The Cult of Personality... It has risen like leaven in the Church.. Be careful, There are men. men of stature, and seeming power, who know what you want to hear. they are ear ticklers.. They will tell you what ever they have to to captivate you. They will tell you anything and everything BUT....what God wants you to know.. I saw a guy in church, he was wearing jeans with holes in them.. He had a tee shirt on, it had stains on it, he had not shaven in weeks, He looked very content though, They say he had just got out of prison, He has sandals on, He had a black eye from someone punching him.. Rumor was that he was always in trouble with the law. All the religious people in their suits and ties looked at hiim as if he crazy.. he had a temper, he railed against the doctrines that polluted the words and teachings of Christ. HE PASSED OUT A LETTER OF HIS OWN, I read it. It was a new doctrine, but was so uniquely connected to Jesus as if Christ told him every word. Some of us knew he was anointed and sent by God.. He preached not in words of worldly wisdom, but in SPIRIT AND TRUTH, with words of hope faith and love, This odd fellow stated that he was chosen by God to deliver the message of grace. It was called the Gospel .. It was apparent that he would go to his grave to keep it intact.. HE WAS ARRESTED AGAIN VERY SHORTLY AFTER WE SAW HIM.. I heard he died a gruesome death for his faith.. This mans name was "Paul" formerly Saul of Tarsus Acts 9 (3-6) God meets Paul on the road to Damascus. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Paul was short, and not very handsome, his speech was stuttered.The Apostle Paul is considered one of the smartest men who ever lived, yet he described his preaching this way: “When I came to you brothers (and sisters), I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God…I came to you in weakness and fear and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.” (1 Cor 2:1-5, emphasis added) That is Ugly Preaching! This isn’t an excuse for shallow, sloppy, half-hearted, and unprepared preaching that lacks any content. If it’s empty of meaning, it is just noise — no matter how loud you turn it up; volume, sweat, and even technology are not substitutes for the heart of God. The Ugly Preaching that Paul spoke of is preaching that aims at the heart more than the head. It’s not preaching that fills in the blanks on a sermon sheet just to make points — it is preaching that awakens the dead! “...Prophesy to these bones and say to them…come to life.” (Ezek 37:4-5) It is life transforming — world-changing words from God’s heart spoken in the power of the Spirit through humble messengers. The cult of personality is rampant in the churches of Christ, A new breed? No. These men of favor and prestige, they fly in their jets, They are treated as Gurus..Modern day parishes. Their names on the chairs in the front rows. Please, be careful of the ones who twist the truth, One drop of cyanide in pure water is deadly. The attitude of a servant is the first thing to look for in a preacher. We must be servants before God can make a King.. Just ask Jesus.. Joseph, David, Daniel, Moses, The word of God is Spirit and Truth, Please, discern, rightly divide the truth. Do not be fooled by the sweet talk of the man who promises you gold. YES GOD PROMISES TO BLESS YOU. Know what this really means.. Fools gold only shines for a heart that is blind.. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Hebrews 13:5 ESV Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Matthew 6:24 ESV “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a] HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:28:57 +0000
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