The Eternally Fatal Dangers of Success

by jeremy.burns@charismamedia.com (George O. Wood) via Charisma Magazine

An angry Christian leader responded to allegations about his abuse of spiritual authority by reciting a list of accomplishments in the church he pastored: conversions, growth in membership and finances.

Did his success entitle him to behave in a manner inconsistent with the character of Jesus? Perhaps he did not see the issues in such black-and-white terms. However, it was clear that he equated the external growth of his church with God’s blessing upon him.

That’s an easy mistake to make, and it could be eternally fatal. (Matt. 7:21–23.) Ps. 60 helps us to stay honest with God when everything appears to be going well.

When everything looks okay, but it’s not

David’s armies had won an unbroken string of victories (2 Sam. 8). This psalm comes on the heels of one of those triumphs—over Edom.

But instead of praise for the victory, the psalm bursts open with a forthright statement that God had rejected Israel, been angry, shaken the land, torn it open, shown His people desperate times and given them wine (i.e., judgment) to make them stagger (Ps. 60:1–3).

How could David say such things in view of his military conquests? Was it not an hour when circumstances indicated God was with him?

Sometimes you fall apart on the inside while you look put together on the outside. Your private and public worlds don’t connect at all. Others cannot perceive the trauma you feel, the despair and loneliness. Only God knows that.

Making it right

The danger in success is dishonesty with self, others or God. You will substitute eternal accomplishment for internal peace. What happens to you becomes more important than what happens in you.

David alerts us to face this problem. Our successes may be happening despite God’s displeasure. Our concern must be more upon, “Is God pleased with me?” than “Is God pleased with what I am doing?”

David does not rely on his military successes for a sense of personal well-being. As in his down times when he totally relied upon the Lord, so now, in his triumphs, he does the same. It is still God who must raise a banner, save and help (vv. 4-5).

A string of accomplishments may lead us to feel self-sufficient. This psalm teaches us to remain dependent upon the Lord.

What’s next?

God does want to grant us victory. Verses 6-9 restate elements in the land grant initially given to Abraham. The Lord wanted His people, through David, now to possess that promise.

David has the good sense to know that the ultimate reason for his success lies not in his own prowess, but in God who owns the land and parcels it out to whom He wills.

A new humility

David looks beyond the present hour to conflicts yet ahead. The God who rejected us (v. 10) is the same One we must rely upon for assistance (v. 11). How important, then, that we repent of any wrong relationship with Him.

The outcome for our battles in life remains in God’s hands. David states, “The help of man is useless” (v. 11).

In one sense, that is an overstatement. David could not have won battles without the help of people like Joab, his commanders, armies and mighty men (see 2 Sam. 23:8–39.) But from another vantage, the statement is true.

David looked to ultimate causes. He knew he could field the best army in the world and still lose, if God were not with him.

So, also in your life. You can deploy every strategy known to man to regain lost territory, to emerge from a period of dispossession in your life. You can get the help of experts and those who truly love you. But if God is not with you and for you—the very God who rejects you and stands opposed to you when you are filled with pride and stubbornly rebellious—then you have no chance of prevailing.

This psalm begins with David knowing that external victory had come despite God’s displeasure with His people. David treasures his relationship with the Lord more than continuing an unbroken string of military wins. So, before going into the next battle, he corrects the deficiency in his own life over which God had been displeased.

You are a spiritually mature person when you take steps to correct the faults no one else sees, to repair the relationship with the Lord when everyone else thinks your relationship is fine.

In taking such action, you regain inner assurance and spiritual confidence. The future is not something you decide; rather “with God we will gain the victory and he will trample down our enemies” (v. 12, NIV).

George O. Wood is general superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God in the United States. He has been chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship since 2008. You can learn more about him at georgeowood.com.

Sheep and Goat Nations – The Great Commission, Part 4

By Rick Joyner

You do not need to be a prophet to see that we are in the times that the apostles and prophets spoke of when the kingdoms of this world would be collapsing and the kingdom of God growing. However, even many Christians who see how shaky the governments of this world are becoming do not yet see the signs of the coming kingdom. To understand the times, we must become increasingly discerning of these two kingdoms. Now there is one more factor we must consider as a basis for this study, which is declared in Revelation 11:15:

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

This indicates a transition, a “becoming.” Though the kingdoms of man are now collapsing, we have this and other prophecies which indicate that some of the kingdoms, or governments, of this world will not utterly crumble, but will transition into becoming part of the kingdom of God. We should discern these too so that we can, if possible, help them. Discerning them begins with understanding how this transition will take place for those nations that embrace the kingdom.

