THE CRAVE FOR FAME HINDERS GROWTH IN GRACE


By Michael Benson Ajayi 
John 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”
            Religion creates a dent on the human psyche resulting in a low self esteem and an insatiable quest for relevance often manifested in the idolization of personalities.This is the reason behind the flurry of titles and bureaucracy in religious institutions . It was the pursuit of these  ephemeral ideals by the Pharisees that often placed them at loggerhead with Jesus whose teachings were considered as a euphemism of their objects of worship.
              Jesus was the opposite of everything the religious folks of His time stood for: 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 any object on this day and the penalty for violating the law of the Sabbath was death (Exo.35:2).
       For 38 years this man had been in religious bondage because he trusted in man’s’ ability more than God's. Faith cannot be attained through religion. 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 and He only can heal the way Jesus did; a proof of His divinity. It was until the sick man broke through the shackles of religious traditions  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 could not be healed.
              Many persons are in bondage as a result of the choice they have made to put the observance of religious traditions above God’s word.This is evident in the increasing levels of fear and poverty.They console themselves with the phrase 'It is well ' without making sustainable progress and are taught to be  comfortable in their misery as long as they keep receiving accolades from their pharisaic religious institutions .This is a major reason why many Christians do not see the manifestation of the power of God in their lives. Religion results in confusion in families due to a lack in faith in God's word.
       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 is not against the receiving of honour for excellence but it is the craving for it that is unhealthy. He would rather have us pursue responsibilities and not titles. Jesus was not desirous of the honour that comes from men; He was always in tune with the father (John 6:15 KJV,) He 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.This is a major reason why many struggle in the arena of marriage. Marriage requires faith in God's word to work. 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.These distractions lead to financial crisis in families resulting in breakups. 
            There is honour attained by serving God and it is accompanied with peace, integrity, dignity , love, truth and joy in the Holy Ghost Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace for stability and advancement in Jesus name. 
Prayer/counseling +2348098536911(whatsapp),+2348035536911 email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Pics credit : pixabay . com 

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