GraceBibleChurch


 

How do you see men?


And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” Mark 8;24-25.


Very frequently the sinner coming into the experience of grace, has his spiritual eyes opened by and by. And the first thing they see are men. They first heard the gospel by the mouth of man whom God has ordained in the instrumentality of preaching.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10;14-15.

Now be sure you understand that it is the purpose of the Triune God to employ men in the redemption of sinners by the preaching of the gospel. Therefore let us never despise this awesome God ordained means of giving eternal life to hell deserving men and women.

And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.” Acts 11;13-15.  Oh what a glorious God like thing! That sinful men, are privileged to convey a message by which the world may be saved!

But as beautiful as the feet of those are who preach the gospel, and essential to the church as the gifts of Christ to it; the most dangerous thing to the souls of men, are MEN!  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4.

Men who are viewed by new converts as trees! A source of strength, longevity, protection and fruitfulness, a place to hide from the heat and drought of the sun. All the birds lodge under her wings and eat the fruit thereof.

This misguided affection often results in an idolatrous worship of the minister, thinking his thoughts after him, quoting him, judging right and wrong by his interpretation of things according to him! And often men fall into the trap of accepting this blind allegiance as if they were Moses or Joshua leading the people into the promised land. WRONG!  “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 1Corinthians 3:4.

What must GOD do? For all these affection belong to Him! To Him belongs all the honor and glory of our salvation, and the revelations and illuminations of truth are from Him!  “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” Luke 24;32. This is the work of Christ!

What must God do? He must give us a second work of Grace to see men CLEARLY. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7.

Bless those men who faithfully preach and teach the truth of God's Word; And they too must be kept in their proper place of respect and honor, but never in the place of GOD!

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17;5.
 
 

Pastor Jesse Gistand
Grace Bible Church
San Leandro, CA 94572

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