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•38约翰对耶稣说：“夫子，我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼，我们就禁止他，因为他不跟从我们。”39耶稣说：“不要禁止他，因为没有人奉我名行异能，反倒轻易毁谤我。40不敌挡我们的，就是帮助我们的。41凡因你们是属基督，给你们一杯水喝的，我实在告诉你们：他不能不得赏赐。”
那些为上帝工作的人，在他们之间也会有互相嫉妒吗?他们在神的国度里争夺地盘吗?这些东西存在于耶稣的门徒中间，今天仍然存在于基督的教会里。在我作为牧师的服事生涯中，我看到过这种情况；我必须承认，我心里也有这种感觉和想法。
作为一个牧师，你要努力建造你的教会，一个灵魂一个灵魂的建造。然后一个友好的，有魅力的牧师在几英里外建立了一个教会，并吸引了很多你教会的成员加入他的教会。他的教会在成长，而你的却没有。事实上，离开你教会的成员成为了新教会的支柱。在你的心里，你怀有嫉妒、怨恨和愤怒——就像那些来到耶稣面前的门徒一样。
你知道我心里为什么也会有这种感觉吗?因为当我忘记那不是我的国度，而是耶稣的国度时，我就会有这种想法。当我的心更专注于自己而不是耶稣，嫉妒就会在我心里生长出来。但是我却忘记了更重要的，那就是福音被传讲了，耶稣的国降临了。那些搬到城市另一端新教会的成员，神并没有失去他们，只是我失去了。但实际上我也没有失去，因为我们仍然是肢体，连接在耶稣基督这同一个身体上。我应该很高兴，因为现在有两个教会，可以向更多的人传福音。
祷告:主耶稣，求你赦免我，我对你的国度常常怀着错误的看法，以为那是我自己的国度。求你教导我，无论何时何地福音被传讲，你的国降临，我都要喜乐。阿们。
Mark 9:38-41: “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. (NIV)
Envy among those who are doing God’s work? Turf battles in the kingdom? These things were there with Jesus’ disciples and they are still among us in the church today. I’ve seen it among pastors in my ministry, and I have to confess that I have harbored those feelings in my own heart
As a pastor, you work hard to build up your church, one soul at a time. Then a friendly, charismatic pastor starts a church a few miles away and draws more than a few of your members into his fold. His church grows and yours does not. In fact, the members that left your church become pillars in the new church. In your heart you harbor envy, resentment, and anger—just like the disciples who came to Jesus.
Do you know why I might harbor those feelings in my heart? It happens when I forget it is not MY kingdom, but JESUS’ kingdom. Envy and jealousy breeds in a heart that is focused on me instead of Jesus. What matters is that the gospel is preached and that Jesus’ kingdom comes. Those members that moved to the new church across town are not lost for the kingdom, only to me. And not even to me, really, because we are still one in the body of christ. I should really rejoice because now there are two congregations reaching out to more people with the gospel.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for losing my perspective in regard to your kingdom, thinking it is about me instead. Teach me to rejoice whenever and wherever the gospel is preached and your kingdom comes. Amen.