“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men… And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints…” (Eph 4:8, 11-12)
Most of the time when the Lord wants to bless somebody or a people, He does not go through supernatural means, but He gives them a man; He sends a woman to them. Moses, Joshua and Deborah were sent to the children of Israel. Jesus was sent to mankind. Mandela was sent to South Africa. Countless men and women have been sent to countless people over generations. Unfortunately, often we fail to realize the importance of these persons. We must therefore foster our relations and we should not neglect our encounters. They are often not fortuitous.
It may be someone who can tell (or show) you what you are not doing right and which may prevent you from moving on to another phase of your life. This was the case with Moses and Jethro (Ex 18:13-27).
It can also be someone who presents you with a life-changing opportunity. This is what happened to Ruth when she listened to Naomi’s advice: “See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do." (Ru 3:2b-4). This was the beginning of a series of events that will make her the great-grandmother of David and the ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. People who advise you to choose a specific career, industry or business venture also falls into this category.
And it can be someone sent to impart you with a gift or certain knowledge. The impartation will be done:
- By the laying on of hands: Paul and Timothy or Ananias and Paul (2Tim 1:6; Ac 9:17); Paul was also the Timothy’s spiritual father.
- By mentoring: this is the relationship that Paul had with Priscilla and Aquila (Ac 18:26). However, this mentoring relationship need not be spiritual; you can have mentors for different areas of your life.
The above verse helps us understand that when God wants to perfect us, when He wants to help us fulfill our destiny successfully, He gives us a spiritual guide: a pastor, an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist or a teacher (doctor). Indeed, life is much more than material. Things are first born in the spirit before we can see them in the natural. We must therefore be very careful with what they say. These are people who receive from God one word or the other, and we must glean over their speech or conversation the keys to success; words that will help unlock situations, sound advice from the scriptures etc.
God gives gifts to men ... and He gives them men. How do we receive them? God wanted to give a magnificent gift to the Nazarenes, but they refused to believe that Jesus was the instrument of God for their blessing. Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum also did not recognize the time of their visitation: the day the Lord God wanted to do them good (Mat 11:21, 23). What (spiritual) look do we have on our pastors, to name a few? Jesus said: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.” Mat 10.40-41
By receiving a pastor as a pastor, we receive the One who sent him and we receive the reward thereof. Screen test your relationships and be careful with your future ‘chance encounters’!
Have a wonderblessed week!
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