Hypocrites?

Have you ever heard this, "I don't go to church because there are so many hypocrites there"? I have heard it a lot of times, but recently the Lord has been showing me that if He had had the same attitude then He wouldn't have come to Earth.
     Actually, the enemy uses any excuse that will work for us to keep us from going to church and being united with a body of believers. Some people believe they are ok not going to church, some believe they are ok not tithing, some believe they are ok not praying and some believe they are ok not reading scripture. Yet God's word tells us to do all of these things! If we live as if it's ok to not follow His instructions then we really aren't being obedient and most likely we're deceived by the enemy that has told us we're ok "just the way we are".
     One of the saddest parts in scripture is in John 2:24-25, But Jesus did not yet entrust himself to them, because he knew how fickle human hearts can be. He didn’t need anyone to tell him about human nature, for he fully understood what man was capable of doing. 
     Every time I read those words I feel such conviction! It doesn't say that a few people were this way, it says it is "human nature". I really don't like to be put in the group of people that soon crucified Him, do you? However, even though Jesus knew what our human nature was, He came to Earth, He went to where people gathered to hear scripture, He presented Himself and He still offers Himself to all of us. If Jesus came and died for all of us, who are we to say we don't want to go to church with hypocrites?
     I do believe that we have to diligently fight our own nature, fight our own hypocrisy, fight our own agendas and be the people that He has called us to be. How else will we advance His Kingdom as He instructed us to do?
     Life is so very short, and if we spend it only pleasing our selves we have squandered the precious gift and opportunity that the Lord has given us. There are things He has told us to do and assignments He has given us to accomplish, how are you doing with the work He has given you?

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Betrayed? Promoted? Prepare For Promotion!

     Where to begin? When God calls you to minister you will be hurt, there is no way to go around it, duck under it or ignore it. You're best hope is to focus on your heavenly Father and soar over it! Even outside of ministry life carries it's own share of hurts.
     We need to remember "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12.             Trust me I know it's easy to say this but hard to realize it. The pain seems to be coming from someone that looks very "flesh and blood"! They are most likely people that you have in your life, maybe it's family, maybe someone you work with or go to church with. Unfortunately the truth is it's probably someone you've allowed into your life, otherwise there wouldn't be pain from their thoughts, words or actions, right?

     Have you read John 2:24-25 "But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart". 

     With these two teachings I believe you need to combine them to get the full idea. Our enemy is not flesh and blood, but because of the weakness in each man's heart, he easily becomes a tool of the enemy. 

     Yes, you'll probably go through a lot of carnal emotions when you feel betrayed or hurt by people, unless you've reached a higher level of sainthood than I have! You will feel betrayed, hurt, rejected, naked and exposed. Some anger may get mixed in too! But unless you want to go through all of these feelings again you really need to grab the lesson and incorporate it into your spirit. Once a lesson is learned you can apply it to your life and not have to go through the learning process over and over! In other words it's in your best interest to learn this! 

     So, first you hurt, then you remember that you're not alone. Jesus was betrayed, beaten and exposed to ridicule and yet He walked the path that God had given Him, He drank from the cup. He prayed for His betrayers, even the one that He had befriended and walked with daily, the one that betrayed Him with a kiss....Even the ones that shouted "Crucify Him!"... Even the ones that drove the stakes through His hands and feet.. Even the one that denied even knowing Him! 

     Can we do that in our own will? No!....but our will can choose to turn to Jesus and He will bring the power to walk His path. He will bring the power for forgiveness, He will bring the power to trust Him in all things. 

     Will you have to do this more than once? Most likely!...probably every morning that you wake up and remember the situation again. You will be faced with a choice, you can choose to focus on the betrayal and wallow in the pain or you can choose to be promoted to walk with Jesus in the victory of forgiveness that He shed on the world and that He will empower in you.

     We encourage you, choose Promotion!