By Mary Lindow 

I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumblines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life.

 
WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD and therefore, have the “effects and affects” of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh. 

Plumbline: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical or in alignment)  

A plumbline is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. The Lord also used, and uses, a "plumbline," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight.

How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God.

 "Behold, I WILL set a plumbline in the midst of My people". 

-Amos 7:7 

 

A PLUMBLINE SET OUT BY THE HAND OF GOD IS ONE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OUR HEARTS TO.

It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain, loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to. 

It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the directive positioning of the Master. 

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumbline.” -Isaiah 28:17 

 

LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION 

I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God’s care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping holes or slow leaks in them. 

Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope. 

 

I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42 

He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It’s at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are down and in turmoil. 

But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God’s faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what is the answer? 

When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace? 

When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God’s promises? 

 

AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS” … 

…And perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who appears to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord would have such difficulties! 

Well! Guess what?

I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes.

And boy oh boy! Those skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain! 

 

BUT, THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL 

The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the anguish and toll of their aftermath. 

We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again. 

We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves. 

We must say to our soul: "Why are you cast down –Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace?" 

We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope in God’–instead of remaining in this paralyzed, aching state!” 

 

AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER

We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who “God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do. 

Having done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people’s wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” 

The hope and promise of the fairness of God’s justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never turn away from me in my need. No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day.

His power is greater than my weariness and suffering. 

The comforting and instruction that comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply…

…. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself. 

 

THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL! 

Human willpower alone will never be able to change this. 

We need God's help to truly change our hearts. 

 

REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of anyone else either. 

If you try to, you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter. 

Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure!

We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander. 

These types trample the warnings and urging for repentance and humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds. 

 

"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. 

Don't throw your pearls to pigs! 

They will trample the pearls, 

then turn and attack you.” 

-Matthew 7:6 

 

"GIVE ME THE FACTS MA’AM JUST THE FACTS” 

I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts. 

And so, here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman.

1.) The good man or woman: Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart. And the facts about an evil man or woman. 

2.) The evil man/woman brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart. For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 

 

THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE 

The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and bragging rights! We are always to depend on the will and leading of God. 

 

OUR TIMES ARE NOT IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT ARE INSTEAD IN THE TIMING OF GOD. Our heads may be filled with cares and plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment. All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God.

It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end. 

 

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” 

-1 John 2:16

 

LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS 

People don't need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or struggle! (Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued.)

Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn't need to hear any of them. 

He needed their love, not their value judgments. 

In fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in anguish over. 

 

WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE

How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed up in a major conflict.

On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went though in his sufferings. This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt. 

 

This is the 'fellowship of his sufferings' (Philippians 3:10), one of the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives. The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything.

We never feel more revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us. 

 

The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth: 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God". -1 Corinthians 1.3-4 

 

SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES, Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world. We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer. 

The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory! 

 

THE BIBLE IS CLEAR! 

We are to bear one another's burdens. 

We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us. 

Your hard time becomes my hard time. 

We join hands in the journey. 

When you succeed, I succeed. 

When you suffer, I suffer. But we do it together. We share it together. 

And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence. 

 

THAT'S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT! 

But not “bland” fellowship.

It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing.

Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I'll be there.

Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ. The word for "comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also can be of comfort to those around you. 

 

WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. 

To mourn with those who mourn.

To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called to do this, as the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again, I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven. 

HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE WANTS

Let's focus on bowing low and seeking His heart and plans in what matters to Him.

Indeed, HE is the Plumbline. 

 

Prayer 

God, I ask in Jesus' name, that you comfort, strengthen and encourage all who are hurting deeply right now and are going through so much pain and heartache. 

Don't allow them to give up in the heat of the battle. 

Let them feel your arms wrapping around them and your love overflowing and filling them up. Lord, I will pray often and I know that you will hear my voice, even when I speak to You in my silent thoughts. 

To You, I am crying out and my prayers are now before You. 

