TRAPPINGS

Time with Jesus - Friday, 26 October 2012

Hi all,

Ministry today can be a trap. We are always strongly influenced by the people we meet and hear about. Many of us rely on modern business methods to bring us the “success” we so sincerely seek. Advertising is one of the more popular methods. Today’s meditation looks at this and asks whether we should do so or not.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 26 October 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	TRAPPINGS
Advertising! The Western Church seems to be besotted with it. Some of our “big name” preachers have an itinerary that is fully booked for more than a year ahead. A month or so ago we went to see one of the best known names among Astronomy and Christianity. Dr David Bloch gave a presentation at local South African Methodist Church. It was wonderful stuff. But if you want him to come and give a lecture, try booking something like two years ahead. Much the same can be said for men like Benny Hinn and T D Jakes. You may find it easier with women like Joyce Meyer or Paula White, but I have my doubts. Incidentally, I’m not seeking to criticise these men or women in any way. They are doing the best they can under tremendously difficult circumstances. Personally, I would be greatly intimidated by having to generate the finance for the number of people who are working in their ministries. They can’t afford to have a poor “turn-out” where they have been invited to preach. If this means that there is insufficient money coming in to finance them, it will very quickly be “game over”. Incidentally, don’t be put off (or on) by the comment “God will Provide”. Charlatans and wicked men have succeeded without God’s help. So don’t be impressed by the “size” of their Ministry. It can be a real trap. You have to preach what the people want to hear. If you don’t, the people will soon go elsewhere. The fame is fabulous but what about motive? Jesus put it like this: 5 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth that is all the reward they will ever get. Matthew 6:5 NLT Now people may point at me and say, “You are speaking from an envious spirit”. Perhaps that’s true. At least I’m willing to consider that possibility. In the final analysis, the Lord will decide! Jesus used none of these advertising tricks. He didn’t “pander to the crowd”. At times He deliberately avoided them. He didn’t publicise. He relied entirely on word of mouth and the power of the Holy Spirit. I’ve heard it said it’s doubtful if even His ministry could have survived the “fall-out” from a modern advertising campaign! I believe that people didn’t only come to watch a miracle worker. They came to see a man full of the Holy Spirit. A Man in Whom the Fruit of the Holy Spirit was visible in abundance. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Even during His closing hours, hanging on the cross, these “qualities” were on display. From these qualities, the very Nature of God was revealed. But crucifixion invariably exposes hidden agenda. He had none! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. Malachi 2:15 ESV 49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:49-50 ESV 54 And seeing, His disciples James and John said, Lord, do You desire that we command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did? 55 But He turned and rebuked them and said, You do not know of what spirit you are. Luke 9:54-55 MKJV 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, "My lord Moses, stop them." 29 But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" Numbers 11:27-29 ESV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 ESV	Jesus, when He walked the Earth, was not like us at all. His hunt for reputation was very, very small. He didn’t use the internet, or send out bulk email. He had no use for Google. And measured on a scale Of one to ten, publicity would not have helped one jot. The “Galilean Herald”, He totally forgot. He didn’t use these trappings. There truly was no need. Dependence upon word of mouth was what had been decreed. Was it a disadvantage? Not from the things I’ve read. You don’t need 10 inch headlines, to say you’ve raised the dead! And when you cleanse the lepers; and recreate an eye. You don’t need a press agent! The folk won’t pass you by! And what of competition? He didn’t really mind. If you’re not against Him, I’m sure that you will find, That He is not against you. That’s what the Scripture says. And He retained this attitude. Big-heartedness still pays! He had no hidden motives; God’s Kingdom was His goal. He came so He could rescue us and save our sinful souls. He didn’t have to look around at the itiner’y, Of other big name preachers, within the ministry. He didn’t have to do that. He knew He wouldn’t fail; And it would be accomplished on a vast eternal scale! Moses was the first one; when others prophesied. “Don’t think I am jealous” this man of God replied. “I wish the Lord’s anointing was resting on them all! If everyone could prophesy, I think we’d have a ball! So leave Eldad and Medad and do not make them stop. If it isn’t from the Lord, you’ll find their words will flop!” This was the Master’s attitude! He wanted folk to try. No lost opportunities should ever be passed by. His face was not on street-pole adds and there was no campaign. I’m sure He would regard such things with absolute disdain. If folk were not attracted, by Holy Spirit power, To come along and hear Him, the meeting would go sour! And that is what we’re seeing throughout the world today. If we advertise it, we will not have to pray! No wonder signs and miracles are now so seldom seen. The only way that this will change is when our hearts are clean. Jim Strickland – Written 26th October 2012