GUEST DEVOTIONS

ZAC POONEN

Should We Follow Godly Men or Only Follow Jesus?

Zac Poonen

Under the old covenant, the Israelites could only follow the written Word that God gave them through Moses and the prophets. No-one could say, “Follow me” – not even the greatest prophets like Moses or Elijah or John the Baptist. God’s Word alone was the light for their path (Psa.119:105).

But Jesus came and initiated a new covenant. And He gave us not only the Word of God, but an example to follow, by His own life. He was the first person in the Bible to say, “Follow Me” (Mt.4:19; Jn.21:19; Lk.9:23). So in the new covenant, we have both the written word and also the Word made flesh in Jesus – or in other words, the written word made visible in a human life – to guide us.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for merely studying the Word of God but not coming to Him: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. But they testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me to have life.” (Jn.5:39,40).

The life of Jesus is now the Light for our path (John 1:4) – and not just the written Word. If we are unable to find clear guidance in God’s Word in some matter, we can look at the life of Jesus (as revealed by the Holy Spirit to our hearts) and we will always find an answer.

Further: In the new covenant, the Holy Spirit also inspired a godly man like Paul to say, “Follow me – as I follow Christ”. And the Holy Spirit made him say that three times – to emphasise the fact that we should also follow the example of truly godly men who follow in Christ’s footsteps. (1 Cor.4:16; 1 Cor.11:1; Phil.3:17).

A true new-covenant servant not only proclaims God’s standard in the written Word, but also says, as Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ”.

Some Christians say, “We must not follow any man. We must only follow Jesus”. That sounds like a spiritual statement. But it is totally contrary to the Word of God. Because, as we have just seen, Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) told us to follow him.

The reason why Paul told the Christians in Corinth to follow him and to imitate him, was because he was their spiritual father. He said, “If you were to have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be followers of me.” (1 Cor. 4:15,16). One cannot follow a Bible-teacher – because even if his teaching is good and accurate, he may not be a good example by his life. According to the above verse, one spiritual father is better than 10,000 Bible-teachers. So it is good for all Christians to have a spiritual father like Paul, whose example they can follow. Following such a spiritual father can save us from sin and from false teaching.

Paul urged Christians to follow other godly men also, who were “following Christ’s example”, as he was doing. He said, “Pattern your lives after mine, and learn from others also who follow our example”(Phil. 3:17- NLT).

The Word of God also commands us to obey our leaders and to imitate their faith.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them” (Heb. 13:17).
“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; consider the result of their conduct (their life), and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).

We are NOT called to follow a person’s ministry, because God gives each of His children a unique ministry that others cannot have. Christ’s Body has members with different functions just like our human body has. When Jesus called people to follow Him, He did not expect them to do miracles or even preach as He did. That was His ministry. He called people to follow the example of His life – that is, to live by the principles by which He lived. Likewise, when Paul called believers to imitate him and follow him as he followed Christ, he was not asking them to be apostles or to heal the sick, but to live as he lived – by the principles by which Christ lived.

It is the Holy Spirit Who has commanded us in the above verses to follow the examples of godly men. Those who are too proud to follow the examples of godly men usually end up following carnal men, or the promptings of their own Self-life. Then the results can be disastrous.

Immediately after telling the Philippian Christians to follow his own example and the example of other godly men (Phil.3:17), Paul warned them not to follow the example of some others: “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18,19).

If however they followed Paul’s example, they would be saved from being deceived by those other ungodly men.

Here are seven tests by which you can evaluate whether a man is a truly godly man worthy of being followed:

1. Is he a humble man – easily approachable and easy to speak to? Jesus told us to learn humility from Him (Matt.11:29). A godly man is one who has learned humility from Jesus.

2. Is he free from the love of money and one who never asks anyone for money (as far as you know)? A godly man will follow Jesus’ example, Who never asked anyone for money even for His ministry. Jesus said that one who loves God cannot love money and that one who holds on to God will despise money (Luke 16:13).

3. Is he pure in his life – and especially in his dealings with women (as far as you know)? A godly man will not just avoid the temptation to sexual lust but will flee from it (2 Tim.2:20-22).

4. If he is married and has children, has he brought up his children in godly ways? A godly, married man will be one whose children are believers who have been brought up in a disciplined way (1 Tim.3:4,5; Tit.1:6).

5. Have his closest co-workers become godly men through their association with him? Godly men will produce other godly men. Timothy became a godly man through being with his spiritual father, Paul (Phil.2:19-22).

6. Has he built (or been active with others in building) a local new-covenant church? Jesus came to earth to build His church (Matt.16:18). He gave Himself up to death to build the church (Eph.5:25). Godly men will not only bring people to Christ but will then build them up as a local church.