The Lord compared the kingdom to leaven that is sown into a lump of dough and spreads throughout the dough (see Matthew 13:33). The Lord uses many ways to sow His kingdom principles into governments and nations. These will spread and be a foundation for His coming kingdom. He is using His people to do this.

In Isaiah 40 we see that we prepare the way for the Lord by building a highway—a path built on God’s higher ways. This highway is being built now and, in some ways, has been under construction since the King, Jesus Himself, walked the earth. This is why The Great Commission is not only to make disciples of individuals, but nations. The “go into all the world” is not merely geographical. True missionaries sent by God are now going into every field of knowledge, industry, and government. They are being sent to these fields to help build this highway.

In one parable, the Lord said that when He returns, He is going to separate the nations into two groups—sheep and goats. He gives the distinguishing characteristics of both. As we are called to be salt and light in this world, both watchmen and shepherds, we should care deeply that whatever nation we have been born into, or sent to, becomes a “sheep nation” and not a “goat nation.”

Once we start to see the kingdom of God, even the greatest works of men begin to look boring and insignificant. I understand why some who begin seeing the kingdom lose all interest and hope in the governments and ways of men. This is why Abraham, who was obviously a member of the aristocracy of the greatest nation and culture of the time, left it all in pursuit of the city that God is building. In leaving everything to join with what God is building, Abraham became a blessing to all the families on the face of the earth. The primary way that we too will become the greatest blessing to the earth is by pursuing our calling to be a part of what God is building.

When we see what God is doing, nothing man has done will ever compare. Even so, although it may be boring, our job is to help the nations we have been sent to. We are to preach the gospel of the kingdom and help them in any way we can to become “sheep nations” and not “goat nations.” It is our job to give them hope. We have been given the greatest message of hope the world has ever, or will ever, hear—the gospel of the kingdom.

Therefore, along with this study of how we can see the coming kingdom, we know that we must, in practical ways, be preparing the way for it. We also need the deepest understanding and strongest grip possible on the message we have been given—the gospel of the kingdom.

What Are You Looking For?

One blustery winter day a few years ago Lois and I were purring along in our
car. We were listening to Christmas music on our way to do some shopping. It was
a few days before Christmas. We were thinking about how good God had been to us.
We were in good health. We had eight children who love us. We had fulfilling
ministry. So many blessings. Our hearts were full and happy. Things were close
but we had all we need and much of what we want.

Passing an area where there were some poor children playing, Lois said, “Turn
around and go back. Let’s find a little child who could use some money.”

After some mild objections I turned around and we went back and drove into the
dirt road between the modest houses. I rolled the window down and drove slowly
looking toward the little groups of children.  Most of them stood back and
looked at our slow-moving car suspiciously. Finally one little boy ran out to
the car and said, “Hi, can I help you.”

“Yes, I said. I’m looking for a young man that could use an extra twenty dollars
for Christmas. Do you know anybody like that?”

“Sure,” he said, “I can.” Grinning, he reached out and took the money.

“Wow, thanks!” He ran toward the house shouting, “Hey mom, dad….”

We drove away.

We weren’t looking for a boy who was talented or gifted or handsome or
impressive in any way. We were just looking for a boy who was willing to admit
that he could use an extra twenty dollars at Christmastime.

When Jesus came to this sin-poor world He was not looking for sharp people for
his team.
He was not looking for funding for His cause.
   He was not looking for moral support…
   He was looking for some good honest sinners…
   He was looking for sinners who knew they were sinners…

The heart of the Christmas story came out once when one of Jesus’ disciples was
irritated that Jesus had been rejected by Samaritans. He said, “shall we call
down fire out of heaven and consume them?” Jesus answer revealed his heart for
the world. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to
save them. (Luke 9:56)

Later in the book of Luke Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “The son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10). Jesus came looking for
people who were sinners. According to the gospels sinners are sick, lost,
wounded, dead, weak and ungodly. That is the kind of people Jesus came looking
for at Christmas time.

