In 2 Cor.11: 2-3, Paul spoke about how he was leading them to be engaged to Jesus Christ to be married to Jesus one day. He had a tremendous jealousy that they should not fall in love with anybody on the way.
Think of Abraham's servant who was taking Rebecca all the way, 40 miles, to Isaac. During that time if some handsome young fellow came along and tried to win Rebecca's affection, what would Eliezer have done? He would have said, "Get away. She is booked for my master's son." He would tell her, "Don't be attracted by all these fellows."
Paul wanted to preserve the church in Corinth like that for Jesus. That's a jealousy. "You are reserved for Jesus. You cannot live for the world, money or honour. Other fellows may come and attract you. I want you to live for God."
A true servant of God has a jealousy like that for His people; that they should be kept like a pure virgin for Christ. But he said, "I am afraid that Satan will come like the old serpent in Eden came cunningly and drew Eve away. I am concerned that your heart will be drawn away from the devotion to Jesus Christ."
How do you know that you have become a backslider? How do you know that you have gone astray? Is it when you believe some wrong doctrine? According to 2 Cor. 11:3, you have gone astray the moment you lose your devotion to Jesus Christ. That's the mark of going astray. Every believer who has lost his devotion to Jesus Christ has gone astray already. And our job as servants of God is to preserve them in devotion to Jesus Christ. That's the most important thing.
The devil is always seeking to lead believers astray from their devotion to Jesus Christ, from fervently loving Him. What's the use of serving Him, doing evangelism, teaching or building the church when we have lost our love for Jesus Christ?
The Lord told the church in Ephesus, "What's the use of doing so many good things when you don't love Me like you used to do at first? I don't want all your service." Please remember to keep yourself in a devotion to Christ and to keep others whom we serve in devotion to Christ.
Be the first to react on this!
Zac Poonen ( - Present)
God called brother Zac Poonen to a new work early on in his Christian experience. The movement is now called Christian Fellowship Churches where the New Covenant of New Testament Christianity is clearly preached.Brother Zac Poonen has written 25 books most of them being on the deeper Christian life. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages and have been circulated widely around the world. He clearly and passionately shares the narrow way of Christian discipleship that is neglected by so many modern preachers.
Recommends these books by Zac Poonen:
Through The Bible by Zac Poonen
The Final Triumph-A verse by verse study of the book of Revelation by Zac Poonen
Beauty for Ashes by Zac Poonen
Zac Poonen is a former Indian Naval Officer who has been in full time ministry in India for nearly 50 years as a Bible teacher and preacher. He holds responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He currently pastors the Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. His messages are available on audio and video format.
Like the other elders in his church, Zac Poonen also supports himself and his family through what he describes as "tent-making" and does not receive any salary for his services. He does not receive any royalties for any of his books, CDs or DVDs, that are published by Christian Fellowship Centre, Bangalore.