Romans 2:1, “Therefore thou are inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for where in thou judgestanother, thou condemnest theyself; for thou that judgest doestthe same things.” 

Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the las was out schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God. A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I was at a church service on this past Sunday. My husband and I decided to visit another ministry. Normally, when we do this, we have a wonderful time in the Lord. We enjoy worshiping with a body of believers. There is something extra special about being apart of a worship service on one accord – glory be to God!

However, at this particular service things seemed to go sideways from the beginning. There was someone who testified (just prior to opening prayer) that she had been practicing witchcraft all week because she was afraid that someone was after her. This was never addressed by the person leading prayer, nor was it addressed by the Pastor or ministerial staff. It was ignored as if it never happened.

During the preaching, the Pastor went on a rant about who is called to preach and who is not. He talked against looking and acting like the world, and how we should instead be the salt of the earth, and to let our light shine bright. This was good until he made it seem that ministries that are successful (larger congregations) are wrong because the church should not be liked or well accepted by the world. The Pastor inferred that small membership churches are better as they preach against sin, and to live lives that are holy and acceptable to God.

Then during prayer at the end of service, the same lady who confessed to doing witchcraft for a week was allowed to go around and pray with people.

This (and so much more) grieved our spirit. If it were not for the fact that the exit was at the front of the church (behind the pulpit), we would have left the service. One would have to walk past the Pastor as he was preaching to exit. This would have been just as wrong as some of the other things that occurred during the service.

But God did allow me to realize something – no matter what is said over the pulpit or done by church leadership, we still have the bible.  God requires us to read and ask for understanding for ourselves, and not to just depend on others for our spiritual stability. It is called the responsibility of salvation. 2 Timothy 2:15, tells us to study the word for ourselves. God tells us if any man lack wisdom to ask God who gives to all men liberally (James 1:5). Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. The bottom line – there is no excuse to miss the mark because we have the bible and should read (study to know) for ourselves. 

You will not always understand everything you read in the bible. But you should study. To properly study, you will need to run references, conduct research, and to pray and asked God for understanding. God is faithful. He will allow you to come into understanding about the issue. This may be received through listening to preaching, attending bible study, meditating on the word, or via revelation from God. The scripture tells us that (2 Peter 1:20-21) that no prophesy of scripture comes from someone’s own private interpretation. But is should be established, supportedand confirmed from the Bible itself. The bible will not contradict itself. It does explain and expand on information provide in other areas of the bible.

In these confusing times we should run to church, not away from it. But you must make sure the place you attend is indeed teaching the truth. If you are not sure, ask God in prayer. He will reveal his will to you.

However, before you judge someone else, make sure that you are right. Otherwise, you just condemn yourself (Romans 2:1). 

It is a faith walk – the just shall live by his faith. Faith comes by hearing (any applying) the word of God. This is exercise. We hear the word, apply it by faith – walk it out in our daily lives. It is a never-ending cycle because we are constantly learning something from the bible. Or at least we should be. So, when you hear something over the pulpit or in bible class or from TV, TikTok, or whatever source, we need to search the scripture for ourselves. If what we heard is not supported by the word, shake the dust of that word from off your feet and keep moving.

We do not verbally attack the messenger, but we pray for them and their congregation. Prayer changes things. We allow our sovereign God to address the issue and provide correction as he sees fit. Our duty is to pray and make sure we do not get caught up in the fallacy. 

Matthew 26:41 ESV, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Have a blessed day.

Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he; eat and drink, saith he to the but his heart is not with thee.”

Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

The I AM factor: 

God is the great I AM. He told Moses, that is who he is (Exodus 3:14). He tells us he is our all in all. He is forever in a present tense because he does not have to wait to evolve or become a thing. He is always exactly what you need. He is the Great I AM! He is an ever-present help in a time of trouble (Psalms 46:1). In trouble, we need help RIGHT NOW. There is no time for God to evolve or become what we need. He already is exactly that. Most times we do not fully know what we need, but God does. He is there to be just that.

