14/08/2013 - SAY NO TO MAN’S CHOICE

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Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”

Judges 1.1

A big mistake is to consider the work of God as one of political nature, because man cannot decide the matters of the Lord. No one should deceive himself, thinking that just because a person is educated, experienced or charismatic he is qualified to lead God’s work. The Bible gives us the example of Eliab – the oldest son of Jesse – who, despite appearing perfect for the position, was not chosen by the Lord; after all, God looks at the heart (1Samuel 16.7).

After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel feared the Lord and, at the same time, were wise to consult the One who knows all things. By following God’s guidance, we are free from making mistakes! In addition, the Lord is not committed to the person who makes himself a leader or is chosen by those who like him. He who does not fear the Lord joins self-proclaimed prophets; but, without approval of the heavenly Father, what will happen to such “ministry” may be disastrous.

Never follow those who betray God’s plan, thus creating his own church. We must learn from the story of Dathan and Abiram  who, because of their rebellion, were swallowed up together with their relatives when the ground split apart under them by God’s orders (Numbers 16.31-33). God takes care of his own work, and no one can challenge him. When the Lord instructs anyone to leave the church and create his own ministry, the church will be used to bless such action of God.

When a member of the church decides to leave and then seeks the members of his previous congregation, trying to convince them to attend his own “church” nearby, he is showing that his attitude is not of God, because the Lord is not a God of confusion (1Corinthians 14.33). The same thing can be said about those who criticize other churches or “do” their work by pointing out other people’s mistakes. Could these people truly fear the Most High?

The Israelites did not seek the Lord to find out who would be the successor, but who they would fight first. Their vision was of the kingdom, and not of selfishness nor of self-interest. He who thinks only about himself is out of his mind, because our fight is against forces of darkness (Ephesians 6.12). Furthermore, what will happen to those who go into the battle without having been called?

Is it possible that God did not think things through when he called and used someone to carry out his work, and now, seeing that it wasn’t a good move, he commissioned some “enlightened person” to straighten up the situation? Without any doubt, he who gets divorced, for example, is seeking his own interests! In addition, the Lord God would never call someone to do the same work delegated to another servant of his. If the call was his, the Word of Jesus was not being fulfilled, because no one puts new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5.37).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares