JESUS IN THE LEAD....

Mat_26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (KJV)

Mat 17:16-17  I have brought him to your disciples, and they have not been able to cure him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" replied Jesus; "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him to me." (WNT)

The call to lead a godly people is inevitably intertwined with a responsibility to always be a step ahead in intimacy with God. One cannot "discipline" or instill a discipline which he himself does not have. This is not to say that leaders should be perfect, however, it is to say that leadership sets the pace and leads the course. Jesus never said I am the weakest/most confused/least spiritually aware/most unworthy/most carnal among you..no, in fact he could teach and fashion characters for his own was worth emulating. His command of spiritual things was then later taught to His disciples, whom we also see displaying amazing feats in the book of ACTS.

If we look at the Jesus model, it is replete with examples of a man who was, in reality, spiritually astute. A man who desired to impart his know-how and see his followers practice it themselves. He did not have a blanket approach to his followers, however He understood that at the end he would need as many of them as possible. He was a man who understood that He had a limited amount of time and a formidable amount of work to accomplish. Thus his priority was to teach, impart and depart, leaving behind a competent set of people to carry on (John 14:12) We see Jesus using a segmented form of leadership, which ultimately started with Him as the Chief in charge of training. I would imagine that in His interaction with them He knew their weaknesses and in seeing their destiny paths He could train each of them adequately to become the champions of the faith that they were meant to be. He prayed with them (at different levels, with differing levels of access to the mission).

He also demonstrated the way in which they should treat people eg. He fed and cared for those that followed them and listened to His teachings (Mark 6) He demonstrated the way they should deal with demonic attacks (Matt 17:17) He demonstrated the way they should pray (Matt 6) and many other areas of their lives. He was loving and yet strong in rebuke of error. He was welcoming and yet unequivocal. His mandate was clear...people were lost and He was there to save them!(Luke 19:10)

In a world where there is a crisis of leadership in the Christian circles, we need, now more than ever, to have "Jesus model" leaders. It is the kind of leadership that will drive the market out of the Church and pray in the will of God! It is disheartening to see people lower their expectations from leaders in the present day. We seem to be slowly but surely accepting the statements that define our leaders as "only human" and "just like us". Frankly, this is exactly what the enemy wants. A poor leadership will consistently disappoint its follower-ship, thereby driving their expectation down, which perpetuates an even poorer leadership and the result is a Church in crisis. 

We trust in the grace of God, and in the restoring power of God, however we expect the transforming power of God to change our leaders for the better. After all, James says those who teach will have a harsher judgement. For they ought to teach not out of what they know, but what they live (James 3:1). And Paul gives a template for Bishops and Deacons which can be very tricky to preach for many of today's "Bishops".(Scripture quoted in full at the end..)

We then who are sheep, look to the Word and the true master of our souls Jesus to keep raising godly leaders in the house. Those that can truly stand "blameless" and perpetuate a standard that will convict the world and shine the light of Jesus into men's hearts. Every kingdom stands on the quality of it's leaders, and every leader stands on the quality of the knowledge he received. If we lose the templates of the "Jesus model", we have lost the greatest leadership lessons ever taught. We cannot let it happen on our watch. This is my prayer, and it should be the prayer of every one who desires to be discipled in the ways of the kingdom. A RESTORATION OF MEN WHO DEMONSTRATE AND TEACH THE KINGDOM IN ALL ITS GLORY.

1Ti 3:1-13  "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Yours in His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

The Way_The Truth_and The Life

Joh 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"

There can only be ONE truth. There is ONE way, and there is only ONE life worth having. Jesus is THE way, not a way, He isn't trying to be one of the ways, He is THE truth, not a version of it, not a parallel with the other truths, he embodies all that is true, and finally He is THE life, there is no greater form of life, there is no life more potent, no life to substitute Him and no life form that can overwhelm or subjugate His life.

Jesus Alone! For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell (Col 1v19). He came that we may desist from all the other endeavors that men was engaged in in pursuit of salvation. For indeed there was a glory even in the Law given to Moses on the mountain, but even that Law couldn't compare to the glory that was embodied by Christ (2 Cor 3 v 11 - 18) For the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus (John 1 v17). In that the disciple uses "but" he is attempting to separate the work of the Mosaic Law from the dispensation that Christ brought in. This one that we live in is a New Covenant between God and man, one in which our hope now is built on nothing less than Christ alone. All our study of the Old Testament (OT) is fruitless if we do not see the face of Christ and all that he espoused. All lessons we draw should be consistent with that one truth that is Christ, and promote that one life, and lead us in that one way.

