I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS: Not Elijah.

| Spiry Tee

"And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. ” And they went to another village."
Luke 9:54‭-‬56 NKJV

It does not matter how great an example a Biblical character is, we are exhorted to always look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We have a great cloud of people who witnessed faith working first hand but their lives are not the standard model for the believer.

We are called to pattern our lives after Jesus ONLY. He is our Chief Shepherd, the Bishop of our souls. Anyone who draws disciples after themselves need to be reminded that only one Man died for sinners and He alone is worthy of our total admiration and unqualified followership.

Elijah was a great prophet who wrought righteousness in Israel, and in the Name of the Lord performed wonders. He was so powerful that He called fire to come down from heaven to consume his enemies. Upon hearing these stories of prophet Elijah you may be tempted to follow in his footsteps or ministry style until you hear Jesus speaks.

The sons of thunder, Zebedee's sons (John and James), who were close disciples of Jesus were frustrated by a village that refused Jesus entry and wanted to copy Elijah and call fire from heaven to annihilate that village. Jesus rebuked them and reminded them of whose they were. He quickly pointed out that the One they were following (Jesus) did not come to kill people but to save and give life.

Some preachers need to hear this: Are you following Jesus and yet doing ministry like Elijah? Don't forget beloved that you are a disciple of Jesus and His style must carry the day. Calling believers for all-night vigils to teach them to curse and kill their enemies is not Christlike.

The power we have is lifting power. The unction we carry is life giving.  We are anointed to bless and not to curse, to heal and not to afflict, to cleanse and not to defile, to embrace and not to hate. What we see some people do, Jesus did not. Let's follow Jesus for He is the standard of perfection and the yardstick for ministerial excellence.

SPEAK OUT.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I bless and do not curse, I give life and do not kill, I love and do not hate.

#KnowJesusKnowLife #NoJesusNoLife #Breathe #lifeeternal #Jesus #disciple #fire#Elijah


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