PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD
DAY 28
GOD IS THE HEAD
The head of anything moved the entire rest of the body...whether it is a physical body; an organization or a family. The tail can't wag the dog. The feet can't say to the hands "I don't need you".
Yet, many in the church act like they don't need the real Head of the Church - Jesus Christ! American culture has made celebrities out of pastors and worship leaders. We have thousands, even tens of thousands following this TV preacher, buying his books/dvds or cds. Supporters of a well known multi-campus church preacher in the south got really mean with me, years ago, because I questioned something his pastor said in a video right here in this blogsite!
I was the Southern Baptist Convention in North Carolina in 2006 and saw another multi-campus Texas preacher with a least three bodyguards, signing books just like any other secular rock star author...and on and on. Some of the worship leaders and christian artists are no different than their secular music counterparts.
Being involved in organizing Christian concerts for many years, I refuse to be involved in anything which brings any more big name artists to our city. I would rather give a boost to local church musicians than the better known names...which I will not name.
What all these people have in common if they forgot one thing - Who the Head of the Church is! It is not Pastor Joe or John or Mike....or worship band leader Mark, or Sean or Jaimie. It is JESUS - the Christ.
This is what the Word of God says about that: "And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all".(Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV)
The church is His. Father God set it up for His Son. He, as the Head, is the Good Shepherd. Any pastor of any church is an UNDER-shepherd and WILL be held accountable to God for every person who EVER sat in his church! He will be held accountable for all who were lost, while we were playing church.
But the Good news is that Jesus is our Mediator....meaning that He has paid the price for the church, at the Cross. 1 Timothy 2:5 says "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time".
As the Head Shepherd or Pastor, Jesus is the High Priest of Heaven! Hebrews 2:17 says "Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people".
Colossians 1:18 also proves it "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent".
Therefore, Father, I thank You in the Name of Jesus that You ordained Christ as the High Priest of Heaven Who lives and ministers for the saint, forever before Your Throne!
I thank You that Jesus is our Advocate Who will stand for us before You on Judgment Day.
I thank You that Jesus is our Prayer Warrior, Who constantly prays for us before the Throne of God.
I thank You that Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who has leads us in worship, even when His under-shepherds - or our pastors - fall short. He does this through Holy Spirit Who directs us in the way we should.
I thank You that Jesus is still using many officers - prophets, evangelists and the sent-ones, to reach the lost around the World, so that He can return as He promised.
Father I pray for the church to fulfill the mission given it by Christ.
I pray for all pastors and leaders worldwide, who were called by you, or even if they are self-appointed, I pray they seek Your Face and blessing on their congregations and families always.
I pray for those who minister in hard to reach places. I pray for those who are persecuted in China, Africa and all moslem countries. I pray for those who minister in the inner cities of the western world and in increasingly restricted conditions here in the US and Canada.
Bless the Church oh Lord. I pray for us all who preach and teach the Gospel that it will reach hearts, minds and souls for Christ from here to the ends of the Earth...until He comes, in Jesus' Name, Amen!
TOMORROW: GOD IS INTERCESSOR
(image by google images)
1 comment:
The heavens opened but for just a small slice of light, on a Sunday and a boy named Sue was born to Bernie and the Wild and Crazy Aardvarks.....
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