Father, I give to You my problems, I do not want them. 

Father, please restore them to You. I know that you have compassion for your children. Father, show them your ways and teach them your paths. Lead them in your truth and teach them you are the God of our salvation and on you we will wait. 

Protect them from the evils of this life and guide them through all of their days. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer Father and for considering and for having compassion on all who hear and read these words, and all who hurt, in this troubled world we live in. 

Keep them in the center of Your love. 

In Jesus’ Name

~ Amen 

 

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~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com

https://marylindow.podbean.com

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

 

Truth is slippery.

A lot more slippery than any of us want to admit.

And we do have to, in a sense, choose what to believe.

 

Pontius Pilate seemed quite comfortable with that. Jesus was "talking truth" and Pilate lived in a place of work where “truth” was meaningless. All that his employer cared about was results!

 

The world’s vision of truth is attractive.

It allowed Pilate go back to his home at the end of the day…it allowed the Priests to deal with that "problematic man Jesus" while still being able to eat the Passover. 

It sends the crowds home from the protest hoping that the rebellion will start soon and be successful. (That sure sounds familiar doesn’t it!) 

 

Pilate was dealing with those "pesky" Hebrews.

The poor guy is the governor and he can’t even get the latest group of complainers to come into his house because it’s Passover, that would make them “unclean,” and they wouldn’t be able to eat the sacred meal.

Now Imagine that!! 

Being the governor, and having to go outside to hear the complaints of your subjects? Your subjects whose "truth" meant that your palace was unclean? You can understand why the guy got maybe a bit sour.

 

His employer just wanted the people under Pilate to behave!

That was a pretty tall order among a people as fiercely independent as the Israelites. The Romans didn’t care all that much how order was maintained; they just wanted Pilate to "make it happen"! 

Israel after all, was a center of commerce, and disturbances, and rioting there were inconvenient and they were expensive.

All of this left very little time for Pilate to talk philosophy with this troublesome Jesus fellow. He needed results! 

"Truth" for Pilate meant keeping order, keeping peace, keeping his job. That’s what he chooses to believe in. Even so…he tried to give Jesus a fighting chance.

But the crowds? 

Well, they don’t cry out, "What is truth?"

But, they did CHOOSE what to believe.

 

Jesus has proclaimed a kingdom of truth.

THE truth that God’s will is realized

when we live lives of compassion and healing. 

 

A truth that we are all loved by God and called to live this love out for one another. It’s a truth that has stood the world on end…

...But the crowd decides instead to believe in the old standby.

The sword.

 

Barabbas the thief, who was a violent man, the kind of guy who is useful to a revolution, is the one they cry out for.

They want what they want…

..and so, aren’t really all that different from Rome or Pilate in their way of dealing.

They’ll trade truth for the hope of what they’ll see in terms of "results." 

 

And, we all too often...

…We choose on our own, what to believe as well. 

 

Repentance means "to turn" in the scriptures, to "turn away from.

But it’s not easy! 

And it doesn’t help that the words of our Master—(who stands in passive protest against the established powers of the world as he answers Pilate), has had his words mangled and misinterpreted over and over again by those who frankly, wanted Jesus to sound a little more like "them."

 

The world teaches us its version of truth.

The world teaches us to think: "It’s mine, I earned it."

Jesus says, "It’s a gift, share."

 

We learn to think, 

“They need to follow my rules." 

Jesus says, "The greatest rule is love."

 

We learn to think, "I’ll give when my needs are met." 

Jesus says, “Think that way and you’ll always need more.”

 

We learn to think, "me first."

Jesus says, "be last."

 

The world’s truth keeps you from ending up like Jesus. 

It gets you to resist taking a cross for what IS truth.

 

Believing in something means acting and sacrificing for something, and what Jesus wants from us is not our dying, but rather that we live a life dying to our own selfish ambition which most are VERY proud of. (They will tell you exactly how proud they are of their achievements and skills often, or, live secret lives of self gratification because THEY deserve the rewards!) 

 

The cry of God’s heart is that we would understand that,

the “way of God” is way beyond "our way". 

The way of God IS our call,

and that the way of God is the path to freedom.

 

In the end, we have to choose what to believe in. 

Fortunately for us, faith is also a gift, a gift God gives us.

But that doesn’t mean living it doesn’t take some effort. 

We are called to be light to this world.

We are called to care.

We are called to make the effort! 

 

Let's walk with our Master. 

Let's take the path of sacrifice, and let our lives reveal and radiate the joy of "living out God’s love" for others.

Perhaps then, the world will see that "what is truth"...

...Is truth.

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
 Thank You! Copyright © 2021

"THE MESSENGER" ~ Mary Lindow


www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

www.marylindow.podbean.com

(more...)

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By Mary Lindow through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit

 

My spiritual discernment tells me...
... That a change in the spiritual climate is coming.

Yes.

There ABSOLUTELY is risk associated with the shifting of your focus, choices and standards.

For some, there is risk that the newness that God is bringing will also bring an ending to their way of doing things, an ending to the security of the past.

For others there is risk that they will be the people called to forge into new territory in the power of the Spirit, to announce and help build and steward the newness that God is bringing.

I often ponder (at times I stew and pace) about where the church is in this post-modern culture and where it desperately needs to be heading.

I feel a change in the air.
I sense a new freshness and direction being orchestrated by the Lord in His church, meaning His people. I’m sure not smart enough to know what all that means nor am I able to predict the future, but the signs are there.

My spiritual discernment tells me...
... that a change in the spiritual climate IS coming.

I’m not yet sure whether this is a storm or the just the rains after a drought, but I have an inkling that it may be the wind of opportunity that promises a new beginning that I hear blowing. It may just be the fresh winds of the Spirit that will bring the “showers of spiritual blessings” that people used to sing about, but most likely.... this is not the case.

 

Our world and our culture are changing rapidly all around us.

With new communication technology and increasing global interaction, we face a world that will be absolutely different from the one which we have lived in for so long.

Our own society is changing.

There are new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things.(Think self driving cars and drones delivering pizzas!)

The year were are in just sped through and was just a date on a calendar, but that date caused us to take a long look at where we have been and where we are going. And, when we looked closely, the changes unfolding all around us have surprised us, or at least it surprised me!

Of course, some want to see changes, ANY changes, as threatening.

And so they move into a doomsday mode and adopt a negative view (Think the Jonah Syndrome). They fight most any kind of change as a change for the worse.
There ARE things to be concerned about WITH some changes. But where some people see only problems, others see opportunities.

Change can be threatening, scary, and hard!
HARD
H A R D
WORK!

However, the people who study these things say that times of change are the best opportunities for people to respond to God. The uncertainty and discomfort that any major change brings, opens the door to reevaluate your life and ask questions about your purpose and what in your life has meaning.

If that’s true in individuals, I am pretty sure that it’s also true of society. And it’s true of the church.

Studies and Stats show that there is more interest in religion and spirituality in the world at large now than there has been in the last half-century.

Of course, some of that spirituality is of the weird and twisted kind, and certainly not Christian. But, that also tells us that there are opportunities to proclaim the Gospel, in Love, with authentic compassion and yet without compromising.

Honestly speaking, I’m not sure what all that means for the church. The message hasn’t changed, and the truth hasn’t changed, but the world has, and how we speak and express the truth will need to change in order to speak to that world.

New winds are blowing.
The spiritual climate is changing.
The smell of fresh breezes and fresh showers are in the air.
But one thing is certain.

There will be no status quo.

There will be no “going on as usual”.

The changes, are already in process.

We can’t change things just because we decide it should be done friends!

That’s presumption!

If we say we want GOD’S plan(s) for change, we have to get the blueprints from Him. But, we CAN do it as God calls out to us and reveals to us where HE is working in the world. And then, we can do it!

We can RISK as we listen, hear, and respond to that call, as God enables and graces us with the courage it will take to “adjust the rudder” of our ship.

I don’t know about you, but I'm going to be watching closely for the changes in the spiritual weather.

And I’ll be listening carefully so I don't miss the voice of God in the darkness.

If someone asks me about a voice that they may have heard calling their name in the night, I’ll be ready to tell them to say these words.

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

"The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel said, “Speak, Lord.
I am your servant
and......
I am listening.” -Samuel 3:10

Mary Lindow 2020
www.marylindow.com

 

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that  

complete source,podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You Copyright © 2020 -  THE MESSENGER " ~Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

 www.globalprayerrooms.com

https://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/

 

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By Mary Lindow

 

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To do justly, to love kindness and mercy,

To humble yourself and walk humbly with your God."

-Micah 6:8

 

ALTHOUGH I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A FRESH EXPRESSION OF THE HEART OF THE FATHER STIRRING IN THE EARTH, I also see that there is a lot of "bashing" regularly occurring due to the abuse that others have exhibited in their places of calling, aimed at those who have been true to what the Lord has asked them to do in His name, and this has caused not just a little sorrow.

WE MUST CLEARLY SEE THAT CORRUPTION CAN RAPIDLY OCCUR IN ANY PERSON OR ANY GROUP, ORGANIZED, RELAXED, OR OTHERWISE, when the tendency to think that they have arrived at a new or deeper revelation about something more so than others who perhaps express the Lord's voice differently.

ARROGANCE IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT I, INDIVIDUALLY,

OR SOME GROUP THAT I AM A PART OF, COLLECTIVELY,

IS SOMEHOW SUPERIOR TO SOMEONE ELSE OR

SOME OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE.

 

AT THE HEART OF ARROGANCE IS SELF-CENTEREDNESS. And self-centeredness is the foundation of human sin. I believe any serious attempt at self-examination by an honest person will reveal that we humans are sinful and flawed beyond measure.

 

MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID, “MAN IS THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT BLUSHES—

OR [FOR THAT MATTER] NEEDS TO.”

 

Paul writes,

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand…Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?”

WE ARE CONSUMED BY SELF. And every time we arrogantly place our own needs before others we are enslaved by sin.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? HOW SHOULD WE LIVE INSTEAD OF IN THAT ARROGANT MODE? WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE?

How about the words of Jesus? What did he say?

"Everyone who exalts himself (for example, "Aren't I great? Aren't I right? Don't I always have the best opinion?") will be humbled.

But he who humbles himself (for example, "This is my opinion but it may not be right. I don't have a corner on the market of truth") will be exalted."

 

THE LORD IS NOT SPEEDING UP THE DELIVERY OF ANY "FRESH THING" IN THE EARTH IN ORDER TO GET US TO HIS PURPOSES QUICKLY. No. He is testing the hearts of men and women everywhere, looking for humility, selflessness, and honor, for those who although not perfect, have also served and pointed the way to salvation for many years previously.

THE LORD IS NOT GOING TO HONOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHOUTS THAT "CHANGE IS NEEDED" OR THAT "CHANGE IS COMING" AND THEN SLASHES AND BURNS ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T EMBRACE THEIR VERSION OF IT.

 

THE LORD IS INTERESTED IN THE SOUND OF HUMILITY,

THE HAND OF MERCY,

AND...

...THE VOICE OF GRACE.

These key character issues attract the pure and simple Presence of the Lord. Blessed are the PURE in heart...for they shall see God.

Until the Body of Christ that has been through many difficult and shattering events, rids itself of bitter and venomous words against one another and accepts that each one like sheep have gone astray and turned to what pleased them at the moment, there will be little evidence of much harvest .

THE LOST AND CONFUSED WORLD OUT THERE WATCHES CHRISTIANS TEAR EACH OTHER TO SHREDS DAILY AND WONDERS WHY WE ARE ASKING THEM TO JOIN US! Remember Christ’s two great commandments—love God with all your being, and love your neighbor as yourself.

