ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY (PART 2) Once when I was a guest minister somewhere and it happened that during praise and worship I was asked to write a mini-profile to be used when introducing me. I scribbled on a piece of paper – ‘pastor of (name of my church), married with 1 child, I don’t remember the third thing. The person who received the paper was not impressed with what he was reading but I paid him no attention but continued worshipping God. I knew what he wanted but I was not prepared to give it to him. He wanted me to write all my credentials and achievements so that those in the meeting will be impressed with me even before they even hear me speak. He did not read from my paper by shouted: “This is a man that God has raised for such a time as this, he is an apostle, a prophet, a pastor.” I was stunned by this because I wasn’t sure when I became an apostle and prophet. I estimate that the auditorium had about 500 plus people and when I was given the mic I started by correcting this unnecessarily circus done by the MC. I told everyone gathered there that I don’t need to called something I am not for God to use me. I promised them that the Holy Spirit will move and touch everyone there and this is not dependent on us and our fancy titles. These people who hosted me had just received a strong correction from me a few days before the meeting when I saw their poster advertising me as Apostle Afrika Mhlophe. When I finished preaching the Spirit of God moved so strongly that people were on the floor and for more 30 min we were soaked in His presence. The moral of the story is that knowing who are is connecting to knowing who you are not. • I am apostolic because I am sent to preach the gospel (Matt 28:19). God however did not say I am an apostle • I am prophetic because I endeavour to listen to the Holy Spirit and I sometimes I even prophesy but God did not say I am apostle. • I am evangelical because I witness to the lost but...you get my point. • I don’t need a stage name or a praise singer to introduce me before I share God’s word. For those who don’t know a stage name is a new thing now in the church where ministers are referred to as ‘tsunami, bulldozer, demon-killer’ or anything to impress the audience. I don’t need men’s validation and God doesn’t move in services because I am powerful but He moves regardless of my imperfections – of which I have plenty.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 17:56:47 +0000
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