I was at my wife's uncles funeral the other day and something struck me as curious. The "Lords' Prayer" as found in Matthew 6 is known by the saved and unsaved alike. The minister leading the service led everyone in the prayer and all the people knew it word for word. It made me wonder and think why we are so eager to fall back into wrong practices.
OK Brian what are you talking about? Jesus said to pray in this manner; not to repeat this example of prayer. He further said to not pray like the heathens by vain repetitions. I love my brothers and sisters in the main stream denominations and the Catholic Church but repeating this prayer is in direct contradiction to the warning of Jesus right before he spoke it. I would like to share some of my thoughts of pray in this manner and what it means to me.
1. Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name..... This part of the example of prayer should have sounded familiar to the original listener and readers as this followed the Hebrew prayer of Kaddish which exalts the greatness, splendor, majesty, power and holiness of Father God. It is to settle us and turn our focus rightly towards the author and finisher of our existence and faith. To remind us that only through the adoption as son's through Christs act on the cross can we even communicate with God and come boldly before the throne of grace. It changes our attention off us and towards heaven as it says in Colossians. So for me and when I pray this part of my prayer is to shift my eyes, my thoughts and my entire being towards God.
2. Thy Kingdom come thy will be done as it is in Heaven..... I take this personally and to heart. I know the rebellion in heaven has been dealt with and that as it is in heaven come into my life, my kingdom here on earth. In other words I pray that the same authority and power that overcame the evil and rebellion against God in heaven, that same power come into my life and make it so in my life even now as I live and breathe here on earth. The same evil one that came against the throne of God is also trying to attack my kingdom and even though I am forgiven of my sins by the act of the cross the stain of those sins in my soul (intellect, will and emotions) needs to be overcome. That is nothing in my own strength I can accomplish so Jesus is saying here to invite the power of the Holy Spirit to empower and quicken your mortal soul and body from the consequences of sin. To have his government set up in my life by my life being yielded to his loving perfect authority.
3. Give us this day our daily bread......Or better translated to mean give us today what we require for tomorrow. This again was understood to the hearer of the day as workers labored all day to get paid daily at the end of the day. They took their daily earning to buy what they needed to sustain themselves for tomorrow by most likely buying graines to make bread. The method of weighing the grain was by either pressing down the wheat or shaking the wheat into the container to fill it completely. We are promised to get the required grace from God pressed down and shaken together for the day we are to face. Remember the Bible tells us that we do not go through more than what God says we are able to endure. The key though is that we must make room for the grace in our life daily to receive it. Put yourself into the shoes of again the listener here. When he went to the market to get his wheat he probably said give me a container full of wheat. He had of coarse to pay for it from the work he just got done that day. We must work out our salvation daily and not take it for granted. We can't receive from the storehouse of heaven unless we put in the work to seek him first.
Well this post is getting a bit long so I will break it up into a part two. If you have any questions, complaints, gripes or discussions I would love to hear your input.
In His Service!
Brian
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Don't be like Esau
The worst thing we can do as a church is nothing. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 verse 17 says, "You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn't do anything to change what had happened."
This is reminding us of the story of Esau and as individuals and as the church we are to value the things of God more than this world. Esau as you remember rejected his blessing from God and his earthly father by being caught up in disobedience and caring little for what he "presumed" would always be his. In other words his thoughts were it was already his and he did not have to do anything to get it. Much like the church today and people in it, we hear messages of blessings of God but not the responsibility of receiving and caring for that blessing.
People and churches that think like Esau only care about themselves and the blessings they can get. I would dare say that they care little about the person of Jesus Christ and the price he paid to pour out the grace of heaven unto us. For a single meal Esau gave up the rights and blessings of God and his earthly father. What is in your bowl? What are you putting ahead of your relationship with God? Don't be fooled that the blessing of salvation is something you make with your mind and not live it out with your heart. Don't be fooled that you can pursue the lusts of your soul like Esau and then come crying with earthly sorrow when you are rejected of God. Hebrews 6:4-8 tells of this kind of false salvation. Jesus said that many will call upon me Lord, Lord and he will say depart from me I never knew you!
Our salvation is not just hearing the word and making an intellectual or emotional decision as given in the parable of the seed. We must cultivate the soil of our lives and let the word grow inside us and through us. We must deny ourselves and unlike Esau we must live for righteousness and value the blessing of our salvation and grace of God. We must defend our faith and when we see others getting weary like a boxer in a long fight we must remind them to keep their arms up to protect themselves and get the strength back in their legs. That's what is mentioned earlier in Hebrews 12:12-13. We as a church do nothing when we see others getting beaten up.
We see them drop out of church. We see them grow weary of the fight and do little or nothing to give them the strength they need to continue to fight. We watch as they fall into temptations and pursue things that are not called of God in their lives. We watch their marriages fall apart and their children get devoured in the process. We like Esau do nothing to the most valued blessing on earth and that my friends is the Church;the Bride of Christ. We must do better. We are called to do more and instructed to if I read my Bible correctly.
Esau made no confession of sin but just remorse for what he lost. We can learn from this! We must be a people who are fast to repent and fast to pray for others we know are hurting. Take time today to value your blessing. Take time today to remove the weeds from your soil and let the word of God grow deep and do its nourishing work in you. Pray for others in your prayer closet. Call up a friend you know can use a kind word and an encouraging prayer. Come to church with your hands up and your legs under you! Value the blessing of your salvation!
In His Service!
Brian
This is reminding us of the story of Esau and as individuals and as the church we are to value the things of God more than this world. Esau as you remember rejected his blessing from God and his earthly father by being caught up in disobedience and caring little for what he "presumed" would always be his. In other words his thoughts were it was already his and he did not have to do anything to get it. Much like the church today and people in it, we hear messages of blessings of God but not the responsibility of receiving and caring for that blessing.
People and churches that think like Esau only care about themselves and the blessings they can get. I would dare say that they care little about the person of Jesus Christ and the price he paid to pour out the grace of heaven unto us. For a single meal Esau gave up the rights and blessings of God and his earthly father. What is in your bowl? What are you putting ahead of your relationship with God? Don't be fooled that the blessing of salvation is something you make with your mind and not live it out with your heart. Don't be fooled that you can pursue the lusts of your soul like Esau and then come crying with earthly sorrow when you are rejected of God. Hebrews 6:4-8 tells of this kind of false salvation. Jesus said that many will call upon me Lord, Lord and he will say depart from me I never knew you!
Our salvation is not just hearing the word and making an intellectual or emotional decision as given in the parable of the seed. We must cultivate the soil of our lives and let the word grow inside us and through us. We must deny ourselves and unlike Esau we must live for righteousness and value the blessing of our salvation and grace of God. We must defend our faith and when we see others getting weary like a boxer in a long fight we must remind them to keep their arms up to protect themselves and get the strength back in their legs. That's what is mentioned earlier in Hebrews 12:12-13. We as a church do nothing when we see others getting beaten up.
We see them drop out of church. We see them grow weary of the fight and do little or nothing to give them the strength they need to continue to fight. We watch as they fall into temptations and pursue things that are not called of God in their lives. We watch their marriages fall apart and their children get devoured in the process. We like Esau do nothing to the most valued blessing on earth and that my friends is the Church;the Bride of Christ. We must do better. We are called to do more and instructed to if I read my Bible correctly.
Esau made no confession of sin but just remorse for what he lost. We can learn from this! We must be a people who are fast to repent and fast to pray for others we know are hurting. Take time today to value your blessing. Take time today to remove the weeds from your soil and let the word of God grow deep and do its nourishing work in you. Pray for others in your prayer closet. Call up a friend you know can use a kind word and an encouraging prayer. Come to church with your hands up and your legs under you! Value the blessing of your salvation!
In His Service!
Brian
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Worship
I was in a local market recently and stopped by my favorite french fry stand (Brickers Fries) and talked with the owner. I have been stopping by Craig's booth for years and over time we have formed a great relationship. Anyway he like to introduce me to people that are at his stand and always announces to people to watch their language because Brian is a man of God. Pretty cool!
Anyway, he introduced me to another gentleman that was also a Pastor. I asked him about his church and he just hung his head and then gave me the following not so uncommon story. He was the retired Pastor of this congregation but had stuck around. He told me the church is mixed between members his age and a crowd in their 30's. He went on to say that the older crowd loved hymns and the younger crowd loved modern worship. They had come to an agreement to do the worship service with 50% of each style of worship. Well over the next year the crowd of younger folks grew bigger and they either forgot or ignored the request of sharing the style of songs and before you knew it there was a big controversy in that body. To make a long story short they could not as Christian brethren come to the grace needed to work this out and so the church split. Over 100 people left the church along with to my surprise this retired Pastor.
