HE (Christ Jesus) is the head of the body the church!
Give, give generously and often, but never give because someone else, a man or woman, tells you when, how much or which cause.
The One we should be seeking for our giving is Christ Jesus our Lord. When He compels us to give, then He will tell us to whom and how much.
Never allow others to make you feel guilty about your decision for giving. How much, when or what, is not the business of any other person except our spouse.
Also, might I add this; Never say "amen" when commanded to by a speaker. Many years ago I felt uncomfortable every time a preacher prompted the "audience" to say anything.
Then one day the Lord asked me in a still small prompting in my thoughts, "did I tell you to say that?" That is when I realized that human manipulation of any kind is fleshly and must be resisted. I got so that I would refuse to obey the man in favor of waiting on the Holy Spirit when ever I was commanded to do or say something by a human being.
We love to please our husbands, We serve at their pleasure, but they do not "command", manipulate or intimidate, they "guide and ask", this makes for a pleasant and respectful relationship. Leadership in the gathering of believers should be the same way, guiding lovingly and requesting are the tools that everyone should use in personal relationships.
If I "give a gift" or say an "amen", it is because I am deeply moved and the Holy Spirit compelled me to do so.
What a relief it was to be free from the wiles of controlling human beings who felt power in getting mindless drones to make them feel superior and preeminent.
Christ is the only One who is powerful and preeminent, let Him be the One to guide our words and actions.
Colossians 1:17-19 "…17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,…"
Sunday, August 14, 2016
They Wanted A Human Ruler
Israel wanted a king like all the other nations, instead of God as their ruler. The problems that came from that were devastating, when God gave them what they wanted.
Christians want a "Pastor", a human leader instead of Christ. We have been misled to believe that "Pastor" capitalized, is the leader instead of Christ. "pastor" is a calling not a political or paid position. The problems that have arisen from this choice to follow men has caused the widespread apostasy that we see in the church today.
When I was in the Catholic church we were told that the priest should tell us what to believe, that we should not read the Bible, that we could not understand it.
When I became born again and left that system, I moved into another system "evangelicalism" that said nearly the same thing, that the seminary grads or "ordained Pastors" were the ones we should follow. The systems were slightly different with the same basic mentality, "read your Bibles but let the "educated ones" tell you what it all means. There was acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit but never taught as THE One to Whom we should go for all matters.
I was actually told once that I couldn't know the truth about a particular matter because I had not gone to seminary. My response was a cynical question, "oh, you mean the Holy Spirit only goes to seminary?" The person with whom I was speaking became silent. Notice that, "silent", since she had no answer for me, knowing that I had stumped her, chose not to respond rather than to admit perhaps her beliefs were unBiblical. I get this all the time, when someone does not have an answer, often they are too prideful to admit they don't know or were wrong in their thinking. This is a very big clue as to the resistance to truth and rebellion against Christ.
Christ should be the One ruling in every born again believer. If man is ruling us, then we are in rebellion and disobedience against God. We cannot have two rulers in our lives!
Those who look to their pastor first and refuse to evaluate him and his messages, in terms of the Bible, have an idol.
Those who look to Christ first and refuse to be manipulated and intimidated by human leaders, are in obedience to Christ.
Acts 5:28-30 "…28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” 29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.…"
Every born again believer should be sharing the gospel, mentoring others and seeking the Holy Spirit for all of it, all the time. It is fine and good to get the input of other strong believers, but never good to make them an idol with the mentality that they are our source of wisdom. It is the Holy Spirit Who is our source!
Christians want a "Pastor", a human leader instead of Christ. We have been misled to believe that "Pastor" capitalized, is the leader instead of Christ. "pastor" is a calling not a political or paid position. The problems that have arisen from this choice to follow men has caused the widespread apostasy that we see in the church today.
When I was in the Catholic church we were told that the priest should tell us what to believe, that we should not read the Bible, that we could not understand it.
When I became born again and left that system, I moved into another system "evangelicalism" that said nearly the same thing, that the seminary grads or "ordained Pastors" were the ones we should follow. The systems were slightly different with the same basic mentality, "read your Bibles but let the "educated ones" tell you what it all means. There was acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit but never taught as THE One to Whom we should go for all matters.
I was actually told once that I couldn't know the truth about a particular matter because I had not gone to seminary. My response was a cynical question, "oh, you mean the Holy Spirit only goes to seminary?" The person with whom I was speaking became silent. Notice that, "silent", since she had no answer for me, knowing that I had stumped her, chose not to respond rather than to admit perhaps her beliefs were unBiblical. I get this all the time, when someone does not have an answer, often they are too prideful to admit they don't know or were wrong in their thinking. This is a very big clue as to the resistance to truth and rebellion against Christ.
Christ should be the One ruling in every born again believer. If man is ruling us, then we are in rebellion and disobedience against God. We cannot have two rulers in our lives!
Those who look to their pastor first and refuse to evaluate him and his messages, in terms of the Bible, have an idol.
Those who look to Christ first and refuse to be manipulated and intimidated by human leaders, are in obedience to Christ.
Acts 5:28-30 "…28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” 29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.…"
Every born again believer should be sharing the gospel, mentoring others and seeking the Holy Spirit for all of it, all the time. It is fine and good to get the input of other strong believers, but never good to make them an idol with the mentality that they are our source of wisdom. It is the Holy Spirit Who is our source!
Love Christ First
The more fully Christ rules your life the more fully you will love the brethren.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…"
When we place men above Christ, honoring them more than we honor Christ we have an idol and cannot grow in holiness.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…"
When we place men above Christ, honoring them more than we honor Christ we have an idol and cannot grow in holiness.
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