When Ministry Becomes Celebrity

I believe we need to be careful when Christian ministry begins to look more like celebrity culture than the ministry we see in the New Testament.

A preacher is a servant, not a celebrity. The sheep are people to shepherd, not customers. The Gospel is good news to be proclaimed, not a product to be sold.

Jesus welcomed the poor, the sick, the rejected, and the ordinary. He did not create VIP access to Himself.

Paul said:

«“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:5»

And:

«“We are not... peddlers of God’s word.”
— 2 Corinthians 2:17»

This does not mean ministers cannot receive financial support. Scripture teaches that those who preach the Gospel may be supported (1 Corinthians 9:14).

The concern is when money becomes the doorway to greater access, status, or privilege around a spiritual leader.

When ministry becomes about branding over truth, profit over people, merchandise over mission, and celebrity over Christ, we should stop and examine ourselves.

The call is simple:

Back to Christ.
Back to Scripture.
Back to servant leadership.
Back to the simplicity of the Gospel.

There is only one true center of the church:

Jesus Christ.

Everyone else is a servant.

“The one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31

PROVERB OF THE DAY

(PROVERBS 31)

1. The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

2. What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?

3. Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

4. It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

5. Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.

6. Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.

7. Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

8. Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.

9. Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10. Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.

11. The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

12. She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

13. She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

14. She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

15. She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

16. She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17. She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

18. She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

19. She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

20. She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21. She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22. She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23. Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

24. She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25. Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

26. She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27. She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

28. Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

29“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”

30. Charm is
deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who
fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31. Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

SECTION FIVE: THE GENESIS DELIVERANCE MANDATE

​WELCOME TO OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY SERIES: REBORN TO RULE IN CHRIST JESUS: ENFORCING GOD'S SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY ON EARTH. MONDAY 20TH JULY 2026.

​TOPIC OF THE DAY: THE DRY BONES OF HOPELESS SITUATIONS: HOW THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE REVIVES DEAD DESTINIES BY YOUR DECREE!

​MAIN TEXT: Ezekiel 37:3–4 (KJV) — "And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD." CROSS-REFERENCE: Romans 4:17; Romans 8:11; Proverbs 18:21.

​INTRODUCTION:
​We are living in an era of tragic spiritual casualty. A backslidden, complacent Christianity—a polite, powerless religion that bears the name of Christ but entirely denies His unadulterated power—has turned the modern church into a literal Valley of Dry Bones! Because a generation of believers has abandoned the secret place of raw, ancient holiness, they have lost their spiritual teeth.

In this state of pathetic hopelessness, they have become easy prey for the white-collared, chameleon predator preachers of our modern time. These religious charlatans merchandise the misery of the saints, peddling false hope while draining the pockets of desperate men and women who are standing over the graves of their own collapsed destinies.

​But hear the roaring verdict of Heaven today! You were not reborn to be the victim of your circumstances, nor were you saved to become the prey of ecclesiastical wolves! What are the "dry bones" of our modern day? They are the stubborn ancestral curses that have buried your family in cycles of poverty. They are the medical reports of chronic, incurable diseases.

They are collapsed businesses, dead marriages, and most devastatingly, a lukewarm spiritual life that possesses no fire and no Holy Ghost conviction. The enemy has looked at the graveyard of your life and declared it impossible. But the God of the Genesis Deliverance Mandate—the God who spoke light into the absolute darkness of the primeval void—is about to awaken the sleeping Governor inside of you. It is time to stop paying a predator to pity you and start using your own mouth to prophesy!

​MAIN MESSAGE:
YOU ARE THE PROPHET OF YOUR OWN DELIVERANCE.
​When the Spirit of the Lord carried Ezekiel into the Valley of Dry Bones, God did not ask him to organize a committee. He did not ask him to weep in self-pity over the state of the dead. God asked a piercing question to test the prophet's God Consciousness: "Son of man, can these bones live?"

​God was waiting for a man who understood the Genesis Deliverance Mandate! In the Book of Genesis, God did not cry over the darkness; He released His Sovereign Word, and the darkness shattered. As a New Creation believer, you are made in His exact image and reborn in His likeness to rule. Therefore, Heaven’s strategy for your impossible situation is not to bypass you, but to use you! God commanded Ezekiel: "Prophesy upon these bones!"