Paul makes a radical statement in addressing the Galatians who were being persuaded to get circumcised, he tells them that Christ doesn't profit them if they attempt to add any other observances as part of their salvation (Gal 5v2). Our transformation is by looking at Him, nothing else! He is the revelation of God's ultimate plan for man, for he was sacrificed "once for all", that all who would come by Him would in no wise be cast away.

There are those who have added their own qualifications for salvation and pleasing God. In their pursuit of these extra qualifications they have found a humanly reason to boast. You hear words like "we have kept this and observed that, hence we will see God". But like Paul said to the Ephesians, our salvation is found in appropriating grace through faith, and that not of ourselves lest we should boast (Eph 2 v 8). This grace didn't come by law neither by any work of the law can it be found. All that we see in the OT is a shadow, pointing at Christ. After the reality has come there is no longer need that one chases after the shadows and the types (Col 2 v 17).

There is no greater prize than to know Him as He is revealed to us in the NT, to see the very substance of what the prophets longed to see. To see Him walk and radically shift the pharisaic interpretations which had the form of godliness but denied the very essence of God and that essence is love. To see Him take up the sick and cleanse them, and then make bold statements to say that those that merely believed on Him would do the same and greater would they do...and that in this life! It boggles the mortal mind to imagine such compassion as Jesus demonstrated, such mercy, such principle. It is that ONE man who Himself pleased God till He was given the name above every name. The ONLY name by which men may be saved. 

Act 4:10 "be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Anointed, the Nazarene, whom *you* crucified, but whom *God* has raised from among the dead-- through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health" This is that life that causes the paralytics to walk and be in perfect health. WNT

Amazing how the exercise of authority in the name of Jesus left this man perfectly healthy. Not a prayer, not a vigil and candles lit in Jesus' name, not even a week of pleading and hoping. But that is a story for another time. I trust that this Christmas shall be a time when you choose the only way, realize the only truth and partake of the only Life worth having.

Yours in His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Be sober, be vigilent!

Dan_10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  

2Co_4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

In this article I have chosen to bring a gentle reminder to the bretheren, to those that have accepted Christ, a reminder that there is truly a world which is invisible to the naked eye. In this world where there are so many voices crying out to be heard, and so much media to carry them, we are not best served by spiritual blindness and deafness. Indeed the "perilous" last days are upon us and the enemy is moving his agenda with greater zest. It is with this in mind that I bring to remembrance the passages of scripture above. Fights were taking place in the realm of the spirit, fights for territory and fights against Godly agendas.

I was speaking to a young man who is very dear to me about the subject of "worldly" or secular music. I then realized as I spoke to him that we seem to be slowly growing oblivious to the general direction that this world is taking. As Peter put it, "sobriety" is slowly being lost as we fill ourselves drunk on the world's delicacies (1 Pet 5v8). Of course, like the studious person he was, he had been gathering opinions from other bretheren about the same topic, and he now wanted to get a wholistic view to inform his own. It came as no surprise that he had been told by others that there was no problem with taking in this worldly music. The biggest challenge I have seen with our generation of Christians is that the "want" to be entertained has replaced the "need" to be informed and the need to grow to maturity. This is why systematic doctrine is not a favored stance by many.

Now because the belief system is sponsored by the enemy, it is a spiritual and not just a mental fight that you enter into when dealing with these systems. Of all the voices being propagated, the Humanistic voice is the loudest and that is my main focus in this article...this is the self-centered world view. It's about me, my belief, my opinion, my benefits, my sexuality, my preferences, even my destiny. Now back to the music...lol. I find it interesting that a man would want to hold on to something that he "can" live without, which does not glorify God, and in some cases utterly goes against the very character of God, and after that say that "God doesn't mind" or "His grace is sufficient so I don't need to change". I would ask like Paul and say 'shall we continue in unrighteousness because grace hath abounded?' God forbid!

To ask a person what his soteriology is, and what their eschatological views are is very often a futile task. "As long as I am saved" seems to be the general attitude. Unfortunately this is one of the reasons why 8 out of 10 encounters between a Muslim teenager and a Christian teenager will result in a confused Christian teenager. It is simply that the Muslim is taught systematically through their belief structures and beyond that they are taught how to apologetically break down other belief systems, including and especially Christianity and Judaism. This is a very alarming trend if we are to think generationally into what will be of Christianity after we leave. Allow me to state categorically that any belief system that does not espouse the Gospel message of Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, is not of God and hence is sponsored and propagated by the enemy himself. 

