OPEN REBUKE
In the realm of the godly obedient, we do not always see exactly the same things. Almost everyone who has time on the clock, if compared exactly, would be found to have some slight to great differences of understanding. This is because we are human. I know we hate being human… but we are. This means we are fallible. No argument there! If we were not fallible, we would be able to crank out seamless revelations with absolutely no dead ends from beginning to end. There would be no, “It seems to be… Could it possibly be? or It looks like…” anywhere in the whole mill-run. But alas, we know in part and it appears that God does not give it all to any one of us.God applies to his-own, a special kind of wisdom which is unique. This wisdom is precise: the Lord calculates everything, down to the molecule and beyond; His timing in this is perfect. Nevertheless, His ways are not our ways. Our individual capacities and intellectual abilities are the work of the Lord. Our spiritual gifts are measured to us precisely. And we cannot say, “Why me or why not me?” It’s none of our business. This applies, whether we are brilliant or fall below the academic standards of the world. We must make use of what we have been given, within the measure that it was measured to us. That does not mean that we cannot ask for more. But first, use what we have; the more is sure to follow when God sees fit.
We are all equally important in the sight of God and most precious. If we are precious to the Lord, we also should be precious to one another and bear with one another as we grow. Be very careful how we address one another. We should discipline ourselves to tolerance. Let it go! Often, it is better to hold your peace, if it is not an issue that amounts to anything and sometimes even if it is a big deal. Nevertheless, there is a time for all things. It is not necessary to always win the argument. When in the presence of the godly… act differently than we do with those without; which is no license to be an ass among the ungodly. But be careful... when we deal with the children, we also deal with the Father! Gentleness and kindness are godly virtues, as well as longsuffering. Remember to give double respect to the elders! Be humble. This is not a joke and these things are not options! We suffer enough when we do well; do we also want to suffer from the chastisement of the Lord?
Those who have left Babylon, are received among us. Therefore, great care is taken to embrace them. They join the line with us against the great bondage of the shameful city. We embrace one another, even if we do not all see everything exactly the same. We dare not create factions based on disagreement! Of course, there are doubtful disputations and actions and a time for dealing with them. This is where the balance of the elders will shine.
In our journey of growth, often our individual understandings do not match when we compare them one on top of another. In spite of this, the Holy Ghost is still among us and we are being used. It appears that revelation comes to the few first and ripples out to the receptive, where ever they are. This means that some, at first, see things that others have to catch up on. We can see this in the book of Acts, concerning the liberty of the Holy Ghost in contrast with the bondage of the law. God reveals something to one or more individuals and the rest have to discern it through the Spirit… by faith. This is not a rule but it is often how it happens. For some, this is a test of trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit!
The Lord leads… therefore, our understanding changes as it matures, like the understanding of a growing child. It is here, we often have difficulties between those who have been enlightened and those who have a residual of the old wine. We might also, have to apply patience to our spiritual family members and bear with them as they struggle with growing pains and this may be no small or short term task. This is nothing new. God, above and beyond all of us, knows that we are human beings and therefore fallible. We can see this even in the apostles.
Paul and Barnabas had a heated disagreement over Mark. And they parted because of it. Yet they were both used of the Holy Ghost. Even the elders get into it on occasion. BEFORE Jesus fulfilled the law, it was a transgression for a Jew to eat a meal with a Gentile. Many of the brethren, however, still held on to the law, not understanding the freedom of the Holy Spirit; it seems that enlightenment dawns slowly upon many of us. The Holy Ghost had been working to show that they were no longer bound by the works of the law but Jewish tradition was a tremendous force in the lives of the Jews and its momentum was still carrying them along. Being carried along by tradition is still a serious issue but now, it is with Christian tradition and doctrine instead of the law.
Here is an example: on a certain day, in the City of Antioch, Peter, Paul and Barnabas, along with other Jewish brothers, were about to have supper with some of the Greek brothers, when someone blurted out, “The disciples of James are on the way over!” Peter almost had a cow! He knew that the disciples of James were unbalanced concerning the law and would criticize him and the other Jews severely for eating with non-Jews. And while Peter was stumbling all over himself, leading the stampede of the Jewish brothers to move away from the Greek brothers; Paul, in front of everyone, shot Peter out of the sky… with the Bazooka of righteous rebuke! Peter was very wrong!
Another sad thing, was Barnabas… who was in the scramble, right behind Peter. And concerning James: those “in-coming” brothers were his disciples. What was he teaching them? And yet, these apostles were all used of the Holy Ghost, even though they were not perfect. The first church had discrepancies and so do we! Nevertheless, they did eventually grow into larger shoes.
Paul was strong in the freedom which he had received. That strength placed him (spiritually) in a different place on the mountain than the other brothers. Actually, Peter, Barnabas and the rest of the Jews were on the side of Paul; they were just having a weak moment… OF TOTAL PANIC! But their unbalanced and immature actions could have destroyed those men newly won to the faith. Likewise many of us, are in different places on the mountain and see things from different perspectives; some are weak and some are strong. Nevertheless, we are all on the same mountain!
