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Jesus To call Jesus a maverick seems a bit trite, but by definition he was a maverick, though the divine version of such. The Inner Ring that Jesus absolutely avoided was the Pharisees, priest craft, and the Saducees. If Jesus had spent some time at the temple hob-nodding with the religious elite, he would have owned the nation in short order. The problem with that is that Jesus would have had to stop inferring that he was one with the Father, and he would have had to become a nag and nanny of the people he loved and pile the law system of the Pharisees onto his followers. |
Thus, because Jesus passed up the opportunity to rule with the rulers, because he chose to offer himself as Messiah, and because he hung out with fishermen and tax collectors, the Inner Ring hated him passionately.
Lesson: If you decide to sit in the high seat, you must make merchandise of the sheep.
In order to climb the Inner Ring, Jesus would have ended up consuming the souls of his disciples and followers. He came "to seek and to save that which was lost." We then learn from Jesus that faithful men who live in the model of the Carpenter of Nazareth must not crave the high place. Indeed, they must learn to wash the feet of their friends and enjoy it. God never, in the whole Bible, exalted snobs and egomaniacs. Are you using people or serving them? Would you rather be loved by ordinary people who associate you with wisdom and Bible knowledge, or do you crave being called up, ring by ring, to rule the people from on high?
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Moses
Moses was born in Egypt to a common Hebrew slave family. His mother, rather than obey the state law to kill Jewish baby boys, hid him. God moved an Egyptian high class lady to love baby Moses and raise him in the palace of Pharaoh. Moses certainly was in the Inner Ring of Egypt as he grew up. Good things came to him. He got the best education, though it was very pagan as well.
But, one day Moses, who knew he was Jewish be birth, saw an Egyptian tormenting a Jew, and Moses killed him. Now, suppose God had taken Moses into "the ministry" right there, a man of high court standing, and a man willing to kill to preserve the Jews, what would have been Moses' style of leadership in the Exodus and across Sinai to the Promised Land? He would have been a severe autocrat, top of the Inner Ring of the Hebrew people, and much more sure of himself than of God-- the Sheik of the Sinai.
Below is the verse in the Bible that tells us of the humility of Moses as a leader. The people had just rebelled, and Moses was about to speak the words of God in response to their rebellion. The writer of Numbers was then led of God to comment before the statement of Moses to make sure the reader understood that the hard words WERE NOT LIKE MOSES. The harsh words were LIKE A HOLY GOD READY TO JUDGE DISOBEDIENT PEOPLE.
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Moses was well known to NOT be a "Ring Leader" in the modern model. He was very meek and humble, and when he was mad or speaking harsh words from God, the people knew that both the heart of God, and the heart of Moses were broken to have to speak in wrath.
Does anyone know YOU this way? You preachers need to go off in the woods and meditate on this.
Furthermore; do you gravitate to people like Moses, or do you love the fellowship of the Pharaohs of Christendom like Rich Warren, Joel Osteen, Lee Roberson, Benny Hinn, John MacArthur, and Clearance Sexton? You need to understand please that Jesus purposely reduced his following, and that was as he offered himself as king of Israel.
Paul Boger was pastor of Grandville Bible Church in Michigan in the 1970s. Apparently, for a couple of years the annual church picnic had become a time for the ladies to wear hot pants to the event. Pastor Boger was a real Moses of a man. He was powerful in preaching, but he was one of the most tender hearted men I have known. He was always very cautious in making a suggestion to a saint about his conduct.
Well, before the annual picnic while we were attending there, Pastor Boger spoke very personally on Sunday morning about the hot pants issue. He asked all the ladies to do him a personal favor and refrain from wearing hot pants to the coming church picnic. My wife and I were not there on that Sunday.
We came the next Sunday, after the picnic. Pastor Boger got up to make the announcements during the morning service. He stopped, stood looking down in silence for quite a while, and leaned over to almost lay on the pulpit and speak closely into the microphone in almost a whisper. He pointed out his previous request the Sunday before, and then he started crying, and he said, "Why couldn't you do the right thing for your pastor?" He said a little more about how it hurt him and the Lord, and then he called the ladies' quartet to sing a special number.
The room was dead silent. The air reeked of someone's guilt. I never before or since have seen such a powerful situation in the Lord's Church. But, when the ladies left the choir to sing at the pulpit, something became very clear-- two of the ladies were emotionally in absolute chaos. The ladies got themselves together and managed to sing, but it was a lousy performance. Two of those ladies had clearly been in hot pants at the church picnic.
What a jackboot mighty Fundamental Baptist preacher could not accomplish with 10X testosterone and fire was far more effectively accomplished by a man of humility and meekness. That was the way of Jesus, and if he touched hearts and build his Church over the past 2000 years without an Inner Ring, why are YOU climbing and scrambling for the high place, you little popelette?
Paul
The Apostle Paul was climbing the corporate ladder of success as a Pharisee and a Rabbi. Here is how he describes his heritage which was like a magnate pulling him upward:
Philippians 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.This sounds like a introduction of a great Baptist patriarch at a Sword of the Lord conference or at Bob Jones University. So, are you stuck at verse 6, or have you moved on as Paul did?