2Co_11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

I will ask some questions in conclusion; What is the message of this song? How does it help me in my walk with God? If not, what is the spirit behind the message? Who is sponsoring it? Can I live without this? If not, why not? Can I find a godly substitute? A transformed life is something that we work on as Christians, God saved us in order for us to live with Him daily and for Him daily. There are standards and patterns embedded and peddled by this music that will militate against God's plan for your life.

Rom 12:2  Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. 

Let us not forget that the "pleasures" of this world come at a price. I will reiterate that there is a spiritual world to deal with as a Christian. Paul calls it a wrestling match and some of us have been pinned down and we don't understand why we can't move in worship like we would like, why we can't pray as we would like, why we can't break out of fear like we want, why we keep falling into sexual sin, or why we are constantly depressed. It is time that we as Christians awoke to the times we are living in, like Issachar's sons we need to be aware of what to do, and what not to do (1 Chron 12 v 32). 

Let us disentangle ourselves from the enemy's reigns, from the songs that tie us down and weigh us down, we have a Jesus to live for and a world to show Him to. We cannot be the same as that world in this endeavor.

Yours in His Royal Service



George Mwamlowe

Champion men for a Challenging world!

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

I have chosen to write this particular blog to men. Those men who have not given up on life, those who still look into the Bible and see themselves as the pinnacle of creation. There are 5 Cs that I will share which are not the entirety but they can serve as a good framework within which to attain to the potential that God has placed in us. These are all Christ centered points by design. There is a dangerous teaching going around these days that makes it seem that God never intended for us to be on this planet. As if men should not dream of impacting their world for good. It is not the pride of life, it is the God given gene that requires significance in the realm of creation. We are not them that are chasing after riches, we are them that have been given all things. (1 Cor 3:21) And as such we need to occupy to the fullest of our potential till Christ returns.

1. Christ:   Mar_9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth". 

Christ not only gives you a clean slate, He gives you the wherewithal to accomplish seemingly impossible things. The ability to attain to that which seems outside the realm of human acumen. If you don't know Him no amount of money can make you truly successful. Everything else falls away if you can't relate to Him. For truly your end is found only in your Maker. No man can live meaningfully without Christ. For all that you do is temporal. Get to know Christ today and unlock the realm of the impossible!

2. Competence:     Mar_7:37  "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." 

After you discover what your unique giftings are, you need to give your life to Mastery. The world does not reward greatly that which has not been executed beyond expectations. Do it till your enemies cannot deny that it's good...until they become the marketers of your achievements. Do it like you are doing it for TV.lol Anything that you do halfheartedly is not worth doing at all. Determine that you will also be know for doing things well. Strive for excellence, strive for the extra on the extraordinary. 

3. Character:    Mat 21:12"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,.."

 A man's character is his compass. It defines your true North, what your boundaries are, the "four corners" of your belief system. Don't allow everything, in as much as you shouldn't always seek your own way. How do you behave amongst women, how far is too far for you? Is it settled in your heart according to God's Word or will we find people selling doves in the temple of your heart where God should reside? Character is not leaving a life without blemish, it is living a life that acknowledges and conquers ones blemishes. Character is an active driving out of all that is not consistent with the Word of God in your life. Are you struggling with worldly music?, or is it a lust for pornography?, or is it just plain being a churched "Casanova"? What defines your character is whether you have settled or are on the war path, whipping and driving these out of your life!

4. Charisma: Mat_19:14  "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

On the flip-side we have Charisma. Charisma is likability. It is the ability to sway the hearts of the masses. Your achievements are at best "ok" if they do not win the hearts of people. Don't just seek to please them, seek to genuinely win them. Jesus wasn't a modern day political baby kisser, he genuinely did the kind of things that will have people's hearts melting. Don't be arrogant, remember the wisdom from above is easy to entreat.(James3v17) So what you know, and what you can give doesn't matter if there is no one who can receive. Develop the ability to allow people into your "space".

