Follow Me
Follow Me
Many well-spirited, well-versed, and mindful Christians in today’s church are seeking peace of mind to settle their confused mind brought by the revelation of what was going on to the traditional church losing members and the rise of house church claiming to be the kingdom of God at hand supported by the teaching of the Son of God Jesus. The Apostles continued the teachings of Jesus Christ (Didache). After Jesus’ ascension, the Apostles began their first public preaching. This is known to be the era of the Apostles, the Apostolic Age, or the Church Age, regarded as the period of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
The involvement of Paul’s self-revelation and his newfound religion after being rejected by the Apostles to be part of them. He introduced a new approach to prevailing religious teaching. Three religious groups with a few different doctrines confuse potential believers. Paul has the edge because of his excellent knowledge of the Old Testament and the existing religious order at that time. With his background of persecuting Christians, the Apostles kept their distance from him. That gave Paul the time to introduce his doctrine. Paul admitted his cruel past: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy of being called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:8-11
Many young converts aspire to follow Jesus but are confused because of what they are witnessing in the traditional church, and many mature Christians are as confused as they are since the gospel of prosperity preached by the millennial ministers fell apart. What would Jesus do when he is here today? Will he feel the same thing he did in Matthew 12:12? Angry! “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.”
Although it is a different setting, the situation is close to being the same today; it involves money. They are using the House of Prayer for their advancement in life. In addition, neglecting the spiritual growth of the members is not acceptable. One of the significant responsibilities of the ministers is for the members to grow with the word of God. Based on this statement, how Jesus will react may be like this: Matthew 16…” Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
How would we react if we heard the same word from Jesus? Are we going to ignore it or accept the truth? It is either yes or no, nothing in the middle, no maybes. What is happening in our church today differs from when the House of Prayer became a marketplace selling animals and exchanging currency. The House of Prayer becomes a living space for Robbers. Today, in the House of Prayer, Some leaders use the House as their piggy bank.
God is our Father and sent Jesus to this world with a message. If you read again what Jesus said, most likely your answer is Jesus is right to get angry. No one in the right mind who loves our Father will defile the House of Prayer. Maybe we will be like Jesus, but not exactly him. We are keen on making issues about the leader’s practice, not realizing that we become accessories to their wicked work. Jesus is very strong in defending the House of Prayer and does not care, even if it boils to extreme encounters. Jesus has all the authority to do what he must do. He has direct instructions from the Father.
Jesus speaks the words and gives the Spirit without limit. Jesus said in John 12:49-50—”For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.’ ‘I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.” If the person is not godly, will we judge that person as wicked? Acting as responsible Christians, we follow what Jesus said: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged; with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Paul wrote: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). This statement makes every human a sinner, and sinners, if not forgiven, need a saving hand. Jesus is not returning to give another sacrifice but to be a faithful witness and testimony about everything he saw. It is a good and meaningful approach to making everyone aware of what Jesus wants us to follow. Jesus said unto him, Thou should love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Moreover, the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.”
Jesus commissioned all Christians, as we should know by now, not only directed to his apostles but to all generations to come. Any true Christians are ministers of the gospel and responsible for following his direction: Jesus said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. In addition, I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” Though this is directed to his apostles to follow, Jesus, in the above statements, means to copy the pattern of his teachings and to do what he did as instructed.
The only issue modern Christians are discussing is that when Jesus commanded this, he was under the Law. We are not under the Law, but Grace, according to Paul—Romans 6:14. It is not an issue of Jesus being a Jew and born under the Law. It is about our obedience to God’s word must be our concern. God is much closer to us today, giving us the authority to communicate directly with Him. We can follow Jesus’ righteous deeds, and we will be fine. We must be resilient to an issue and mindful that sin will not have dominion over us. For you are not under the Law, but under Grace. Sin is not the master or lordship that will dominate or rule over us. God’s tender loving care rules over us, and many Christians have ignored this part up to now.
Call the name of the LORD, repent, and be baptized with His Spirit today. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen