Beginnings: Warning, Unchecked Growth

As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:57-62 (NASB)
(Jesus gives the “cost” of discipleship)

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:12-14 (NKJV)

When did preachers turn into businessmen? Pushing numbers, promotions, and products?

When did they become best-selling authors? Advertising their work more than God’s work?

“The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down.” (A.B. Simpson)

“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95% of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” (A.W. Tozer)

“We may easily be too big for God to use, but never too small.” (D.L. Moody)

“The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members” (William Temple)

“Jesus is the Head of the church. He expects His body to cooperate.” (Jack Wellman)

Our Creator is careful about growth. He sifts His wheat and He prunes His branches: 'Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit' (John 15:2).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Today’s unchecked growth of celebrity is fueled by media and witless fans: not witless from a lack of brain power, but witless from a lack of good guidance.

Regarding fame, the King of kings didn't seek it, look it, talk it, or accept it... until the week of His crucifixion. By God’s plan, celebrity came to Him.

NOTE:

The growth of Jesus and His ministry was measured by the Master Timekeeper. Nothing Jesus said, did, or planned was rushed. 

He took the necessary time to choose, teach, test, and correct eager disciples, which actually reduced their number. (See John 6:66.)*

God’s Son walked on foot, traveled back roads, and refused any type of human crown. He never chased a quantity of fans, but instead sought the quality of hearts.

Also, His refusal to “people-please” turned Him into a polarizing Star.

'Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division' (Luke 12:51). Because 'Friendship with the world is enmity with God' (James 4:4).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Regarding your journey through media, refuse to chase a quantity of fans, or even a quantity of bookings, because the Lord’s not into quantity.

Doing your best and refusing to quit your commission in this key mission field… is all your Director requires of you. If your example leads one fan to Christ… that’s worth EVERYTHING!

Beginnings: Warning, Unchecked Growth (Part 25)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

* ‘The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” ‘

66 After this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him’ (John 6:52-66).