5. Connections: Joh_15:15  "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" 

One of the most treacherous areas for men is finding people to call friends. According to Jesus any man who wishes to be successful needs to have levels of friendships. You also need to have qualifiers to friendship otherwise every jack and Jill will trample over you. A true friend has seen your tears and they have seen your struggles, and through it all they have continued with you. Get connections that can contribute to your vision, and that you can in-turn assist to realize their own dreams. Don't let distance overcome true friendships, keep them as long as they are relevant to you, and as long as they don't harm you. 

At the end of the day every man is born with the blueprint for success on their genes. To be born with the kind of understanding and intellectual capability that no other creature possesses is a gift, make use of it. Dream and dream BIG for there are no laws against dreaming gentlemen!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Restore, Reconcile, Resume the journey!

2Co 5:18  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation"

Gal 6:1  "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

These are the two scriptures that have been a major influence on my thinking and conduct as a Christian. The sooner we realize the urgency of the need to continually reconcile man to God and to reconcile brothers back to God, the sooner we will stop back biting and carrying organizational grudges. Some of the fights we fight are not our fights. They are borrowed offenses which we are stuck with for life to our own detriment. 

The picture above was chosen to show us just how we should view our Christianity.  A journey of diverse characters, personalities, people of differing strengths and weaknesses. When a brother falls, restore as quickly as you can, love on him, keep him in the fold, don't allow him to draw back for there is a reason why we left that place of sin.

Gal 6:2  "Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ." (GNB)

Imagine looking at this picture and you were a part of the great trek to a better place and you see a child fall to the side of the tracks. What would your response be at such a time? Looking honestly we would not stand by or walk on, we would be "actively" involved in bringing such an one back to their feet. For to leave them there would be tantamount to murder. And that's exactly how the Word of God puts it. He who hates his brother is a murderer. 

1Jn 3:15  "Those who hate others are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life in them." 

Let's look at these people in solidarity and picture what a powerful force Christianity would be if we simply held each others hands and kept walking. I can guarantee you that these people are not asking each other about lineage or bank balances. They are not joined by class and societal positioning. They are united by the personal struggle they had with a tough master. The promise of a better life for all. I can guarantee you that some will find home before others do. They will reach a place of peace and settle for good, but for others they will keep walking and keep together till they are all safe in their place of the "promise". 

We should make reconciliation a major focus as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If we were honest with ourselves I'm sure we all know that one family where the members seem to stick together so strongly. They create memories and their smiles beckon you to join them. They pay for each others fees, or helped each other emigrate and they are all doing well. It's a very attractive picture. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the picture that the world sees when they look at Christianity. They can see the schisms and they can see the brothers we have left behind to be fodder for the beasts of the wild. And it doesn't look good. 

Luk 15:8  "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? "

Are not our brothers more precious than that woman's lost coin? Let's try and knit ourselves together in a spirit of love and true "comradery". The denomination is no the problem, the destination, however, is. The grades at school are not the matter, the growth in Christianity, however, is. Doctrinal difference is not the matter, for we can agree to disagree and continue to love those who are truly brothers in Christ. I'm not saying incorporate the totally lost. I am, however, saying that we can love beyond our differences and truly create the kind of Christianity that Christ set out to see.

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Living in The Inheritance!

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Reading the Word of God we find that the issues of inheritance played a very pivotal role in Jewish culture, much as they do in many cultures around the world. It is no wonder then that God used this crucial issue to deal with us about his promises. The inheritance is important because it speaks of two things; i.e Relationship and Identity. You cannot inherit outside of relationship. Any inheritance will link you to a direct identity of lineage. 

Looking at Psalm 2, I find that this scripture is often misapplied by the generality especially in Charismatic circles. As the old idiom says, if you don't understand the purpose for a thing, you will inevitably abuse it. This is one of the Messianic psalms. It is Father God talking to His Son, a direct statement seen again in Matt3v17. He then promises to give the Son, "the heathen" as an inheritance and the ends of the earth as well. This is important to note because there is a reason why the Father wants this to happen and without that reason we cannot begin to understand this promise. It wasn't a promise to just ensure that Jesus gets the earth in order for him to be rich. Far from it! The Father wants the heathen back in fellowship with him. 

The Primary mission that Jesus had was to win an inheritance of souls. The central mission on the heart of God has always been to regain fellowship with men in their numbers. How are we then involved in all this? Good question. Rom8:16 and 17 makes it clear that for everyone who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit i.e born again, this person is a child of God. Herein is the 1st requirement for inheritance fulfilled.

