The Body of Christ is Sick

     The Body of  Christ in America is severely disjointed, dysfunctional, and is headed for the cliff.  Why is this? My belief is that, although many of the gifts that God has put in His Body have had limited exposure and functionality, one gift has been grossly ignored, and even discarded. That gift is the gift of discernment. Because of this, the Body of Christ in America is all over the map in belief systems, which has resulted in wrong thinking and living, to the point of representing Christ in a dishonoring way.
     People with the gift of discernment, could be co-named "watchmen on the walls" as they discern who or what is coming towards the Body, and whether the proclamations they have to share are truth or error. They have a keen gift of "seeing" what spirit things are from.
     The problem is that our own independent spirit in this country, coupled by the relativism which swept in during the 80's, has infected the Body of Christ. This many-membered Body has negated anyone who says anything they don't want to hear, and discards any discernment which trys to warn of destructive error, as being "negative."
     One of the current doctrines which was allowed to develop, despite many discerning warnings, is the prosperity "gospel" and it is this one with it's rose garden beliefs, which recoils at the discerning warnings. The people who adhere to these beliefs, only listen to what they consider positive, so their fantasy world, which they call "their inheritance in Christ" is not shattered.
     So, which came first? Did the prosperity "gospel" throw out the prophets, or were people's hearts so closed to trusting and responding to the protection this gift can bring, that this prideful attitude helped herald in this false gospel? 
     Regardless, this gift and those who have it, has been rejected, with dire consequences to the Body of Christ. It is plainly, trying to function wholly, bypassing the cross, which is impossible.  Each member of the Body must go through the cleansing process of God, which is our inheritance won by Jesus' dying, so that we can be conformed to His image, and bring Him glory. By refusing to go through this process, the flesh is left to it's own devices and lusts, and is captivated by these "feel good" doctrines, which are the very ones that are deceiving the Body and making it terminally ill, if they don't turn from them, and unto the living Christ.
    
    
          

Our Short Life

      "Like sands through an hour glass, so are the days of our lives,"-whenever I first heard this statement from a soap opera on TV, I understood the truth of what it was saying.  I realized through it's meaning, the urgency and the brevity of my own life, and, because of that, have sought to fulfill it with meaning in what I have felt are it's important values.
     These values were further entrenched and somewhat changed whenever I came to know the Lord, and include improving marital and family relationships, helping those who are disadvantaged, and finally, sharing Christ with the lost world. Living these values has taken many forms in my life.
     God says, "Occupy til' I come." I am finding out that there are as many interpretations of this directive, as there are people of God who know about it. The words of truth to work out our own salvation, can help solve this dissonance in the Body of Christ.
     We must continue to walk as He tells each one of us to walk in our own lives, as it is to Him only that our lives will be accountable to. And for that, we will, most likely be chided, even sometimes by our own family, who is in the Lord.
     The perspective God has given me about "occupying" is a picture of "holding down the fort," or of guarding and defending His ways and truths, and living with salt and light so that all can see Him through me. The first involves writing and/or speaking what He has shown me, by the Spirit, is His truth according to His Word, and the second is a result of His work in me. Only as I "let Him" work in me can His salt and light remain. If I try and do it without Him, or if I don't let Him do it at all, I will die on the vine.
     I have many dead branches on the pear tree in my yard, which currently need pruning, even though the tree is alive with many little pears on it. I don't want to be a dead branch on God's tree. I want to flourish and be a beautiful and delicious piece of fruit for His Kingdom, so that He, the Vine, will get all the glory!!! The only way that will happen is for me to continue to "let" Him do that most painful and heart rendering work of "dying to self."
     So, with our lives being short and decreasing in length daily (like sands in an hour glass) how are we to live today? If we live surrendered lives, (letting  go of what we want, and of agreeing to do what He wants), our lives will be useful to the Master, as we let Him continue to work on the inside of us.
     Some say we are on this earth to enjoy ourselves. God has shown me that I am to live according to His purposes, and not my own. Although hard, because "self" and "the world" beckon daily, I march on in His strength, and am "occupying until He comes." It is my joy and honor to do so.

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

     Sometimes whenever I read the Bible, it seems that God is so mad and it scares me. Today I opened up to the book of Hosea, and God was talking about how His people are always "prostituting" themselves, and how He is going to punish them. These proclaimed punishments included "wombs that miscarry and breasts that are dry," "I will drive them out of my house," "I will slay their cherished offspring," "Ephraim will be disgraced," "nations will be gathered against them," "all your fortresses will be destroyed," and  the most fearful and terrifying ones, "my God will reject them," "I will no longer love them," and "I hated them there." (Gilgal)
     Of course, all of this is a result of the people's choices of turning from God, the one who led them, healed them and  loved them, to other god's instead of Him, time after time.
     But then, as I am reading further, all of a sudden, it seems God's heart of love for His people can not be contained no matter what they have done. In Hosea 11:8-11, He says, "My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath." The desire of His heart is suggested in Hosea 4:16. He wants to pasture them like lambs in a meadow, but because of their stubborness, He cannot.
     It suggests in other parts of Hosea and other Scriptures, that they will return to Him, but it will be in "the last days," not now. God says, "For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days."
     I don't know if He carried out what He had threatened or not at the time, as I haven't studied this, but ultimately it is His love for them (and for us, His own) that prevails.
     I'm still not sure if God is saying, prophetically, that His original chosen people,  will someday turn to Christ, and thereby be saved, and that is yet to come. But, what else could He mean, as "there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved"? (Acts 4:12)
     Love, through the sacrifice of God's perfect Lamb in Christ, has been offered to all of mankind, the Jews and the Gentiles. Anyone who will turn to Him, can receive His blessings of being reconciled to Him, and not have to suffer His wrath. So,  yes, His wrath is scary because our God is a consuming fire, (Heb. 12:29) but He provides a way for all to not have to suffer it, when they accept His sacrifice. Love never fails.
    