​The breath of the Almighty—the Ruach of God—is locked inside your reborn spirit, waiting for your tongue to give it a voice. The tragedy of modern Christianity is that believers run to men in white collars to speak to their dry bones, entirely ignorant that they possess the exact same Holy Ghost! The predator preacher feeds on your ignorance, but the fire of ancient holiness demands that you take up your own mantle.

​Are your finances dried up at the roots? Has an ancestral curse of barrenness or premature death turned your family lineage into a valley of skeletons? Do not consult the flesh! Refuse the diagnosis of hell! You must violently rise in the Spirit and enforce the Sovereign Authority of God Almighty. You must open your mouth and issue a Genesis Decree over your hopeless situation.

When you speak the Word of God, it is not a mere mortal speaking; it is the Creator of the Universe issuing a command through your vocal cords. Bone will come to bone, sinews will stretch, flesh will cover them, and the breath of the sovereign God will resurrect your dead destiny into an exceedingly great army!

​REFERENCES TO THE MESSAGE:
​The Genesis Faith: (Romans 4:17). (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. — You have the genetic spiritual makeup of God; you are built to call dead things back to life.

​The Resurrection Power Within: (Romans 8:11). But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. — The very force that emptied the tomb of Jesus is lying dormant inside you, waiting for your command.

​The Authority of the Tongue: (Proverbs 18:21). Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. — Your mouth is the control room of your destiny; stop using it to describe your dry bones and start using it to command them!

​REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
​Have you allowed a complacent, powerless version of Christianity to reduce your life to a Valley of Dry Bones, making you reliant on manipulative men rather than the Holy Ghost within you?

​What specific "dead" situation in your life (ancestral, financial, or physical) have you surrendered to hopelessness, instead of prophesying the Word of the Lord over it?

​LIFE APPLICATIONS:
​Terminate your subscription to hopelessness today. Identify the most impossible, dried-up situation in your life. Stop discussing it with faithless people, and absolutely refuse to be exploited by charlatans promising you a purchased miracle. Instead, lock yourself in the secret place. Activate the fire of the Holy Ghost within your belly. Open your mouth and explicitly prophesy to that exact situation. Command the ancestral curses to break, the dead wombs to open, and the collapsed finances to resurrect. Speak life until you see the manifestation!

​CONCLUSION:
​Beloved, the hour of spiritual infancy has expired! God is calling you out of the graveyard of complacent Christianity. You were not reborn to be a professional pew-warmer; you were reborn to be the enforcement agent of God’s sovereign will on the earth. Let the chameleon predators fade into irrelevance as you rise in the raw, unadulterated power of the ancient holiness fathers.

Your situation is not too dead for God, but God is waiting for you to open your mouth. The Genesis Deliverance Mandate is upon you. The breath of life is in your lungs. Speak to the dry bones! Command the impossible to become possible! Enforce your victory, and watch your dead circumstances erupt into a glorious, unstoppable testimony of the resurrected Christ!

​PRAYER POINTS FOR READERS:
​Father, let the volcanic fire of the Holy Ghost consume every trace of complacent, powerless Christianity in my life! I refuse to be a victim of my circumstances or a prey to manipulative men!

​I boldly activate the Genesis Deliverance Mandate over my life! I open my mouth and prophesy to every dry bone in my family, my health, and my finances: HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD AND COME ALIVE!

​I decree the total destruction of every ancestral curse and generational graveyard holding my destiny captive! Let the breath of the Almighty blow into my impossible situations and resurrect them by fire!

​PASTORAL CLOSING PRAYERS FOR READERS:

​I decree and declare with the terrifying authority of the Holy Ghost: Every demonic graveyard that has swallowed your joy, your resources, and your peace is violently torn open today! I command the spirit of hopelessness to loose its grip on your mind. You shall no longer be prey to the deceptions of men or the torments of hell. Receive the fiery unction to prophesy life into your dead situations, in the matchless Name of Jesus Christ!

​May the God of impossible situations breathe heavily upon you this very hour! I curse the root of every ancestral bondage and dry bone in your lineage. As you open your mouth to decree the Word of the Lord, may bone come to bone, may dead businesses resurrect, and may your spiritual life erupt into an unquenchable inferno of apostolic power! March out of your valley a victorious Governor of the Kingdom, in Jesus' Mighty Name!

