AUTOGRAPHS, ANYONE???
AUTOGRAPH'S, ANYONE???
We have a big problem. Celebrities. I'm not mad at Hollywood--some of their antics are outrageous, for sure, but what's really wrong is that, Hollywood has crept into the Church. Hollywood feels, right at home in the pulpit and pews, too. It's really not a "new" concept, either. It got under Paul's skin--"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?".... For Christ sent me not to baptize, BUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." Of course, there was no "Hollywood", when Paul was speaking to this group of listeners, but the problem was essentially the same (the saints were trying to exalt their leaders).The people of God had shifted their focus from the King of kings to idolizing their God-given leaders--who were in position to minister. Familiar? We do this, too.
We have taken respect of the office, to a level, that the Word of God, did not intend. Servants and ministers of the Gospel of Christ are now celebrities. It might not seem like it's very important, but it is because it presents problems for them and problems for the Body of Christ, in general. When we exalt men, we make them idols. Of course, that is obvious--"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me". But there is is subtler side--that is devastating, too. On a pedestal, he is likely to fall--pride does that. satan loves to set up men and women of God, only to entice them into succumbing to the "lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life...". We think that we our honoring them, but we are really, destroying them. We ARE commanded to honor them, and care for them, but when we idolize them, it is sin. Another problem that can arise, is that they become more attractive to those of the opposite sex (or not necessarily, the opposite sex--sometimes, it is the same sex!). Those who don't give in to temptation, may be more apt to be distant and unloving towards those who aren't even attracted to them (in their attempts to be careful). So, relationships in the Body of Christ are in disarray, all because we have exalted man.
We should have listened to Paul. It is a dangerous set up. Paul said, it causes "contentions"--divisions. It is not the will of God that we be divided. Celebrities in the pulpit is a sure-fire way to divide and conquer--US! There are pastors and preachers, that without their prosperous ministries and followings, most people wouldn't look at twice! Those same preachers are followed around the country, from conference to conference, by people hoping to get their attention and recognition. They have groupies! I have been to conferences, and been told by women, that this is what they do--they follow a particular preacher around the country--everywhere he hosts a conference. That is a problem. Is it the Word, that we long for--or the package??? What strikes me so paradoxically is that Jesus, " Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: And being found in fashion as a man, He HUMBLED HIMSELF, and became OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the Cross." (Phillipians 2:6-8). Now, since Jesus became obedient and took on the form of a servant--what happened? God "highly exalted Him". We have it the other way around, though. We highly exalt ourselves--what's left for God to do??? Well, the first shall be last.... How is it that ministry became synonymous with prestige, fame and pomp and circumstance? Why didn't we get it when Paul admonished the Corinthians??? How is it that it went right over our heads? Our flesh craves pleasure; it wants to be known and acknowledged, esteemed by men (it's part of that "old" nature. We have to still that ungodly, humanistic tendency within all of us that desires to be more than God means for us to be (as individuals), in the earth.
We have a purpose and a plan, in the earth. We are not here, to get comfortable. We are pilgrims--like nomadic people. We are just passing through, while we are here, we settle in places long enough to "set up camp". There, we bring forth life--planting seeds (God granting the increase), and we cycle through this continuum. There should be no sense of permanency for the child of God--this is NOT your home! Always, be ready to move, when God gives the sign-- we shouldn't be so settled, and comfortable in our earthly lives. We like it here--but the Word of God says, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil".
It's time to come out from among them (the world--its lusts, its pleasures), and be ye separate". Be different. Be Kingdom-minded.Who is our example? Who is it that we measure our lives by? Christ? Christ did not walk this earth, living a life of prestige and seeking fame. If that's all that He wanted, He could have taken satan up on his offer after the forty days of fasting, but He did not.
Stop taking satan up on his offers--turn them down. Refuse to let people exalt you.
Accept the office of a servant--Jesus did.
We have a big problem. Celebrities. I'm not mad at Hollywood--some of their antics are outrageous, for sure, but what's really wrong is that, Hollywood has crept into the Church. Hollywood feels, right at home in the pulpit and pews, too. It's really not a "new" concept, either. It got under Paul's skin--"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?".... For Christ sent me not to baptize, BUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." Of course, there was no "Hollywood", when Paul was speaking to this group of listeners, but the problem was essentially the same (the saints were trying to exalt their leaders).The people of God had shifted their focus from the King of kings to idolizing their God-given leaders--who were in position to minister. Familiar? We do this, too.
We have taken respect of the office, to a level, that the Word of God, did not intend. Servants and ministers of the Gospel of Christ are now celebrities. It might not seem like it's very important, but it is because it presents problems for them and problems for the Body of Christ, in general. When we exalt men, we make them idols. Of course, that is obvious--"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me". But there is is subtler side--that is devastating, too. On a pedestal, he is likely to fall--pride does that. satan loves to set up men and women of God, only to entice them into succumbing to the "lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life...". We think that we our honoring them, but we are really, destroying them. We ARE commanded to honor them, and care for them, but when we idolize them, it is sin. Another problem that can arise, is that they become more attractive to those of the opposite sex (or not necessarily, the opposite sex--sometimes, it is the same sex!). Those who don't give in to temptation, may be more apt to be distant and unloving towards those who aren't even attracted to them (in their attempts to be careful). So, relationships in the Body of Christ are in disarray, all because we have exalted man.
We should have listened to Paul. It is a dangerous set up. Paul said, it causes "contentions"--divisions. It is not the will of God that we be divided. Celebrities in the pulpit is a sure-fire way to divide and conquer--US! There are pastors and preachers, that without their prosperous ministries and followings, most people wouldn't look at twice! Those same preachers are followed around the country, from conference to conference, by people hoping to get their attention and recognition. They have groupies! I have been to conferences, and been told by women, that this is what they do--they follow a particular preacher around the country--everywhere he hosts a conference. That is a problem. Is it the Word, that we long for--or the package??? What strikes me so paradoxically is that Jesus, " Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: And being found in fashion as a man, He HUMBLED HIMSELF, and became OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the Cross." (Phillipians 2:6-8). Now, since Jesus became obedient and took on the form of a servant--what happened? God "highly exalted Him". We have it the other way around, though. We highly exalt ourselves--what's left for God to do??? Well, the first shall be last.... How is it that ministry became synonymous with prestige, fame and pomp and circumstance? Why didn't we get it when Paul admonished the Corinthians??? How is it that it went right over our heads? Our flesh craves pleasure; it wants to be known and acknowledged, esteemed by men (it's part of that "old" nature. We have to still that ungodly, humanistic tendency within all of us that desires to be more than God means for us to be (as individuals), in the earth.
We have a purpose and a plan, in the earth. We are not here, to get comfortable. We are pilgrims--like nomadic people. We are just passing through, while we are here, we settle in places long enough to "set up camp". There, we bring forth life--planting seeds (God granting the increase), and we cycle through this continuum. There should be no sense of permanency for the child of God--this is NOT your home! Always, be ready to move, when God gives the sign-- we shouldn't be so settled, and comfortable in our earthly lives. We like it here--but the Word of God says, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil".
It's time to come out from among them (the world--its lusts, its pleasures), and be ye separate". Be different. Be Kingdom-minded.Who is our example? Who is it that we measure our lives by? Christ? Christ did not walk this earth, living a life of prestige and seeking fame. If that's all that He wanted, He could have taken satan up on his offer after the forty days of fasting, but He did not.
Stop taking satan up on his offers--turn them down. Refuse to let people exalt you.
Accept the office of a servant--Jesus did.
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