    

Walking in the Light of His Mercy; Forgiven!

     "His mercies are new every morning"-what a declaration of His love and grace! Would it be so liberal to say that this reality includes covering and forgiving the sins we committed yesterday, and upon the rising of the sun, that we have a clean slate? Could it also mean that during this new day, His mercy is there also for anything we do that violates His holy standards? Taking it a step further, if we are "in Christ", we now live in the morning, or light, instead of in the night, or darkness, and that forgiveness is now  a part of that reality, and that there is no forgiveness necessary, as we already are now and forever?

     If this is so, the Scripture,  "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning," (Psalm 30:5) takes on a new and multi-dimensional meaning. "The night" could represent our lives before Christ, and "our morning" could mean when we step into the light, or "in Him." Then when we are "in Him" everything He purchased on the cross for us is now ours. He died, and then as we receive Him, He hands us His inheritance. Forgiveness is part of the inheritance that we can walk in.

     I am beginning to see this. If this is not true, than as we seek to confess our sins to Him, and try to make sure we've covered all the bases, then our confession becomes a religious act that we hope we did well or often enough, in hopes we will receive  His forgiveness. Something about this thinking is all wrong.

     "I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more."-Heb. 8:12, 10:17. In Hebrews, He is talking about the new covenant which God made to us through Christ and what He did for us on the cross. He has already died for our sins, and as the Scripture goes on to say, "there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." He can't do more than He's already done on our behalf, and we certainly can't by our confessions. What I'm trying to say is that it is not our confession, but His sacrifice that made our forgiveness possible.

     This is not "cheap grace," but truly accepting what He has done on our behalf, and walking in it humbly, freely and gratefully. Forgiveness is ours!

 

Giving Up Control

     Have you ever had a decision that needed to be made, but any way you would go with it,  seemed not to be the one you needed to make? I have been in this situation for weeks now, with seemingly no resolve. It's been said that when you make a decision, letting the Lord lead you, that you will have peace. Well, peace is definately alluding me. What is the problem?
     It occured to me yesterday that the problem could possibly be, and probably is, that it was not my decision to make, but my husbands. Even though he has opened up the decision to share with me, as it is a decision about something both of us have been involved in and have invested our hearts and souls in, it is too difficult for me to even be a part of. Is God telling me to submit unto him completely, and let him make it on his own, and to abide in whatever he decides, letting his headship fully reign in this case? Does it sometimes happen that the wife can't cope with the emotional weight of making certain decisions, and that is one reason why God has named man as "head"?
     If God is saying this to me, and I believe He is, then before I talk to my husband about this, I need to be sure that I will not argue, complain, or try to change his mind, when he does decide. Does God give husbands special wisdom that he doesn't give wives so that they can more easily make decisons which have emotional implications attached to them?
     The bottom line is whether or not I can trust God if I release control to my husband. When I am not trying to influence my husband, maybe that is when he can truly hear from God, and respond to Him, as God would have him respond. Hmmmm........a thought.
     Giving up control in general is hard, especially when there is a fear attached to it. I fear that if I do give it up, then somehow my significance will diminish, or I will be  pushed aside, or that I will be taken advantage of. But, in this situation, it seems, I have come to the end of my abilities to make this decision, and I am ready to hand it off, and I know the one God wants me to hand it to is my husband. 
     So, in that sense, one could say that "the die has been cast." It's God's will, and so I will follow it, as He is my ultimate Head. I will need His help to give up control though. I'll need help to trust Him, and to trust that what my husband decides is from Him. I will need help to have the courage to tell my husband.  I will need His help to remain humble as I give this to him, and I will need His help to honor my husband's decison whatever that might be, even if I vehmently oppose it. Oh God, help me.