​BENEDICTION:
​May the Sovereign Lord, who calls those things which be not as though they were, fill your mouth with the fire of prophecy. Go forth, enforce the Genesis Deliverance Mandate, speak life to your dry bones, and reign over every impossibility today in Jesus Christ Mighty name. Amen and Amen.

GET IN TOUCH:
Ago King Paul Evang.
WhatsApp: +234 90 63 84 57 48, 090 80700390; 070 540 111 99.
Life Changers Ministry aka Living Ready Gospel Church, Grace Assembly, Ilorin, Kwara state Nigeria.
Email:Godisnotanoptionjhn15v5Anderson Mwila.com.

Guidelines for Living.
July 16, 2026

How to Deal with Difficult People

And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Matthew 5:40



Life is full of difficult people. They cut in front of you in traffic, put their trash on your property, accuse you of dishonesty, cut you no slack for being human, and seize upon every opportunity to do something to irritate or demean you. Some do it unconsciously; others do it deliberately and with malice. They return merchandise which is half worn out, asking for a refund because something doesn’t fit right or was defective. The list of what difficult people do to irritate you is endless.

So, what do you do? A lot of merchants play “Mr. Nice!” They know they are being ripped off, that the customer has taken advantage of them, yet they go along because they want folks to come back and buy something which you will keep.

Others choose to treat difficult people with kindness. When one family bought a small farm, their next door neighbor came over and said, “Hey, when you bought this place, you also bought a lawsuit cause your fence is on my property.” The new owner responded, “We always have good neighbors where we live and that’s what I’d like here, so have the fence moved, and send me the bill.” Taken aback by the man’s cooperative attitude, the hostile neighbor eventually became a friend. Sometimes you disarm the difficult person with unexpected kindness. In other cases though, your kindness is interpreted as weakness: it only leads to more difficulty.

What are your other options? You can respond to the difficult person, thinking, “Two people can play this game.” Remember the old adage, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?” But an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” leaves you both blind and toothless. Jesus knew the law, yet He said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). When someone mistreats you, you can plot your revenge but it’s never sweet.

A far better response is first to try to understand the difficult person, then pray about the situation, asking God for wisdom in knowing how to deal with it. Then

confront the difficult person in your life. You can choose the time, the manner, and the place of confrontation. Jesus told us that we are to go to the difficult person and confront him or her in private. Before you confront, think through what you intend to say. Remember, you want to solve a problem, not escalate it. (See Matthew 18:15). Your attitude can defuse the potentially explosive issue. You can begin by saying, “I’ve got a problem which I’d like to discuss with you.” You can explain your feelings when Mr. or Miss Difficult treats you the way he or she does.

If the confrontation doesn’t eliminate the problem, you then have to ask yourself how important is winning this battle, really? Don’t let your emotions and hostilities back up. Let them go. In short, forgive the difficult person. Ask God to use that person to be a catalyst in your life and to use you to help change the life of the other person. Remember, you may well be the only genuine, authentic person who has ever graciously confronted him or her.

Someone once wrote to the USDA and complained that he couldn’t find a spray that would effectively kill the dandelions in his yard. He explained he had sprayed them, dug them, tried everything he’d ever heard of and he still had dandelions. The USDA agent replied, “Dear sir, if you have tried everything you have heard about to kill them and you still have them, you had better learn to love them.”

That’s true not only of dandelions but of difficult people as well.


Resource reading: Romans 12:9-21

PREACH THE WORD WITH A PURE HEART

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 4:2
Supporting Scriptures: 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Corinthians 9:18; Matthew 6:24

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:2



Introduction

The greatest calling a person can receive is the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a divine assignment that carries eternal consequences. God has not called His servants to build personal empires or seek worldly riches but to faithfully proclaim His truth and lead people to Christ.

In our generation, there is a great temptation to commercialize the Gospel, manipulate people, and make money the motivation for ministry. However, the Word of God clearly warns that every minister must preach with sincerity, integrity, and a pure heart.

A true servant of God is called to serve Christ, not money.

Jesus Himself declared:

"You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24



Your motive in ministry is just as important as your message.

1. God Looks at the Motive Before the Ministry

Many people can preach, but not everyone preaches for the right reason.

