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Be a Godly
Gaius
Gaius of the New Testament was a Minister, a Layman, a Fellow Worker and
Traveler with the Saints.
He supported, promoted, cared for, and boarded
Preachers and Missionaries both Physically and Financially.
While
there is little written that would indicate Gaius to have been a Preacher,
there are several writings of appreciation and high esteem for this man
that stood in the shadows, uplifting and supporting the men that would
Spread the Gospel.
BIG
NEWS... To Some...
The Bible
says that at the time of Baptism, the Holy Ghost comes upon the new
convert and empowers them.
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To
do what?
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To
live a righteous life?
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To
attend services 3 times a week?
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To
memorize the scriptures?
NO!
They might represent some of the fruits showing evidence of the rebirth,
but the WHY, the Reason for being Empowered is not the Fruit.
We don't need a rocket scientist to read and explain this chapter.
The Holy Ghost comes upon the new convert and empowers them with ONE
Primary Purpose, a First Calling, a Daily Desire AND Need that RESONATES
from EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING! It is the ONLY Purpose we are
Granted, by the Grace of God, our NEXT BREATH... IT's To PROCLAIM CHRIST JESUS
TO THE WORLD.
Let us not forget that Pastors and Missionaries are not the ONLY ones
called to be a "Town Crier", a "Proclaimer", a
"Propagator", a "Preacher".
Every
person that has been Washed in the Saving Power of the Blood, and Baptized
by the Holy Ghost has been empowered to Preach! (I am speaking in the
sense of Town Crier, Propagator, Proclaimer)
Modern
man thinks of Preacher as the man behind the pulpit... that, is a called
position with qualifications.
Those
that desire the office of a Bishop desire a good thing, but there are
qualifications...
A "Man of
God" is a Holy Man, God's representative. We as Christians often
ignore the fact that we are called to Preach, not from pulpits, not of any
position in a Church, but as citizens on earth, to our family, our
neighbors, our coworkers, through our talk, our walk, tracts and
literature, and our witness.
The Great
Commission is Not just for Pastors and Missionaries, it's for ALL
CHRISTIANS!
It's a
call to arms! God wants everyone to GO, armed with the Gospel and
TELL THE WORLD!
YES there
is such thing as Women Preachers!!!! Not Pastors, just good Godly
women that are faithful to God and witness to they're family, friends,
coworkers, and strangers about the Saving Power of the Lord Jesus.
Remember,
to define Preach is to "Proclaim" "A Town Crier"!
Okay, okay, I'll
interject Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language 1836,
this book is in my hand...
PREACH 1. To
pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a text of
Scripture. 2. To discourse on the gospel way of salvation, and
exhort to repentance. 3. To proclaim; to publish in religious
discourses. 4. A religious discourse.
PREACHED 1.
Proclaimed; announced; inculcated
PREACHER 1. One
who discourses publicly on religious subjects. 2. One that
inculcates anything with earnestness.
We want
our members to be witnesses and soul winners... To be a soul winner,
you must proclaim and explain the gospel way of salvation and exhort to
repentance!
Our
members should preach, daily!
Some say
I'm on dangerous ground, but to them I say READ YOUR BIBLE! You're
probably not fulfilling your First Calling!
Acts
1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
It is
true that this is the Apostolic commission, specifically, however, every
other reference to Christians being Baptized, it's by Water, Blood, and
Spirit. Why be Baptized in the Spirit lest we too are empowered.
And empowered to do what? You got it!
When
Jesus healed the lame, they're body and spirit could not help but to run
and tell others!
What's
holding YOU back?
I, in NO
way diminish or undermine the Holy and Called office of Pastors, Teachers,
Evangelists, Missionaries, etc!
As a
Christian, the Scriptures clearly show and promote the local Church and
the authority of the Man of God, or Pastor as the Under Shepherd of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
This
topic can be difficult as it might imply autonomy of individual
Christians.
Well,
they are autonomous in the fact that each will SOON give an account to how
THEY fulfilled they're First Calling.
They are
NOT autonomous in regards to the local Church!
Christ's
followers are individuals and they are individually empowered and
commissioned, but there is an order and authority to the Shepherd's
fold.
Remember
the elders who watch over you, who have the care for you.
ALL
Christians are responsible for Telling Others!
NO
Christians are higher than their Pastor!
NO Pastor
is Higher than Christ!
For the
record, ... There's no POPE in the Bible!
The High
Priest isn't at Mary's Cathedral, he's our Lord Jesus Christ and he sits
on the right hand of the Father!
Gaius did
not claim to be called as a Bishop (Pastor), nor do I. By his deeds,
he did recognize and take action on his calling to be an Empowered
Christian while living under the authority of an Apostle (Pastor).
But you never find him elevating himself above those that were called to
positions. Had the door opened and God led, I'm sure he would have
stepped up to the plate.
As a
Christian, there is no doubt that Gaius, personally, was a witness, a
propagator, and a preacher of the Good News of Jesus Christ, as well as a
blessing to the Saints.
He
supported behind the scenes, but I have no doubt that he was a vigorous
man, with;
resources
to support the cause,
the heart
and mind to be a follower,
and the
audacity to tell a Stranger about Jesus and invite the Stranger to hear
the Apostles!
IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, YOU'RE CALLED AND EMPOWERED!
GET WITH IT!
-BroScott
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