The I AM factor pulls from that idea. Whatever we need, God is. Conversely, whatever we say we are, we become (or remain). Whatever we say we have is just what we receive or strive for. Why? Because of the I AM factor. Whatever you say is looking for you because you have the “Great I AM” dwelling within you. If you say I have peace, then peace is looking for you. Wherever you go, whatever situation you face, by speaking peace, peace is looking for you. You can walk in peace. Every room I enter, peace comes in with me.

Proverbs 18:21, reminds us that the power of life and death is in out tongue. What we speak matters! I remember Donald Lawrence singing about this and it has finally resonated with me. 

If you say “I am poor” then poor is looking for you. The spirit of Lack is looking to oppress your life. You will have plenty of days where “not enough” is the theme until you change what you speak. Speaking a thing enough will cause your mind to act because it believes what you say. Have you ever met someone who told a specific lie enough that they began to believe that lie as the truth? That is the same principle. Their mind began to believe what their mouth spoke so often. 

We must know the scriptures and stand on this by faith. You must remind yourself who God made you to be and speak that. Deuteronomy 28:13, tells us we are the head and not the tail, we are above only, and not beneath. But you must know who God says you are. Once you know, then change your confession. Speak by faith the things God says about you. Then you will begin to prepare yourself to walk in abundance, because “poor” will no longer be your confession.

Let me just interject here, the things we say as ‘just joking’ counts. Your mouth is only speaking what is in your heart. Even in jest, you should not want to call yourself anything other than how God sees you. This is how you train yourself to believe God over your own negative thoughts. Respect yourself enough to stand with God, not against your own best interests. 

What do you call yourself?

With this in mind, take a moment to consider your most private and intimate thoughts. 

We are quick to guard how we allow people to speak to us. We will stand up against disrespect and take swift action to protect ourselves against anyone who would attempt to belittle. But are you guarding yourself from the thoughts you think about yourself? Those private thoughts that we don’t even recognize for what they are but can do far more damage that we realize. Are you quick to squash out disrespectful thoughts regarding who you are that sneak into your mind?

Are you full of negative self-thoughts? 

-Do you privately believe you are not healed? 

-Do you think you will never get out of this or be free from that?

-Do you doubt God is able to do what he promised in the Bible?

-Or have you talked yourself out of taking steps to drive change? 

Remember faith without works is dead, and the just must live by faith. You still need to confirm your belief and holy confession by taking steps by faith. For example, if you think God is going to change your financial position, then you must seek to learn changes you can make. If you make poor decisions on how you spend the money God places in your hands each pay, then take a quick course on financial responsibility. It will change the way you seek your money, thus impacting the way you spend or allocate it. Whatever you are asking God for is going to require you to put some work to it. As you take a step, God will do his part. If you are unwilling to back your faith up with action – as they say “put your money where your mouth is” then you cannot get made if you do not receive what you say.

The enemy is on his job – arranging circumstances that would interject thoughts of doubt, and sow seeds of discontent and unbelief.

Our job is to combat this with a mind that is stayed on Jesus (the word, a praise/prayer on our hearts, etc.). We meditate (think on) the word, and on the goodness of God. I would even pepper these efforts with fasting. Once we have our minds guarded, then we concentrate on adding our own positive confessions to combat the distorted thoughts inspired by the enemy. 

Daily positive affirmations are a perfect tool to use in this battle.

No one knows the thoughts you constantly battle better than you. Take some time to sit down and compile a list of lies the enemy wants to you believe and embrace. Then find scriptures that directly contradict these lies. Each morning, during your morning routine to get ready for the day, say this list of affirmations to yourself. During the day, as those thoughts would try to invade, repeat the affirmations by faith. Just as Jesus battled the enemy with the word in Matthew 4, when he was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, we must be prepared to do the same.

Success in this arena will lead to a better view of your own self-worth. You will begin to see yourself the way God sees you. This will impact the private thoughts you think of yourself.

It’s time to get in line with the word of God, so you know how God sees you, and you can view yourself the same way. That is what you should call yourself.

Have a blessed day.