The Distance between Pews to Pulpit By: Rev. Jesse Amiel A. Ramoso
The Distance between Pews to Pulpit
It seems natural for us to climb on stage and grab the microphone/s and do what we want as what we do in the ordinary stage like schools, hotels, or shows etc. We lost the meaning to give sanctity, respect and reverence to the pulpit where God speak to His people through his anointed servant/s.
In The Old Testament worship we can find in the structures of the so called Tabernacle of Moses, which it has three parts? The outer court for the Levites, Holy Place were only priest can enter and off limits to Levites, then the Holy of Holies were only the High Priest can enter. Each twelve tribes has it's own designated task as a Nation, these are business, military, farming, fishing, carpentry, administrations, arts etc, except the Tribe of Levites which they are the only tribe that can minister to the Tabernacle of Moses. Then among the tribe of Levites only from the sons of Aaron has the access to priesthood and high priesthood.
In the New Testament, the practice of animal sacrifices offered to God through Tabernacle of Moses was abolished after Jesus died on the cross, then the veil in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. It means we have all access to this place through the blood of Jesus as 1 Pet 2:9 says...we are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, this means we have an access to call God ABBA Father then God hear us directly. But this does not mean a license for us to access the pulpit or aquire ministerial position anytime we want. The bible clearly stated the order or ranking for ministers in the Church. To my surprise the deacons or elders now are lording over the Shepherd/pastors, and the pastors received directions and job descriptions from them, is it because they are paid? There is no shortcut in the ministry; you need Gods approval to do such things. Qualify yourself in ministerial or pastoral call if you want to Lording over pastors.
I remember in the Old Testament a guy who wants to shortcut the process of becoming a minister. King Saul in 1 Sam 15 took advantage of his political influence to overpower the priestly responsibility of Samuel as a priest to offer animal sacrificed before going to war. The Lord rebuked Saul, later on we knew the story that Saul was rejected as king, then end up trying to kill David his successor. Here, we learn a lesson of how David and Saul behaves toward which may reflect to our current church situation. While it is important to note that ministers are just an ordinary people like us, sinners an fall into temptations; we cannot change the fact in the Bible that God commanded us not to touch his anointed one. This phrase “Do not touch my anointed one” was being modelled by David toward his boss King Saul. David experienced the worst political and spiritual rivalry throughout the history in the Bible yet he never resent even he has the opportunity to kill Saul. David escaped the swords or spares of Saul. We can see many co-workers in our churches behave like Saul. This is how the loser behaves, they used scriptures against us, later on they will device story or slanders and destroy the refutation of their rivalry in order to get what they want. Usually they want to go on top position to earn prestige and respects. The title of deacon and eldership has lost it's original meaning as what 1 Tim 3:8-13 intended. I am not undermining those deacons and elders who are mature enough than their pastors because they possessed a long term experienced on walking with God in faithfulness to their ministries and in their career. To my experienced, I learned more from them than them from me. But there are some ministers including pastors who want to shortcut the process, they want the crown but disregard the thorns of sacrifices. Therefore to acquire this crown they will murder innocents. Murder means destroy refutation to find ground for elimination or termination of the contract, trust and lost the ministerial access as a servant of God. This is old school idea, it has been done long time ago sad to say it is still effective to the innocents, that is why I am writing this article to unviel the works of the enemy in our midst.
The true servant of God does not revenge or fight against brothers and sisters in the Church not even fearing in death, because the minister who’s been called by God are sold out to die in ministry before they accepted the calling. That is why they have special favour with God because they pay it with many prices “sacrifices and tears”. Therefore they’re closer to God and became messengers of God because they find favour in Him. They did not only receive church ordination and school credential; but they passed God’s testing for them as He equipped them through process of time. In this process they knew God, the received special anointing and power, even if they will sound boring and unattractive in preaching sometimes but they bring much transformation in the church and community. This made so many Christians today to think that the distance between the microphones on the pulpit from the pews is the stairs... and he who has an eloquence to preach and guts to climb stairs can access it. The pulpit is beyond reach by the earthly things, we cannot stand on stage even if we have much money donated to church to twart God's standard, even if even we are the one who build the church. It does not guarantee that when you have the money and influence and everybody loves to hear you then you have the license to access the pulpit.
Remember King Herod was the one who build the Temple in Jerusalem yet he end up killing the priest, children’s and government official’s before his death because he wants full control. Some believed that they can access the pulpit with money, skills and influence no, this is not true, unless you are not called you cannot come "to the pulpit". The distance from the pews to pulpit are those “called, chosen and faithful”; are you called to preach if you are, did you pay for it for you to be chosen, if you are chosen are you faithful?