Can I say this without anybody getting mad at me??? Worship is not for YOU! Worship is something we present to the Lord and not because it feels good but because we get to. One day every knee will bow before the Lord willing or not in worship but for now we get the honor and privilege to come before Him and give back to him a part of the perfect love he has given us. The bi-product of that is feeling His awesome presence and being drawn into his Glory. If and listen carefully, if that is why you worship you worship amiss. Worship is about blessing God and filling your selfish soulish wants.
Style of music is selfish and soulish! Grow up church! It's not about you. I repeat. It's not about you! How you feel. How many fast or slow songs. How many new or old songs. How long or short it is. All of that is irrelevant to what you bring before the Lord. Stop giving the enemy a foothold into your mind and into the bride of Christ by having these evil desires devour what the Lord is and wants to do among us. Repent before your God for bringing division inside the very place of worship and repent before your church leaders for your attitude. Give worship and if you are in the house of worship the Lord has called you be faithful. It may mean a trip to the cross for your flesh but it will end the battle in you and the strife if any in your church.
In His Service.
Brother Brian
Anyway, he introduced me to another gentleman that was also a Pastor. I asked him about his church and he just hung his head and then gave me the following not so uncommon story. He was the retired Pastor of this congregation but had stuck around. He told me the church is mixed between members his age and a crowd in their 30's. He went on to say that the older crowd loved hymns and the younger crowd loved modern worship. They had come to an agreement to do the worship service with 50% of each style of worship. Well over the next year the crowd of younger folks grew bigger and they either forgot or ignored the request of sharing the style of songs and before you knew it there was a big controversy in that body. To make a long story short they could not as Christian brethren come to the grace needed to work this out and so the church split. Over 100 people left the church along with to my surprise this retired Pastor.
Can I say this without anybody getting mad at me??? Worship is not for YOU! Worship is something we present to the Lord and not because it feels good but because we get to. One day every knee will bow before the Lord willing or not in worship but for now we get the honor and privilege to come before Him and give back to him a part of the perfect love he has given us. The bi-product of that is feeling His awesome presence and being drawn into his Glory. If and listen carefully, if that is why you worship you worship amiss. Worship is about blessing God and filling your selfish soulish wants.
Style of music is selfish and soulish! Grow up church! It's not about you. I repeat. It's not about you! How you feel. How many fast or slow songs. How many new or old songs. How long or short it is. All of that is irrelevant to what you bring before the Lord. Stop giving the enemy a foothold into your mind and into the bride of Christ by having these evil desires devour what the Lord is and wants to do among us. Repent before your God for bringing division inside the very place of worship and repent before your church leaders for your attitude. Give worship and if you are in the house of worship the Lord has called you be faithful. It may mean a trip to the cross for your flesh but it will end the battle in you and the strife if any in your church.
In His Service.
Brother Brian
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
What is the Church Doing?
Our family had company over last night as we often do and we talked about many things. Can you tell me what your church is doing? That is my question. Many will answer back with times of service and the many programs that their church is keeping busy doing but what is the statement the "church" is sending to the community?
Television style ministries and copy cat cookie cutter churches and programs rule the day. But when you go to the street and ask a person that lives in the community what that church does you would be crushed to find out what their answer is. Most would say they didn't even notice that there was a church there. Most would say that they are turned off by the constant plea for money and empty promises from the pulpit that have no root in Biblical interpretation.
I tried to watch "Christian" television last night on 6 different channels and the biggest message that I heard was to send in money. 1 Timothy 6:3-9 tells of how many will be attracted to being church leaders but with the wrong motives. Jesus said that we are his workmanship created for the expressed purpose of doing good works. We are not saved by these works but we show that the same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead is alive in us and it quickens us to do the works of Jesus on earth today. What a concept!
What is your church doing to the least of these? Or does your church just pay attention to those that can support them with finances? What do the people around your church testify about you and the benefit of having your church in their community? Do they know you are there? Do they know you care? Let's stop playing church and start being the church.
In His Service and Under His Mercy!
Brother Brian
Television style ministries and copy cat cookie cutter churches and programs rule the day. But when you go to the street and ask a person that lives in the community what that church does you would be crushed to find out what their answer is. Most would say they didn't even notice that there was a church there. Most would say that they are turned off by the constant plea for money and empty promises from the pulpit that have no root in Biblical interpretation.
