WHICH JESUS DO YOU NEED?

John 1: 35-40 explains that soon after Jesus returned from His temptation in the wilderness, John the Baptist saw Him walking, and looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples that were with John at the time followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

What do you seek?

A friend posed this same question during our annual CME pastor’s conference.  Rev. Rickdrekia Sanders asked:   Are we working to be in the image of a Jesus that doesn't understand our struggle, or are we trying to find a Jesus that can relate to our personal struggles of life?  Or, do we really feel that we need a Jesus?

In other words: What do you seek?

The answer depends on us. 

We understand becoming a born-again, redeemed, converted follower of Jesus Christ (also known as “a disciple”) to mean starting a personal relationship with Jesus.   People start personal relationships for personal reasons.  What we look for in Jesus depends on what we are looking for in our individual personal journey.

Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, was one of the Baptist disciples who followed Jesus that day (John 1: 40).  Andrew followed Jesus because Andrew was looking for the fulfillment of his mentor John’s prophesies.    That’s how Andrew introduced Jesus to his brother Peter.

Andrew first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. (John 1:41, 42)

Simon Peter had several interactions with Jesus without coming to faith in Him as the Messiah.  Peter was looking for the secret to success in their fishing business. 

In Luke 5, Jesus commandeered Peter’s boat as a floating pulpit and then told Peter where to fish.  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)

They caught so many fish that even with 2 boats and 4 professional fisherman working the nets, the quantity was more than they could handle.  That was the Jesus Peter was looking for.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5: 8)

And that is when Peter finally accepted Jesus invitation to become a disciple.  Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men. (Luke 5: 10)

Saul, the persecutor of Christians in the book of Acts, was looking for the purest adherence to the Mosaic law.  On the road to Damascus, Saul encountered the original Author of the law.

Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9: 4-5)

Even Judas was looking for something personal.  He was looking for a payday or perhaps a scapegoat for the inaction of the Jews against Roman occupation.  Judas found that Jesus.  Jesus let Judas turn Him in for the money.  Jesus showed that he had the power to lay down a mob of armed men with just a word.

When Judas showed up in Gethsemane with a contingent of the Temple guard, Jesus went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”    Jesus had to ask twice because when He responded “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  (John 18:3-8)

Are we working to be in the image of a Jesus that doesn't understand our struggle or are we trying to find a Jesus that can relate to our personal struggles of life? 

We are each trying to find the Jesus we think we need or want for whatever is our personal place at the moment.

But, check this out:
After Andrew found Jesus, Andrew no longer looked to John the Baptist for answers.

After Peter found Jesus, Peter abandoned the fishing business to be a Disciple.

After Saul found Jesus, he became Paul and spent the rest of his life articulating the doctrine of grace instead of the Law.

We each come to Jesus because we are looking for something personal.  But when we find Him, if we receive Him for real, then we discover that He is so much more than what we were looking for that what we were looking for no longer matters.  All that matters is Jesus.

As for the question: Do we really feel that we need a Jesus?  Ask Judas that.

Without Jesus, Judas had the money he wanted.  He had the public trial of a righteous Jewish Rabbi/Prophet he needed to justify a revolt.  Judas had all that he had sought, but he no longer had Jesus.  So, he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5)

Yes, however we may come to Him, we all need Jesus.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

Sorry, Bro. I CAN’T Help You.

“Don’t put your pastor on a pedestal.”

“Worship God, not the preacher.”

“Remember, he’s just a man, just like you.”

We repeat the above clichés to remind people that clergy have limits, to warn admirers not to GIVE too much to the preacher.   That’s a danger, a real possibility that I’m sure happens in some congregations.

But most of the preachers in my circle of friends do not have to worry about their congregations forgetting their limits and GIVING too much.  Most of us have to worry about people forgetting our limits and EXPECTING TOO MUCH.

Acts chapter 2 records the great Day of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus, led by Peter and the rest of the Twelve Apostles (clergy) had launched a Holy Spirit empowered revival in Jerusalem.  Peter had preached a powerful, multi-lingual (Acts 2: 5-14+) sermon that brought 3,000 new members into the New Testament church (Acts 2: 41).  The new church then launched a campaign of giving that brought in huge donations to support new community ministries to the poor (Acts 2: 44, 45).

So it’s no wonder that in the very next chapter, a brother on disability stopped by the church to ask Bishop Peter and Apostle John to give him “a little something just to help me out for a little while.”

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ^And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; ^who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. (Acts 3: 1-3)

Everyone in Jerusalem had heard about the phenomenal growth of their church.  When you have great worship, and great fellowship, and new people joining every day then word gets around. 

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ^praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2: 46, 47)

So here was this disabled brother already waiting in Peter’s and John’s office when they arrived to prepare for worship----- and he assumed, he EXPECTED these two preachers to have some money. 

Cause: “If your church is growing then you must be getting PAID.”

Cause: “Preachers make all the money.”

Cause: “If ya’ll can help all those folks, you must have some money to help me.”

Cause: “You’re the pastor, ain’t you?  Then you decide what they do with the money.”

But wait.  Remember where we started.

Pastor is just a man (or woman) ----- like you.  A human with utilities, a lease, bills, debts, and a credit score that may be way lower than you suspect.

An anointed man or woman of God draws from a bottomless well of Holy Spirit power, but not from a bottomless, self-refilling bank account.

Most preachers receive a salary, that is not keyed in proportion to the wealth of the church.

And, a deeply ministry minded church may give away quite nearly as much as it takes in.

