2 Kings 5:26 KJV
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
Elisha had steadfastly refused to take a gift from Naaman, but Gehazi could not stand it. He followed after Naaman and received what he was more than happy to give. When Elisha confronted him he did not say merely tht he caught him in the act. He did not just accuse him to lying and deception. He said that his heart went with him when he took a course of action that was opposed to that course Elisha had set.
When a person chooses to do differently than I have taught or to go in a direction different than the direction I have set for the church it is more than simple rebellion or even rejection, they take a piece of my heart.
The ministry is not a business. It is not merely people picking the church they like the best and the ministry which most fits their own feelings. The ministry is the binding of hearts together in the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a covenant. It is a union. It is a work of God upon the affections of the heart. When that union is in any way broken something more than a business association is damaged; it goes to the heart.
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
Elisha had steadfastly refused to take a gift from Naaman, but Gehazi could not stand it. He followed after Naaman and received what he was more than happy to give. When Elisha confronted him he did not say merely tht he caught him in the act. He did not just accuse him to lying and deception. He said that his heart went with him when he took a course of action that was opposed to that course Elisha had set.
When a person chooses to do differently than I have taught or to go in a direction different than the direction I have set for the church it is more than simple rebellion or even rejection, they take a piece of my heart.
The ministry is not a business. It is not merely people picking the church they like the best and the ministry which most fits their own feelings. The ministry is the binding of hearts together in the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a covenant. It is a union. It is a work of God upon the affections of the heart. When that union is in any way broken something more than a business association is damaged; it goes to the heart.
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