I tried to watch "Christian" television last night on 6 different channels and the biggest message that I heard was to send in money. 1 Timothy 6:3-9 tells of how many will be attracted to being church leaders but with the wrong motives. Jesus said that we are his workmanship created for the expressed purpose of doing good works. We are not saved by these works but we show that the same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead is alive in us and it quickens us to do the works of Jesus on earth today. What a concept!
What is your church doing to the least of these? Or does your church just pay attention to those that can support them with finances? What do the people around your church testify about you and the benefit of having your church in their community? Do they know you are there? Do they know you care? Let's stop playing church and start being the church.
In His Service and Under His Mercy!
Brother Brian
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Confusion is not from God
Did you know that the author and finisher of our faith is not a God that authors confusion? There is a great deal of confusion in the body of Christ today and that is a sad statement regarding the level of maturity in our leaders and congregations.
I was reading a sermon this morning from Smith Wigglesworth that was delivered to a bunch of church leaders in the 1920's. He was talking to them from a position of integrity of the walk he had been and still was living. He said that he does not read books other than the Bible. He said he never refers to himself while preaching. He said while others liked to tell stories about others and meetings they had in the past he only preached the gospel. He taught that the power was in the word of God and not anything in him that he could give except the truth of Jesus Christ.
Charles Finney was also a man of great integrity. He was so careful to not let man put him on a pedestal that he would shut down meetings when they got out of order. Today we have people chasing after a group of self proclaimed "special anointed" men and women to get something of them all in the name of Jesus.
All the while they say they are standing on the foundation of these men of integrity and are walking in and past their level of anointing. We have false teachings and glorification of angels, prophets, and such self promotion that confusion abounds. Error is even embraced as long as the desired outcome is reached in the eye's of the people. We have third heaven visitations and cultist manifestations and mind control and and men and women in leadership are flocking towards this like bugs to a night light.
There is a vacuum in leadership in today's church and an absolute drought of the word of God. You know we have no power to make the Bible say what we want it to! God has intentioned his word to be understood and in the manner he has ordained. In other words we can't manipulate the word to suit ourselves as if we are gods to ourselves. The word of God can not mean something today that it never meant when it was written. It can not have a different understanding than that of which the people who first read it understood it or better yet the first writers inspired by the Holy Spirit meant it.
Nobody can tell you what I really mean to convey in my writings but me. You can say, "Well this is what I think it means" but without talking with me about this blog you would make some wrong conclusions. Without having the teacher of all things reveal his word to you in study you can be deceived to believe a false conclusion and therefore have wrong application of the word of God in your life. That is confusion and that my friend is not of God.
Stop being fed from men and women falsehoods about the kingdom of God! We will talk about things that are in confusion and abound in the church today that are misunderstood and misapplied. They are anointing, glory, word of knowledge, power, worship, impartation, mantels, soaking, trips to third heaven, etc. We will explore the word of God and see what is truth and what is fiction. Stay tuned and God Bless your day.
I was reading a sermon this morning from Smith Wigglesworth that was delivered to a bunch of church leaders in the 1920's. He was talking to them from a position of integrity of the walk he had been and still was living. He said that he does not read books other than the Bible. He said he never refers to himself while preaching. He said while others liked to tell stories about others and meetings they had in the past he only preached the gospel. He taught that the power was in the word of God and not anything in him that he could give except the truth of Jesus Christ.
Charles Finney was also a man of great integrity. He was so careful to not let man put him on a pedestal that he would shut down meetings when they got out of order. Today we have people chasing after a group of self proclaimed "special anointed" men and women to get something of them all in the name of Jesus.
All the while they say they are standing on the foundation of these men of integrity and are walking in and past their level of anointing. We have false teachings and glorification of angels, prophets, and such self promotion that confusion abounds. Error is even embraced as long as the desired outcome is reached in the eye's of the people. We have third heaven visitations and cultist manifestations and mind control and and men and women in leadership are flocking towards this like bugs to a night light.
There is a vacuum in leadership in today's church and an absolute drought of the word of God. You know we have no power to make the Bible say what we want it to! God has intentioned his word to be understood and in the manner he has ordained. In other words we can't manipulate the word to suit ourselves as if we are gods to ourselves. The word of God can not mean something today that it never meant when it was written. It can not have a different understanding than that of which the people who first read it understood it or better yet the first writers inspired by the Holy Spirit meant it.
Nobody can tell you what I really mean to convey in my writings but me. You can say, "Well this is what I think it means" but without talking with me about this blog you would make some wrong conclusions. Without having the teacher of all things reveal his word to you in study you can be deceived to believe a false conclusion and therefore have wrong application of the word of God in your life. That is confusion and that my friend is not of God.
