John 10:13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

 

For the past couple of days, we have been studying a man named Barnabas. This man had a true conversion experience which caused him to sell his land and leave his home on the Island of Cyprus. He took the proceeds from the sale of his property and went to Jerusalem to join with the Apostles and the First Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

When Barnabas arrived in Jerusalem the Bible tells us that he willingly donated his money to the Church. Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:37) He also surrendered his life to the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ and later joined forces with the Apostle Paul to plant many churches throughout the region.

 

Barnabas did not join the Church to gain notoriety, fame, or fortune. He could have had all that in Cyprus as a Levite. He did not look to the Church for a job or position. On the contrary, he chose to surrender his life and fortune to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ and God used him and blessed him greatly. He witnessed many great things as he ministered alongside the great Apostle Paul.

 

This is what God is still looking for in His Church. He still calls people out of their place of position and prosperity into a life of servanthood and total dedication to His Kingdom. He also raises people up out of the pit of despair and depravity and places them in ministry. The fact is, God uses people. He has always used people who are willing to be used to further the Gospel of Christ and build His Kingdom.

 

Whether God calls a person from a high place of power and position or out of the pit of depravity, the call is the same. When they respond to His Call and surrender their life to Him their title will be the same too. That title is SERVANT.

 

God’s Church is not to be a business or a place of employment. While it takes money to operate a ministry, money should never be the primary focus of ministry. God will provide for His Church. He always has and He always will. When the people who have been called into leadership positions of a fellowship of believers take their eyes off the people and ministry and focus on money, they are no longer servants. They are then hirelings and Jesus spoke specifically about this in the 10th Chapter of John. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the Shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. (John 10:11-13) To those who have ears, let them hear.

 

 

God will…...….turn the tide……….in His Church through surrendered servants.

 

His servant,         Doreen

 

www.bettsministries.org