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Where are the Humble Elders of the Church?
Where are the contrite (selfless and humble) leaders of the Church?
How often do we hear pastors and leaders boast without shame about how their numbers are growing, assuring others that multiple indicators prove that God is blessing them? Do I dare join the ranks, and boast of the shelters supported, the poor fed and those won to Christ through Messiah Missions? The $10's and thousands of dollars that have built bore wells in drought areas? Or is it enough to serve God's purpose in silence, possibly never to be recognized, passing from this life while evading the temptation of self-exalted glory?
Didn't Jesus teach us to give from our resources in such utter secrecy that our very own left hand is completely unaware of the what the right hand is doing? (Matthew 6:3) This proverbial expression paints for us a clear picture of servitude in chaste silence. It is a profound word when one meditates on the depth of the teaching. Whatever we do, rather giving alms, feeding the poor, serve in missions, or planting a church, all must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. Anything more is a parade of pride, the corrupt seed found in Lucifer himself.
Boasting of accomplishments for the purpose of God is a subtle sin. As vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are even aware, we are candidly seeking strokes for our egos. Our Lord further warned in the passage, against hypocrisy and outward show in religious works and duties. When we take little notice of our good deeds done in love, God takes great notice of them. He will reward us in multiplication of real blessings; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his child that serves him.
A deception lurks even deeper than mere boasting. There are a great many works under the banner of Christ in which the Holy Spirit is vaguely if even at all present, where growth is touted as the measuring rod of success. Where the central focus is on institutional prosperity, vocation, programs, notoriety and reputation. Where leaders have not even yet begun to bend a humble knee in true submission to the Lord and Savior, even after many years of service. Where there is not found genuine brokenness, and as such can be no real empowerment of the Spirit. The Spirit cannot operate cohesively within a proud heart, where it would defy the very nature of God.
We can achieve a great many things in our own strength, by learning, garnered support and by becoming proficient in using the methods of the World. We can be proficient in Scripture, have taught others in the way, but be dangerously unaware. And we may indeed have a great work to boast, but God knows the heart. People are by nature gullible and easily led astray by what seems to be good, that which may be found unfit and tarnished in God's eyes. I do find that God still can achieve his purpose, despite ourselves, thanks be unto the Lord. However, we can be resisting the purposed will of God, completely blind to our crooked path.
Sometimes we ask, what has happened to real revival, where the power of God is unmistakable? Where is the move of the Spirit like in days forgone? Friends, unless we humble ourselves, from the greatest to the least, pray and seek God's face and turn from our self-serving ways, then God will hear from heaven, and He will blot out our sins of pride and will heal the church. (derived from 2 Chronicles 7:14) All who name of Christ MUST come to a place of brokenness to the core, daily and without end. It is not a one-time event, it is a daily dying, in order to live for Him.
How often do we hear pastors and leaders boast without shame about how their numbers are growing, assuring others that multiple indicators prove that God is blessing them? Do I dare join the ranks, and boast of the shelters supported, the poor fed and those won to Christ through Messiah Missions? The $10's and thousands of dollars that have built bore wells in drought areas? Or is it enough to serve God's purpose in silence, possibly never to be recognized, passing from this life while evading the temptation of self-exalted glory?
Didn't Jesus teach us to give from our resources in such utter secrecy that our very own left hand is completely unaware of the what the right hand is doing? (Matthew 6:3) This proverbial expression paints for us a clear picture of servitude in chaste silence. It is a profound word when one meditates on the depth of the teaching. Whatever we do, rather giving alms, feeding the poor, serve in missions, or planting a church, all must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. Anything more is a parade of pride, the corrupt seed found in Lucifer himself.
Boasting of accomplishments for the purpose of God is a subtle sin. As vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are even aware, we are candidly seeking strokes for our egos. Our Lord further warned in the passage, against hypocrisy and outward show in religious works and duties. When we take little notice of our good deeds done in love, God takes great notice of them. He will reward us in multiplication of real blessings; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his child that serves him.
A deception lurks even deeper than mere boasting. There are a great many works under the banner of Christ in which the Holy Spirit is vaguely if even at all present, where growth is touted as the measuring rod of success. Where the central focus is on institutional prosperity, vocation, programs, notoriety and reputation. Where leaders have not even yet begun to bend a humble knee in true submission to the Lord and Savior, even after many years of service. Where there is not found genuine brokenness, and as such can be no real empowerment of the Spirit. The Spirit cannot operate cohesively within a proud heart, where it would defy the very nature of God.
We can achieve a great many things in our own strength, by learning, garnered support and by becoming proficient in using the methods of the World. We can be proficient in Scripture, have taught others in the way, but be dangerously unaware. And we may indeed have a great work to boast, but God knows the heart. People are by nature gullible and easily led astray by what seems to be good, that which may be found unfit and tarnished in God's eyes. I do find that God still can achieve his purpose, despite ourselves, thanks be unto the Lord. However, we can be resisting the purposed will of God, completely blind to our crooked path.
Sometimes we ask, what has happened to real revival, where the power of God is unmistakable? Where is the move of the Spirit like in days forgone? Friends, unless we humble ourselves, from the greatest to the least, pray and seek God's face and turn from our self-serving ways, then God will hear from heaven, and He will blot out our sins of pride and will heal the church. (derived from 2 Chronicles 7:14) All who name of Christ MUST come to a place of brokenness to the core, daily and without end. It is not a one-time event, it is a daily dying, in order to live for Him.