A Reminder Notice: Men Of God Are Men

There was a man of God in the bible called Elisha- he parted the Jordan River into two by a single stroke of the cloak he took from Elijah his master. Some soldiers came to arrest him and then he caused all of the soldiers to be blind. An axe head fell into a river during their work in the woods, then the prophet took a piece of wood and dropped it on the river, the heavy metallic axe head floated back on the surface of the river and he picked it and gave it to the servants to continue working. A Shunammite woman’s son died and the man of God was informed, he brought the guy back to life. But 2^nd King 13:14 records “Now Elisha was fallen sick with his sickness whereof he died”. The powerful man of God died of sickness. What does that tell us? It means men of God also fall sick and some can even die of sickness, why? Because the man of God is also a man.

Apostle Paul spoke of a young man call Epaphras who is always laboring in prayer for the church in Colossians. He was known for his prayers and constant visitation to the Apostle Paul for hospitality purposes. Look at Paul’s description about him in Philippians 2:27: “Indeed he was ill, and almost died”. Why he was sick and nearly died? Because he was a man. At a point in Jesus’ ministry the bible said “he wept”. The man we are preaching at a point in time wept and we who are the messengers pretend as though everything is on a cruise control and disaster cannot befall a man of God”.

I am aware of statements like “If you leave my church, you are no longer under my covering”. I have come across statement like “I will withdraw my grace from you”. I have heard pastors make statement like “if you touch me by mistake, you die by correction”. These audacious statement made by certain folks in the clergy is what makes them look like demi-gods to people and don’t expect them to go through certain trials or ordeals of life, but c’mon now, men of God are men too. I know people practice all sorts of covenants to be exempted from catastrophe, yes. But he is a man. If Jesus our chief apostle could weep, then everybody can weep. We are men.

In Act chapter 14, Apostle Paul and Barnabas had the privilege to be used by God in Lystra. It was a situation regarding a man who couldn’t walk from birth. Paul looked into the man’s eye and said “rise up and walk”. Immediately he jumped up and began to walk. The people in Lystra started calling the men of God by the name of Greek gods; they called Barnabas Zeus and Called Paul Hermes. Because they said the “gods have come down to us in human forms” because they saw an unusual miracle. When the men of God heard that the people have started calling them gods, they tore their clothes and rush into the crowd and this was their confession “we too are only HUMANS like you”. You know why? Because they are men.

If a church member can lose a love one then a man of God can also lose a love one, he is a man. If a church member can be tempted by the devil then a man of God can also be tempted by the devil, he is a man. If the church member can die out of sickness then a man of God can also die of sickness, he is a man. Listen, if a church member can be broke, a time can come in a man of God’s life where he practically has nothing. This is not a license for men of God to start sleeping around and be involved in all sorts of nefarious activities because we say we are men, no. This treatise is addressing a peculiar challenge in the body of Christ not to pamper sin.

A veteran of the Gospel of Christ lost someone, and then I saw comments like “so he sees people issues and he didn’t see this coming”. I saw things like “he have been healing people, why couldn’t he heal his relative”. Please, enough of this childish approach to issues of life. People see men of God at hospitals and ask “where is your faith?”. Please the hospital is for men not angels. The man of God is a man.

The men of God are a mere man whom through the election of Grace is chosen and empowered to lead a people through the teachings of God’s word. They deserve the same love we show our relatives, they deserve the same respect we show our bosses at work, they deserve the same appreciation we show our spouses, and they also need the same encouragement we have been yearning for.

The day we meet our congregation, please let us make them aware that were are also men. We don’t need to scare them with testimonies like “I haven’t been sick in 30 years, when you know very well that you take Panadol at night and treat Malaria once awhile when no one is around”. There is no need faking it to receive honor from the people. Honor is reciprocal, if we honor them they will honor us. There is no need faking it. We are also men.

Once a while, a strange demonstration of the spirit will accompany our ministry but don’t forget, We Are Also Men.

Prayer: My father in heaven, Grant me the Grace to finish well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

R. Duafah

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