We need to understand that they were teaching and preaching just what Jesus taught them. He taught them the correct way to water baptize. He taught them about the Holy Spirit baptism and what was going to happen to them. He opened their understanding to the Scriptures. When we preach or teach it is to help people get to know Him in a manner consistent with the Bible and all that is taught in it. Not just to form another group or have a following of our own. We are to lead people to Jesus and allow them to develop a relationship with Him first and then with those who are their Brothers and Sisters in the Gospel. It is a sin to lead someone to Jesus and then
teach them that your word or your opinion has more weight than the Bible.
There is a teaching called Apostolic Secession which you can read about on this link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_succession
We need to guard against having that attitude. The ministry are not Lords over Jesus' heritage. We are servants of Jesus. He would have us minister to them and wash their feet yet we do not always see the ministry doing what Jesus did. Many times we see ministry full of self importance conveying to others about them their importance rendering Jesus less important and brotherly love unimportant.
Jesus expects us to be humble servants not opinionated rulers.
| John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. | |||
 Jhn 13:5 | After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith He was girded. |
We need to learn to know Him(Jesus) as the Apostle Paul so diligently prayed for his own life. So many times we look to follow Paul as he followed Christ and forget its Jesus we are following. We are not lawgivers or judges. Being seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places does not mean that we are above others in this life but we are hid in Him. We need to take on the Image of Jesus. We are created in His image and if we don't reflect His mercy and grace then we don't really know Him at all.
I don't feel that I have arrived or attained that I can scold all of you who are reading this but I do hope for myself that I can reflect a genuine Christian attitude and become all I can become in Jesus.
Jesus Bless you,
Dana Klein
