Maturity in the vineyard
Beloved, let us grow up as we serve our KING.
Let us take a look at HIS example.
1. HE knew HIMSELF. HE knew HE was not Elijah, Moses or John the Baptist and neither did HE desire to be them. HE knew that HE was The CHRIST, The SON of GOD. HE knew that HE and The FATHER were one. HE knew HIMSELF and did not pretend to be another, neither did HE desire to be another. HE was content with WHO HE was.
You too, Beloved, before yourself. Stop depriving us of the gift of you. Know and be yourself. We already know and love all the great men and women. Some we even recognize their voices without introduction. We love you too, and in the fullness of time, The MOST HIGH, if it is HIS will , will reveal you to HIS children, if not all of them, the ones to whom HE will reveal you to. So, just be yourself. Stop the theatrics and acting. Here is a tip. Imagine, talking to yourself and there is no one there, except the LORD. What would you say? What would you do? That’s you. So quit all this people pleasing and chasing. The LORD will bring them your way, if it is HIS will.
2. HE had (and still has) authority. All authority. Remember what HE told Pilate in John 19:11, “ You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above…”. Matthew 28:18 “All authority has been given to ME in heaven and on earth”. In case you doubted it, you’re on the right team. The winning team. HE did not use this authority outside it’s purpose.
You too, do not use the authority HE has given you outside it’s purpose. In a nutshell, the authority you have been given is to promote the Kingdom of GOD, not yourself or other kingdoms. As you promote the Kingdom and purposes of God, you will be promoted. Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and all these things will be added to you. Got it?
3. HE knew HIS purpose and accepted it. HE had come to die. So, you too, know what your purpose is in the Kingdom. Maybe you are a preacher. It does not mean that you will be crucified. You may just die quietly in your bed. Maybe you are a missionary and you will die in a foreign land. Maybe you will go in the rapture. Ask the LORD for a hint. HE gave Peter a hint. Maybe you are a psalmist like David and you will die when you are quiet old. Maybe you are like John, the Beloved, what happened to him after Patmos? Even maybe you are like Moses and God HIMSELF will bury you and satan will come claim your body and angel Micheal will silence him. Maybe you are like Enoch and Elijah and you will disappear. Who knows? Beloved, everybody has their own path. Stick to yours. The LORD is The OWNER of the vineyard and is faithful and HE is faithful to you.
4. Minimize your earthly possessions. Tough one. We believe we need this and that and everything that is being advertised. We go ahead and get it and then we do not even use that which we believe we cannot live without. Some have five bedroomed houses. Three vacation homes etc. Boats, jets, and all sorts of things. They don’t even have children and or servants to occupy these houses. This person could just have been content in an apartment complete with the conveniences. But all these vain possessions? Ok, so why not share them amongst Christians, make them available for use by the brethren. After all you don’t even use them. A prominent preacher died and he left his jet in the airport parking lot. No one is using it. It has become a subject of rumors, conjecture and legal processes. What it was bought for, it is not doing. Another one bought a child under ten years a vehicle worth millions and then the child died and was buried. It was very sad, heartbreaking devastation but did the child really need the car? Beloved, we have to be serious and know what we are doing. We are not supposed to be storing and displaying flamboyance and wealth on this earth. We are supposed to be talking about JESUS CHRIST. We are supposed to be living life in such a way that people ask us who we are and who HE is? But alas! We want acceptance, peace and comfort here on this earth, which is not bad, but please also do what you are supposed to do. Perform in the ministry. Pray without ceasing. Allow the HOLY SPIRIT work and move in your ministry. Be in constant communication with HIM. Then let Him add all these things to you if it is HIS will. And when He has done so, handle the resources well, remember the needy. I’m sure you know by now that the blessings of The LORD make you rich and add no sorrow.
Beloved, let me say it again, we are not on a wealth accumulation spree. We are not searching for fame and glamour. We are children of The MOST HIGH with a mission of bringing our lost brothers and sisters out of the grip of satan and this world and into the Hands of our FATHER through JESUS our SAVIOR. How do we do this? 1. By telling them 2. Living it 3. Demonstrating the power of The HOLY SPIRIT, then the very hard hearted will believe.
