Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern – Phillipians 3:17.
I have always been drawn to the bretheren who seem to be walking this narrow path of Christianity, and walking straight. They made me feel like I too could do it. They made it seem doable! One of the things that are noticeable about Paul in his writings is that he took on the responsibility given him by Jesus with intent. He didn’t make excuses for why he couldn’t carry the responsibility with integrity, but he says ‘I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.’ (1 Corinthians 9:27). He was labouring for the saints in prayers, admonishing them in the Word, he was getting the job done and pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 3:14) And he says to the saints, follow such exemplary people, and imitate me as I imitate Christ (1Corinthians 11:1). He took responsibility for what had been entrusted to him, he wasn’t full of excuses, where he was falling short he was pleading with God to be perfected and tells us that we can be built up to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
James says (James 3:1) ‘My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment’. But what we are witnessing is men and women speedily mounting the pulpit without counting the cost, willingly accepting the title, while rejecting the responsibility and preaching excuses at the pulpit instead of the Gospel. This is not what Christ paid for, it’s not even what He has given us, for the Kingdom of God is righteousness, power, it is love, it is salvation and eternal life. Better man are needed, and I love that this message came to say to the bretheren, in love, who are no longer preaching the message of Christ, edifying and disclipling the body, stop! Wrong is wrong, let us not dress it up as what it is not. The flock deserves better, the Church needs men and women who hold themselves up to God’s high standards knowing and trusting in the Holy Spirit to enable and see them through instead of watering it down and pretending there are no strict requirements. The bretheren, who are leaders, who have strayed need to be corrected in love, we cannot stand by and watch the standards of the Kingdom lowered while we are also at risk watching such things happen in our generation, we have to speak up, we have to pray, we have to act. ( and snatch others out of the fire to save them. Be merciful over and over to them, but always couple your mercy with the fear of God. Be extremely careful to keep yourselves free from the pollutions of the flesh. Jude 1:23 TPT)
Bretheren are preaching excuses at the pulpit instead of the Gospel – Contend for the faith!
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