Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently….To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
2 Corinthians 2:15, 16 (NLT)
1. THE DANGER TO VIEW MY LEADERS AS THE DEVIL.
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. Some of the Jews, however, spurned God's message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 14:1-2 (NLT)
Some of you are saying, “Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying.”
2 Cor. 10:10 (CEV)
2. THE DANGER TO VIEW MY LEADERS AS DEITY.
I AM IN DANGER OF DEIFYING MY LEADERS WHEN…
1. I GET REALLY CLOSE TO AN EFFECTIVE LEADER.
The same thing happened in Iconium.[a] Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.
Acts 14:1 (NLT)
While they were at Lystra, Paul & Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting & listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!”… the man jumped to his feet & started walking. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
Acts 14:8-11 (NLT)
2. WHEN I FOCUS ON THE MIRACLE ABOVE THE MESSAGE.
When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
Acts 14:8-11 (NLT)
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them…. But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.
Acts 14:14,15, 18 (NLT)
Then the disciples…preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Mark 16:20 (NIV)
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 2:1-4 (NLT)
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (NIV)
3. WHEN I EXALT TRADITION OVER TRUTH.
They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
Acts 14:12-13 (NLT)
The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness & examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women & many Greek men. Acts 17:11-12 (NIV)
Dearly loved friend, I was fully intending to write to you about our amazing salvation we all participate in, but felt the need instead to challenge you to vigorously defend & contend for the beliefs that we cherish. For God, through the apostles, has once for all entrusted these truths to his holy believers.
Jude 1:3 (TPT)
HOW TO MAINTAIN A “MIDDLE OF THE NARROW ROAD” VIEW.
Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the
outcome of their lives and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders. Put
yourselves under their authority. They keep watch over you. They know they are
accountable to God for everything they do. Obey them so that their work will
be a joy. If you make their work a heavy load, it won't do you any good.
Hebrews 13:7, 17 (NIV)
FOUR R’S - REMEMBER, REFLECT, REPEAT, AND REDUCE.