UNPROFITABLE SERVANT

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 21 October 2012

Hi all,

This edition is a bit late. We went to Klerksdorp yesterday afternoon and have only just arrived home. We were there on behalf of WCN to induct Philip and Corlia Buys into membership. We had a great time meeting them and enjoying their hospitality. It really was a great blessing.

Today’s meditation is on a very touchy topic. The Scriptures today challenge our methods and traditions in a most uncomfortable way. So the meditation challenges our traditional thinking about churches, buildings and staff. Perhaps you will not “like it”. This means I’ve touched a button. Perhaps it’s the very button the Lord wants touching?

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 21 October 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	UNPROFITABLE SERVANT
After reading today’s Scriptures I felt a bit like a boxer who had taken a viscous knock-out blow to the stomach. It left me feeling dazed and a little bit nauseous. Why? Because I began to realise how far the 21st century church has drifted away from the clear instructions of the One we call Lord. This raises the question of whether He really is our Lord. Jesus asked: 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and still don't do what I say? Luke 6:46 NIrV It’s fairly obvious that the one we obey is really our master. So, who are we following? Usually it’s tradition. But it’s not only tradition! Mostly we follow the example of those around us. We observe that Pastor XXXX has a mega-church building which he fills three times every Sunday. He is also a gifted orator with an ability to accumulate followers who will sit and listen to him absolutely “spell-bound” Sunday after Sunday. He also has plans to build a larger auditorium so that he can “pack more in” to listen to him! He says that God told him to do it. I always find that rather odd. Where in the Pretoria / Johannesburg area do we need more or bigger churches? There are already so many that the “flock” has become selective in what it wants to hear. After all, if Pastor XXXX makes them feel uncomfortable, they can go and attend the church of Pastor YYYY. He is not quite so radical and preaches “nice sermons” we all enjoy. We also love our titles. I’ve never come across so many self-appointed Apostles and Prophets as we have in South Africa. It may be worse elsewhere. Be that as it may. I’m speaking about RSA. Jesus’ directions on fancy titles can be found in Matt 23:1-13. It is summarised as follows: 10 Don't make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. Matthew 23:10-11 GW Of course if you insist on a title, Jesus gave us one. 10 So likewise you, when you shall have done all the things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, for we have done what we ought to do. Luke 17:10 MKJV The other feature of the 21st century church is the focus on money. Yes, running a church is expensive. My question is, “Where do we need any of the trappings we love so much? Do we really need a building? Why? To entertain on Sundays? Bear in mind, the bigger the “church”, the greater the financial demand. Should we scrap our buildings? Let me answer the way Jesus did. By asking a question. Do you really need yours? If you are concerned about your future, if the building is closed, then it seems to me you are a hireling. You are in the ministry for what you can get out of it. We all like a big fat salary at the end of the month. If so, think about quitting and getting a job! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 You call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the One who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:13-17 NLT 24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.' 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:24-27 NLT 25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 NLT 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. 4 So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. John 13:3-5 NLT	We have such strange ideas that are not in God’s Word. Some are so ridiculous, they border on absurd. Jesus may have taught things; How His Church should be run. But nowhere do we ever see, what He taught, being done. He taught us about titles. Don’t have them Jesus said. Bishops, Fathers, Pastors, go to the people’s head. “Unprofitable servant” is what we ought to say.                Luke 17:10 We’ve only done our duty the Master to obey. “The one who would be greatest; he should become the slave. Of all of the church members”. That’s the command He gave. But who is there who does it? We like authority And no one’s more important around this church than me! We work with business structures. It’s like a pyramid. The boss is always at the top. We do what he has bid. And yet it was the Lord Himself Who washed the dirty feet, Of all of the apostles when they reclined to eat. Of course they didn’t like it. The very lowest slave Was usually appointed. So was the Master brave? It seems that He was weary of their great thirst for power. And so He demonstrated that each and every hour They should be serving others. But such things squash our pride And we are too important with His ways to abide. There is a lust for money that people seldom see. “If you want God’s blessings, support my ministry! Put your tithes and offerings where we can use it best. If you put it somewhere else, you surely won’t be blessed. In any case, my lifestyle needs lots and lots of cash. If you do not give it, this ministry will crash!” “If you are important, then come and sit with me. Surely it’s much better if other people see That’s you’ve become a general in the army of the Lord.” Brother, if you’re thinking this, then fall upon your sword! We love to preach the gospel. Men love to hear us preach. I mustn’t share my pulpit, or hear what others teach. O Father please forgive us. Your church is upside down. We surely need revival. Another pulpit clown, Who “entertains” Your people is not what You require. But someone who will preach the truth and set our hearts on fire. Jim Strickland – Written 21st October 2012