(Based on Luke 19:5-40 and Matt 23)
There are many reasons why the rocks must cry out in the place of remnant church preachers, teachers, ministries and musicians. We have become too organised and too particular with managing our images and marketing our products at the expense simplicity and a divine, spirit-filled selfless service to building the kingdom.
Jesus projected Himself to our times when He rebuked the hypocracy of Jewish leaders (scribes and Pharisees) who paid tithe of mint and anise and cummin while omitting the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith which ought to have done. Their over-emphasis on the outward humanistic standards of excellence elicited Jesus to call them blind guides, which strain at a gnat yet swallow a camel; they made the outside of the cup clean but within they were full of extortion and excesses.
If as a remnant people and ministries in particular, if we do not cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter (i.e. that which is burried deep in our hearts), our best efforts and acts of service and products (however high standard and perfect by our measure) will remain defiled and abominable to Jesus. We will be like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. We will outwardly appear righteous and excellent before men, but within us we will be full of pride, arrogancy, selfishness and hypocrisy and iniquity.
JESUS rightly pronounced woes on remnant ministries and institutions and individuals that, like Scribes and Pharisees of old, built tombs to bury the prophets and garnished the sepulchres of the righteous. There is a lot of killing of ministries in our institutions and churches and are becoming good at building sepulches for them. We commend the great work these “prophecying ministries” are doing under their circumstances, but turn around the very next moment and slander them.
Like the Scribes and Pharisees in Luke 19, they saw the labour of the disciples at preparing for Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem – the colt was fetched and some took of their own garments (personal resources harnessed) and palm branches cut. The moment the Pharisees heard the singing and praising of the disciples over the great works they had witnessed, the Phrasees stepped up to Jesus to stop his disciples from glorifying Christ.
Many in the remnant movement stand by on their elevated places and potches and watch as the disciples and servants commissioned by Jesus go about their commissions gathering thebcolt, palm branches and garments. Some even invite Jesus and his disciples to their enclosures, homes and functions. They even stick close so they can witness and sometimes even spy on his mission. So many today, like the Pharisees back then, like to be associated with Jesus’ ministry and publicity. They invited Jesus to their homes for meals and upon witnessing His acts and that of his disciples, they would complain and slander their etiquatte and standards, either in their minds and even verbalize them.
Friends, if we think like the Scribes and Pharisees thought, that there is no better calling than to be a Jew among Jews and that no one else beside “us” can do the work that that Christ needs done, we deceice ourselves. God is able to raise and ordain rocks to praise Him. As ine of my renowned preachers (elder Tunhira) would say in Shona, “Mwari haana nhomba yevanhu!” (God is not desparate for humans to serve Him). If we the invited servants of God do not do that which we were commissoned to do, be it known unto you and me that, God will turn to the highway and biways so that His house is full. We shall be left to gnash our teeth outside. When we shall appear to Jesus saying, “we did great works in your name,” He shall reply and command us to depart because we are workers of iniquity that He Himself as the Lord of the harvest never knew.
Beloved remnant ministers, preachers, teachers and servants of the Most High God, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Just a flood of thoughts in my mind this morning. Let Him who has ears understand what the Spirit is saying to the remnant ministries and institutions of service and worship.
Here is a videothat I recommend you watch in line with this message. Its the weekly Bible study which I hope will assist each one of us to build THE KINGDOM OF GOD and flee Pharisaism.
Melusi Ndhlalambi
MelVee Video Productions.
