Matthew 23:8-12 MKJV But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers. (9) And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven. (10) Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ. (11) But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he who shall humble himself shall be exalted.
For who is my father or my son, who is my family? If they are followers of Jesus Christ are we not brothers and sisters serving the same Master? Do we not each have a direct line to the Father through His Son Jesus Christ? I’m all for Christian books, twelve step programs, motivational speaking, and tools that help us understand better the people God has designed us to be, in as much as they follow the Bible but if the vary, wavier, or turn from God’s Word or cover up His will then I have no use for them!
There have been very few books that really have touched the core of who I am and the same were simply tools that magnified the Word of God through someone else’s revelation of the Holy Spirit helping me to see better what God meant for me as a believer in Christ in a particular area of my life. The same can be said of pastors, evangelists, and teachers, the ones that touch me most deeply are the ones that confirm what the Holy Spirit of God has already been busy doing in my life. We simply cannot get caught up in placing things or people on pedestals in our lives; in every case we will be let down because in so doing we are trying to fill a God-shaped hole in our hearts. You see God created a void inside of you and me that only He can fill, now He uses people’s testimonies and revelations (which is evidence of God’s Holy Spirit) to move others and point them back to Christ but we must understand those thoughts and ideas are but a glimpse of what God has in store for us and we will only realize the whole matter through relationship with Jesus Christ! No program, book, or motivational speaking can take the place of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:46-50 MKJV But while He yet talked with the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, desiring to speak with Him. (47) Then one said to Him, Behold, Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, desiring to speak with You. (48) And He answered and said to him who told Him, Who is My mother? And who are My brothers? (49) And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold, My mother and My brothers! (50) For whoever shall do the will of My Father in Heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother.
In the end people are people, meaning though we are all at different places in our walks with God and learning what that looks like, even those who seem to have all the answers, at our core we are all desperately in need of a Savior ~ Jesus Christ. Do not follow the revelation of this brother or that sister for if that revelation is from God then it was spoken specifically to them. That does not mean it does not apply to my life but those who don’t understand a real relationship is possible with the unseen God tend to hold onto whatever is tangible, even if that is someone else’s dream or vision. In the end that other person cannot know your story like God does, because we ourselves don’t know it like He does. You see we limit ourselves by avoiding the faith that is required to have relationship with the one true God. Following people, even those who have college degrees and have been professionally trained can only take you so far and if they get puffed up pride will enter and what God meant for leading and directing becomes twisted and ugly because of sin. Is that not where the scribes and Pharisees were, did they not use their human understanding of God’s law to condemn others, did not pride blind them and place them on some weird power trip and did not Jesus bring to light the condemnation they brought upon themselves?
Luke 6:41-42 MKJV And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye? (42) Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.
Who is man that he should be the go between for me and God whom sent His Son to die for my sins – I ask you what could be more personal than that? That being said we are not to forsake gathering with our Christian brothers and sisters, for that is good and right and as God intended
Proverbs 27:17 MKJV Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend.
Hebrews 10:23-25 MKJV Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), (24) and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
but if it all should fall apart tomorrow, no more twelve step programs, no more motivational speaking, and the church had to hide because it became illegal to meet would our faith fall apart or would we become stronger in Christ Jesus? In the end the only thing that matters is relationship with Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 MKJV Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works? (23) And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!