Col_1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 

It is the awesome reality for a believer that he is not just forgiven by a Sovereign and Supreme "Being" who is far away. We are recreated after the image of the 2nd Adam, into fellowship with God Almighty! Hallelujah!!(1Cor 15v45-). It is this truth that is borne witness to by the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. It doesn't stop there however...by implication being a part of those recreated after Christ means that we become candidates for the inheritance according to Rom 8:17. While many may fight to be the heir of their earthly fathers riches, it should not be so for a Christian. Our eyes are to be set on what is in store for us by virtue of divine son-ship. 

We become joint in ownership of all that was bequeathed to Christ by God Himself! What was the Chief of Christ's inheritance? It's the heathens, not money, not houses, not national influence. It was the promise of brothers! This is key to understanding the heart of God. Otherwise we become like the foolish prodigal son who spent his inheritance on riotous living. Not understanding that there is a mission field ahead we can become consumed in a worldly standard of prosperity. Just as Christ knocked on our hearts we should carry the message of hope to the heathens. We need to know that these have been promised by God Himself. That's the boldness that should garrison our hearts when we see unbelievers! We preach the gospel with boldness to those that we know God has given us already! When they come in they become co heirs with us. We will suffer the same as Christ suffered in this mission, no doubt about it. men won't understand at times, men will persecute us for our stance, they will marginalize us but we will be victorious nonetheless! For this is what God promised us.

The 2nd part of the inheritance in Ps 2 is interesting when we study it carefully. God promised the uttermost parts of the earth to Christ for a possession. This makes it abundantly clear to me that the promise to Jesus was not just for soul saving but for dominion "AS WELL". I would like to put it to you that if we can get the order of the inheritance right we will in no wise fail to realize the blessing of God in supplying for our needs. There is no glory to God for possessing the nations if the heathen therein are not won. God knows that evangelism needs money, which is why for those that are truly winning souls to the kingdom, money is there in abundance to satisfy the needs.

Act_4:34  Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

If we are to alleviate poverty within the body of Christ we need to begin to have a kingdom centered focus. We need to build up ourselves as spiritual stalwarts for the kingdom, willing to lose everything for Christs glory, knowing that we can't lose after all. For to live is Christ and to die is gain. Let's get back to the right hinges for operating in godly prosperity. Lets be liberal in our alms, liberal in supporting the work of Christ, for indeed the ox will not be muzzled as it treads out the grain. Our portion is there in sufficiency.

This is just the first part of the teaching on living in the inheritance, but it is the most integral part. We will endeavor, God allowing, to look at "The name of Jesus and growing in son-ship in the coming posts for it is truly amazing the things that we are given in the New testament to equip us on the journey. But until then keep walking in the The Inheritance!

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe

Fathers and Sons, the modern day Wrestling ring

Php 2:22  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. (Paul of Timothy)

Tit 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

1Ti 1:2  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 

1Ti 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2Ti 1:2  To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

Pro 30:11  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 

The issue of fathers in the body is a burning one in our generation. We find that there is a meteoric rise in those who are being addressed as "Father, Dad, Papa, etc..". On the other hand, we find more and more believers who are crying out against this phenomenon claiming abuses by those being addressed as such. This article is not written in vindication of any who are in abuse of their authority, neither is it written to justify those who are in rebellion to rightful authority.

In the great rebuke in Matt 23, Jesus addressed a similar situation, wherein the scribes and pharisees were holding their offices to no good in the worship of God. The religious system had degenerated to such an appalling state that those in authority were lording it over those who were "followers". The state of affairs had become such that they were teaching erroneously, and all of this to entrench their rule over the poor Israelites, who in most cases had to be subject by law to those who held the "seat of Moses". Jesus in a heated rebuke, told his disciples and the crowd that was listening not to call any of them Rabi or Father, for "they"(his followers) had only one Father, one Master, only one to whom they were ultimately accountable to and therefore should hold in such high esteem.

 I give this background because it is important to know the context so that the interpretation of the whole counsel of scripture becomes clear. I have seen an ever increasing trend in the body of Christ which is threatening the growth of the entire body, and the longevity of it's fundamentals. This debilitating syndrome is the "doctrinal extremity" syndrome. I define it as: that application of a scripture as doctrine without the consideration of other corresponding and equally authoritative scriptures. Matt 18:16 states a fundamental precedent for the drawing up of doctrine. In the mouth of two or three witnesses is a matter established. Nothing is established without scriptural "triangulation" for every Word of God is inspired.

