The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Monday, August 10, 2020

CHRISTIAN COURTESY – THE PLACE OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY 2

“Obey your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say. For their work is to watch over your souls, and God will judge them on how well they do this. Give them reason to report joyfully about you to the Lord and not with sorrow, for then you will suffer for it too.”
Hebrews 13:17(TLB)
Main Text:

Apostle Paul said “Brethren, pray for us.” (1 Thess 5:25). There are people who have the habit of not reciprocating a greeting from their leader. You shouldn’t be that way because you have an excellent spirit on your inside and that should influence your manners.

One thing that has eroded many believers of their blessings is the factor of “overfamiliarity”. According to the Webster dictionary, overfamiliarity means “showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty.” Many of us were friends of some spiritual leaders, as a matter of fact, we could have even raised them or fed them, and those acts make it difficult for us to see our leaders for whom they truly are “God’s chosen vessels”. In scripture, we have many instances where overfamiliarity has robbed men and even cities of their blessing.

In Matthew 13:54-58 “He went to the town where he grew up. He taught the people in the synagogue, and they were amazed. They said, "Where did this man get such wisdom and this power to do miracles? Isn't he just the son of the carpenter we know? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And don't all his sisters still live here in town? How is he able to do these things?" So they had a problem accepting him. But Jesus said to them, "People everywhere give honor to a prophet, but in his own town or in his own home a prophet does not get any honor." Jesus did not do many miracles there, because the people did not believe in him. (ERV)

Confession:  I declare no evil can befall me, no plague can come near my dwelling. I declare that because God’s love for me, I will call upon Him and He will set me above all my troubles, He will deliver me from all my fears and will honor me with His presence and power.

Further Reading:

Hebrews 13:17; Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you

Read through the Bible: Ruth 3 & Acts 28