Plus there’s the fact that most churches have their own institutional utilities, lease, bills, debts, and (yes) credit score.

And though far too many preachers are stingy and selfish.  A negative response to your request does not necessarily mean that the preacher is being stingy or selfish.

Sometimes it just means that the preacher is BROKE.

^And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” ^ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ^

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have...”  Acts 3: 3-6)

Peter said, “Sorry, bro.  I ain’t got it.”

Because he didn’t.

No preacher should be treated like he/she is entitled to everything from you. 

And no preacher should be treated like you’re entitled to everything from him/ her.

Sometimes a preacher doesn’t give material help because the preacher just CAN’T.

But.

But the truly anointed men/ women of God should not be judged solely on their capacity to provide immediate material assistance. 

The truly Holy Spirit called preacher operates in a realm of spiritual power and authority that can reach deeper than your overdue power bill and get to the root reason why you keep getting behind on your bills.

Truly called clergy are not gods, but we do work for God.  And our Boss  has authorized us to effect change in a willing heart---- change that won’t necessarily have a job waiting for you in the morning but can open the door for deliverance from the addictions, anger, and foolish decision making that got you fired from the last 3 jobs.

But, of course, that’s not what you expected when you stopped by to ask for help.

^Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (Acts 3: 6, 7)

When God calls a man or woman to be a shepherd of God’s people, the Lord already knows both the limits of the shepherd and the needs of the flock.

God knew that Peter and John would be broke on that Sabbath afternoon even though their church was experiencing exponential growth.   But God also knew that what the disabled beggar needed most wasn’t a donation. He most needed deliverance. 

The man stood on his own legs for the first time in his life.  He walked.  He leapt.  He launched into a freestyle praise dance.  He became a living testimony of God power, God’s grace, God’s provision. (Acts 3: 8-10)

But he was still broke.

The answer may be, “Sorry, bro.  I ain’t got it,” but that should only be the beginning of the answer.  And if it isn’t, keep asking. 

Ask, “Well, what did Jesus give you to give me today?”

Receive that.  It might be even better than what you asked for.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church (5220 Myron Massey Boulevard) in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

WE STILL LOVE YOU, THOUGH

In Luke 19, Jesus was there when the corrupt tax collector Zacchaeus repented and became a charitable, honest, born-again believer.    Jesus rejoiced saying, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9)

In Luke 10, Jesus ordained 70 disciples to evangelize and minister to the communities where He preached.  They worked so hard.  When they reported back they weren’t perfect, but they had done well and Jesus was proud of them. 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,  “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (Luke 10:21)

Jesus was also there when a young man declined His personal invitation to join the apostles because he didn’t want to leave his wealth behind.  Yes, Jesus told him to liquidate his holdings and give it all to charity, but the Lord also promised to be personally responsible for his daily bread.  Where Jesus had told others to go their way, He invited this man to “Come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10: 21)

Jesus watched the man just walk away.  But, Jesus didn’t go after him, even though He saw the young man’s potential and , looking at him, loved him, (Mark 10: 21)

As a pastor I often get to be present at the very moment when a person or a family turns their life around. 

I’ve been present when the light of love and commitment comes back on in a marriage.

I’ve been present when a young parent learns a better way to discipline her/ his child and bring out the baby’s unique gifts.

I’ve watched children independently choose to give their lives to Jesus.

I’ve presided over the moment when a gathering of church elders, without my intervention, debate and decide to make space for a younger generation to have power and prominence in their church.

And I have rejoiced in those moments! 

But I have also been present when a husband tells his wife that he’s done and that’s it, the marriage is over.

I’ve also been there when a man or woman decides to leave the rehab program and go back to the streets.
I’ve been present when the mother decides that she’s just gone let DHR take the baby because she prefers to live ratchet and she ain’t got time for no kid.

I’ve been there when the young person ignores every warning and offer of help and drops out of school because they can get food stamps, or an SSI check, or section 8, or a spot on the corner hustling, and they don’t need no school.

I’ve held the last session of couples’ consultation for 2 people who insisted on going to “the next level” with a relationship that scripture, common sense, and psychological examination had proven should never have begun.

I’ve been there at the precise moment when somebody makes the decision that begins the downward spiral for them and their family.

And I have sorrowed because I loved them.

But I can’t make the decision for them.  I can’t make them answer the Lord’s call to redemption and wisdom.   I can’t force them to take up their cross and follow Him.   And even when I followed behind them and begged them to do the right thing it didn’t work.  They just went back to the other things they valued more.

All I could do was look on them and still love them.
When Peter declared his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, the Lord rejoiced and praised Peter (Matthew 16: 17); and when Peter turned right around and said something stupid and totally the opposite of God’s will, Jesus turned right around.  He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mt 16:23)

But Jesus never stopped loving Peter.

I’m not always happy with what the people I serve in the church and community do with their lives.    Your foolish choices weigh on me and on my brother/sister pastors in ways that few people outside of the calling can understand. 

But even when you break our hearts, we still love you.

We may/ will rebuke you, but we still love you.

We may/ will look at you like you’ve lost your ever-lovin’ mind, but we still love you.

We may let your next couple of calls go to voicemail, but we still love you.

We can find resources for you.  We can distill hours of research and Bible study to answer a question for you.  We can fight the inertia of age-old church traditions just to help you.  But,  your pastor cannot do more to improve your life than you do to improve your life.

So when you insist on a making the worst possible decision available, don’t expect us to applaud, endorse, or otherwise validate your choice. 

But that doesn’t mean that we don’t still love you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116