"The Perils of TRADITION!"

         "Beware less any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

                                                                    (Colossians 2:8)

The Holy Scriptures hold warnings against any man-made traditions, customs, precepts, laws or opinions that are diametrically opposed to, contradictory to or that nullify God's Word. These customs, rituals, practices and devices are the inventions of men; their creation, implementation and execution have nothing to do with the Lord God. These multi-generational fallacies have polluted the transference of the glory of God and have created an entire generation of young Christians who are spiritually immature, deaf (can't hear the voice of God) and selfish.

Tradition has unbelievable power and influence over a person's mindset. Tradition says, "This is the way we have always done things and, no matter what, we ain't changin' our program foe nobody!" Tradition spits in the face of change and truth. Tradition bristles at the suggestion of destroying dead doctrines and trashing antiquated practices. Tradition is a top donor for the spiritual survival of the idolater and his pursuit of demonizing the faith of God's people in the marketplace.

There has been a "spiritual mutation" created by a new generation of Christian through the vestige of tradition that most people don't know about. They are still elusive in the eyes of Christ; like trying to grab a handful of smoke. These "traditionalists" are there, but they aren't there; if you know what I mean? They exist in a vacuum insulated by ignorance, fear, stubbornness and superstition. 

Unfortunately, most Christians exist "outside" of Christ (meaning their lives do not reflect the glory, power and authority of the Risen Savior). How can it be that you are a Christian or Believer walking in a different "light" than hundreds of thousands of other Christians or Believers who are hearing the same Word? The conclusion of the matter is that they cannot be reading, studying or meditating on God's Word for themselves.

Jesus was the "poster child" of Truth who stood in flat-footed defiance against the spirit of tradition because He knew that tradition was killing the people. Nobody wants to challenge the rituals of man that are blotting out Christ from the hearts and minds of God's people because it is unpopular and dangerous (to the person's reputation). Jesus called these individuals hypocrites, vipers and wicked.

The institutional church (IC) is entrenched in tradition because of filthy lucre's sake (Titus 1:10-11). Translations: the IC loves money more than it loves God! You have to be dead to miss that...!

"Heavenly versus Demonic Wisdom!"

          “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

                                                                   (James 3:13-18)

          Newsflash: Everyone is NOT going to heaven. Many people professing to be Christians are not going to make it. Some people are smart, others are stupid. Still others are woefully ignorant. This WC is psychological (spiritual) so you can’t defend yourself against it carnally (physically).

          How does a person recognize if the involved in a church that practices WC? If the activities, events, preaching and teaching of the ministry are “self seeking” (self-serving), then the ministry is submissive to WC. You might ask, “What forms do they take?” Here are several possibilities of how these demons might manifest:

Ø Subtle forms: non-invasive, almost unrecognizable phrases, suggestions, etc.

Ø Spiritual forms: manipulation of God’s Word (you gotta read, study and meditate on God’s Word in order to be able to defend yourself);

Ø The unseen thing: spiritual wickedness: mean spirited, envious, bitter and quarrelsome people in leadership working undercover to derail what God is doing in your life;

Ø Do you see the manifestation of “fruit” in your life or in the lives of the people you fellowship with?

Ø Does every function in the ministry point back to one man or one woman? Most notably, your pastor or bishop?

Ø Is there an atmosphere of fear emanating from the pulpit that would discourage any challenges to unscrupulous behavior by the pastor?

Ø Is there correction from the church leadership to anyone (including the pastor) that steps out of bounds, violates the order of ministry or stands in direct opposition to God’s Word?

 Following instruction from the Holy Spirit will always lead you on the pathway to truth!

"New Wine, New Wineskins!"

"No one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
                                                                            
                                                                   (Matthew 9:16-17)

In the Old Testament, the skin of a bag was made from the skin of an animal. New wine was always put in a new bag (skin) so that the bag would stretch as the wine continued to ferment, and then the bag would harden. An old bag would burst if new wine was poured into it.

In this instance the "new wine" represents "fresh revelation" from the Holy Spirit and the "old bag" represents the physical and spiritual state of the former man before receiving the revelation of who he is in Christ Jesus. One reason the old bag cannot receive the new wine is because he is carnal in nature. Carnality is the enemy against God. The other reason is because of "fermentation."

Fermentation is a biochemical reaction that causes a "state of agitation or intense activity." In spiritual terms this is called, "dunamis" (Greek) power or explosive power. The Believer is involved in new discoveries, excitement, hunger and thirst for God's Word. This a dynamic, not static, event in the life of the Believer! I stated earlier that the old bag is rigid, inflexible and set in its ways. There is also no room for further growth. 

On the other hand, the new bag grows with the Spirit as the Spirit agitates, provokes and challenges the new Believer to unparalleled heights in the God realm. There is an interactive and intense activity with the Lord God in the heart, mind and soul of the new man. The new man is alive and the old man is dead. The old wine has dried up and the old bag has burst because, 

..."new wine has been poured into new wineskins!" Selah...

"Who's Your Daddy?"

          "...And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba Father!"

                                                                              (Galatians 4:6)

Citizens in the Kingdom of God have no doubt about who their Father is. They know His Name, His Character and His Will. He is the One True God and the Ancient of Days. Paul has given us the revelation that as a son (one who is led by the Holy Spirit) has received the gift of the Holy Spirit and that same Spirit has the ability to cry out, "Abba Father!" "Abba" is a term of endearment; it is an intimate term like "Daddy" "Pops" or "Papi" and is a strong indicator of the closeness of the relationship.

