None of Us Are Indispensable

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

"And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone..."(Matt.8:4)

Sometimes referred to as the "Messianic secret" Jesus often told people He had healed to hush up about it. In this case, Jesus had tenderly reached out, touched, and healed a leprous man. He did instruct the healed man to follow Jewish law and see the priest, but He insisted on his not broadcasting what Jesus had done.

Why the insistence on silence? Miracles did attest to the veracity of Jesus Messianic claims, but He was concerned about drawing a crowd that was simply and solely interested in being wowed by signs and wonders. Also, wrong notions abounded regarding the nature of the kingdom Jesus was establishing. He was not a crowd seeker , nor was our Lord a crowd pleaser.

Boy, I wish many of today's Christian leaders, as well as para-celebs, would take this to heart. It seems to me that drawing a crowd is all many (certainly not all) of them are concerned about. With egos as big as their church campuses, some of have actually begun to believe they are indispensable...which is a big mistake.

A long time ago someone set me straight when he said (in reference to the pastoral ministry), "None of us are indispensable." I have never forgot their words, though I long ago forgot who said them.

It is important to understand what that means, as well what as what it does not mean. The latter first. In 1 Cor.12 and Rom.12 (and elsewhere) the bible insists that there are NO LITTLE PEOPLE in the kingdom. There is no hierarchy of importance when it comes to spiritual gifts...and when one hurts, we all hurt. The person who has the gift of hospitality is just as important as a missionary or pastor. In other words, we all have a significant role to play in the church.In that sense we are ALL indispensable. Each person is equally precious and equally needed for the proper functioning of the Body of Christ.

BUT.. if we ever get the notion that our personal ministries are necessary for God to work and expand His kingdom, then we are in trouble. When we think that WE have to be personally and actively involved all the time or it won't get done...if we begin to think in terms of "this is MY Facebook site" or "this is MY blog or MY church or MY outreach (fill in the blank)"--then we need to repent. We need to humble ourselves before God, before He does it for us...which is usually much more painful.

Please don't misunderstand me...each of our ministries/callings are very important to God. It is when we get filled with an inflated sense of self-importance, that problems arise.

Or when we forget the principle of sola scriptura. For example, I personally do not think that mothers of young children should be deliverance ministers (based on the principle of focusing on the home). I am ignorant of many things, but I do know something about the repercussions of being involved in a ministry that expels demons from people and places...they retaliate. Saying that you trust in God to protect you and your family is tempting Him, not trusting Him. There are plenty of meaningful ways to be involved in support ministries, until your children get older. Your role as a mom is indispensable to the children God has blessed you with.But the exorcism ministry of God's kingdom will carry on with or without any of us.

After a run of several dozen successful cleansings in a couple of years, they suddenly became more difficult. And shortly, I faced my most challenging case ever. Afterwards, the "running spicket"of cases abruptly shut off. Nobody contacted me. But, thank God, I remembered...God does not NEED me in order to continue His work of delivering people from demonic oppression. There are plenty of other people more godly...more gifted than I...And the fact is, I needed a break. If we are burned out, we are not good to anyone, ministry wise. Are you open to God shutting doors for your sake?

The Gates of hell will not prevail against God's church.

"I am the Vine and you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. But part from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5) GOD is indispensable in our lives and ministries if they are to bear fruit pleasing to God.God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ARE indispensable. ONLY the Father could send the Son, ONLY the Son could accomplish redemption for us, and ONLY the Holy Spirit can apply this redemption to people's hearts.                                                        


Pride...especially spiritual pride, is ugly to God, and it inevitably will bring His hand of discipline.

Are we involved in ministry because of the need to be needed? Please do not gloss over that question. To some extent, I think we all wrestle with that.

God does not care if we accomplish great things, but He does insist on excellence in relationships--especially within our families.(see the last verse of Malachi)

Lastly, we can show our sense of "indispensability"...our humility, by encouraging other folks involved in similar ministries to our own. We have to fight pride and selfishness here. However, I cannot exaggerate the importance of the ministry of encouragement. I know that when someone takes the time even to comment on something I have written, it makes my day. We are not to be man-pleasers, but man, it sure is pleasing when someone says an encouraging word.

