20/09/11

Basking for glory?

Matthew 14:22 - Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

Self-glory a disease as contagious as common cold and as dangerous as AIDS which has spread across the workers of the vineyard and has caused the fall of many like a plaque. It is so heart breaking to see people led by the Lord at one stage of their spirit walk, then come in touch with showmen of the religious industry and being influenced by them try to imitate them therefore becoming self-promoters, putting the Lord on the back seat.

In today's message Jesus shows us an example after doing the great miracle along with the people to feed five thousand men and numerous other women and children with five loaves and two fishes, He did not pause there to hear praises of the people. Everything that Jesus did in His life was for the glory of His Father. Even that one time He was forced to do a miracle which glorified Himself that was turning water to wine by His mother; there too He pulled her up before giving in. He did this to record these words and the miracle, and this too had a purpose in the plan of God. Some people without reading it carefully give this miracle more importance than the bringing of dead people like Lazarus to life or the healing of the lepers and even Jesus' resurrection.

There are some preachers whom I love, after they have delivered their message they make sure to move out from the stage quickly and they get their team to handle the crowd. They will not stay back to collect the praises of the people for the great anointing which was manifested there or the great understanding their message gave.

No industry does brand endorsing of people like the religion industry and Christians do not lack in this brand endorsing business. Go to websites of Christian evangelists and ministries and you will see their photos everywhere, not only of them alone but every member of their family. The organization would be registered in their name and the names of their family members. These ministries have become a family business.

Take example of the Apostles and see if anyone of them promoted their family members? Jesus did not choose His own brother James as one of His twelve special disciples although he was part of the group which followed Him around; it was His disciples who chose James to head the Church at Jerusalem in the early Apostolic Church.

Jesus knew He would be glorified only when all things He has set forth are completed in Him. He completed His task but did not ask the Father to glorify Him until the work is completely done. We on the other hand want to immediately cash even the little drops we put in the ocean of mankind.

Realize this, if Lord Jesus Christ would glorify Himself today it would not take an hour for all the people of the world to believe in Him. But He preferred to glorify the Father so that only those who believe in Him come to the Father and be part of being glorified in Him.

Let us remember we will receive glory and abundant glory only when the Son comes in glory like before creation.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, help us to be humble and meek in spirit. Help us know our purpose is in serving and not being served. You showed us even though being King You were the greatest Servant. Help us Lord to learn from You Who are our Corner Stone. You made sure to keep from getting the spotlight on Yourself but preferred people see your work and glorify the Father and not You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 14:20-23
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Matthew 6:2 - Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 25:31 - When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

John 2:2-11
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.


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