You can't call a stranger "Dad" and that stranger won't receive you as his "son." Generations of fathers have created babies that were "mistakes" (bastards, illegitimate, out of wedlock children) and have devoured their inheritance because their children were not a part of their game plan. These "locusts" came into the earth realm and created devastation among the women and scattered families and corrupted God's most holy institution; marriage.

Wave after wave and swarm after swarm, these godless men destroyed the legacy of peace, love and joy that could have been there own. They wasted the opportunity to transfer the inheritance to their children and subsequently threw their children away like yesterday's trash without any guidance or direction. The inheritance they could have given to their sons was greater than silver and gold, land, or even a good name. They could have transferred Christ to us, but they couldn't because He wasn't in their hearts to give!

Along came the Holy Spirit for all the bastard sons and daughters who had been plucked from the hands of Satan and they were given a new name (sons) and a new family (the Body of Christ) and a new residence (the kingdom of God) and most of all, a new Father who loves, honors and protects them.

Your biological daddy is not your Father; your heavenly Father is your Daddy and He is awaiting your triumphant return home! Selah...

"Reproducing Christ in the Earth!"

           "Truly, Truly I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
                                                                                  (John 12:24)

When we hear the word "reproduction" most often our minds go straight to sexual intercourse and making babies. Although that is a major aspect of our roles as humans, the more important role for Christians is their ability not only procreation but their inherent ability to "reproduce Christ" in the earth.

What does it mean to reproduce Christ in the earth? Jesus was the "seed" (the Word of God) that went into the ground and died and was resurrected as a full grown manifestation of God's Word. He was "replicated" by the Holy Spirit as a full portion of the Triune Godhead (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) who was charged with the responsibility of leading and guiding His sons into all truth and righteous.

To replicate something means to become an exact copy of something. There should be no deviation from the original model. As a born again Believer, everyone we engage should experience the fullness of Christ in love, peace and joy. They should be empowered by your grace, power and strength. They should be encouraged by your influence, witness and integrity. They should be enlightened by your wisdom, knowledge and humility. They should be enamored by your faith, patience and righteousness.

At the end of the day, reproducing Christ is simply seeking Him, "hearing" Him and obeying Him. Selah...

“Only One Guy Moved!”

        

       Do you remember when I wrote “faith is a verb and an action word?” Well, let’s go back in time and visit the scene where Jesus and the crew are engaged in the middle of the sea.

       We can see Jesus out on the water in the midst of the turbulent sea extending His hand to Peter. Even in the crisis of adversity, Christ could not avoid another “teaching moment” and He said to Peter, 

     

        “Be of good cheer; it is I. Do not be afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

                                                                         (Matthew 14:24-33)

       Jesus just got finished telling Peter that it was Him out on the water and not to be afraid. Then Peter did the unthinkable. He asked Jesus, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Can you imagine Peter being so paralyzed with fear that He couldn’t even recognize Jesus’ voice? Only one guy moved when Jesus said, “Come.” Only one! If the others had any faith at all, they all would have jumped off the boat to meet Jesus in the sea. One of the many things we learned from this story is that the overwhelming majority of people can’t hear.

       “O you of little faith” is a searing indictment against the individual. I submit to you that “little faith” is not synonymous with “no faith” but, rather, “little faith” is worse than having “no faith” at all.

        If you accept His Crown, you must accept His Cross!

"Don't Look Back: Remember LOT'S WIFE...!"

"...But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."                                                                                      (Genesis 19:26)

"Pillar of Salt"...God's warning (memorial) to His people that He will not tolerate wickedness among His people. Edith (Lot's wife) lingered physically and spiritually in Sodom because she couldn't stand the thought of leaving the depravity of the city behind her. Her lingering made her a victim of God's wrath as the judgement rained down fire, brimstone and sulfur from heaven. No doubt, when she was stricken by the molten lava, it calcified upon her body and the salt-rich area of the Dead Sea where they lived manifested the mineral covering over her disobedient body for what we know today as the "pillar of salt."

There is always a certain calamity associated with "looking back." Most often, when you look back you can't see what's ahead of you, your feet stop moving forward and, in many cases, you're distracted. The simple message is: DON"T LOOK BACK!

The danger of losing focus in the Kingdom of God (KOG) can result in utter separation from God because the angel of the Lord is dragging you "kicking and screaming" into your destiny. Although they had been warned that the city would be destroyed, they didn't want to leave. They even debated with the angels on where God wanted them to go. Furthermore, after all that, they still needed to be led by the hand out of the city!

In this instance, it wasn't enough for God to send two angels to warn them of His plans to destroy a certain paradigm their your lives(in Lot's and Edith's [Lot's wife's name] case, it was the destruction of Sodom) or for Him to save them for themselves. The angels had been under siege by all of the men of Sodom who wanted to rape them (Genesis 19:5). The angels then struck all the men with blindness from the youngest to the oldest as punishment for their wickedness.

Once Lot was safe in Zoar, the entire valley was destroyed along with all of its inhabitants. What do we learn from the actions of Edith? She is not alone in longing for and living in the past. The past is a comfortable place for many people. It is comfortable because it is known, sure and, even if it was rocky, we know how it all turned out. Not so with the future. The unknown scares people. But it only scares people who don't have faith in God. 

Faith in God (trust in God) and fellowship with His Holy Spirit is a guarantee that your future is safe, secure and eternal. Amen...