Preachers Are To Materially Demonstrate All They Tell Other People To Do.

[JoReba]

Jesus and The Apostles materially demonstrated in their own lives all they taught people to believer and to do. They did not just talk. James clearly spoke of this by declaring in the Power of The Holy Spirit that, "Faith without deeds is dead in itself."

Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 4:20 said by the same authority of God that, "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."

Preachers today are to do the same as Jesus and The Apostles did, because if they do not they are holding themselves to a lower standard than what they expect their listeners to do. That is called hypocrisy. And, we all know how Jesus judged The Pharisees who were hypocrites.

Praise God for the marvelous guidelines and examples in Scripture for preachers to follow.

 

[Mike]

What then would you say of Paul in Romans 7? Is he saying he does everything the Lord calls him to do and does not do what he is called not to do?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I think she means this:

"2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them... 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV)


In fact, Jesus said we will know the true from the false by the fruit they bear--by their lives, not the words they speak. Any so-called leader of the church who does not live what he teaches is a false prophet...and will be among the many who are turned away from the kingdom on the Day it is established:

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23 NIV)


Bad trees that bear bad fruit, but who have the appearance of a good tree in the flowery speech of their ministries, will be "cut down and thrown into the fire". Reminds me of the fig tree that had the appearance of a fig tree and bore only leaves but had no fruit. When Jesus came to it to gather it's fruit and found none, he condemned it and it withered and died.

 

[craigmn3]

The first error of this post is the generalization that this applies to ALL preachers, or preachers in general. This is wrong. You must take it on a case by case basis.

Jesus and the Apostles did what they had to do to live.

Many good preachers are doing the same, and no more.

Yes there are some materialistic preachers, more's the shame

But you can't lump them all under one broad accusation

 

[Slider]

Being a hypocrite means you preach something is right or wrong, and then do just the opposite. So if a preacher preaches that you shouldn't drink alcohol, shouldn't be a glutton and shouldn't hang out with shady people, yet he does it himself; he would be a hypocrite.

But what if he preaches grace through faith and liberty, and he practices it himself? he wouldn't be a hypocrite because he is not demanding it of his congregation, and is practicing it himself, according to the Bible.

Mat 11:19


The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

 

[JoReba]

What then would you say of Paul in Romans 7? Is he saying he does everything the Lord calls him to do and does not do what he is called not to do?

Have you asked The Lord about this?

Let me know how God answers you according to James 1:5 KJV, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him."

Sound like a good idea ... ?

 

[JoReba]

I think she means this:

"2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them... 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV)


In fact, Jesus said we will know the true from the false by the fruit they bear--by their lives, not the words they speak. Any so-called leader of the church who does not live what he teaches is a false prophet...and will be among the many who are turned away from the kingdom on the Day it is established:

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23 NIV)


Bad trees that bear bad fruit, but who have the appearance of a good tree in the flowery speech of their ministries, will be "cut down and thrown into the fire". Reminds me of the fig tree that had the appearance of a fig tree and bore only leaves but had no fruit. When Jesus came to it to gather it's fruit and found none, he condemned it and it withered and died.

Yes, thank you for taking care of those in here who need chatty explanations to understand how God's Word "seems."

Lol.

 

[JoReba]

The first error of this post is the generalization that this applies to ALL preachers, or preachers in general. This is wrong. You must take it on a case by case basis.

Jesus and the Apostles did what they had to do to live.

Many good preachers are doing the same, and no more.

Yes there are some materialistic preachers, more's the shame

But you can't lump them all under one broad accusation

Guess what? I can and have "lumped them" together. Notice that ... ? Lol.

That means I "must" not take any "case by case" consideration of whether or not Preachers are to materially demonstrate in themselves for their listeners all they preach about. Can you learn this? Or, are you being stubborn in the flesh? Are you a ... preacher, yourself ... ?

What I said is right, and you cannot cite any Scripture showing I am wrong. And, this issue has nothing to do with how I "make you feel." Lol.

 

[WIP]

I can't help but wonder why this question/thread is only being applied to "preachers" and not all Christians. Should we not all demonstrate the love of Christ by our works? Did James only address his statements to preachers or other church leaders or to all believers?

"Faith without works is dead" applies to all the faithful, does it not? The following verse comes to mind.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matt. 7:1,2 KJV

 

[Slider]

I don't agree with the "faith without works is dead" statement, but I agree with the overall concept.

It applies to sheep as well as pastors. As does grace through faith. If a pastor walks off the path or sins, he is just as much covered by the blood of Christ as his sheep are. They are as in much need of grace as the sheep. And they get it just the same as the sheep.

 

[farouk]

Actually the statement is a direct quotation from James's epistle.

 

[Slider]

Actually the statement is a direct quotation from James's epistle.

I realize that.... Fortunately I am not of the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad.

 

[WIP]

I believe James' statement is not a statement of command but a statement of fact. If one has faith, works will follow. If one claims to have faith but does not have works, then his/her claim is false. Does this mean that the faithful never err? I do not believe so for we all fall short and we all need Jesus Christ. The faithful will strive for perfection but due to our sinful nature will not succeed. Nevertheless, the faithful will continue to desire that perfect goal, continue to grow in their faith, and never stop trying because that is what they hope for...to be like Jesus. Thank God for Jesus Christ!!

 

[cgl1023]

The first error of this post is the generalization that this applies to ALL preachers, or preachers in general. This is wrong. You must take it on a case by case basis.

Jesus and the Apostles did what they had to do to live.

Many good preachers are doing the same, and no more.

Yes there are some materialistic preachers, more's the shame

But you can't lump them all under one broad accusation

You may be mostly correct but we see that the Church has huge difficulty in Mark 16:17,18.
17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Again in Matthew 10:7-9;
7And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,b cast out demons.

The miracles described are just not happening these days but they should be. This situation is from ignorance, worldliness, inadequate instruction and teaching from church leaders. If miracles like those just mentioned were happening frequently, we would be hearing about it; that news couldn't be suppressed.