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Forbid Him Not

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

IN their early days, it was pride in the disciples that caused them to question and seek to get Jesus to shut down other ministries. They were judging another man’s servant as Paul puts it (Romans 14:4). Jesus replied and shut them down by forbidding sectarianism. Watch this:

“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50

Jesus’ disciples here sought to shut down others doing what Christ apparently saw as legitimate ministry.

Do we not become the enemy of Christ if we stand in the way of His work, His workers?

The LORD grants us discernment to “know” (discern) who His body is and who isn’t a true disciple – “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, 20)

Let us give God thanks for each and every member of Jesus’ body today and the work He’s called them to do! (1 Corinthians 12)

Flash Point: Other people doing ministry aren’t illegitimate because they don’t follow your exact pattern or gather with your group. Let’s humble ourselves in repentance and God will give us a kingdom perspective saints.

Jesus commanded the members of His body to …

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Especially in our day, where Daniels’ prophecy of exponentially increased technology is playing out, there are many ways to communicate God’s Word to people (Daniel 12:3-4). Which one of those many communication mediums is it evil to use in communicating God’s Word? None! In fact, ministries which also use the internet, in addition to local ministry, reach exponentially more saints and sinners with God’s Word.

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11

Examples of Judging another man’s Servant

At times we’ve had folks balk that we “sell books” as if every author and every worker on the planet is worthy of his hire except those who do the most important and only eternal work of the Gospel. SMH. For the record, the ministry makes no money on the sale of books. Most of that small amount of money goes toward sending books into prisons! Every time a book is ordered through the ministry website, we have to pay the publisher (amazon) for that book(s) and the shipping to send it to the person who ordered it.

Because this outreach ministry is quite visible on the web, some may not realize that reaching the world via the web is but one phase of the outreach. Evangelism, feeding and clothing the poor, and engaging other pastors and saints in biblical discussion is also ongoing daily. Check out the Because You Care page here for a taste of other ministry operations that a transpiring.

Wouldn’t it be a kingdom-minded perspective to flood the marketplace of books with Scripture-rich books? Does amazon and other booksellers need more secular or more biblical based books for people to choose from?

Over the years we’ve received a couple of fiery emails about just giving the books away. Yet you can’t give away books when the publisher charges for each copy! Books on amazon have to be bought.

The Scripture-rich books we offer is ALL done to reach people with God’s Word in every possible place.

Laugh of the day … is when people say we’re in this for the money. If you only knew how under-supported the outreach is, you’d laugh too!

Saints, if the LORD is choosing to use us, we must not become pride-filled and act as if we are greater than any other disciple. If we do, we will be prone to wrongly judge other believers which is sin. We should be praying that all other of Christ’s saints will be used MORE than Jesus uses us! (Philippians 2:3-5)

Just because your Gospel ministering happens in a physical building on Sunday mornings, doesn’t mean it is illegitimate nor does it mean the ministering of others is not just as important. The day of the week nor the communication medium and physical location do not determine the divine legitimacy of ministering. Did Jesus and His holy apostles minister out of or in a “church building” or did they go to the people? Didn’t Jesus command us to “GO”? (Mark 16:15)

Perhaps some need a fresh, attentive, sobering read of the books of the Gospels and the book of Acts. Note: Not 1 dime was collected for a physical “church building.” Such came around later with the great apostasy.

It is pride and high-minded arrogance to vainly believe that our ministry work is more significant than that of other members of Christ’s body. Pride is evil. Pride never emanates from the crucified vessel.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

God alone saves and places the members of His body where He chooses to use them. Jesus bled to redeem each member of His body and He’s in charge of what He prepares and leads them to do, not man.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18

We are “one body in Christ” saints. Let us lift up, edify, and pray for the greatest fruitfulness in each member and rejoice when God blesses others!

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-28

“Would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”

Let us hear Moses today. Moses wished all of God’s people were doing ministry! In this passage, we see how a young man ran and warned Moses of others doing ministry among God’s people. What was the response of Moses?

“But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:26-29

Like Moses, the godly today desire to see God anoint and use each and every one of His people mightily! They rejoice at such! They rejoice that Christ is glorified in the hearts of men through the ministry of the Word and Spirit of God – regardless of the vessel used! (1 Corinthians 12)

It doesn’t so much matter WHO is preaching the Word. No, it matters most that the Word of God be preached!

Are you threatened by the ministry of others? What in us might still need to be crucified?

It’s the blessed crucifying cross that makes us free from the bonds of self and puts to death all self-glory and wrong judgment of others! Christ alone is LORD and worthy of all glory! (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5)

“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50 

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