Jn 9:1-2 (NKJV) Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
The disciples expected Jesus to explain why the man was blind but Jesus did not directly answer the question or give the explanation they expected.Jn 9:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
God teaches us many things but if we expect Him to explain everything, we will be disappointed.
It is good to want to understand more but God’s thoughts are often very different from ours.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
In spite of this we often expect our pastors to understand and explain everything. How foolish, when we consider that even God does not explain everything on the spot.
Bill Johnson is an outstanding pastor in California with a worldwide ministry. He says pastors are often tempted to appear that they know everything.
A pastor answers a difficult question. Then the Heavenly Father turns to Jesus and says: “It was very interesting what that pastor just said. I never thought of that. Jesus, did you tell him that?”
In many churches, pastors claim to teach divine truth but in reality the people are being fed with human ideas.
That is very dangerous if a Bible believing pastor has excellent Bible knowledge and gives the impression that he understands everything, so he must always be right.
In Pentecostal churches, many preachers may have good Bible knowledge and also prophetic gifts. The people may be tempted to expect him to always have a word directly from God.
God often gives a word of revelation but not always.
If the prophetic preacher makes a mistake and the people do not know how to seek God for discernment and confirmation, they can be misled.
Even a true word of prophecy can be unhelpful if people to not learn how to hear from God themselves and seek wisdom from God to apply his revealed truth.
Bill Johnson teaches we need to hear from prophetic people but we also need to hear from God ourselves.
Jesus understood these dangers very well.
Many Jewish Rabbis were looked up to as infallible sources of divine truth but Jesus warned against this.
Matthew 23:8-10 (NKJV) But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
This still applies to us now. It make no difference whether the preacher is called “Rabbi” or “Pastor.”
In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was WITH the Jewish people. He spoke to the people through the written Word and also through prophets, priests and kings, who had more direct access to God.But when Jesus died, rose from the dead and then poured out His Holy Spirit on all believers, everything changed.
James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Now every believer has direct access to the wisdom of God to guide him in his life. Wisdom comes through faith in God Himself.
We should not despise preachers and leaders and there are times when it is good to seek wise counsel from others, not necessarily from pastors.
But the most important source of wisdom is God Himself.
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NKJV) Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
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