“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”
2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV
Men whose eyes have seen the King. By T. Austin Sparks part 1: http://audio.austin-sparks.net/TAS0155.mp3
Many of the disciples saw Jesus Christ in a way that caused them to leave all and follow him. They saw his majesty; they saw his glory. They saw him as he really IS, and it changed them forever. Furthermore, their view of him changed the world forever. The fact that they saw Jesus Christ as he really is, the fact that they saw his glory.
In light of this we should never make the foundation of our ministry upon anything else besides Jesus Christ.
Our Ministry Foundation
Not to take anything away from great ministers of the past but for example, Martin Luther, made his ministry founded on the idea that the bible alone “sola scriptura” and not the Roman clergy should be our foundation. And no doubt that was a message God used him to help his generation with so I don’t mean to criticize but for subsequent ministers to make that their ministerial foundation is an overemphasis on something that is deeply lacking and inferior to Jesus Christ.
Calvin and Wesley made it on different sides of the issue of predestination. They began to divisively define many Christians around them on that one narrow issue. Creating opponents out of those who should be brothers dwelling together in unity. Sometimes judging and squabbling very unfairly with one another. Other preachers have founded their ministry upon evangelism. I have watched many, many modern ministers and pastors founding their ministries upon things like faith for miracles, or hope, or love. Good things that should be discussed but when overemphasized and made to be the central foundation of their entire ministry its out of balance. Some make the particulay denomination that they inherited their unique distinction, taking up the offenses and overemphasis of the past as their own personal battles. Making their pet issues more critical than Jesus Christ Himself.
There is this mistaken idea that we need to differentiate ourselves from the crowd to get noticed. But when we do this, when we found our ministry on things other. Sooner or later the founding of our ministry gets exposed at least partially, for the work of flesh that it is or was.
If in fact a ministry is not on a spiritual glimpse of Jesus Christ, if our eyes have not seen the King, then our ministry will inevitably be a work of the flesh to varying degrees.
