A great sin of false apostles, amongst others, is that they despise other ministries and anything they think is beneath them. All this will be well disguised, but it is our inheritance, the house of our Father, that they are ravaging when they despise any part of the Body of Christ. John Alley
Scripture
Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, he will lift you up in honour. Give all your worries and cares to God for, he cares for you.
Observation
The elders in the church will share in the glory of Christ when he is revealed to the whole world. They are to care for their flock willingly not grudgingly. Not for their own gain, but because they want to serve God,
Elders are to lead by example and not lord it over their people. When the Great Shepherd appears, they will receive a crown of glory and honour.
Young men are to accept the authority of the elders. They must serve each other in humility. When they humble themselves under God’s mighty power He will raise them up at the right time.
Application
Humility is all about serving and respecting others. This can be a very hard quality for us to learn, especially in a culture that tries to tell us that we are all gods and worthy of the respect of others.
We must not raise ourselves up in the eyes of others and certainly not in our own eyes. Once we start to think we are better than other people, we lose the plot of Christian living.
The way up is down. It is when we choose to serve others without any thought of reward that we start to follow the way of the Lord who told us that the Son of Man came not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many.
We choose to die to our own ambitions and desires so that the plans of Christ can be revealed to us. When we humble ourselves under the power of God, we can be sure that He will raise us up to a place of honour.
Prayer
Lord, you call me to die to myself. Please help me to do this so that I can come alive to you. Amen.
When believers dishonour their pastor, or think little of his leadership, or speak derogatively of other pastors and churches, these are examples of despising the Father and the Father’s house. This fleshly behaviour is the despising of one’s inheritance. John Alley
Independence is highly dangerous! Especially for apostles. Everyone in leadership, and especially every apostle, must walk in submission to others. Every apostle needs a spiritual covering, another apostle, to be both a father and a spiritual covering. John Alley
Scripture
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something’s strange was happening to you.
Observation
We should not be surprised when we go through trials. Instead, we should rejoice, for in trials, we partner with Christ in his suffering. However, there is no value in suffering for doing evil deeds, such as murder, stealing, or stirring up trouble. It is no shame to suffer for being a christian.
The time has come for judgement, and this will begin with God’s people. It will spread from there to all people, and the godless will suffer a terrible fate.
Application
Suffering for our obedience to Christ is nothing new. Every year, thousands upon thousands of christians die for their faith. Others are imprisoned, tortured, cast out of their homes, or shunned by families.
We should not be surprised when we are mocked or fired from our job or harassed by government officials because of our beliefs. When these things happen, we share in Christ’s suffering.
However, we need to make sure that we really are suffering for Christ’s sake, and not just because we are being obnoxious.
Suffering for our faith is the normal christian life. It can strengthen our faith, and it can increase our determination to follow Jesus in all things.
Prayer
Lord, Jesus, thank you for the joy of being in your kingdom. Please help me to stand firm in you. at all times, especially when facing opposition. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 