Proverbs 26:20 English Standard Version
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Sometimes, the best counsel in controversy, is that of brother Kenneth Hagin, ‘When persecuted, let your response be: No attack, no defense.” Let love cover the gossip and controversy. If they are right, correct yourself, and go on. If they are wrong, let God deal with them, let Him be your defense.
Easily said, but not so easily accomplished!
Lies, insinuations, libel, slander – HURT!
You are doing your best to obey God, love the world, be an instrument of healing and expansion for the kingdom of God, and then BAM! You learn of some dirt spoken about you, that is often so evil, it takes your breath away.
God knows how you feel:
Psalm 109
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O God, whom I praise,
don’t stand silent and aloof
2 while the wicked slander me
and tell lies about me.
3 They surround me with hateful words
and fight against me for no reason.
4 I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
even as I am praying for them!
5 They repay evil for good,
and hatred for my love.
Don’t get proud, or self-righteous. We all came from dirt (Adam), and were born and conceived in sin.
Don’t throw another log on the fire of controversy!
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom
Though we have become the righteousness of God in Christ, children of the most high, we all have flesh.
Flesh cannot cast out flesh!
If we enter into offense and strife, we enter into the devils playground:
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Well, the devil is called, the accuser of the brethren for a reason. He is a liar and the father of all lies, and he comes to kill…your relationships, your calling, your dreams, your honor, your business, your marriage, your ministry, and if possible, take your very life
.
This is not how we must live!
Chasing gossip is like trying to nail Jello to the wall. You can get a nail in it, but it just makes a bigger mess.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
So how do we win?
Well, here is how I am doing it.
1. Acknowledge the pain the breach of trust has caused.
Denial is not a river in Egypt, and doesn’t help heal, nor increase the kingdom of God.
When bad things have been done and said about us, take them to our Father in heaven, and cry the tears you need to. He knows, He cares, He loves, and He will heal you, and correct them if your heart is right. This is not easy, but will always produce a trip to the cross, to die yet another death to self.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
2. Lift up the shield of faith, and the shield of favor.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Notice here, that the shield of faith will do you no good, unless YOU TAKE IT!
Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)
17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.
God will vindicate, and stop the accuser of the brethren.
Yet, in order to fully understand this attack, you need to see it for what it is, an attack against the kingdom of God.
When we walk with God, He gives us favor with people. This favor comes because He loves us, and to build His kingdom.
When satan sees this, he fears us, so he tries to stop us.
His ABC’s are Accusation, Blame and Criticism. The insidious realm of rumor, slander, and character assassination by insinuation….
It is an attack upon your honor, your promotion, your prosperity, and your favor.
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield
Well, Chris, if am not supposed to fight with people, what AM I supposed to do?
The shield of faith is only one weapon in the armor of God, there is also a sword, which is the word of God. (Pretty good weapon too, it is the only weapon Jesus used against satan himself in Matt 4: (IT IS WRITTEN!)
We are to lift up our shield and sword, and take the battle to the enemy!
Enough teaching, let’s do this now:
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I hurt. You see what has been done, said, insinuated against me. I forgive them. Now please heal my heart, and give me Your grace to love them, and to overcome evil with good. I take the shield of faith, and choose to declare that No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and that ever tongue risen up against me, shall be shown to be in error, as I deliberately trust you to vindicate me. Father, restore to me, Your favor. I bind every evil spirit arrayed against me today, and stand as Your child, in Your power, in Your kingdom today, with my eyes upon You and Your leadership to me. Jesus, I trust You to show me what to do, and how to walk in Your wisdom, to see Your kingdom advance today. Amen.
Lord Jesus, you promised to never leave me nor forsake me, and that You are my good shepherd, and that I would hear your voice today. Holy Spirit, speak to me what I need to Do, and help me to do it, in your name I pray Lord Jesus. Amen.
If you would like some more teaching about how to be truly led by Holy Spirit each day:(
God is good, kind, and remember, He is love!
For prayer, comments, or to donate online:
Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com
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Give in faith!
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?
1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.
Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.
I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…
As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.
Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.
I am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….
I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.
Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:
Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies
It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!
Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!
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