No I'm not talking about your desire to get rich, marry, have children, be successful, etc... but your daily musings and private affections.
Who do you truly want to please?
This article is mainly for those in 'active Ministry' (preaching, evangelising, singing, pastoring, etc) but then it affects us all.
The inordinate attention to glam and pageantry in modern ministry has made this caution obligatory. This is not in anyway endorsing the mark of impoverishment that once generally trailed being a Pastor or being called into ministry... but there was once a time when believers were just that; Believers. They believed God, and served him just because. Not for societal acknowledgement or monetary gain, or high value assets. There was once a time Christians spent their own money pushing and spreading the Gospel just because they loved God and passionately wanted others to experience His love too. They only wanted to see 'His Kingdom Come, His Will be done on earth'.
Today, affluence and ministry go 'hand-in-pocket' and ministers without quantifiable wealth are considered 'not doing well'. The cross is no longer the standard. We want to wear our trophies before we begin our race. We want to adorn our crowns before winning our battles. In fact, we want to skip fighting any battles because we are 'kept by grace.' Jesus paid the price!
We want to wear our trophies before we begin our race. We want to adorn our crowns before winning our battles.
We run after excellence until we push the Holy Spirit out of our Strategy Meetings. We leave nothing to 'chance'. Chance! The unprecedented move of God is reduced to a mere 'chance'. And we don't even let that happen. We have become that rigid.
"Sing the songs that will move the congregation", they say. What's a revival service without a big stage with blaring Speakers? What's a Music Concert without dancing Stage Lights and large LED Screens?
It is no secret that good PA Systems and projector screens are better tools in communicating with our audience than we did 20 years ago.... but we have lost touch with our ultimate audience while we tried to make our human viewers (who ought to be fellow worshippers) comfortable, and in awe - of us.
We have by our overdoing, beclouded our experience of the Shekinah of God. We have painstakingly sewed back the rent curtain.
Our reward? Awards, accolades, admiration of men. Stuff without eternal value. Things that moths and rust can destroy. Treasures that thieves can steal. Money- lots of it, smooth cars, designer clothes, fancy houses, the blue ribbon, plaques, endorsement deals, the easy life....
These things are not bad in themselves. In fact, Jesus said, if we would first seek His Kingdom, and pursue after His (not our) righteousness, he would give us these things and more, as extras.
The problem is, we have abandoned his grace and fellowship with him, and picked up the heresy of 'God does not want me to suffer'....
We have become uncomfortable passing through the strait gate and staying in the narrow path prescribed by Jesus, our King. We have now upgraded to the broad way through the wide gate that leads to destruction. And we are partying in the Holy Ghost as we go....
If you would just pause for a minute and allow the Holy Spirit do His work of conviction in you, you would be restored. But it would require that you take up your cross and follow Him. Are you willing to do that?
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:19â€-‬21 (NLT)
Sista Mercie
PS. My new book, Heart of Worship, is now available in hardcopy and ebook formats. Click here to find out more and to purchase the e-book now. Reply to this message if you need the hardcopy. Thank you for your support.
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