The God of Eternity is looking to pour out the riches of his salvation to anyone
willing to admit his spiritual poverty. He is willing to heal anyone who is
willing to admit that he is spiritually wounded. He is seeking to find anyone
who is willing to admit he is lost. He is eager to heal those who are broken and
sick. He came looking for people who were needy and willing to admit it. These
are his favorite kind of people.

Christmas is for good, honest sinners. The people who have not been deceived
into believing that they don’t need Jesus. Christmas is for good honest sinners
who live in a deep and continual awareness of their need. Christmas is for when
Jesus came to show people whose idols have failed them that Jesus is all their
hearts ever craved.

It’s Christmas, when Jesus came looking for some good honest sinners. Anyone
interested? Who wants to be first to say, “I need you, Jesus.” Jesus is looking
for broken people to bless. He is looking for hurting people to help. He is
looking for sinners to save. Let him know you qualify.

Kenneth L. Pierpont
http://www.kenpierpont.com  

A Bigger Frying Pan

Two men went fishing. One man was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn’t. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste good fish. “Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?” he asked.

The inexperienced fisherman replied, “I only have a small frying pan.”

Sometimes, like that fisherman, we throw back the big plans, big dreams, big jobs, big opportunities that God gives us. Our faith is too small. We laugh at that fisherman who didn’t figure out that all he needed was a bigger frying pan; yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith?

Whether it’s a problem or a possibility, God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle. That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.

You can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

Nothing is too big for God. Stop telling God you’ve got big problems, but instead tell your problems to a big God!

Story Of Truth Missed

There is the story of a man who took his wife and mother-in-law on a trip to visit the Holy Land. Unfortunately, while they were there, the mother-in-law suffered a heart attack and passed away. He now faced the decision to spend about ten thousand dollars to ship her back to America to be buried, or to pay less than $200.00 and have her buried in Israel.

After much consideration on his part, he decided to have her shipped back home. One of the local rabbis asked him if he was sure he wanted to spend so much money when he could have the same thing done so much cheaper over there.

The man told the rabbi that 2,000 years ago, they buried Jesus in Israel, too, but he arose on the third day, and with his mother-in-law, well, he just couldn’t take that chance.

That man knew something about the resurrection, but he didn’t know the truth, did he? That is like many people in today’s churches. They know something about Jesus, but they don’t really know Jesus.

We all seem to have an interest in the subject of life after death, and at the same time, many of us have a fear of it, don’t we?

Author Unknown

Getting Out of the Wilderness

Getting Out of the Wilderness
By Rick Joyner

A couple of years ago I was complaining in my heart about the obstacles that we had encountered in several areas of our ministry that were slowing down our progress. As I was sitting in my chair thinking about what I could do to get these things moving faster, the phone rang. It was my prophetic friend, Bob Jones, and he started talking as if he had been listening to my thoughts.

Bob began with, “You’re sitting there impatient, wondering what you can do to get things going, but the Lord is the One who slowed you down.” He went on to encourage me that we are on time, and we will accomplish what He has called us to do. He also said that we still did not have the complete plan, or God’s timing on everything, so we needed to keep seeking Him.

Almost ten years ago Bob had given me a word that we were to assemble a certain number of people in Charlotte. When these were assembled, the Lord would add a zero to our number, quickly multiplying our number by ten. He also said that the key word here was “assembled,” which means much more than just gathering people for meetings. It means to be put together, like one would assemble a puzzle.

Presently we have several times the number of people meeting in Charlotte than the original number we were given, but probably less than half of that number even know their place in the body, and even less than that have actually begun to function in their place. Though progress is being made, we still do not have the required number “assembled.”

I was also told that another reason why the Lord had slowed us down was because there was grumbling and complaining in the camp. What shocked me was that I was one of the guilty ones, as I was actually complaining in my heart when Bob called. We are told in the Book of Hebrews that grumbling and complaining was a primary reason why the first generation of Israel was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Complaining will keep us from the promises of God. This is also one of the reasons why many have not yet been released into their callings.

In whatever we are complaining about, we are really complaining about the Lord. If we complain about the leadership over us at our jobs, we are complaining about the Lord’s leadership in our lives, because He obviously put them there (see Romans 13). If we are complaining about our spouse, parents, children, or any other circumstances, we are complaining about the way that the Lord is ordering our lives. It takes faith to please God, and to move Him, but complaining is the opposite of faith. Complaining does not start things moving—it stops them. Complaining can be one of the most powerful enemies keeping us from walking in His purpose for our lives.

