Follow Messiah, Not Others
Introduction
STALEMATE DILEMNA AGAIN – a common dynamic which many Believers in Messiah face in our world today is as follows:
My pastor, or priest, or church(read denomination), or a media evangelist, is whom I rely upon as the authority to guide me in understanding questions concerning the Word of God and/or my spiritual life in general.
To recognize that this position has both merits and risks is necessary for us to “hear” helpful and true guidance, especially since many of us hold the aforementioned sources in high esteem. When we are critical of such sources this objection can affect immediate and future discussions with those we wish to interact with.
The Apostle Paul is our first authoritative quote to provide information to us on this subject. In Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth, he addresses his concerns over a similar issue which the Corinthians faced.
Definitionn
WHAT DOES MESSIAH MEAN ? – to find out more information concerning the meaning of the word Messiah please click on the word Messiah in this sentence.
My pastor, or priest, or church(read denomination), or a media evangelist, is whom I rely upon as the authority to guide me in understanding questions concerning the Word of God and/or my spiritual life in general.
To recognize that this position has both merits and risks is necessary for us to “hear” helpful and true guidance, especially since many of us hold the aforementioned sources in high esteem. When we are critical of such sources this objection can affect immediate and future discussions with those we wish to interact with.
The Apostle Paul is our first authoritative quote to provide information to us on this subject. In Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth, he addresses his concerns over a similar issue which the Corinthians faced.
1 CORINTHIANS 3 –
(5) What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.
(6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
(7) So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.
(8) The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
(9) We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.
(20) And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
(21) So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,
(22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you,
(23) and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
1 CORINTHIANS 3 –
(5) What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.
(6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
(7) So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.
(8) The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
(9) We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.
(20) And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
(21) So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,
(22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you,
(23) and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
PAUL’S CRITIQUE – Fortunately, Paul clearly understood this issue which the Corinthians were facing. Paul specifically mentions Apollos, Cephas (called Peter), and himself (Paul) by name. He does not accuse those he names of spurious or fallacious actions at all. Quite the contrary, as Paul’s position towards his fellow laborers and himself reminds the Corinthians that these three are “serving in the ministry the Lord gave to them.”
Paul’s thrust confirms that the Corinthians (and by extension we) are to recognize that credit and glory belong to God Almighty and no more boasting about mere mortals, for everything belongs to Him !
WALK LIKE MESSIAH
1 JOHN 2
(3) Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.
(4) The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.
(5) But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.
(6) The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.
WHAT ? – Walk like Jesus. What does this mean? We of course are not expected to step physically in the manner that Jesus did, although that might not be such a bad idea.
The intent of walking “just as Jesus walked” is stated in the vein of a son going down the same road as his father or “the footsteps of his dad.”
FOLLOW MESSIAH
MATTHEW 16
(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
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