In closing...
Jesus sounds unworthy to stand in the temple accoring to the Jewish religious officials during His time Luke 22-23 yet he ended up founding the thrue church of Christ. Today it is surprising to know that unless there is no blood that shed, there is no church to be build, praise God the Blood of Jesus.
I remember in the Old Testament a guy who wants to shortcut the process of becoming a minister. King Saul in 1 Sam 15 took advantage of his political influence to overpower the priestly responsibility of Samuel as a priest to offer animal sacrificed before going to war. The Lord rebuked Saul, later on we knew the story that Saul was rejected as king, then end up trying to kill David his successor. Here, we learn a lesson of how David and Saul behaves toward which may reflect to our current church situation. While it is important to note that ministers are just an ordinary people like us, sinners an fall into temptations; we cannot change the fact in the Bible that God commanded us not to touch his anointed one. This phrase “Do not touch my anointed one” was being modelled by David toward his boss King Saul. David experienced the worst political and spiritual rivalry throughout the history in the Bible yet he never resent even he has the opportunity to kill Saul. David escaped the swords or spares of Saul. We can see many co-workers in our churches behave like Saul. This is how the loser behaves, they used scriptures against us, later on they will device story or slanders and destroy the refutation of their rivalry in order to get what they want. Usually they want to go on top position to earn prestige and respects. The title of deacon and eldership has lost it's original meaning as what 1 Tim 3:8-13 intended. I am not undermining those deacons and elders who are mature enough than their pastors because they possessed a long term experienced on walking with God in faithfulness to their ministries and in their career. To my experienced, I learned more from them than them from me. But there are some ministers including pastors who want to shortcut the process, they want the crown but disregard the thorns of sacrifices. Therefore to acquire this crown they will murder innocents. Murder means destroy refutation to find ground for elimination or termination of the contract, trust and lost the ministerial access as a servant of God. This is old school idea, it has been done long time ago sad to say it is still effective to the innocents, that is why I am writing this article to unviel the works of the enemy in our midst.
The true servant of God does not revenge or fight against brothers and sisters in the Church not even fearing in death, because the minister who’s been called by God are sold out to die in ministry before they accepted the calling. That is why they have special favour with God because they pay it with many prices “sacrifices and tears”. Therefore they’re closer to God and became messengers of God because they find favour in Him. They did not only receive church ordination and school credential; but they passed God’s testing for them as He equipped them through process of time. In this process they knew God, the received special anointing and power, even if they will sound boring and unattractive in preaching sometimes but they bring much transformation in the church and community. This made so many Christians today to think that the distance between the microphones on the pulpit from the pews is the stairs... and he who has an eloquence to preach and guts to climb stairs can access it. The pulpit is beyond reach by the earthly things, we cannot stand on stage even if we have much money donated to church to twart God's standard, even if even we are the one who build the church. It does not guarantee that when you have the money and influence and everybody loves to hear you then you have the license to access the pulpit.
Remember King Herod was the one who build the Temple in Jerusalem yet he end up killing the priest, children’s and government official’s before his death because he wants full control. Some believed that they can access the pulpit with money, skills and influence no, this is not true, unless you are not called you cannot come "to the pulpit". The distance from the pews to pulpit are those “called, chosen and faithful”; are you called to preach if you are, did you pay for it for you to be chosen, if you are chosen are you faithful?
In closing...
Jesus sounds unworthy to stand in the temple accoring to the Jewish religious officials during His time Luke 22-23 yet he ended up founding the thrue church of Christ. Today it is surprising to know that unless there is no blood that shed, there is no church to be build, praise God the Blood of Jesus.
Jesus innovate worship by demonstrating the power in an unfriendly manners and very seekers IN-sensitive. He even stumbled many John 6:6, but still did not compromise and changed his views in fearing of losing people, instead he challenged those who did not leave. Why still Jesus gained the crowed? Because the truth is truth that will set us free. We knew the story of Jesus, but to encourage to my fellow servant of God, let us not afraid to preach the truth even if it hurts to all and likewise threatened us to be kick out from the church, this not our lost its them, instead this paying the price for the greater opportunity in the future. Many ministers holding great positions and credentials and yet less influence because they are not willing to pay the price, I hope this is not true. To the small churches that were drowning by the mega-churches, continue to influence the community through the power of God. To the Mega-Churches whom did not compromise the Word of truth how long can you keep it? I hope until Jesus come, God bless us all.
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