I was also told that during this time of being put in the Lord’s holding pattern, we were going to be tried by depression. For someone like me to wait is one of the most depressing things there is. I also know that many in our congregation have already spent years waiting on God, and just the mention of having to wait longer will be understandably difficult. Even so, if we give into depression or doubt it will cause us to stay in the wilderness even longer. Depression is sin because whatever is not of faith is sin, and depression does not embrace faith. It takes faith to inherit the promises of God.

There are some chemical and biological problems that can cause depression, but most of the depression that we suffer has a spiritual root. A victory over every spiritual stronghold was gained for us at the cross. We must not be satisfied with anything less than a complete victory over depression, and determine that we are going to view every situation with faith, not doubt. If we are getting tired of the wilderness it is time to review the promises of God, and encourage ourselves in His faithfulness.

Depression basically comes from seeing our situation from the dark side. This happens whenever we stop looking through the eyes of faith. It was depression that caused ten of the twelve spies who were sent to look over the Promised Land to come back with an “evil report” (see Numbers 13:32 KJV). It is interesting that their report of the land was true, and was basically the same report given by the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb. However, the ten saw the obstacles as being too great for them to overcome, while Joshua and Caleb believed they could be overcome since God was on their side. In both cases it was not what they saw that differed, but how they saw it.

Like the first generation of Israel to come out of Egypt, many Christians never walk in the promises of God to which they are called because they fall into grumbling and complaining. Sadly, many succumb to this just before they are about to be released from the wilderness. Having been there so long, the temptation to doubt was the greatest then. The fastest way out of the wilderness is to be thankful, even for the wilderness. We enter the Lord’s gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Let’s determine that we are going to abide in Him in every area of our lives, and we can do that by being thankful for everything.

I was told by the word that came through Bob that our unbelief and complaining had put us in a holding pattern for one year. This was a couple of years ago, and now it seems that everything is moving at a pace that is hard to keep up with. It is now hard for me to not long for the time we were in the holding pattern! The Apostle Paul said that he learned the secret of being content regardless of whether he was abased or abounding. We must do the same. Let’s determine to grow in faith, not doubt. The demonstration of faith is faithfulness. Let’s war against any tendency to complain about anyone or anything, but rather in all things give thanks. Let’s enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, and stay there.

Dangers of this present world

The magnitude of deaths and calamities befalling mankind in recent times are unprecedented going by the figures of casualties and cloud of despair hanging over the economic and social landscape. Media’s representations of such have not been of MUCH spiritual help to anyone positively except to whip up sentiments and present the happenings in a way that would draw customers to their medium of presentation – television, radio, cable, etc. and creating fear, despair and unbelief.

As believers in Christ, such are not new going by the warnings Jesus Christ before His departure from earth and what He admonished us to do in preparation for His second coming. I would say such news should prepare us with a heart of expectation for a revival of souls, as well as expression of true, intrinsic love to victims of such calamities. Those that are not affected by natural disasters would see it best to express love by way of material, spiritual and social provision.

With these happenings, would you say you have been fulfilling your assignment on earth in some ways, in case Jesus shows up tomorrow? We all have been called to solve at least a problem in creation and if you are not aligned with this fact, then your life is not necessary. It would be puerile to say you exist just to populate the earth with your children and materialism. God knew the problems on earth, hence your creation to help solve a part of it. You would not be different from an animal if all you do/did on earth is to amass wealth, have children, belonged to multiple rich men’s clubs and die. Many belong to this category, unfortunately. Nothing would grant you speedy and easy access to heaven than a good and excellent report of your assignment on earth. God delights in a “good and faithful servant” than a popular one. Status, fame and riches will not be there to speak for you before your God which demonstrates how far your sense of inadequacy, inferiority complex and “appetite to belong” could catalyze your missing heaven and the crown of glory God promised worthy servants.

The rat race to acquire unending wealth, impress others of what we too can do, promote ourselves and names show the magnitude of emptiness lurking in many people’s heart and soul, erroneously believing such physical activities would ensure fulfillment. No one can have satisfaction being with people much more than having constant rapport with God and His purpose for us. The more time you spend with people than God, the more you see yourself as being inadequate, dwarfed and unfulfilled. The world system was designed by the prince of this world to make men see themselves as comfortable only when they have the whole world in their possession. He tempted Jesus in the wilderness to acquire the same mindset and failed, but a pity men often fall for it.

