Welcome to another beautiful month. The Lord has allowed us to partake of all the blessings He has given us. In this month, we are going to look at one issue I feel must help you to survive your Christian walk. It is very important to note that in a church there are saints who can bring joy to their leaders supporting them and following instructions but there are also Sons who will bring pain and sorrow to their leaders or fathers. We are going to look at all these and you will be able to see where you stand.
2 Timothy 4:14 (NIV)
- Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. Alexander and Hymenaeus have been blaspheming the word of God and it pained Paul that this was affecting the community. Paul clearly on this verse shows us how he was disappointed by Alexander. Today there are many Alexanders in the church, who are bringing pain to their leaders by doing things contrary to what they are being taught. 1 Timothy 1:19-20 (NIV)
- Holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
- Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. Paul ended up handing Hymenaeus and Alexander to the devil because of their ways. They refused to be corrected. There are many Alexanders in the church of today. The church is suffering from people with this kind of behavior. Families are suffering from the Alexander and Hymenaeus spirit as well. This eventually affects the growth and effectiveness of the Church in advancing the Kingdom of God
Numbers 12:9-10 (NIV)
- The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.
- When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam--leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; the church has also people like Miriam and Aaron. These are the people very close to the Man of God. They are trusted very well but end up scheming against him. Many of us have angered God through the way we have behaved towards our Man or Woman of God. These are the people who begin to say God also speaks to us just like our leaders. I have heard many people say, there is no need to trust a Pastor or Prophet etc., pray for yourself and you can hear God yourself. Fair enough, God can speak to all of us. But for order’s sake He has put leaders whom He uses as channels of communication to His people. In the same chapter He lectured to Miriam and Aaron how He reveals himself to Moses. Many Christians have received curses after speaking about the Man of God even if what they discus is true. Be careful of how you handle issues to do with your spiritual Leaders. Miriam suffered leprous because of her actions.
Titus 1:10-13 (NIV)
- for there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
- They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
- Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.”
- This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith. Within the church rises people like the Cretans. Groups mushroom in the church who begin to bring their own doctrines different from what the Man of God is teaching. A seed was planted in the church of people who because of greed bring a doctrine contrary to the sound doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. Are you not one of these people? Are you not the one bringing confusion and split of your local church? These people were singled out as the circumcision group. Which group do you belong to in your church? Don’t just follow any group and be careful of who you befriend.
Acts 15:36-39 (NIV)
- Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
- But Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
- They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- But Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. In the Church there are people like John Mark who will desert others in the gospel. Whilst you are doing evangelism, whilst you are doing door to doors or crusades in the remote areas, there are some brothers who will desert you. They will give all manner of excuses to not go with you. These are the people who leave their leader and desert the mission. Today I am talking to you. Are you not the John Mark of your church? Are you not a John Mark to your spiritual father? Paul says never take John Mark again. Focus on the work, He took Silas instead. Pray this month and say God, don’t let me behave like John Mark. Help me to stand with the mission and fulfill the vision.
Numbers 16:1-3 (NIV)
- Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites — Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth — became insolent
- And rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.
- They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” The above scriptures shows us a group of people that may rise in a church or ministry. Dangerous people who will manipulate others to rebel. They cause other church members to question the leadership of the Pastor. This seed tears the church apart and cause many to backslide. There is always a punishment for such people as Korah and his man perished because of their actions. Such kind of Sons or Church members will suffer. Many have lost their businesses, lost their marriages and suffered different kinds of misfortunes because of their bad actions.
The above discussion has shown us many different sons or church members who were used by the devil to destroy the church in the Bible. The same evil spirit that entered them may enter you to even destroy your own families. Even at work places this can happen. There are many families that have been destroyed by Alexanders, Koras and Hymenaeuses. Their actions has caused suffering and pain. There has been a lot of division that has caused many to backslide in churches because of such. Rebuke them sharply and reprimand them. Today, take time and check yourself. The way you solve problems for your team, are you not destroying and discouraging others when you think you are doing good. Pray for your leaders and be effectively positioned in your local church to execute God’s purpose for your life. Pastors be watchful of Alexander the Metalworker.
Meet you next week as we continue sharing the word of God to help each other to do the will of God. Shalom
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- Prosper Tingini is the Scribe of the Children of God Missionary Assembly — God’s messengers. Contact details: Mobile & WhatsApp — 0771 260 195. Email address: ptingini@gmail.com