God examines the heart before He rewards the work.

The Apostle Paul declared that he did not handle the Word of God deceitfully but preached with honesty and sincerity.

A ministry that begins with pure motives will remain fruitful before God.

2. Beware of the Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:10

> "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."



Money itself is not evil, but the love of money destroys ministries, families, and destinies.

When money becomes the reason for preaching:

The Gospel becomes diluted.

Truth is compromised.

Sin is tolerated.

The fear of God disappears.

People are manipulated instead of being discipled.


A servant of God must never become a servant of money.

3. A Minister Must Not Be Greedy

1 Timothy 3:3
Titus 1:7

One of the qualifications of a spiritual leader is freedom from greed.

God's servants should be known for:

Integrity

Contentment

Humility

Faithfulness

Generosity


The credibility of ministry is strengthened when the character of the minister reflects Christ.

4. Preach Because You Love Christ

Our greatest motivation should be love for Jesus.

Paul endured persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, and suffering not because of money, but because Christ had captured his heart.

When love for Jesus becomes your motivation:

You remain faithful during difficult seasons.

You preach both popular and unpopular truths.

You seek God's glory instead of personal applause.

Souls become more valuable than offerings.


5. Sometimes Ministry Requires Sacrifice

Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:18 that at times he preached without receiving payment so that no one could accuse him of using the Gospel for personal gain.

There are seasons when God may ask His servant to minister freely.

The servant of God should never allow financial reward to determine whether he obeys God's assignment.

Provision comes from God, not manipulation.

6. Never Commercialize the Gospel

The Gospel is God's free gift to humanity.

Jesus freely gave His life.

Salvation cannot be bought.

Forgiveness cannot be sold.

Deliverance is not merchandise.

Miracles are acts of God's mercy, not products for sale.

The Kingdom of God must never become a marketplace.

7. Live Before You Preach

Paul said he commended himself to every man's conscience.

People do not only hear sermons; they observe lives.

Our character should confirm our message.

Integrity gives power to preaching.

Holiness gives authority to ministry.

Prophetic Declarations

Lift your hands and receive these declarations by faith:

My heart shall remain pure before God.

I shall never preach for selfish gain.

My ministry shall glorify Jesus Christ alone.

Every spirit of greed is broken over my life.

I receive grace to preach with boldness and sincerity.

The Holy Spirit shall preserve my integrity until the end.

I shall never compromise the truth for financial reward.

God shall provide for me according to His riches in glory.

My life shall be a testimony of holiness and faithfulness.

I shall finish my ministry with honor and hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."


Conclusion

The ministry belongs to Christ. We are only stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Let every servant of God continually examine his heart and ask:

Why am I preaching?

Who am I serving?

Whose glory am I seeking?


May our answer always be:

"For Christ alone. For His glory alone. For the salvation of souls alone."

Let us preach the Gospel with sincerity, humility, compassion, and unwavering faithfulness until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Amen.

PREACH THE WORD WITH A PURE HEART

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 4:2
Supporting Scriptures: 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Corinthians 9:18; Matthew 6:24

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:2



Introduction

The greatest calling a person can receive is the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a divine assignment that carries eternal consequences. God has not called His servants to build personal empires or seek worldly riches but to faithfully proclaim His truth and lead people to Christ.

In our generation, there is a great temptation to commercialize the Gospel, manipulate people, and make money the motivation for ministry. However, the Word of God clearly warns that every minister must preach with sincerity, integrity, and a pure heart.

A true servant of God is called to serve Christ, not money.

Jesus Himself declared:

"You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24



Your motive in ministry is just as important as your message.

1. God Looks at the Motive Before the Ministry

Many people can preach, but not everyone preaches for the right reason.

God examines the heart before He rewards the work.

The Apostle Paul declared that he did not handle the Word of God deceitfully but preached with honesty and sincerity.

A ministry that begins with pure motives will remain fruitful before God.

2. Beware of the Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:10

> "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."



Money itself is not evil, but the love of money destroys ministries, families, and destinies.

When money becomes the reason for preaching:

The Gospel becomes diluted.

Truth is compromised.

Sin is tolerated.

The fear of God disappears.

People are manipulated instead of being discipled.


A servant of God must never become a servant of money.