"Soul" Praying

      Many years ago, I attended a meeting at a church, whose purpose was to pass out names of high officials to each person, so that they would pray for them to be saved. I prayed for the woman, whose name was typed on a piece of paper before me.                 
     According to natural reasoning,  she would seem like a hard case to be won by the Lord, if that is possible. I am saying that because she is of another faith already and because her views are anti-christ. She would be someone, not many would want to get to pray for. But I got her, and really, I did not mind because I kind of like the hard cases, knowing truly, that the power of the Holy Spirit is greater.
     Many years ago I experienced seeing His power captivate someone who had chosen the darkness. He spoke to my spirit: "They cannot go too far from Me, that my Blood cannot go further still."  In other words, He was assuring me that they could be rescued, "out of the darkness, and into His marvelous light," because the shedding of His blood on the cross, had already provided for them no matter how far away they had gone.  And they were rescued and saved, after their actions reached a pinnacle, and a spiritual war was waged for their soul. In the end though, God won them to His heart as He pulled them from the fire. It was a glorious sight to behold!
     Back to this woman: On and off, as she came to my mind, I would lift her up to God, asking for her soul to be saved. Now, today, I see her picture on the news, and was reminded once again to pray for her. It was actually an encouragement to me, personally.
     God is using this to remind me that He can still use me. Last night, as I lay in bed restless and hurting physically, I told Him that I felt He had abandoned us (my husband and I) because our lives felt like we were not being used by Him, and I so desperately want to be. We have lost many things and people the past few years. Many of these were people we used to fellowship with, in the Lord, and so this added to feeling abandoned by God, too. It has seemed like our lives were going no where.
     Seeing this woman sparked in me how I can be used in His Kingdom without going anywhere or doing anything. He is showing me that I can pray for souls to be saved daily anywhere that I am. I can go to the far corners of the earth, praying for souls in other nations, or stay right here at home, praying for those around me. I had forgotten the power of prayer; or should I say, the God of power, and how He responds to these prayers, which are in according to His Will.
    I'm reminded, once again, that to stand in the gap on behalf of people's souls, is of great value and purpose to the Lord and His Kingdom. It is what He came for: to destroy the works of the devil, and to save people from their sins. He already accomplished that on the cross. Now, as soul intercessors, ask Him to draw people by name, unto Himself, He begins to perform His will. As I did this with my son, He spoke to my spirit and said, "Stand back and watch the glory of God!" And I did, and He did the work. I got to pray for, and see a soul being saved before my eyes.
     This most powerful "act" of praying for souls is not of any great acclaim in this world, but of the world to come. It is to enter into a place with the God of the universe in such as way as to be in a sort of symbiotic relationship with Him. It is a priveleged place, which is humbling and beautiful; a "oneness" with God and His Will that is beyond description. Praying "evangelistically" will take your own soul to new heights, as you join with God's will in this way.
    
        

Courage to Speak

     Do you ever feel like it's "your job" to rescue people from something they are doing or involved in which you believe will be harmful to them, or will lead them down the wrong path? I do.
     Where is the line in helping others, especially those who are in the Body of Christ? We all have blinders on for some reason or another. We see what is not there at times, and we refuse to see what is in front of us for various reasons. So, isn't it love to help each other see, what perhaps we don't or won't see?
     I think one reason we draw back from approaching each other in this way, is because we are afraid that the other person will get angry. We self-protect, which is self-love. Another reason we draw back, could be that we don't want people to think we are controlling or nosy, or a busy-body. Again, this is centered on self, and not the other person.
    Are there any Scripture to help us answer this question?

1) "He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins."-James 5:20.

2) "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." II Timothy 4:2

3) but exhort ye one another every day, while the To-day is called, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of the sin,-Heb. 3:13.

and then the dreaded:

4) "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. 7So you, O son of man, I have set you a watchman to the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8When I say to the wicked, O wicked man, you shall surely die; if you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at your hand."-Ezekiel 33:7-10.
 
     I'm not sure if only Ezekiel, as a prophet, was to be a "watchmen" when he was alive, only, or if we, God's people, are to be "as Ezekiel" to one another presently. This is definately something we should seek God about.
     If we are to be watchmen for each other and we don't speak up when we see someone doing "wickedness", according to this Scripture, God is saying that we will be held responsible for that, and even blamed for our silence. More pointedly, He says, "the blood will I require at your hand."

     These are enough Scriptures given that suggest that God wants us to watch out for each other, checking behavior, actions, and even sin, and speaking to each other about it.
     What if we had done that with all the Christian women today who are showing cleavage?  I am still grieved about this immodesty, which is no different than the women of the world. 
     If other women in the Body of Christ, had talked to these women in love, showing them the Scriptures about immodesty, maybe some of them, who were opened, and not defensive and prideful, and who didn't know what God has said about this, would have turned. Instead, the world sees who God's people say they are, and I think, "their witness" is turning many from even wanting to receive Him. I believe that is how serious He is about us abiding in His truth and ways. When we don't, it has dire, eternal consequences.  
     This is only an example of how, if we don't speak to each other, sin and destruction will take over in our lives, and, as the last part of the verse in Hebrews says, "we will become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Scary stuff, when we consider how the ignored leaven among us can infect the whole batch, and "we lose our saltiness."

Oh God, I want to speak when you tell me to speak. Forgive me, O Lord, when I have failed to do so because I was afraid, and didn't rely on the boldness and strength that you promise me. I turned aside to my own ways. I am sorry. Empower me now to go forward in Your Name, risking it all for Your Name's sake. Amen.