A Liberian Prelate has called on Liberians to be strategic in their engagements and decision-making as the country moves close to the end of 2022 and ushers in a new year. The Clergyman called on Liberians not to hold themselves down behind any crowd standing before them because that crowd could be opposed to them and their set goals.
The call was made on Sunday, October 9 by the Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church, Rev. Dr. Kortu K. Brown during the climax of two special prayer events by the New Water in the Desert Assembly in Brewerville, Montserrado County. The intercession is beheld for the family, church, and nation.
Using as text the New Testament book of St. Luke Chapter 19 from verses 1 thru 10, the Apostolic preacher narrated the story of Zaccheus, a chief tax collector who sought to see Jesus but was prevented by the crowd before him while Jesus entered and passed through the city of Jericho. The man who the Bible considered a rich man and also a son of the patriarchal father Abraham, seeing that his desire to see Jesus would be undermined by the crowd before him, decided to run ahead of the crowd to position himself in a place where he could easily see Jesus. He chose the Sycamore tree.
According to Bishop Brown, the man Zaccheus made a very important decision that each of us should make as we consider life and moving forward. That decision enabled him to see Jesus or accomplished his desire, goal and/or objective set that day. “He did stay walking behind the crowd that was preventing him from seeing Jesus”. He said that “many persons are not achieving their objectives in life because they are walking behind the crowd when they should be ahead of the crowd”
Stop walking behind the crowd
The Pentecostal cleric averred that if Zaccheus had been like many other Liberians or people in our days, he would not have achieved his desire to encounter Jesus that day. When he left his office in Jericho, he was determined that nothing will stop him from seeing Jesus. “Many Liberians are waking behind the wrong crowd spiritually, politically, socially, etc. or they are wasting their time behind a crowd that will not enable them to achieve their goal in the mediate and long term”, he said, adding again, “stop wasting your time behind the blocking crowd. Some of the crowds you are walking behind will hold you just where you are until everything is over and you achieved nothing”
Eschewed pride
If we must move forward, the preacher admonished his parishioners and all Liberians, we must eschew pride. Being a chief tax collector, rich, and a son of Abraham could have prevented Zaccheus from “wasting his time” to see Jesus. When he made the first attempt and encountered opposition, he would revert to his office to carry on his normal duties. “However, he laid down his pride. Pride is killing a lot of Liberians and making it difficult for them to have a closer relationship with God. They already believed they have everything, so why go to church or waste their time in church?”, he quipped
Press ahead
“It is time to press ahead”, the preacher encouraged his listeners. He reminded them about how Zaccheus didn’t allow the crowd to discourage him; he bypassed the crowd and ran ahead to accomplish his goal on that day. “Stop holding yourself in one place, arise and press ahead. Run until you pass the crowd blocking you from achieving your objectives”, the preacher advised, adding “our families, church and the nation is being held back because we are pressing ahead”.
Opposition crowd
“In the end”, Bishop Brown narrated, “Zaccheus realized that the crowd he previously walked behind was opposed to Jesus going to his house because of his character and their perception of him. St. Luke 19 vs 7 says, “And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” The crowd didn’t know that Jesus came to offer repentance and forgiveness to the lost. They crumbled against our Lord Jesus Christ’s offer to visit Zaccheus’ house. “There are many people”, the former president of the Liberia Council of Churches said, “who do not know that the people they are walking behind are opposed to them achieving their desire, goal, and/or objectives in life. Walk past that opposition crowd”, he concluded.