3. A Minister Must Not Be Greedy

1 Timothy 3:3
Titus 1:7

One of the qualifications of a spiritual leader is freedom from greed.

God's servants should be known for:

Integrity

Contentment

Humility

Faithfulness

Generosity


The credibility of ministry is strengthened when the character of the minister reflects Christ.

4. Preach Because You Love Christ

Our greatest motivation should be love for Jesus.

Paul endured persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, and suffering not because of money, but because Christ had captured his heart.

When love for Jesus becomes your motivation:

You remain faithful during difficult seasons.

You preach both popular and unpopular truths.

You seek God's glory instead of personal applause.

Souls become more valuable than offerings.


5. Sometimes Ministry Requires Sacrifice

Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:18 that at times he preached without receiving payment so that no one could accuse him of using the Gospel for personal gain.

There are seasons when God may ask His servant to minister freely.

The servant of God should never allow financial reward to determine whether he obeys God's assignment.

Provision comes from God, not manipulation.

6. Never Commercialize the Gospel

The Gospel is God's free gift to humanity.

Jesus freely gave His life.

Salvation cannot be bought.

Forgiveness cannot be sold.

Deliverance is not merchandise.

Miracles are acts of God's mercy, not products for sale.

The Kingdom of God must never become a marketplace.

7. Live Before You Preach

Paul said he commended himself to every man's conscience.

People do not only hear sermons; they observe lives.

Our character should confirm our message.

Integrity gives power to preaching.

Holiness gives authority to ministry.

Prophetic Declarations

Lift your hands and receive these declarations by faith:

My heart shall remain pure before God.

I shall never preach for selfish gain.

My ministry shall glorify Jesus Christ alone.

Every spirit of greed is broken over my life.

I receive grace to preach with boldness and sincerity.

The Holy Spirit shall preserve my integrity until the end.

I shall never compromise the truth for financial reward.

God shall provide for me according to His riches in glory.

My life shall be a testimony of holiness and faithfulness.

I shall finish my ministry with honor and hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."


Conclusion

The ministry belongs to Christ. We are only stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Let every servant of God continually examine his heart and ask:

Why am I preaching?

Who am I serving?

Whose glory am I seeking?


May our answer always be:

"For Christ alone. For His glory alone. For the salvation of souls alone."

Let us preach the Gospel with sincerity, humility, compassion, and unwavering faithfulness until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Amen.

PREACH THE WORD WITH A PURE HEART

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 4:2
Supporting Scriptures: 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Corinthians 9:18; Matthew 6:24

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:2



Introduction

The greatest calling a person can receive is the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a divine assignment that carries eternal consequences. God has not called His servants to build personal empires or seek worldly riches but to faithfully proclaim His truth and lead people to Christ.

In our generation, there is a great temptation to commercialize the Gospel, manipulate people, and make money the motivation for ministry. However, the Word of God clearly warns that every minister must preach with sincerity, integrity, and a pure heart.

A true servant of God is called to serve Christ, not money.

Jesus Himself declared:

"You cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24



Your motive in ministry is just as important as your message.

1. God Looks at the Motive Before the Ministry

Many people can preach, but not everyone preaches for the right reason.

God examines the heart before He rewards the work.

The Apostle Paul declared that he did not handle the Word of God deceitfully but preached with honesty and sincerity.

A ministry that begins with pure motives will remain fruitful before God.

2. Beware of the Love of Money

1 Timothy 6:10

> "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."



Money itself is not evil, but the love of money destroys ministries, families, and destinies.

When money becomes the reason for preaching:

The Gospel becomes diluted.

Truth is compromised.

Sin is tolerated.

The fear of God disappears.

People are manipulated instead of being discipled.


A servant of God must never become a servant of money.

3. A Minister Must Not Be Greedy

1 Timothy 3:3
Titus 1:7

One of the qualifications of a spiritual leader is freedom from greed.

God's servants should be known for:

Integrity

Contentment

Humility

Faithfulness

Generosity


The credibility of ministry is strengthened when the character of the minister reflects Christ.

4. Preach Because You Love Christ

Our greatest motivation should be love for Jesus.

Paul endured persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, and suffering not because of money, but because Christ had captured his heart.

When love for Jesus becomes your motivation:

You remain faithful during difficult seasons.

