The apostle Paul, being led by the Spirit, wrote, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) The treasure he is speaking of is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When this gospel is truly preached, all glory in every way is given to Christ, All glory in the message and all glory in the presentation of the message. For this reason, I want no earthly title such as “Reverend.” As the psalmist said, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalms 111:9) I want no ministry bearing my name if I am the minister of Jesus Christ whose Name is above every name. I want no part in any organization, denomination or “para church” group which God has not set forth in His word if I am a member of that Church which is His Body. My ministry in that body is simply to feed that body. Neither can I seek the support of this unbelieving world to promote the cause and gospel work of Christ when I have preached His greatness and sufficiency. That would reduce Him to a beggar in some way in need of them.

     I feel like Ezra of old who said, “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.” (Ezra 8:22) Let me never boast in what I have done because all that will ever matter is what He has done and is doing. God save me from counting heads, advertising numbers and measuring God’s blessings by such things since this in no way glorifies God or represents His work. “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” To do so to “glorify the Lord” is simply a cloak for fleshly pride. Lord save me from glorying in the flesh. How can we glory in your presence? How can we call attention to ourselves in any way? “Thine is the power and the glory.”

     All of salvation is by what you’ve done and the experience of it in your people is by what you are doing. “Where is boasting then... It is excluded.” “no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”. If anything, let me take the blame!