10/03/12

Follow by example

Zechariah 1:6 - But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.


Christianity is accused of having many denominations but when one looks at it truly there are not many denominations but primarily only two. There is one group of so called Christians who follow people and the other true Christians who follow only Christ.

It is very simple and easy to identify which group one belongs to. The people of the first category are deep into traditions and teachings of man. They take the Bible like they take Jesus Christ. The Bible for them is to be looked at held in the hand but not followed. That is why some of them make statues and pictures of Jesus so that they can hold it in their hands, touch it and serve it (like put candles and flowers to it) but not follow the person it represents.

This category has people who follow people who claim to be representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. These representatives go to a college that teaches the subject 'theology' and they spend years studying mostly things which are not connected to God but to the world, things which is against God. They have been programed that nobody knows God or His Word and one should not make any attempt to do so but leave it the 'elite club' of them that claim to know.

Their representatives are keeping them busy with activities which are in God's name but prevent them from having relationship with God.

No man can claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ and not follow His teachings and way of life. One does not need to highly educated or capable to know God and understand His Word. In fact God specializes in making incapable people highly capable. He actually avoids those who think are capable or make themselves capable.

Today's message is telling the people of the first category to look at the lives of those whom they have been following. Did not all that the Lord had spoken come true in their lives?

The book of Deuteronomy clearly talks of blessings and curses. If sickness and problems are blessings then good health, joy and happiness should be a curse. Paul should not have written 'rejoice always' but should have written 'be sad always' and 'be under burden always'.

The Lord is telling us to look at the people whom we choose to lead us to Jesus Christ. Do they show Christ in them? Do we see the power of the Holy Spirit working through them and in them? Are these people building the Kingdom of God by bringing more and more people to God to know Him and have relationship with Him? Do not be satisfied with just one of these points being satisfied in that person but all of these needs to be in that person who is going to guide us to the Lord Jesus Christ, if not we need to reconsider that person as our spiritual shepherd.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You are the architect and maker of life. Life comes from You and You alone. Although You have created everyone but yet You have said only few among them are yours and therefore have made the pathway that leads to You narrow. Lord, it is time people open their eyes and look at the lives of those who claim to be sent by You to lead others and know if they are leading along the narrow path or broad path...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Zechariah 1:2-5
2 The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

Deuteronomy 28: 15 - But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deuteronomy 28:1-2
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always;

Revelation 2:24 - But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.


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