You preach both popular and unpopular truths.

You seek God's glory instead of personal applause.

Souls become more valuable than offerings.


5. Sometimes Ministry Requires Sacrifice

Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:18 that at times he preached without receiving payment so that no one could accuse him of using the Gospel for personal gain.

There are seasons when God may ask His servant to minister freely.

The servant of God should never allow financial reward to determine whether he obeys God's assignment.

Provision comes from God, not manipulation.

6. Never Commercialize the Gospel

The Gospel is God's free gift to humanity.

Jesus freely gave His life.

Salvation cannot be bought.

Forgiveness cannot be sold.

Deliverance is not merchandise.

Miracles are acts of God's mercy, not products for sale.

The Kingdom of God must never become a marketplace.

7. Live Before You Preach

Paul said he commended himself to every man's conscience.

People do not only hear sermons; they observe lives.

Our character should confirm our message.

Integrity gives power to preaching.

Holiness gives authority to ministry.

Prophetic Declarations

Lift your hands and receive these declarations by faith:

My heart shall remain pure before God.

I shall never preach for selfish gain.

My ministry shall glorify Jesus Christ alone.

Every spirit of greed is broken over my life.

I receive grace to preach with boldness and sincerity.

The Holy Spirit shall preserve my integrity until the end.

I shall never compromise the truth for financial reward.

God shall provide for me according to His riches in glory.

My life shall be a testimony of holiness and faithfulness.

I shall finish my ministry with honor and hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."


Conclusion

The ministry belongs to Christ. We are only stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Let every servant of God continually examine his heart and ask:

Why am I preaching?

Who am I serving?

Whose glory am I seeking?


May our answer always be:

"For Christ alone. For His glory alone. For the salvation of souls alone."

Let us preach the Gospel with sincerity, humility, compassion, and unwavering faithfulness until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Amen.

John 2:

"1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
1. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS pricks our conscience ever the more as prophecy is daily fulfilled in readiness for the appearance of Jesus Christ. We are as Cleopas and his mate, well versed in signs and events pertaining to our time, “And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” [Luke 24:18] We may never know why the two men left Jerusalem and the company of disciples on such a day to visit Emmaus; the day Jesus rose from the dead! However, they did and a day of JOY, the fulfilment of the HOPE of many generations was turned to a season of sadness and confusion, “And he said unto them, WHAT MANNER OF COMMUNICATION ARE THESE that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are SAD?” [Luke 24:17] Alas,THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is once more filled with stragglers; disciples retreating from FAITH into despair and confusion as the BEAST bares his fangs. And for the last time, the Lord is back on the road, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER into the KINGDOM of God” [Acts 14:22]
2.THE ROAD TO EMMAUS beckons when Bible prophecy is entrusted to personal interpretation, “Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY of the scripture is of any PRIVATE INTERPRETATION” [2 Peter 1:20] It is a road paved with apprehension, the disciples had “TRUSTED” that Jesus would overthrow the Roman occupation and “REDEEM” the honour of God’s people but were disappointed, “But WE TRUSTED that it had been he which should have REDEEMED ISRAEL: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done” [Luke 24:21] Israel was not ignorant of promise of the Messiah, the people were led astray by their religious leaders who interpreted prophecy through prisms of selfishness. They provoked unbelief in the people, so much so, disciples who had walked and dined with Jesus, and heard Him speak severally of His resurrection were trapped in doubts, “Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive” [Luke 24:22-23] The similarities are uncanny, it is not hard to see religious leaders distorting the promise of our inheritance in Christ for gain, “And many shall follow their PERNICIOUS WAYS; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through COVETOUSNESS shall they with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU … their damnation slumbereth not” [2 Peter 2:2-3]
3. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is crowded with otherwise good folks, men such as Cleopas and his fellow disciple, brethren who in sane times trusted in Scriptures pertaining to Christ but these are not normal times. Listen carefully, the same Scriptures that assured us of Christ’s imminent appearance also warned of a perilous season preceding our translation, “MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the SON OF MAN COMING in a cloud with power and great glory” [Luke 21:26-27] It is true the times are tough perhaps tougher than we expected, add to that unfulfilled expectations and not a few are driven by doubts to EMMAUS. It is a shame to see charlatans busy cashing in on palpable misery to draw men to EMMAUS with lies in the name of the Lord, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and DESTITUTE OF THE TRUTH, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” [1 Timothy 6:5] Are we now greater than Jesus and His Apostles who endured tribulation of their days without breaking ranks? It is enough the disciple is as his Master; Jesus said to Cleopas and his mate, and indeed all of us, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have SUFFERED THESE THINGS, and to ENTER TO GLORY?” [Luke 24:25-26]
4. THE ROAD TO EMMAUS is not for you; Jesus loves you and remembers your fervent beginning in FAITH, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast LEFT THY FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and DO THE FIRST WORKS, else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou REPENT” [Revelation 2:4-5] What Jesus said to one, He says to all; let us remember how we once trusted in every word in the Bible not doubting and in all things acknowledged His WISDOM. Can we say the same today? How soon our eyes were blinded by stale “BREAD” leavened with vanities of hypocrisy, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and ANOINT THINE EYES with EYESALVE, that THOU MAYEST SEE” [Revelation 3:18] Let us remember how we jumped to interpret  every global event to suit our arrogance, wrongly dividing the word of truth. Today, Jesus is at the door, if we will reconsider and allow Him in, He will rightly break the LIVING BREAD; open our eyes and restore our strength to return to Him, “… he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their EYES WERE OPENED, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they ROSE UP THE SAME HOUR, and RETURNED TO JERUSALEM,  …” [Luke 24:30-31,33] Are you born again?
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The Present Truth # 5
The Sure Word of Prophecy

