5th April, 2022.

DO THESE TO YOUR MINISTER OFTEN Pt.5

Mark6:4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” NLT

AVOID FAMILIARITY

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, one of the reasons the Jews especially his kinsfolk didn't benefit from his anointing was because they despised him in their hearts due to familiarity. They knew his root, his father and mother, his siblings and what they do. They couldn't get their healing and miracles through his ministry because they despised him: "Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them"( Mark 6:3, 5 NLT). This is very pathetic. A whole Messiah couldn't help his people not because He wasn't powerful enough but simply because His own people despised him. There's a lesson there for us.

Did you notice that those closest to men of God rarely benefit from them spiritually? Outsiders and new converts have more testimonies than old timers in the ministry. Surprisingly, the same pastor may receive an invitation to preach elsewhere and the whole place will be on fire not because the fire isn't there but his people quenched it in their hearts. If you want to benefit from the grace of God upon the life of your Pastor or that minister, don't relate with him/her from the standpoint of familiarity. The English people say, "Familiarity breeds contempt". Be careful of treating the anointing and the anointed with contempt. I wish I can say this a thousand times to people in this generation who regard servants of God less and want to rub shoulders with them. We often despise the call of God upon our Pastors and those God placed over us because we know them too well. Sometimes, church folks miss God's blessings because they're privy to the weaknesses of their leaders and whenever they stand to minister, they shut their minds against whatever God is set to do through him. They magnify his weaknesses in their hearts and miss God. It should be noted that I'm not supporting waywardness for ministers. I'm only trying to let you know that the fallibility of your Pastor or that leader is no reason enough to despise him in your heart. Do you remember what David called Saul in his backslidden state? He called him "The LORD'S ANOINTED": "He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD”.

I beg you in the name of the Lord God of heaven, don't despise a man that is truly called of God for whatever reason. Even if you're older in age or more educated than your Pastor, he is your father in the Lord. It is possible that your younger sibling in the family is a Pastor( referring to any of the five fold office), accord him the honour of office. Be wise to relate with him as a servant of God and as a younger sibling without contempt. This generation is fast losing it here but we won't fail to declare the total counsel of God on this matter. Don't take access given to you for granted and don't abuse access because you have classified information that others don't know. That way, you shut yourself out of God's grace and blessings that flows from the life of that preacher. Be careful.