Luke 9:49-50 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbid him, because he followeth not with us. (50) And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us it for us.
Here, we have John speaking to Jesus about an encounter he had with another man who was casting out devils and doing miracles in the name of Jesus. John rebukes him and tries to get him to stop because this man was not and would not follow THEM (read the encounter in Mark 9:38-40 for this detail). This happened just after the disciples who WERE following Jesus could not cast out the demon that tormented a child (Luke 9:37-43).
I believe the Lord Jesus teaches the disciples, and us today, two great truths:
#1 - He that is not against us is for us.
#2 - It doesn't matter if people will not follow US (Mark 9:38), what matter's is if they are following and serving Jesus.
It is as if Jesus was saying, "Who do you think you are?" It is not about us, but it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. May we stop worrying about what camp or fellowship or church this preacher or that preacher associates with, which school they support, etc., and just come to the conclusion that "he that is not against us is for us." And when a fellow servant of Christ is able to accomplish great things for the Lord, even those things that we at the moment cannot, lets rejoice together instead of trying to tear down and stop the work of the Lord.
Here, we have John speaking to Jesus about an encounter he had with another man who was casting out devils and doing miracles in the name of Jesus. John rebukes him and tries to get him to stop because this man was not and would not follow THEM (read the encounter in Mark 9:38-40 for this detail). This happened just after the disciples who WERE following Jesus could not cast out the demon that tormented a child (Luke 9:37-43).
I believe the Lord Jesus teaches the disciples, and us today, two great truths:
#1 - He that is not against us is for us.
#2 - It doesn't matter if people will not follow US (Mark 9:38), what matter's is if they are following and serving Jesus.
It is as if Jesus was saying, "Who do you think you are?" It is not about us, but it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. May we stop worrying about what camp or fellowship or church this preacher or that preacher associates with, which school they support, etc., and just come to the conclusion that "he that is not against us is for us." And when a fellow servant of Christ is able to accomplish great things for the Lord, even those things that we at the moment cannot, lets rejoice together instead of trying to tear down and stop the work of the Lord.
2 comments:
Very true. This reminds me of another place in the Bible that was recently brought to my attention...some were preaching Christ for the right reason, and some had faulty motives...but the point was made that we are not to focus on judging one another's motives...but just to glorify God that the gospel is being preached and the seed sown, regardless of the "vessel".
[15] Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
[16] The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
[17] But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
[18] What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
AMEN, AMEN...This is so destructive to the cause of Christ
May we stop worrying about what camp or fellowship or church this preacher or that preacher associates with, which school they support, etc.,
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