Your days are running short and before you realize it, it the main purpose of why you are alive on earth is getting threatened by your pursuits of riches, wealth and self aggrandizement. You may lose that license to enjoy heaven if you do not take heart to these things. Time is running against you.

Kola Fabiyi

The Lessons Of The Pearls

Pearls are a product of pain. When a grain of sand pierces the shell of an oyster, all the otherwise dormant resources within the tiny oyster respond to the foreign irritant by caring for that sensitive spot. Over time, the sand particle is covered by healing fluids, and the wound becomes a pearl.

That’s true for you, too. When hardships invade your life, allow God’s Spirit to shape your response. Don’t be bitter. Don’t rush ahead of His plan. Rest in Him. Allow Him time to turn that irritation into an opportunity for your growth – and watch a beautiful pearl emerge from your set of circumstances.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  (James 1:2-5)

(c) Daily encourager

His Promises Are Not Far-fetched

This year started with lots of expectations from all and sundry. Lots of prayers were offered by many, both believers and unbelievers alike with the razor-sharp faith that could destroy rockets and world-class mountains. People had high hopes about their experience and blessings in the current year while believing for the previous unfavorable experience to fizzle away.

One thing you need to be cognizant of is that all that happened to you previously were produced from a factory (heart) filled with various wrong beliefs, unbelief, unforgiveness, pride, excessive complaints, bitterness, sinful ways, lack of planning, lack of focus, passionless pursuits, wasteful spending, etc. It would have been more exciting if we all could change all these attributes and mindsets suddenly and overnight, but it is not possible simply because all those were acquired over the years at different locations, with different people and experience.

To make your so-called new year resolutions workable and meaningful, all you need to change are the negative attributes leaching on you for years. No new year resolution will be achieved until you change those thought patterns that prevented last year’s dreams from coming true. If you do not overcome unbeliefs, no aspiration will be achieved. If you do not take care of your unforgiveness, pride, complaints, bitterness and sinful ways, no prayer will have an express delivery in heaven, no matter how hot or explosive prayers are released.

God works by principles instead of sentiments, so it is important to have a thorough understanding of His ways rather than focus on people or country as impediments to our achievements. Instead of updating or changing your new year resolutions, simply change your attitudes and disposition towards God’s Word and leading. It is easy to accomplish God’s promises if we live this life according to His rules which are not grievous.

Have a fruitful season.

Kola Fabiyi

Discernment Is The Key To Achieving That Goal This Year

One of the key requirements of a Christian in being an efficient and successful Kingdom Operator is to have a strong sense of spiritual discernment in the kind of world we presently live in. The atmosphere all around is so thick with all kinds of spiritual activities both good and bad, and the latter seems to be having the upper hand simply because they are appealing and appear fulfilling.

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us of those evil forces appearing as "angel of light" and an unwary child of God will be carried away with the hypes and buzz surrounding the "effects" we are always presented with. The fundamentals of the Bible had been watered down because of the pressure of satisfying our "customers" and "impatient congregation." The marketing syndrome pervading our present world sees biblical principles as being outdated, inapplicable and baseless. See, if we get deceived and allow the watered down message our "main course" and foundation on which we build the coming generation, there is danger ahead. If Jesus will build His church with the gates of hell defeated, would it be with the kind of "Bible lite" story-telling circus setting being paraded all over the landscape? Many will be sidelined from the true faith unknowingly while many will find themselves losing their channel of hearing God, their main instruments of office.

True leaders need to identify the wheat from the chaff, the powerful from the popular, and the truth from deceit. If the leaders themselves were loaded with hype gospel, then the legacy left behind will be "Tales by the Moonlight" marketing agents. God is giving true leaders a new opportunity to re-wire their proteges, re-configure their mindset and rework their understanding of God’s Word and ways for a pleasing reception from God. We were created to please Him and fulfill His mandate. No matter the pressure we are confronted with, God’s will surely prevails no matter what. Any deviation from this will amount to frustration, confusion and erosion of the original vision for which we were sent.

Have a fruitful and productive year.

Kola Fabiyi.