It is not by vain and shameless display of wealth and opulence. These displays are common in mammon kingdom which many of you are in but now it is time to come out and enter the Kingdom of GOD. Unless you are very organized and in sync with The HOLY SPIRIT that humongous ministry you are building will become a battleground amongst your children and so called followers.
When our SAVIOR rose and went to heaven, there were no succession battles, no buildings and chariots and horses and jewels to inherit, just the spreading of the good news that HE died to set us free, the good news that HE had dealt with satan conclusively and that The FATHER is waiting for us and HE has gone to build as great spaces in heaven. These guys knew it and died spreading this message. You too spread the correct message, that is if you are in The kingdom of GOD, if not continue worshipping mammon, he is known to smoothen the path to idolatry and hell. Your choice.
5. Focus on your purpose and mission in The Kingdom of GOD. Help others with a similar purpose. Don’t be derailed, even by well wishers. See JESUS and Peter. Stay focused, even when the flock is acting up. Actually when the flock is rebellious, check the level of rebellion in yourself. There is this uncanny resemblance between people and their leaders. So, maybe the LORD is telling you something over and over again and you with your big head are not listening, you are arguing, you want to be like so and so, you are procrastinating or you are just openly rebellious like Jonah. HE says go this way and you say,” Me, I’m going this way, YOU coming? I’m paying fare” Well, The LORD showed up and we all know how that ended for Jonah and all those around him. So, if you are rebellious, chances are your sheep will give you a taste of your own medicine. Not all the time. Sometime and maybe. So, sort this out.
6. HE spoke without fear or favor but with wisdom. HE spoke to the people HE had been sent. They ended up killing HIM but HE rose again. HE said the TRUTH. HE is The TRUTH. So, you too, speak the truth without fear and favor. Speak to those you are sent to. You didn’t see JESUS taking crusades to Herod’s palace. But you see Paul in chains speaking to the high and mighty. Know your constituency. Know your flock to whom you were sent. You see Philip on the road meeting with counsel for a royal house. In a nutshell, beloved, be led by the HOLY SPIRIT. And as you know, don’t annoy The HOLY SPIRIT, HE is known to leave very quietly. And when He leaves you will be in trouble. Big trouble. Ask Samson. They’ll start by blinding you.
7. HE remained connected to HIS FATHER. Remain connected to the vine. As my pastor says, cling to the VINE with all you got. Hold on to HIM as if your life depends on it, because it does.
8. HE maintained HIS inner peace. Things do get crazy sometimes. But there is the peace that surpasses all understanding. You need it. You also need some true friends who love you and care for you. JESUS has Lazarus and his sisters. They were real with each other. He could even rebuke one sister and she didn’t get all pouty and hot headed. He could relax in their home and trust their cooking. I pray you get friends like that. You need them. I pray you be a friend like that. Such are needed in the vineyard.
9. JESUS was fit, physically fit and up to the task. Workers in the vineyard need to be physically strong and up to the task. So, how about some physical exercises and taking care of our bodies as they are needed for service in the Vineyard. So, you have let things get out of hand, it’s alright, start now, get into shape, the LORD will help you, but you gotta move. Avoid food and substances that threaten your balance and equilibrium. Our SAVIOR carried HIS cross up a hill and it was heavy. HE endured the crucifixion and the hanging on the cross. HE was more than up to the task and was able to fulfill His mission right up to the end. Even after HE died, HIS presence turned hades upside down. Take care of your spirit man too. Don’t just watch, inhale, hear or say just anything that is available. Do not just expose your privates to just anyone. Build and care for yourself both externally and internally. Some of us would have fainted and died already at the sight of the mob in the garden of Gethsemane. Beloved, we need to be strong physically, spiritually and emotionally. Not fainting at the first sight of trouble. May the LORD strengthen us and uphold us, in JESUS NAME. AMEN
Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
