christians
Now, it is always a temptation to ministers to preach themselves. Some of us may seek the limelight and crave the approval of our congregations, or want to make a name for ourselves in the wider Church.
But ,amidst apostle Paul’s highest aim was to proclaim Jesus Christ. He lived and breathed to make known the good news that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor.5:19). For him, the church’s message was ‘Christ crucified’ (1 Cor.1:23), and he could state, ‘I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Cor.2:2). Whatever text he began with, whatever topic he touched on, he would somehow relate it to salvation in Christ.
May God touch our pastors of today ,to realize that even if their signboards are bearing their names, they should realize that as long as they have dedicated the church to God, they should be concerned about making Christ Jesus known and not themselves..
When we obey God faithfully,He knows what to do,to make our pilgrimage easier and worthwhile..🙇🙏!