On a daily basis, as feats are
recorded in the technological world, so many people take it as a sign to lower
moral standards. And as children of God, so many looking at these feats believe
God is lowering His standards, thus anything goes as long as it ‘seemingly’
glorifies God. What exactly glorifies God? That is another topic for another
time. However back to our discourse; the Bible makes us to understand that His
word is eternal and it stands forever. No wonder God declared that He honors
His Word above His name; thus, God’s word is His standard and cannot be lowered
for any generation no matter how technologically advanced they are. Jesus Christ
in Matthew 3:13-17 went to John to be baptized, John with the mindset of the
world that the greater is the one that baptizes, refused as he had recognized and
pointed Him out as the Mighty One that will cleanse God’s threshing floor. Christ’s
reply was expository - “But Jesus said ’It
should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.’ So John agreed to
baptize Him” Matthew 3:15 (NLT). The question that may readily come to mind
is what requirement to be fulfilled was Christ referring to? It was necessary
and expedient for Christ to be baptized by John because it was the principle
and standard of God. This was the introduction for Christ to move on to the
next stage of His work of saving man. Likewise, when Paul was blinded by the
Lord Jesus Christ, he was instructed to seek out a little known ‘brother’.
Praise God that Paul did and his sight was restored to him. In the same vein, Paul
after 14 years in ministry having been taught by God Himself returned to
Jerusalem to present the gospel to the Apostles privately (Peter, James and
John) “so that I might not be running or
have run in vain.” Galatians 2:2c. The Bible expressly tells us that
certain offices were created in the Body of Christ for the equipping and
building up of the saints. Why did God do that? These offices carry within them anointing and the Bible tells us in Isaiah 10:27 – “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken
away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall
be destroyed because of the anointing.” Why then as children of God are we
quick to despise the anointing? We must rise to honor and protect the anointing
of God in our midst or we would be defeated by the enemy. The devil knows this
that is why he goes out of his way to malign and exaggerate whatever the
leaders in the Body of Christ do. We as followers of Christ must be discerning
at all times to these trickery. It is quite unfortunate that so many despise
their Leaders in their hearts and at the same time go before them to feed from
God’s Word and be prayed for! No wonder it looks as if prayers are not answered
but the truth is that the hearts of the people are not right. God has a
standard and principle and He will not violate it. Rather than despise your
leaders in your heart or actions, if you are unable to deal with it then leave
the place so as not to hinder your own prayers. King Jehoshaphat understood
this that was why he declared in 2 Chronicles 20:20 – “Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness
of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, ‘Listen to me, all you
people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be
able to stand firm. Believe in His prophets and you will succeed.’” It is
time to honor and protect the anointing and stop despising it so that you may
succeed and as The Message Version puts it: “you’ll
come out on top.” God bless you.
Have you ever visited a quarry site and considered the process the rocks are subjected to before they become dressed stones to be used? If the stones could talk they will have a story to tell about their experiences. As children of God we go through diverse experiences and we wonder if we will indeed survive them. Sometimes we wonder why our gracious and compassionate Father would allow such to befall us considering who we are in Him and what we are doing in His vineyard. The Scripture that should readily come to our minds in such circumstances is God’s assurance when He said: “I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire and the flame will not burn you ” (Isaiah 43:2). This Scripture assures us that through the experiences of flames and waters, God is always by our side to see us through. Thus, it is necessary for us to go through the...
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