Are you scattering or gathering?
Luke 11 : 23 (GNB)
“Anyone who is not for me Is really against me, anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.”
The world is fast going to an end. And God is hiring workers into his vineyard every hour of the day. Many hired workers are being replaced because they are scattering instead of gathering. They have missed the reason they were hired. They have unconsciously turned into wolves that devour the lamb.
How are the hired workers scattering?
1. Through their actions.
Today, there is hardly any difference between some hired workers and unbelievers. They do the same things that unbelievers do. In their workplace, they tell lies just as unbelievers do in order to make sales.
Some hired workers are abusive. Some of them sell fake products, just the way unbelievers do. They wear magical rings just as unbelievers do. They keep malice and backbite. They are troublemakers. They talk Just as unbelievers talk. They dance to secular and ungodly music like the unbelievers.
Some hired workers call stealing and cheating smartness. They drink alcohol just like unbelievers do. They are very corrupt. They are very harsh. They seduce men. As ladies, they dress indecently . They maltreat followers under their leadership. Position of power intoxicate them and they oppress others.
No wonder when they try to preach the gospel to unbelievers, they will ask them to stop that joke. They see no reason to accept Jesus because to them, “they are the same”, “I lie, they lie”. “I drink, they drink”. “I take bribe, they take bribe”. They will ask for the difference. You are not gathering with Christ. You are actually a scatterer. So the time to change is now.
2. Through their sermons
Some people’s messages are always judgmental. Their sermons lack love. Because of their doctrinal beliefs, they cannot bear it seeing a lady in trousers, attachments, earrings or bangles. They can’t convert others by first becoming their friend. As far as they are concerned, others must first of all do away with what they don’t like before they can be friends.
They hate with passion, those whom Jesus died for. Unknown to them, the way they preach hardens the mind of unbelievers, to the extent that some of them don’t mind going to hell fire. All what they know how to preach is, “You are going to hell fire, if you wear earrings, trousers wedding rings, and so on. Is this the message of salvation driven by love?
When Jesus was on the earth, he did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery. He only told her not to sin anymore (John 8:11). When Jesus was on the earth, he healed a man that was sick for thirty-eight years due to his own sin. He didn’t condemn him. Jesus only told him to stop sinning so that something worse will not befall him (John 5:14).
These sets of people are not helping God to gather. They are unconsciously scattering. We can still preach message of hell fire, but with love and not judgemental spirit. Are you helping Jesus to gather or you are scattering? It is when you are not scattering that you can say you are really gathering.
3. Through their talents.
They are not using their God-given gifts to proclaim the gospel. Rather, they are using it to expand the kingdom of darkness. Instead of becoming an usher in the house of God, they work as waitresses in hotels and clubs.
Instead of becoming gospel musicians that will be winning souls for Christ, they join secular music. They are in love with the things of this world like Demas. Instead of playing instruments in the house of God, they play for secular musicians. They are scattering indeed.
If you are described by any of the above, you need to repent and turn to Jesus today.
Receive the grace to help Jesus gather and not scatter in Jesus name.
Also Read: The Vineyard of the Lord
Rotimi Israel is a writer and a teacher of God’s word. He attended the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Bible School. He is also currently training as a pastor with a Pentecostal denomination. He loves reading the Bible and preaching.