A Sure Word
Bible truth is established in many ways, but none quite so convincing as by prophecy. Anyone who candidly and objectively compares the prophecies of the Bible with the facts of history will be astonished by their accurate fulfilment. And just as there can be no creation without a Creator, there can be no true prophecy without a divine Intellect who “knows the end from the beginning.”

Before man’s fall, the Lord God freely communicated with the sinless pair in the garden of Eden. But after their disobedience it became impossible for man to speak with God face to face. Fear gripped their hearts when they heard the footsteps of their Creator, and they hid themselves.

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8.

God Speaks to Man
Humanity could no longer see the Almighty as He spoke to them. “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” Exodus 33:20. But they could still hear His voice and answer Him, “And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9.

God’s voice was again heard by humans when He thundered His law from the summit of Mount Sinai over the camp of the children of Israel. They trembled with fear at the sound of His voice: “And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?” Deuteronomy 5:24-26.

The deeper the human race sank into sin the more difficult it became for humanity to communicate with the living God who hates sin.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2.

Sin is the barrier that stands between God and us. But although we are fallen and sinful, God, in His great mercy, has not forgotten us.

God’s Method of Communication
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.

This is a wonderful promise assuring us that God has not forsaken humanity. Great events, such as the flood, and the advent of Christ were heralded by prophets long before the events took place, as a warning to prepare for these solemn occasions.

What sort of men were these prophets? Could anyone qualify to be a prophet, just as he would choose a trade or profession?

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21.

Because sin separates man from God, no one who openly lived in sin could become the Creator’s spokesman. Only those who walk humbly before God, seeking earnestly to daily overcome their defects of character, were chosen for this holy office. God chose them because of their righteous lives. They were blameless. Therefore God gave them His warnings and admonitions which they were commissioned to pass them to the people, without adding to or taking away from the message.

Challenge to the Skeptics
All Scripture is established in truth, but prophecy gives the most clear and conclusive proof of divine revelation: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.

God challenges the skeptics and false prophets to produce prophecies and bring them to pass: “Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.” Isaiah 41:22, 23.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isaiah 46:9, 10.

“I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. . . . I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee.” Isaiah 48:3, 5.

Many remarkable prophecies of great cities, kingdoms, and events have been accurately fulfilled.

Tyre
The ancient trading city of Tyre was the pride of the Phoenicians. In the Bible we can read a prophecy about this city:

“Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.” Ezekiel 26:3-5.

Notice that many nations would come one after the other against Tyre, like the waves of the sea. History records a period of over 1500 years during which Tyre had been attacked by foreign armies. In verse 7 we read: “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon . . . " Ezekiel 26:7.

