I am aware some have positioned themselves like Absalom seeking to offer better advice than pastor so and so, some do it for me and others I know.
4- And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
5- Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.
6- Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:4-6 NIV
4- I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!”
5- When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them.
6- Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:4-6 NLT
4- Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
5- And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
6- Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 15:4-6 ESV
That’s absalom
For example, seeing Pastor A is usually perceived as harsh or firm or strict; while another in pretense provide an alternative “easy to talk with,” “you can speak your mind and even disagree with me” posture. A lighter version of another; it’s a dishonest way of wooing people.
I had to deliver someone sometime ago who suddenly started questioning her church and claimed her pastor said something he couldn’t have ever said.
Immediately I knew who she was listening to. I asked the pastor, with his permission, to let me handle it.
I knew this speaker and his project; thankfully she’s half way delivered. The comparison of “more caring, receptive” she made about a minister she had never seen to a pastor over her life for years was mind numbing.
DO YOU KNOW THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD AS DESCRIBED IN THE SCRIPTURES ISN’T REFERRING TO GOD’S LITERAL HAND, BUT IT WAS REFERRING TO YOUR PASTOR, SPIRITUAL MENTOR, OR SPIRITUAL LEADER?
When you fail to carry out their instructions the same way they gave them out, it’s not just them you are disobeying or dishonoring; it’s also God you are disobeying and dishonoring. You can’t grow further Spiritually with that same attitude of dishonor towards a Spiritual mentor
Continue Reading: The Mighty Hand of God: A Sermon That Will Change Your Life and Ministry For Spiritual Growth
It further confirms what a senior minister once said: “some or even many aren’t intelligent to see such shenanigans,” and I agree.
A good number on Facebook are into marketing, sheep stealing, wooing, see me I am a different Christocentric pastor etc.
It takes being smart to see it; the deliberate attempt to draw attention by appearing different from another is an old trick, and Paul did warn us about this.
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
Galatians 4: 17 NIV
Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.
Galatians 4: 17 NLT
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you from us, that you may be zealous for them.
Galatians 4: 17 NKJV
It’s no new method, and Paul was irked.
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
Galatians 4: 16 NLT
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
Galatians 4: 16 NKJV
Hence the latter description of pain.
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
Galatians 4: 19 NLT
my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
Galatians 4: 19 ESV
I am glad to have helped the other pastor, because I know and am fully aware of the schemer in that case and the schemes.
The desperation is disguised as love for sound doctrine but it’s plain wooing of others.
The thought “Isn’t this a better Pastor?” That thought; that’s how the serpent works, don’t give him room, don’t allow him, don’t give him that space.
And again humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
You can’t grow further Spiritually with that same attitude of dishonor towards a Spiritual mentor; let’s see this from the scriptures below.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:1 Peter 5:6 KJV
Above is Verse 6. But Verse 6 isn’t where Peter’s talk on this started from.
One of the rules of bible interpretations is that: To understand a matter in any verse of the scriptures, it’s best you read the pretext and the post text.
The pretext, which is the previous verses that came before verse 6, will give you the full details or explanation of what Peter was actually trying to say in this very verse 6
Verse 6 speaks about humility, the Humility of Humbling yourself under the Mighty hands of God, and that by so doing, that’s how God can exalt you or promote you.
Now question, if scriptures ask us to submit ourselves under the mighty hands of God, what then is the mighty hands of God in context?
Continue Reading: The Mighty Hand of God: A Sermon That Will Change Your Life and Ministry For Spiritual Growth
I CALL YOU BLESSED!!!
Credit: Pastor Onayinka Olusegun
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