Stop being fed from men and women falsehoods about the kingdom of God! We will talk about things that are in confusion and abound in the church today that are misunderstood and misapplied. They are anointing, glory, word of knowledge, power, worship, impartation, mantels, soaking, trips to third heaven, etc. We will explore the word of God and see what is truth and what is fiction. Stay tuned and God Bless your day.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Revival? Still Watching
I have been silent on the Blog for some time and have been very busy elsewhere. I have also been watching the "Healing Revival" taking place in Florida. My time watching this has not been one of great joy as many have been sharing with me in my circle. I have also been tired for some time since the 1990's and the Toronto and Brownsville movements trying to make sense of why God is good to us despite our willingness to get what he doing wrong.
Now don't hear me wrong here, I am not saying these movements of the past or what is happening in Florida is not of God but how we as the church react to it. Follow along with me if you will. I have watched over 20 hours of this event on God TV and I see a lot of God's love being poured out to His people. I also see, hear and feel lots of man's pride. My phone has been ringing off the hook from friend and family all over the country and they all have the same things to say that I find curious.
The focus of the reports I hear from past events and this one are focused on a person in leadership or gold dust and gold teeth and not the Love of Christ for His Bride! I was also at a leadership conference recently that talked about having new wine skins to contain the new wine that God wants to give. I heard also that we need not be defenders of what God has done so much as to leave room for God to do new works today. HMMMM???
Although I agree with these statements to a group of leaders who are mature I can also see that people will react how they want. There is a feeling of old Jewish Mysticism and 2nd century Gnosticism mixed in together here in the mass of people at these events. I don't look for gold dust or gold teeth but Salvation's as a true marker of the fruit of a revival. Charles Finney said that the power of God's presence would show up to bring conviction of sin and conversion to righteousness. I'm not set up to judge these current events or past events in any other way as to ask where are the conversions??? Isn't that the ultimate healing?
I have seen my share of God's healing power. I have to line up what God is doing today as with what he has done in the past. I have to discount the teaching that tells me that God would do something today or tomorrow that would disagree with the Word of God. Jesus healed people and did miracles to draw people to repentance. To look back at Toronto and Brownsville we should have seen a great influx of people into our churches and the facts are that church membership and attendance is down all over North America. I would say that whatever God is doing today in Florida or in your backyard let us not lose sight that we who are saved should look to be refreshed in these movements but for the betterment of our towns and cities and the lost. If all this is going to be is another feel good display of self absorbed self seeking what can God do for me events than count me out.
I pray that you join with me and pray that we respond to what God is doing in a proper way for his Glory. Amen!
Now don't hear me wrong here, I am not saying these movements of the past or what is happening in Florida is not of God but how we as the church react to it. Follow along with me if you will. I have watched over 20 hours of this event on God TV and I see a lot of God's love being poured out to His people. I also see, hear and feel lots of man's pride. My phone has been ringing off the hook from friend and family all over the country and they all have the same things to say that I find curious.
The focus of the reports I hear from past events and this one are focused on a person in leadership or gold dust and gold teeth and not the Love of Christ for His Bride! I was also at a leadership conference recently that talked about having new wine skins to contain the new wine that God wants to give. I heard also that we need not be defenders of what God has done so much as to leave room for God to do new works today. HMMMM???
Although I agree with these statements to a group of leaders who are mature I can also see that people will react how they want. There is a feeling of old Jewish Mysticism and 2nd century Gnosticism mixed in together here in the mass of people at these events. I don't look for gold dust or gold teeth but Salvation's as a true marker of the fruit of a revival. Charles Finney said that the power of God's presence would show up to bring conviction of sin and conversion to righteousness. I'm not set up to judge these current events or past events in any other way as to ask where are the conversions??? Isn't that the ultimate healing?
I have seen my share of God's healing power. I have to line up what God is doing today as with what he has done in the past. I have to discount the teaching that tells me that God would do something today or tomorrow that would disagree with the Word of God. Jesus healed people and did miracles to draw people to repentance. To look back at Toronto and Brownsville we should have seen a great influx of people into our churches and the facts are that church membership and attendance is down all over North America. I would say that whatever God is doing today in Florida or in your backyard let us not lose sight that we who are saved should look to be refreshed in these movements but for the betterment of our towns and cities and the lost. If all this is going to be is another feel good display of self absorbed self seeking what can God do for me events than count me out.