In John 2, John the beloved acknowledges the occurrence of 3 types of Christians i.e fathers, sons, and children. This is an indicator of how our lives should progress, there is the babyhood stage wherein we find everyone who gets born again. These should rightly be dependent on those who are sons and Fathers. Simple logic will tell us why this is so. The Sons are the more responsible ones, they have fought some battles and won. They have gone through some schooling and they have a grasp of doctrinal construction and truths. When speaking naturally, a home can be left periodically in the care of a son. The children can also be left in the care of sons. It is this stage which can make or break a Christian but I will expound below. Lastly we have Fathers. These are the ones that have a mature revelation of God and His ways. Undeniably there is a time factor in this scenario, for God cannot be fathomed in an instant. I will however be quick to say that maturity in the word and the ways of God is the only yardstick for growth in Christ and in the faith. To learn His ways requires training in obedience. It requires not just the winning of one fight nor the understanding of some truths, it requires the grasping of the meat of the faith. Fathers have not only grown up but they have begotten others and are growing or have grown others.

In my humble observations I have noted that the falling away is largely in the bracket of sons. Sons are curious, they are presumptuous because they know certain truths for themselves. Sons have heard from God and believe they have heard the final story. To be a Son places you in a position where you can discern the truth without constant aid, which means you can see the faults of the fathers. Unfortunately until Jesus comes and perfects all, faults will be the reminder that we are still present in the body. The true test of a son naturally is to see the fault of a father and not rally a coup for the unseating of the father. The test of a son naturally is to be submitted and respectful to a father who is not right in all aspects. In the faith we find that those who are fathers suffer coups of the most magnanimous orders. As a son, I have seen the loss of brothers who could not stand to "suffer" under a father. They interpreted chastising as abuse, interpreted mistakes as the apocalypse of relationships and selfishly sought the way that aligned to their "present" convictions.

Paul spoke of Timothy as His son. He spoke of Titus as His son. He continued teaching and grooming Timothy even after he had left a Church to him. I see in these relationships something healthy for the body of Christ. it is nothing of the manner that Jesus had to deal with and to rebuke. Paul was responsible for the growth of Timothy and Titus. He lovingly corrected and instructed them. The "sons" took what their "father" taught and taught it to others. They served under Paul and doubtlessly saw the man for who he really was apart from the fiery preaching and miraculous signs. For you cannot spend any considerable length of time with a man and not see his failings I assume they both saw Paul's weaknesses. In this present day we increasingly find those that cannot learn from the fathers. They are quick to break relationships with fathers. Constantly exposing the faults of their fathers, constantly profiling their own "revelations" and how they are "better" than what their fathers saw. The older I grow the more I realize the need of fathers in the house. I don't see the infallibility of fathers but I see the necessity. I see the lack of genuine fathers too, but I see the few who are earnestly trying being vilified and hung out to dry. 

When your years are few and wisdom is lacking, you begin to believe that you can handle your fathers burden better, unfortunately time will tell you that you are not so strong, so faultless, so infallible. True wisdom is to learn from the father, see his mistakes, pray for him and cover him e.g the sons of Noah.(Gen 9) True wisdom and maturity in the son is to see what can be improved and reason with the father in humility. We could halve the problems in Christianity if sons wore meekness and put on patience. For one day the son shall of necessity have to take up the fathers role and God-forbid he finds himself with sons such as he. Paul in Titus 2 exhorts sons to be sober minded, for sobriety is indeed the most lacking and most needful in this bracket of sons.

This article is not meant to be balanced between the failings of sons and that of fathers. It is but an excerpt that deals with the one half of the equation. It is written to brothers because the rebuke of fathers is left to other fathers. I am not fit for such a task for I shall rebuke what I in time will find myself choosing to do as a matter of wisdom. This is not to say there are no miscreants, and utterly malicious men who masquerade as fathers. Whose heart is not for the sheep but who are clothed in malice. These being reprobate in mind I as a son in the faith of God would not hesitate to call out as Paul did. Albeit this article is meant for those who are genuine brethren, brothers and sisters who don't realize the danger that they are in for their attack on fathers. For God is a God of order. 

This article is written with a burdened heart for the ails in the body of Christ. A cry for the heart of the sons to return to the fathers. For some, repentance and reconciliation is needed. The softening of hearts that were bruised in some cases. In the end I trust we will see the necessity of building with the kingdom in mind, for the strength of the family lies in unity.

In His Royal Service

George Mwamlowe