HOW THE CRAVE FOR FAME AFFECTS FAITH FOR THE MIRACULOUS

By Michael Benson Ajayi 

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 John 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

           The practice of man-made religion results in both emotional and intellectual abuse hence the crave for honour by many a religious follower. Religion creates an indelible dent on the human psyche that results in low self esteem. It is the quest to fill that void that’s behind religious organizations placing much premium on human idolization.  The pursuit and the preservation of these symbols of honour by the Pharisees placed them always at loggerhead with Jesus whose teachings were seen as a euphemism of their objects of worship.

              Jesus was the opposite of everything the religious folks of His time stood for. And he was a threat to their way of life just as the teachers of the message of salvation by grace through faith are seen as a threat by religious folks the world over because it  ascribes all glory , honour and praise to God with no room for human worship . In John 5:1-44 Jesus healed a man that had been ill for 38 years, by simply saying “rise, take up your bed and walk” (Vs 8). This was done in contravention of the law of the Sabbath. No man was allowed to carry anything on this day. The penalty for violating the law of the Sabbath was capital punishment (Exo.35:2).

       For 38 years this man had been in bondage of religion:  because he trusted in man’s’ ability and not in God. Religion cannot be faith. Faith is the total reliance on God through His word. It comes from hearing the word of God (Roman 10:17). The scriptures declare Jesus Christ as the Word of God in human form (John1:14). God and His word are inseparable. Only God can heal the way Jesus did; a proof of His divinity. It was until the sick man broke through the shackles of his religious veil that He received faith while listening to Jesus’ instructions and was made whole from that moment. Jesus told Him to pick up His bed; a statement which implied that until he was willing to turn his back against the approval that came from observing a lifeless religion, he can’t be healed.

              Many persons are in bondage as a result of the choice they’ve made to put the observance of religion above God’s word. They are comfortable in their misery as long as they keep receiving accolades from pharisaic institutions. That’s one of the reasons why many Christians do not see the manifestation of the power of God in their lives. Religion is like being told to fry an egg without breaking it.

       Miracles are made possible by faith alone expressing itself through love (Matt9:22, 29, Matt17:20, Mark5:34), which comes from hearing God’s word. Faith grows when we pursue divine responsibilities instead of fame.  God isn’t against us receiving honour from people but the craving for it. Jesus was not desirous of the honour that comes from men; He was always in tune with the father. In John 6:15 KJV, "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." Jesus preferred a life of prayer than a craving for temporal honour. The scripture says in John 5:41AMP “ I receive not glory from men [I crave no human honour, I look for no mortal fame],” temporal fame hinders our faith growth. It is the reason why many celebrities tend to embrace the world of the occult due to their inability to commit to a life of prayer. Constant prayer while meditating on God’s word is the surest way to grow one’s faith and it requires overcoming the distractions that comes from the pursuit of fame.

            There is the honour that comes from serving God, it far outweighs that from man and it is accompanied with peace, integrity, dignity , love, truth and joy in the Holy Ghost.