I pray that you join with me and pray that we respond to what God is doing in a proper way for his Glory. Amen!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Pearls before Swine?
Remember the Girgishite Spirit is about earthly matters so much that it can not contain the things of God's Spirit. What I am about to say will probably be deemed controversial and hateful but let me say my life is not aimed at either. I am writing this from many years of finding the resource of God's people and of the church wasted on fighting what we have not been called to fight. Therefore these resources have been wasted and frustration has battled individual Christians and the body of Christ.
OK Brian what are you talking about, you may be asking? Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). These are the words of Jesus. He knew in our compassion and eagerness to share the gospel that we would also get bogged down trying to save that one that is not ready for Him or should I say not ready to stop living a life devoted to anything but themselves. Again, the Girgishite spirit can waste and ruin a church's time, talent and treasure.
A dog cares not whether his meal comes from a holy alter of worship or the garbage pits of hell. A pig does not appreciate the value, beauty and time it took to make a pearl as it watches it thrown carelessly at its feet. Yet we lack the wisdom of when to pour out and when to withdrawal as exampled by Christ himself as he faced similar situations. Your life, time, energy, opportunities and abilities are God's pearls. They're His! Amen! You and I are merely His stewards overseeing His possessions (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 4:1,2; 1 Peter 4:8-11). Yet out of confusion of not understanding our limitations and the instruction's of God we waste them and fall flat, exhausted and ready to throw in the towel and settle for something less than what the promise of God is for us and our churches. Can I say something here? STOP IT!!!!
Jesus also said this: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 I believe we have been out of balance in this equation for to long. We have not walked in the shrewdness Jesus has said we could and all the while his prophesy of sheep being in the midst of wolves has overtaken us. We are not protected from the wolves if we are not obedient and trusting in Him in that time. Staying innocent as doves mean we may feel really bad when we have to walk away but we have used the wisdom of God not as an excuse to not do something but to let God deal with that person or that situation some more until it is ready for heavenly treasure. All the while we can feel safe that we obeyed the instruction of our Lord and remain innocent with clean hands.
Christian, if you are feeling low on batteries today let me suggest you go to the storehouse of God and renew your strength. Learn how to recognize the Girgashite spirit alive in someone that you may be dealing with that is draining you and pray for that heavenly shrewdness of how to expend the treasure of heaven. Have a great day in the Lord! Brian PS. Did I mention that many times these people are in our family or inside our church walls?? I'll write more on this next time.....
OK Brian what are you talking about, you may be asking? Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). These are the words of Jesus. He knew in our compassion and eagerness to share the gospel that we would also get bogged down trying to save that one that is not ready for Him or should I say not ready to stop living a life devoted to anything but themselves. Again, the Girgishite spirit can waste and ruin a church's time, talent and treasure.
A dog cares not whether his meal comes from a holy alter of worship or the garbage pits of hell. A pig does not appreciate the value, beauty and time it took to make a pearl as it watches it thrown carelessly at its feet. Yet we lack the wisdom of when to pour out and when to withdrawal as exampled by Christ himself as he faced similar situations. Your life, time, energy, opportunities and abilities are God's pearls. They're His! Amen! You and I are merely His stewards overseeing His possessions (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 4:1,2; 1 Peter 4:8-11). Yet out of confusion of not understanding our limitations and the instruction's of God we waste them and fall flat, exhausted and ready to throw in the towel and settle for something less than what the promise of God is for us and our churches. Can I say something here? STOP IT!!!!
Jesus also said this: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 I believe we have been out of balance in this equation for to long. We have not walked in the shrewdness Jesus has said we could and all the while his prophesy of sheep being in the midst of wolves has overtaken us. We are not protected from the wolves if we are not obedient and trusting in Him in that time. Staying innocent as doves mean we may feel really bad when we have to walk away but we have used the wisdom of God not as an excuse to not do something but to let God deal with that person or that situation some more until it is ready for heavenly treasure. All the while we can feel safe that we obeyed the instruction of our Lord and remain innocent with clean hands.
Christian, if you are feeling low on batteries today let me suggest you go to the storehouse of God and renew your strength. Learn how to recognize the Girgashite spirit alive in someone that you may be dealing with that is draining you and pray for that heavenly shrewdness of how to expend the treasure of heaven. Have a great day in the Lord! Brian PS. Did I mention that many times these people are in our family or inside our church walls?? I'll write more on this next time.....
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