Eyewitnesses of His Majesty

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.

Two Great Quotes

These two quotes resounded with me today and I wanted to share:

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps, he hears a different drummer.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” ~ Jonathan Swift

 

Both of these quotes are about hearing and seeing things that the masses are not hearing and seeing.

They were shared on the The Deeper Christian Life network. This is a network for serious Jesus followers, it is led by Frank Viola. I recommend you consider signing up to be a member today.

 

Post your great quote below in the comments.

A Lifetime of Seeing Christ

We can know about Jesus Christ, we can believe in Jesus Christ but I am convinced that the most important thing that can happen to us spiritually is to see Jesus Christ in a spiritual way.

We know about Jesus Christ and believe in Jesus Christ with our mind and intellect which are natural fleshly abilities.

But seeing Jesus Christ is a thing of the heart. When Peter confessed to Jesus that he is the Christ, the son of God, Jesus responded “blessed are you, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my father in heaven” (paraphrased).

“And I will say this, brethren, you do not know anything about the Church if you have not seen Jesus Christ —however much you have read and talked about it, if you have not seen Him, (and he is a lifetime of seeing) you do not know what the Church is. It is not a ‘thing’, an ‘it’. But if you have seen Him, it is a Him, it is a Person Who is dwelling in personsthat is the Church” – T. Austin Sparks

“A lifetime of seeing Jesus Christ” this is the life of a Christian gripped with fascination by their Lord. And then together in groups we reflect Jesus Christ into our towns and cities and nations, this is the ministry of the church.  If we can spiritually see him as he is, we will be conformed to him. It is not a matter of much study or earning our way to him or achieving some enlightenment. Seeing Jesus Christ in the Spirit first takes an act of God himself.

He reveals himself to human hearts, and as we see him more and more the veil between he and us is removed. Seeing Christ becomes a progressive act that does not occur during sermons or through worship songs in and of themselves.  It happens to the person who has an inner walk with the Lord, a person who is responding to him, a person who is seeking the Lord with all of their heart and to a people who do all of this with other believers.

seeking Jesus

Can you see him today? He looks like the horizon lighting up after a long cold night?

…and God said ‘Let There Be Light’

Stay Up To Date With Email

​-

I use & recommend Bluehost, buy your domain and hosting here!

Get Adam’s From His Side Book Here! Its about Church Transformaton from Institutional Church to Living Ecclesia

Visitors

  • 52,703 hits

Connect on Twitter