SELF-CENTEREDNESS IS THE REVERSAL OF THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. Self-centeredness means to place ourselves first, in effect proclaiming our own form of self-government (not needing or wanting the advice or insight of others), therefore our neighbors become an afterthought, and God becomes simply a convenience to be considered only when it’s helpful to us.

It is evident even in our language that self-centeredness is woven into the fabric of the human experience.

 

THE ONE TRUE SACRIFICIAL MODEL TOLD US THAT HE WOULD SEND THE VERY SPIRIT OF GOD IN ORDER TO CONVICT ALL PEOPLE OF SIN, TO COMFORT, TO GUIDE, AND TO SET THEM FREE. Indeed. The very evidence of a redemptive type of life, is in one who washes the feet of his/her brothers and his/her enemies in an act of cleansing the dirt from the road of life off of the pathway to the Truth.

May we truly hear the sound of the unmistakable heartbeat of a redemptive model rising up in clear resounding purity, personal transparency, and in the covering of the multitude of sins by speaking and meditating only on those things that are noble, just, pure, and of a good report.

AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS NATIONS, THE ANTIDOTE TO ARROGANCE AND SELF-CENTEREDNESS IS A HEAVY DOSE OF HUMILITY. That is; a profound willingness to recognize the value and respect the dignity of every human life. And, furthermore, a humble heart calls us to seek and serve Christ in ALL persons by giving of ourselves willingly for the welfare of other people.

THE LORD SAYS,

"Do not let a wise man brag about how wise he is. Do not let a strong man boast about how strong he is. Do not let  a rich person brag about how rich he is.

But here is what the one who brags should boast about. He should brag that he has understanding and knows me. I want him to know that I am the Lord.

No matter what I do on earth, I am always kind, fair and right. And I take delight in that".  -JEREMIAH 9:23-24 (NIV) 

 

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"THE GREATEST ENEMY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH"

DEMEANING ANOTHER GENERATION OF LEADERS

by MaryLindow 

It is highly recommended that you listen to the 

audio version/podcast of this message and join in with 

the prayers lifted up on behalf of the Body of Christ

There is a dangerous trend blooming much like a dandelion in the body of Christ that needs to literally be nipped in the root, and in no way approached with a cowering spirit! Somehow it's now a trending youthful "call from God" to be a cutting edge voice that is sent to “correct” the current Fathers and Mothers in the body of Christ. Hmmmm.....

I DON'T CARE HOW POPULAR OR TRENDY ANY MOVEMENT IS or any individual who is a gifted speaker is. If they have been given the privilege to address the body of Christ on any stage, in any pulpit, in any gathering, they are to be judged and held accountable by those in leadership for their actions and their choices when they speak to others.

I AM ADDRESSING SPECIFIC SITUATIONS where a young-(ish) man or woman is allowed to speak in a meeting and begins to demand that the crowd responds according totheir commands.

There should NEVER be even the hint of demeaning another generation of leaders publicly, or a shaming and finger-pointing message aimed at somehow "breaking the people" and getting them to be stirred up to do something. Whatever that"something" might be, if people are shamed into action, then it is truly not God's will or God's plan.

 

WHO GET’S TO ADDRESS PEOPLE FROM THE PODIUM? There's a lot to be said about not quickly allowing a novice or newcomer to your team to have absolute access to speak into the hearts of those who gather to hear of the specific (and most hopefully) -GOD ORDAINED vision that you, as a leader, have been commissioned and assigned to serve and honor! In 1 Kings 12 - Rehoboam rejected the advice of the "older men" who had stood with Solomon, listening instead to the "young men who grew up with him". It divided the Kingdom. HEAR that.

Pride can cause a novice who is actually termed "a new planting" meaning, “still not having put down roots”, to defend themselves and their more "potent" message. Pride can cause them to look down on others. If you allow it, pride will rob them ofthe most treasured mentoring relationships in their lives.

 

WHEN ANOTHERGENERATION MOCKS THE WORDS OF GOD Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some childish boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here you old bald man!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled the forty-two the boys.

