BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ecc 7-9
LORD OR SERVANT?
MEMORIZE: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" (1 Peter 5:2)
READ: 1 Peter 5:1-4
“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after” (Hebrews 3:5). Moses was faithful as a servant, not as a lord. In the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the servants who received five and two talents, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. In several passages, the word ‘faithful’ is used in connection with a servant or messenger. This tells us one thing straight away: faithfulness is all about being a servant, not a lord. A lord cannot be faithful. It is only the servant that had done his assignments well, that can be faithful. Today, we have too little servants, but so many lords. The work of the Master is being hampered because we have too many lords. If the leaders and the led see themselves as the servants they are, there would be tremendous progress in the work assigned to us.
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). The church is God’s inheritance. It is a mark of unfaithfulness and a breach of trust for a leader or pastor to turn it into his personal property. The pastors who exploit members, or who see them as a means to their ends, are lords not servants. Lords extort from those under them. If you are sitting on the remuneration or benefits of those under you in church or ministry, you are a boss, a lord: you cannot receive the award of faithfulness, no matter how much you try.
If you are always using threats, strife and intimidation to manipulate your congregation or ministers, you are a lord. If you have to be paid before you feed the flock in your care, you are a lord. If you do not care for the welfare of the sheep, until you are compelled to, you are a boss. If your flock cannot see you as a role model for them to copy, you are a lord. If you use your flock to advance yourself, you are a lord. All lords will face the Chief Shepherd in judgment someday. If you look around you, it is easy to identify the true leaders. They are the servant-leaders. Their desire is to please the Lord Jesus who assigned them. If you want to be faithful, you must be a servant. Jesus will only reward the faithful leaders and pastors with a crown of glory. This is not a cheap reward as no bossy leader will come close to it.
ACTIONPOINT: You are either a lord or a servant by the leadership style you adopt. Ask God for grace to be a servant leader.
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The Household of Faith
The Household of Faith, a ministry of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was established in Chicago, Illinois in 2004.
The Pastor in Charge of the church is Pastor Akin Gbenro.
This ministry has over 250 members within the the Chicago and Indianapolis Area.
The Pastor in Charge of the church is Pastor Akin Gbenro.
This ministry has over 250 members within the the Chicago and Indianapolis Area.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has a vision to spread the Word of God to the ends of the earth. It is a Bible believing church, where the teaching and a missionary approach emphasize the proper conduct and moral behavior of people. The church has an appeal to all types of people worldwide, with a determination to teach people in their various geographical areas, stages of secular life and levels of spiritual development.
The General Overseer of the church is Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The church was founded in 1952 and since then, the church has grown to over 5,000 parishes worldwide with a total congregational strength of over one million people.
Presently, there are established missions in many African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, South America and Australia.
RCCG has also been involved in establishing schools, rehabilitation centers, child care and support centers.
The General Overseer of the church is Pastor E.A. Adeboye.
The church was founded in 1952 and since then, the church has grown to over 5,000 parishes worldwide with a total congregational strength of over one million people.
Presently, there are established missions in many African countries, as well as Europe, Asia, the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, South America and Australia.
RCCG has also been involved in establishing schools, rehabilitation centers, child care and support centers.
1 comment:
honestly..humility and wisdom is what we should keep praying for ...and i pray GOD grants this to us by his grace in JESUS NAME..AMEN!
to me...i feel it is the lact of humility and divine wisdom that makes a lord think that he or she is filled with so much knowledge there by they threat, strife and intimidate to manipulate congregation or ministers.....not knwoing....knowledge without the divine wisdom is usless.......GOD HELP IS IN JESUS NAME...AMEN
UNTO THE LORD BE ALL THE GLORY!...AMEN!
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