How people love titles !

I asked a man his name and he replied, “My name is Pastor ....”. I never asked the fellow his title. What an affection for prefixes and suffixes these days ! Leave it out and my !!! how folks would be offended. It is amusing how even men and women of God take great pains to attach titles and qualifications. Oh ! and the introductions from on stage…. The name has to have all the accoutrements.

But statesmen of the Most High, and friends of the Lord Jesus Christ, will put out their hand and say, “I am John Smith”. That’s all. A pastor with 10000 members answers the phone by saying, “Praise the Lord, Sam speaking”. How refreshing and encouraging that is. What a beauty in simplicity!

Statesmen and visionaries who have been awarded dozens of titles never use them while men of God trying to make a niche for themselves in the eyes of this world, and their followers, are quick to use a title given by a hole-in-the-wall university!

Ever hear about the lady who filled up an application for a Doctorate in the name of her cat, and got it too?

In days gone by, the qualification to go into the work of the Lord would be the ability to win souls. Today it is the prefixes and the suffixes that determine the offices in the church.

I once met a preacher who could not speak a word of English. But I can never forget the glow on his face and the radiance of love and power about him. Ah! that’s what my soul longs for!

What a Word in the scriptures about this !

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in legalistic spiritual offices…. all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best seats and places at feasts, and the chief seats in the places of worship

They love greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, Teacher, Teacher or Honourable Sir.

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”.


Away with the ways of this world and on with the glories of God, even the clothes of humility, the garments of praise and the ornaments of a quiet and meek spirit which is of great price in the sight of our God.

Away with the honour that comes from men and on with the honours from above. Emptiness within seeks earthly crowns. But Christ within is the lifter of our head.

A stumbling preacher longing for recognition and acceptance in his circle soon opens the church doors to the ways of this world. But they that know their God and the power of the cross cry out. “It is no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveth in me !”

They who live in the baptising fires of God, go about delivering the souls of men, breaking bondages, healing the sick and even raising the dead, while powerless people are splitting the letter of the law, patting and scratching one another’s back, and listening to comforting lullabies and soothing flatteries.

Away with every beggarly element and atom that is not ordained by the Holy One, for you are not of this world even as He is not of this world. Did He not say, “From now, I call you - My friends!”


And so now