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law (Baptist Standards), but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
You talk big talk about your faith in Jesus Christ, and about your zeal to win souls, but why do you spend so much time running to the Inner Ring, Baptist pastor's conventions, to be seen and to schmooze the high and mighty?
You people in other denominations are no different. Rick Warren courts Presidents and Kings to bring fools into awe of him. Black "bishops" shine on one another and trade around the title "Apostle" a dime a dozen. Pentecostal and Rhema boys cling to one anther and tell gullible followers how great they are and how much God is blessing them. Then the groupies "go forward" to "get the anointing" from the guru, so that when they arrive back at their churches the people will be in awe of their alleged power. Bah, and double Bah. Paul counted all his prestige with the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees "as dung". But, not you. You need those connections and high muckity mucks in the hope that one of them up above will grab you and jerk you into everlasting habitations.
Let me tell you how to judge your intentions. Do you go down and pray at altar calls in the church YOU pastor as often as you go down at altar calls in the Baptist Preachers' Conventions? You see, those trips down the aisle are for one purpose alone-- to make you look sincere to the raging bishops up on the platform and to flatter them into thinking you are deeply moved by their self-serving dry bones preaching.
Paul showed NO craving for recognition by anyone. In fact, at the end of his life he makes it very clear that he was hated possibly a lot more than he was loved:
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.What does not satisfy your soul about waiting for all your commendations and approval when you arrive at the throne of Jesus Christ? You are no different than modern politicians and corporate CEOs who simply glow when all men shine on them. Then they die, and everyone forgets them in 45 minutes as the Inner Ring postures and shuffles with men trying to grab more glory and power that the CEO left by his death.
Elijah
"Brother Elijah, how is your church doing? Any new converts lately?"
"Not only do I not have converts, I am the only one left in my church."
Would you call Elijah to be pastor of your church if God would allow him to return to do so?
1 Kings 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.If God told YOU to walk away from your ministry as resident prophet (preacher), and you knew that you would be alone with no one to preach to except crows, would you do it? Or, would you cling to your place prophesying against the sins of Ahab and running your school for young prophets? Sure, God comes first, right after I build a really impressive resume, right? I need to write a book too, and they want me to teach Seminars at the Bible Institute of Baal.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.Elijah was driven our of town by Ahab and Jezebel. Because he went all the way with God, and because he threw away all the prestige and glory in the big down town church, God gave him three priceless blessings:
1. He was given the task of anointing Jehu. This man later called a great ecumenical council of Hebrew priests of Baal in the Temple of Baal. Jehu then lead his men into the temple and slew all the backslidden priests of Baal and their vile imported religion.
2. Elijah was given the joy of passing on the power of the Spirit of God he had to the next man to follow him, Elisha. Elisha did even greater works than Elijah.
3. Finally, Elijah was the only man in the work of God with his people who not only did not die, he was given chauffeur service right into the presence of God in a chariot.
So, how do YOU want to go out? With a eulogy by the President of the Baptist Fellowship, or escorted to your reward by the angels of God? Jesus said that not everyone who said to him, "Lord, Lord" would enter into the Kingdom of God. I am convinced that the climbing self-exalting Ring climbers of modern church are mostly demon possessed hirelings, and I believe that includes the most Fundamental Baptist churches.
Amos
Here is one tough man. But, his zeal was not cultivated by high tone PhDs in Jerusalem at the Baal Seminary. Not as you read the seeming disconnect between his heritage and the power of his message:
Amos 7:1 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
4 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
5 Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.Amos was not a climber of the Inner Ring of the King or the down town theological or ministerial council. Amos was blunt and was very much disliked by the power elite. If you want to be of any use to the Lord, you will be hated and resented by the powerful and by the boys who carry a big grip to all the pastors' rallies in the area.
The whole point is, whom do you serve-- Jesus Christ and his ordinary sheep, or the high and mighty self-possessed club? Again, I stress the obvious question to pastors and you men with large media and academic ministries how are you like Jesus? Why should any Bible believer believe you are born again? You chase power, fame, and the cash flow. Your Jesus is not my Jesus.
Other mavericks found at this journal
GEORGE BENNARD--
On this page are a long list of very ordinary people who did not climb the ladder and worry about their place in the Inner Ring. Ironically, anyone who did know these people held them in much higher esteem than the likes of Rich Warren, John MacArthur, or Lee Roberson.A maverick finds an unconventional way to survive while others take the traditional path. If the runner had been tagged out, he might have been reproached by the manager for trying a stunt. The maverick takes chances and ignores the experts and critics. This is NOT the way to get into the inner ring. It IS a great shortcut to the top though. More on this in Chapter Six.
This test pilot was shown mercy ONLY because his maverick trick in a Boeing 707, long ago, came out great and did help sell the plane. Remember, this was before the 707 went into use-- it was still a test plane.
You are a fool if you spend your whole life living "safe" just to please the big boys up yonder.
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