2 Kings 2:23

 

THE WORD FOR"CHILDREN" IN THIS VERSE IS TRANSLATED AS PERSONS OF THIRTY ORFORTY YEARS OF AGE and, though these are called "little", they were so well grown as to be able to go out of the city by themselves without anyone to guide them, or to take care of them and they were at an age capable not only of taking notice of Elijah's baldness, but knew he was a prophet. They were able to know what good and evil was and, from a malicious spirit inside of them, they mocked at him. Some Jewish writers say they were called "Naarim", which means"children” because they had shaken off the bond that was keeping people close, the commandments, and "little", because they were of little faith:

 

THEY MOCKED HIM, AND SAID TO HIM, “GO UP, YOU BALD HEAD! GO UP, YOU OLD BALDY!”  Meaning, not up the hill to Bethel, where his coming was not really welcomed since most of the people were idol worshippers, and maybe these children were sent out to intimidate him with their jeers to keep him from entering the city! They had heard about Elijah going up to heaven so they jeeringly told him to go up to heaven after him, and then they would have gotten rid of them both! “Who needs that old man telling us what to do?!”  

At the same time that they were mocking him for his baldness, and making a funny story of the wondrous works of God, the taking up into heaven of Elijah, which by behaving so disrespectfully to a “White hairedhead”, a prophet of the Lord, was terribly wicked, and therefore opened thedoor to an external attack from a destructive force. Two full-grown she-bears, who consumed them.

Folks, there are consequences for mockery and deception!

 

BEFORE AMAN OR WOMAN CAN LOOK DOWN ON ANOTHER, they must first assume he or she is better than the person they are speaking against. A proud man or woman is suspicious of everyone else. A humble man or woman is more suspicious of their own heart than anyone else. The proud heart will detect defects in others before him. But a humble soul sees the evil in his/her own heart before they see evil in others.

 

CONCEITAND PRIDE ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH! Newly acquired knowledge often leads to pride rather than wisdom. This is often true with the novice. There is no surer way to fall into sin than to allow pride to lead us into putting confidence in ourselves rather than God. This type of pride always leads to destruction, because it robs us of God’s power to stand against temptation.

 

WHAT WEACCOMPLISH AS MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DONE BY THE POWER OF GOD. The novice begins thinking that what he/she accomplishes is his/her own doing. The people in Corinth had been developed in every way as well, with the knowledge of God, but pride in what they knew was about to lead to their destruction!

 

KNOWLEDGECAN BE MISTAKEN FOR MATURITY, but true knowledge is designed to bring us TO maturity. When we parade our freedom before others in an effort to reveal how much we know, we reveal our immaturity and are treading on dangerous ground! Knowledge put on PUBLIC display leads to revelry and scattering.

 

TRUE KNOWLEDGE BRINGS THE RESTFUL DISCIPLINE OF SELF-CONTROL.  Paul’s knowledge ofGod led him to lead a disciplined life for the benefit of himself and others. HUMBLING OURSELVES IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE ROOF OFF TOWARD GOD, AND THE WALLS DOWN TOWARD OUR FELLOW MAN. 

Once offences have been committed, whether intentional or unintentional, they must be dealt with! “I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” are healing words that only a humble soul would use. Whenever you find a man or woman willing to humble themselves before God and man, you have found a person who will be exalted, because “humility comes before honor.”

 

REMEMBER THAT SOME MEN’S SINS ARE OBVIOUS, AND ARE EQUALLY OBVIOUSLY BRINGING THEM TO SERIOUS JUDGMENT. 

"The sins of other men might not be apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface. Similarly some virtues are plain to see,while others, though not at all conspicuous, will eventually make themselves felt."

1Timothy 5:24-25

 "Don’t reprimand or publicly talk downto a senior leader in your church, honoring him as a father by first showing respect and humility. Treat the young men kindly as brothers, and the olderwomen as nurturing mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters, and nothingmore."

1 Timothy 5:1-2

 

 

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that 

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Thank You Copyright © 2016

“THE MESSENGER” ~Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

marylindow.podbean.com

 

 

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