In the church, there are stars and candles which God uses to illuminate the world. The stars are usually the big names in the ministry while the candles are the church members that are often not recognized. The stars are usually few while the candles are many.
The stars shine at a time while the candles shine all the time. During storms, the stars cannot be seen but the candles glow during storms. Where you see a star, the candles gather around it, but the star receives all the praise most of the time.
God is not interested in your status, big names or high sounding titles in the church or ministry. He is interested in the service that you render and no service is little or menial in the Body of Christ.
As far as God is concerned, the cleaner who is diligent and faithful in his service will be rated and rewarded better than a pulpit pastor who is not diligent and not faithful to God in his duties. God rewards those who seek and serve Him diligently.
In 1 Samuel Chapters 13 & 14, is the account of King Saul, his son Jonathan and Jonathan’s armour bearer in a battle with the Philistines. In the story, King Saul and Jonathan were the stars while the armour bearer was the candle.
King Saul, a tested warrior and a star had backslid and was fearful but his son Jonathan took the military challenge by faith (1 Samuel 13:6-7) (1 Samuel 14:6).
But Jonathan’s armour bearer, who was a candle, was also a man of faith. He said to his master, ‘do all that is in thine heart, turn thee: behold, I am with thee according to thy heart (1 Samuel 14:7).’ He was willing to follow his master, Jonathan in any venture.
Are you willing to support your church pastor or group leader in any venture?
In the Israelite army of those days, there were few swords. In fact, only King Saul and Jonathan had swords for battle (1 Samuel 13:22). Your pastor or leader is like Jonathan carrying a sword.
The church members are the armour bearers supporting the pastorate or group leaders. To have co-workers in the vineyard who can say, ‘I am with you as long as you are in God’s will’ is great relief in times of stress and crisis.
Are you still supporting your Jonathan or have you turned back from following him? Or have you joined those who backbite, who write petitions and lead satanic inspired conspiracies to pull down and discredit their Jonathan?
It is important to always support your Jonathan who knows how to go into the battle.God used only 2 persons –Jonathan and the armor bearer – to defeat and scatter a better equipped Philistine army (1 Samuel 14:6-16).
This story shows that God uses both stars and candles for His glory. It is not only the Jonathan (stars) that can use the sword to kill. The armor bearer also participated in the slaughter of the Philistines, using the second sword which King Saul was too fearful to use (1 Samuel 14:13). If you are a star but unwilling to use your sword, God can transfer it to a candle.
Whether you are a star or a candle in the church, do not be ashamed or fearful to be known as a servant of the Most High God. As stars and candles, we are servants in the vineyard. God is not unrighteous to forget your labour of love if you are diligent and faithful in service. God needs you in His Vineyard today. Become involved and stop being a bench warmer.
More importantly, he needs your eternal soul in his kingdom? Are you saved and have you crossed over from death to life? (John 5:24). If Christ returns now, are you fit for admission into eternity with Him? Surrender your heart to Jesus now (Revelations 3:20).
Ayodele Adegbulugbe
www.xtianrace.blogspot.com.ng
No comments:
Post a Comment