I was to write this a few weeks ago but thought to forgo it but I must go ahead because the Lord expects it of me. The credentials of one called by YHWH to do any service for him are primarily spiritual. We do not qualify for a role in God's house primarily based on human merit or evaluation. Our Kingdom does not run on Meritocracy but rather on divine selection based on Grace. There is a danger, and it is a grave danger, of falling into that trap of evaluating our qualifications by human ratings and measurements.
Paul the Apostle was very qualified (humanly speaking) but he stated very clearly in Philippians 3:3-4:
''For it is we who are the Circumcised, we who worship by the Spirit of God and make our boast in the Messiah Yeshua! We do not put confidence in human qualifications, 4 even though I certainly have grounds for putting confidence in such things. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for putting confidence in human qualifications, I have better grounds:'' CJB
Why do I call this a trap? Because as I listened as leaders flaunted their qualifications, the Lord said to me, 'This is a Trap'.
Why is it a trap?
When the Adversary is failing, he knows the only way to beat you is by getting you out of God's way of evaluating you onto his own turf: self-aggrandization. He can only beat you on his own turf. Now when I say his own turf, I don't mean secular institutions or infrastructures or else no one would work anywhere except in Church. What I mean is his own way of processing, analysing and disseminating information.
Let us look again at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4.
Here, there was nothing the Devil tempted Jesus with that was actually outside the Father's will (view or plan) for him. The temptation was not in the things offered, the temptation was in the source of his identity, how (process), and who dictated the when of his reward. It was all about getting him out of reliance (trust) on YHWH as his source of identity, qualifier and qualification and reward.
Let's look at the temptations and replies: The first-
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
''If you are the Son of God'' questioned his source and strength of identity but Jesus did not fall for it. He had nothing to prove to the adversary - He was secure in YHWH's statement “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'' in Matthew 3:16.
Jesus' reply was essentially - Man shall live secure in the analysis and qualification (every word) that comes from God!
The second was more of the same:
''5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Another ''If''. In other words, prove your qualification to be who God says you are. And Jesus tells him pointedly (in other words), ''I don't have to prove God's analysis of me. YHWH is right in all he says - that is enough for me.''
And the third,
9Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Here, the Devil's desperation is apparent. He offers him a shortcut that bypasses dependence on YHWH. Jesus was not having it. His statement shows that the so-called reward is not the glory. The glory is a life of faithfulness to YHWH.
My point is that it is strange when the Church or men of God start to judge their worth by their achievements and earthly qualifications. Understandably for secular purposes, we must put down facts in application forms for example, but our identity, sense of worth and qualification come solely from the TRUTH spoken by the All-Knowing YHWH concerning us. YHWH sees all and therefore his call, anointing and affirmation are all the qualifications, proof and reward we need. This is our only secure turf.
Comments