John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
One of the problems facing our Christian communities in these times is the fact that more and more Christian leaders, Pastors, Ministers, Bishops etc are increasingly placing more emphasis on themselves rather than on the power and the person working through them - Jesus. I can imagine how tempting it might be, when they have their congregation and others showering them with compliments of how powerful and mighty they are. The truth is all Christian leaders, Pastors, Ministers and Bishops etc are human beings just like you and I. And as a church, we have to constantly and sincerely intercede on behalf of our Pastors, Church Leaders, Ministers, and all men and women of God to be humble and authentic in their faith, not given in to pride or hypocrisy. Rather they will have pure motives and give God all the glory for every gain or victory as Jesus increases and they decrease in the ministries they have been called to.
I can understand why John was called "the disciple whom Jesus loved". Because John's willingness to decrease in importance shows unusual humility. Pastors and other Christian leaders can easily be tempted to focus more on the success of their ministries than on Christ. Even more so as believers! I see lots of us on face book and on the Internet as a whole with our self-righteous and our importance. We must understand that none of us can do anything or be anything without the grace and power of God at work within us to will and to do. It is all about God and nothing to do with us. Only when we come to that realisation, that we are indeed ready to be used by God to show His tangible power at work within us for the whole world to see. I particularly love the song that says, more of you and less of me!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray for all Pastors, Christian leaders, Ministers , Bishops and every other man and woman of God in the world that, they will focus on the the word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord rather than the fear of men as they go about the daily duties you have ordained them to do. I pray they will seek to please you God rather than men, and pursue holiness rather than the praise of men. In Jesus Name, Amen!
food for thought:
Beware of those who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God's Kingdom neither should you.
verses for meditation:
"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.--John 3:31
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.-- Matthew 28:18
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.--Revelation 1:6
He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."--Revelation 14:7
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
--Ephesians 3:9
2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
One of the problems facing our Christian communities in these times is the fact that more and more Christian leaders, Pastors, Ministers, Bishops etc are increasingly placing more emphasis on themselves rather than on the power and the person working through them - Jesus. I can imagine how tempting it might be, when they have their congregation and others showering them with compliments of how powerful and mighty they are. The truth is all Christian leaders, Pastors, Ministers and Bishops etc are human beings just like you and I. And as a church, we have to constantly and sincerely intercede on behalf of our Pastors, Church Leaders, Ministers, and all men and women of God to be humble and authentic in their faith, not given in to pride or hypocrisy. Rather they will have pure motives and give God all the glory for every gain or victory as Jesus increases and they decrease in the ministries they have been called to.
I can understand why John was called "the disciple whom Jesus loved". Because John's willingness to decrease in importance shows unusual humility. Pastors and other Christian leaders can easily be tempted to focus more on the success of their ministries than on Christ. Even more so as believers! I see lots of us on face book and on the Internet as a whole with our self-righteous and our importance. We must understand that none of us can do anything or be anything without the grace and power of God at work within us to will and to do. It is all about God and nothing to do with us. Only when we come to that realisation, that we are indeed ready to be used by God to show His tangible power at work within us for the whole world to see. I particularly love the song that says, more of you and less of me!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray for all Pastors, Christian leaders, Ministers , Bishops and every other man and woman of God in the world that, they will focus on the the word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord rather than the fear of men as they go about the daily duties you have ordained them to do. I pray they will seek to please you God rather than men, and pursue holiness rather than the praise of men. In Jesus Name, Amen!
food for thought:
Beware of those who put more emphasis on their own achievements than on God's Kingdom neither should you.
verses for meditation:
"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.--John 3:31
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.-- Matthew 28:18
and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.--Revelation 1:6
He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."--Revelation 14:7
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
--Ephesians 3:9
2011 By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved.
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