The top issues in the church today are pride, compromise, tolerance of evil practices, and a tendency to hide sins by the self-appointed or handpicked ‘servants’ of God. These people have a problem with purity and therefore according to the scriptures, not qualified to offer any acceptable sacrifice before God.
Have you ever wondered why people appoint themselves or each other to positions of ‘service’ to God?
The real reasons are very subtle and may or may not surprise you! There is monetary gain to start with, these people can create a name for themselves, and however weird it may sound, some do it to cover who they really are!
This group of people has a seed of insincerity, ignorance, and a demonic inspiration to ‘serve’.
With the increase of wickedness in the Christian leadership, we would all want to know how we can spot fakes!
The bible is very clear and mentions it throughout the scriptures! Matthew 7:16 (NASB)You will know them by their fruits...Galatians 5 lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit! If these fruits are absent, you are dealing with fakes!
These people may see miracles as more important than who they really are. Luke 10:20 (NIV) However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Many of these people don’t recognise the power of the Holy Spirit! The Scriptures are clear that whatever you do in the name of God, do it in Spirit and in Truth. John 4:24. You cannot be in Spirit if you don’t recognize the Holy Spirit. Without embracing the power of the Holy Spirit you cannot get rid of falsehoods in your personal life. If you try to do this on your own, then it becomes religion. Religious people are not necessarily followers of God but are mostly powerless against evil and can carry out Satan’s tasks such as murder or fornication!
The same group of people tend to hide sins! If you cannot stop sinning, hiding sin will only make your spiritual situation worse.
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Confess your sins to someone and pray with that person and you will be forgiven. If you can’t stop sinning, seek a deliverance ministry from persons living right with God. Sometimes, deliverance takes time but eventually demons leave you and you are then able to stop the habitual sins. You will also be healed permanently from the consequences of these sins. People have be delivered from incurable diseases, sexual sins, hate, jealousy, drugs and fear! It may take time but you have to be on it for a while with the help of other people.
James 5:16 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
If you are involved in seeking God then let Him deal with your sins. His peace will come as soon as you get delivered. The kind of peace that cannot be explained!
Philippians 4:7 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When you sincerely endeavor to pursue righteousness, God comes in to help you finish the job. If you wish to serve God in your life, then let Him purify you.
How? Serving God is the same as being like a Jewish Levite as described in the old testament. Just like the Levites, you cannot serve God with your own standard of righteousness. God Has His standard! You must be ready to go through the fire to be purified!
Zechariah 13:9 (NLT) I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
Then after the fire, you will be able to offer sacrifices in righteousness.
Malachi 3:3 (NIV) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…
It took me a while to get it. I had gone through every other thing other than the fire. I walked around feeling spiritual and able to tackle any demon on my way. I had peace, I had overcome habitual sins and felt very comfortable in my Christian life. I thought I was ready for the ministry of serving God. Only God knew that I was not. Why? I still had compromises in the name of being good or accepted. I compromised and let in a lot in my space that did not please God. I also took his glory and delighted in being showered with praises for what God did through me or in me. In His love for me, He allowed me to throw myself into the fire. I literally gave the devil the right to torment me!
Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.
While I was in there it was hot and painful! I didn’t know what to do. I had to let go pride, prejudice and a tendency to hide faults. I accepted the whipping.
I eventually realised that His ways are not our ways! He rescues us because He loves us and for the purposes of bringing Him glory, because when God get the glory, men and women turn to him!
Psalm 50:15 (TLB) ….I will rescue you, and you will give me glory
I emerged on the other end refined in my spirit. I was a notch higher in humility. I now had no problem in allowing God’s Holiness to dwell within me. I also let God’s glory be His alone and I didn’t want a share of it!
These are experiences that I had only heard and talked about before but didn’t really know them until they started flowing in my spirit after the fire!
It has been a delight and a privilege to serve God in my life after all!
I hope this message has been a blessing to someone!
May God richly bless you!
[Article Author: Joseph GM]
Live In Victory 