Here the name of the king, his nation, and the manner of his attack are prophesied. These were literally fulfilled. Tyre was built in two areas, one part on the mainland and the remainder, half a mile into the sea on a island. In the 6th century B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the main portion of Tyre on the mainland. The island portion of the city was very strongly fortified. It remained and became known as “New Tyre."

Several centuries passed. Then in 332 B.C., Alexander the Great besieged Tyre. In order to reach the island fortress, Alexander demolished what remained of Old Tyre and with the debris built a 63-meter wide causeway into the sea. This was an exact fulfilment of verse 12: “And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.” Ezekiel 26:12.

New Tyre has not been rebuilt to this day. “And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more; for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 26:14.

On the site of ancient Tyre fishermen today dry their nets.

Sidon
Of Sidon it was prophesied that it would be a war-torn city: “Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, . . . and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 28:20-23.

Sidon was situated about 30 miles north of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. It was more ancient than Tyre.

Sidon’s fleet was destroyed by the Philistines and the city laid in ashes. Assyria and Babylon led armies against it and looted her treasures. The Persians ruled over her after the Babylonians and a revolt against Artaxerxes Ochus met with severe punishment.

Note that the prophecy did not state that Sidon would be deserted, destroyed or never to be rebuilt, like Tyre. From human reasoning it would be far more probable that Tyre would continue its existence while Sidon would be destroyed, because Tyre was in a much more favorable position than Sidon. However the divinely inspired Bible was correct.

Egypt
Another example of Bible prophecy fulfilled is of Egypt. Once a leading civilization, it was far advanced in science and arts, luxury, magnificence, and power. Supported by the rich, fertile Nile Delta, Egypt was the granary of the world. It seemed virtually impossible that this mighty kingdom would be reduced to become, as prophesied, "the basest of the kingdoms." It had continued for many centuries, ruled by a great line of ancient dynasties.

“And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.” Ezekiel 29:14, 15.

“And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the Lord have spoken it.” Ezekiel 30:12.

How strikingly were these words fulfilled! The country still exists but strangers rule, Arabians not Egyptians. It has become a waste, desolate country. Its inhabitants are poverty stricken. It continues to exist as "the basest of the kingdoms" (Ezekiel 29:14).

Babylon
What does the Bible and history tell of the mighty city of Babylon?

“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.” Isaiah 13:19, 20.

For 2,500 years the ruins of Babylon stand as a mute witness to the accuracy of Bible prophecy. It is still a fact that no Arab will pitch his tent there, while the wild creatures of the desert make their abode amongst the ruins of the ancient world metropolis.

How to Distinguish True Prophets From the False
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:22.

The first obvious test of a prophet is whether his prophecy comes true. If it does not, then he is not from God.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

The second test is if the prophet’s messages harmonize with the principles of the law of God and the rest of the Bible. If not, “there is no light in them,” and the person is a false prophet.

The third, yet clearest, the test is given in Matthew 7:20, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

“Holy men of God” are chosen to be God’s true prophets, their lives will bear fruits of their righteous character, whereas the false prophets will display the fruits of their unrighteousness (i.e. lying, greed, pride, and deception).

We must guard not only against false prophets, but be wary of false interpreters of prophecy.

It is the Holy Spirit who gives God’s prophecies, and only with the aid of the Holy Spirit can we understand prophecy aright. Scripture must be compared with Scripture (Isaiah 28:10, 13) and no private interpretation should be accepted (2 Peter 1:20).

Jesus, the greatest Prophet that ever lived, gave us a solemn warning against false prophets who would appear in these last days: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24.

Prophecy Today, and Me?
Prophecy is as necessary today to guide the people of God as it was in Old Testament time for “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18.

Prophets not only foretell future events but also give warnings and instructions to the people of their generation. Therefore, we find that not all messages of the prophets were recorded in the Bible; an example being the four daughters of Philip the evangelist.

“And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.” Acts 21:9, 10.

Great and solemn are the warnings given to our present generation by the prophets, therefore we are admonished: “Despise not prophesyings.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.

Will Prophecy Always Be Necessary to Direct God’s People?
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:9, 10.

When the redeemed will be restored to humanity’s original condition of complete harmony with God, rejoicing in His kingdom, they will once again have open communion with God. Then prophecy will be superseded, we shall see Him face to face and our future will be secure in God.