7. Does he connect you to Christ and not to himself? A godly man will connect you to Christ, so that you in turn, can become a godly example for others? (Eph.4:15; 2 Cor.4:5).

We cannot follow most Christian leaders, because they fail in one or more of the above areas.

If however, you find a godly leader who has the above qualities, it will be good for you to follow him as a spiritual father, because he will help you to come closer to the Lord and thus be saved from sin and false teaching.

He who has ears to hear let him hear.

MARTHA VALENTINE

ONE BY ONE

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake...Matthew 5:11."

All around the world we see people persecuted. The people who persecute are people who need God in their lives big time. We need to pray for everyone, not just the ones we like to pray for. Sometimes people will say what can I do I am only one person? But our relationship with God is one on one. Doesn't that tell us something? Win them one by one.

Most of us have family members who ridicule us in certain ways maybe because we go to church a lot. Nothing would make me happier than to see many family members in church each week. But if we could only make every one realize what God has done for us. Every day we need to thank God for His plan for salivation. We need to lift up these people who are lost.

Years ago we respected the Principal and feared what he might do if we acted up in school. These days the Principal fears the children. There's children who are tormented by bullies. I never got paddled in school but if I had I had another one waiting when I got home. Let's remember to pray for these children, they have more peer pressure and so many scary situations these days.

I am so glad to be living in America; I can go to my church of choice. I know nothing here on earth is ever going to be perfect. But we can do what we can each day to try to win others and let our light shine by living and doing God's will. I thank Brother Bruce for the love He has for God. I ask a blessing on each of you and I am proud to be part of Prayerneed. I don't live in fear of any situation because God is going to take care of me. Love, Martha

LORRAINE EZELL

"Provider"

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17,18

There is a lot of talk about some major events that could happen in the near future-- the fall of the economy, a cataclysmic disaster, wars, etc. These things may or may not happen. But what if they do? What if there is no money to buy with, no food available, no jobs, and no homes because they have been wiped out by an earthquake, a flood or even a volcano. Are you prepared?

This preparation is not putting things like food, water, money, provisions, etc. back-- although we have already talked about the wisdom in doing that. I am talking about another type of preparedness. I am talking about renewing your mind and affirming your faith now (daily) that the Lord is your provider.

It is so easy to get accustomed to the natural way of doing things that we forget about God's hand in our needs being met. Therefore, you have to get it settled and stay settled that the government is not your provider. The stock market is not your provider. Your spouse is not your provider. Your stockpile is not your provider. Your job and your boss is not your provider. Natural resources are not your provider. Some religious organization is not your provider. These are only ways and means that He uses. When your faith for not only the future but for your daily bread is rooted in the fact that God alone is the provider, it won't matter that there is no physical means of provision. It won't make you fearful, anxious or distressed because your full trust is in God's faithfulness to provide whatever you need.

He already provides for you every day by giving you air to breath. He has not changed. He can still give water from a rock, send manna from heaven, put money in a fish's mouth, and multiply bread and oil. Get it settled in your heart everyday who your real provider is.

Have a great day. Everyday settle it in your heart that your provider is the Lord. If you do, when natural provisions are cut off, you won't be afraid or worry because you know He will take care of you.

CLAUDE HOUDE

WHERE ARE WE GOING?
by Claude Houde
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call of God and walked toward a country he was to receive as a promise and inheritance. He left and walked by faith, not knowing where he was going (see Genesis 12:1).

Can you imagine the conversation that must have gone on between Abraham and his lovely wife, Sarah, as this wild adventure began? Abraham was successful, prosperous, and well established in his community. He and Sarah had worked hard, and they were enjoying the fruit of their efforts. After all, it was well-deserved, right?

As Sarah looked at her husband one evening, she noticed that he seemed pensive and somewhat emotional. He hadn’t said a word since he came home.

“What’s the matter, honey? You know you can tell me anything,” Sarah whispered.

Abraham blurted out, “I have been in prayer for many months about this and I have this deep conviction, this impression that I can’t get out of my mind that we must leave, get out of my father’s house, leave everything we know. And I feel that as we do this and obey God, we will be blessed.”

If you are married, you can imagine the scene and almost hear the conversation that followed! “What do you mean, we are leaving? We are happy here! It’s safe! I like it here! You know, as I do, the horrors that are taking place in the heathen towns around us!”

Abraham answered the best he could, “God is leading us, Sarah. I know it. I have built an altar to Him and I am serious. We have to go!”

As Abraham kept repeating, “We have to go, we are to go,” all of a sudden Sarah asked, “Where are we going?” Silence. Then he answered sheepishly, “Well, that the exciting part! God has not told me where yet!”

The father of faith walked, not knowing where he was going!