Peer Pressure Affecting Your Walk?

By Stephen Piersall

God's Preservation Ministry http://sfprs.org/

God is so good! Recently, I have had a closed MRI for my back and being 6’3”, 260 pounds and claustrophobic; they shoved every ounce of me in this tiny crawl space about the size of the old torpedo tubes submarines used years ago. I normally would start with my panic attacks and anxiety getting the best of me days before, but it was done in 18 minutes, and I spent the whole time eyes closed and praying to God for everybody I could think of. I had a root canal done with NO PAIN for the first time during my life. Yes, I spent every minute in prayer with that too. I also gave birth to my first (and hopefully never again) Kidney Stone. Ouch! Yes, they are as bad as the stories you might have heard, and the prayers that days were in desperation. LOL. Lastly, completed a pre-surgical physical, and the results show I am the healthiest I have been in years.

Since our ministry is growing and helping many other people with Christian Deliverance counseling, and still attending classes at our local church and Internet courses, it has brought closeness to God that one can only cherish. So intimate, that when I wake up, the first thing that comes to mind is God and my personal prayer list of those who have needs. It is the same at night when taking our two dogs out for the last time before bed; looking up to the sky, talking to God, and thanking him for all he is doing in my life. The late Walter Payton, NFL, Chicago Bears running back was nicknamed “Sweetness." With God beside me, it is pure “Sweetness."

Leaving the hospital, passing many people and the Holy Spirit within me must have turned up the volume on my ears. Hearing couples arguing over petty things, gossiping all around, my ears were just buzzing. This doctor is no good, and this neighbor all the time complains about different highly public viewed clergy on TV. Yikes, jumping back into the MRI machine where it was safe and just praying to God in peace, (except for the LOUD MRI noises) seems like a great idea.

One of the pet peeves of mine is a person talking bad about others behind their backs. Here recently I have had two discussions with some of our staff about what they were doing if it gave them a good reputation with God and their business and family life. They both accepted the discussion in a Christian attitude, and I praise them both for their walk with God. What about the others I mentioned, is peer pressure affecting walking with God? This rather reminds me of back in Junior High School all over again.

The Bible says that the tongue is full of deadly poison. The tongue is like a sword. It can cut and slice apart its victims. Proverbs 21:23 states, "Whoso keepeth his mouth, and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."

Why must we speak about what version of the Bible that someone reads? Why must we talk about clergy members who have Internet talk shows? Why must we talk badly about how someone does deliverance differently than what you believe? Jesus commands we remove evil, but no particular checklist for us to follow in doing so. There are many methodologies, and if it works, Glory to God! Why are Christians not acting like Christians? Why are some of you reading this not Christian at all?

Christian Bible thumpers as we sometimes are called, will keep trying to win souls for Jesus because that is our number-one job. Jesus proclaimed that in his Great Commission among other things. You can go through all of these biblical steps with a right heart and spirit, and the other person may still choose to respond in a negative or fleshly way. Some people have a contentious spirit and do not want peace. On the other hand, some people will agree with you to your face and make no change whatsoever. At this point, you cannot get bitter and angry. You must leave it with the Lord. Romans 12:18 states, "If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men."

 

Did you know that of all the sins that God sees in us, they are, even so, to him except one? The sin of not accepting Jesus as your Savior is above all other sins. When you die and bow before him, and he says, “I do not know you”; your destiny in Hell will reign forever.

Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, so then; you will know them by their fruits.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

That has happened to me also, where someone thought, I was speaking of them, when I was not. However, what this says to me, it is the Holy Spirit convicting that person's heart. Instead of leaning toward the Spirit of the Lord, they get very defensive. What we see as very immature behavior in some really can be brought back around to the enemy causing trouble in the Body of Christ, as you are making clear.

It is too late to accept Jesus as your Savior once you die. There is no purgatory or earth bound spirits or ghosts where you can pray someone to heaven or have a medium cross over someone for you. Believing in any of that is Satan’s trap to lure you. Beware of false prophets, Satan and his demons are the master of disguises! Read the Gospels and follow the teachings of Jesus.

This YouTube video will answer some questions perhaps you have. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB9J7NEv2qM

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