This story (on another level) actually is a classic attack of the Devil; the Devil, in a sneak attack and the Holy Ghost, one man counter attack through Paul. These apostles had been giving Satan a run for his money through the power of the Holy Ghost. They were in the beginning of the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles and many had responded.
None of the apostles feared the Devil. Nevertheless, when the spirit of the Devil came in under the guise of the law and said, “BOO,” they all jumped three feet into the air and scuffled around like cockroaches. Had it not been for Paul being rooted in what the Spirit had shown him, repercussions would have rippled far and wide into the Gentile world. This is a perfect example of Satan using an opportunity presented to him through religious fear. Even though Paul was one born out of due season (as compared to the others), the authority of eldership fell upon him that day because he was not blown down by the Devil’s wind, proving that his balance was perfect before the Lord.
Did that situation stink, or what? It was due season for rebuke! It is hard for one who is well balanced to be blown over. On the other hand, God hates a false balance; which is exactly what that kind of double-mindedness is. They must have been ashamed beyond measure when they realized what they had done. Entanglement in the bondage, out of which we have escaped is always a false balance.
This is why we must make sure that we are strongly resolved to forsake all of the remaining small particles of captivity, once we have discovered them. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to throw them away. This is a big part of walking in the Spirit. It is not a simple thing! Sometimes we are wrong in our understanding and have to back paddle. Humbling, isn’t it? Be humble and do it! It won’t kill you.
In religion, they will hold to their old, stinking doctrines and traditions until the filth of it rots into their very spirit. That’s why God has called us out here and they are still in there.
Religious orientation tends to cling to our minds; there it hides, awaiting an opportunity to be used of the Devil. In most cases, we have no clue that it is even there. It can manifest itself in many subtle ways. This is a common thing among us because we are on many different levels of groweth. Therefore, it is an understanding not to be taken lightly. If apostles ( used of the Holy Ghost) were sucked into a situation based in religious bondage, we are also vulnerable if we don’t take it to heart.
Jaytee Bee
We are all equally important in the sight of God and most precious. If we are precious to the Lord, we also should be precious to one another and bear with one another as we grow. Be very careful how we address one another. We should discipline ourselves to tolerance. Let it go! Often, it is better to hold your peace, if it is not an issue that amounts to anything and sometimes even if it is a big deal. Nevertheless, there is a time for all things. It is not necessary to always win the argument. When in the presence of the godly… act differently than we do with those without; which is no license to be an ass among the ungodly. But be careful... when we deal with the children, we also deal with the Father! Gentleness and kindness are godly virtues, as well as longsuffering. Remember to give double respect to the elders! Be humble. This is not a joke and these things are not options! We suffer enough when we do well; do we also want to suffer from the chastisement of the Lord?
Those who have left Babylon, are received among us. Therefore, great care is taken to embrace them. They join the line with us against the great bondage of the shameful city. We embrace one another, even if we do not all see everything exactly the same. We dare not create factions based on disagreement! Of course, there are doubtful disputations and actions and a time for dealing with them. This is where the balance of the elders will shine.
In our journey of growth, often our individual understandings do not match when we compare them one on top of another. In spite of this, the Holy Ghost is still among us and we are being used. It appears that revelation comes to the few first and ripples out to the receptive, where ever they are. This means that some, at first, see things that others have to catch up on. We can see this in the book of Acts, concerning the liberty of the Holy Ghost in contrast with the bondage of the law. God reveals something to one or more individuals and the rest have to discern it through the Spirit… by faith. This is not a rule but it is often how it happens. For some, this is a test of trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit!
The Lord leads… therefore, our understanding changes as it matures, like the understanding of a growing child. It is here, we often have difficulties between those who have been enlightened and those who have a residual of the old wine. We might also, have to apply patience to our spiritual family members and bear with them as they struggle with growing pains and this may be no small or short term task. This is nothing new. God, above and beyond all of us, knows that we are human beings and therefore fallible. We can see this even in the apostles.
Paul and Barnabas had a heated disagreement over Mark. And they parted because of it. Yet they were both used of the Holy Ghost. Even the elders get into it on occasion. BEFORE Jesus fulfilled the law, it was a transgression for a Jew to eat a meal with a Gentile. Many of the brethren, however, still held on to the law, not understanding the freedom of the Holy Spirit; it seems that enlightenment dawns slowly upon many of us. The Holy Ghost had been working to show that they were no longer bound by the works of the law but Jewish tradition was a tremendous force in the lives of the Jews and its momentum was still carrying them along. Being carried along by tradition is still a serious issue but now, it is with Christian tradition and doctrine instead of the law.
Here is an example: on a certain day, in the City of Antioch, Peter, Paul and Barnabas, along with other Jewish brothers, were about to have supper with some of the Greek brothers, when someone blurted out, “The disciples of James are on the way over!” Peter almost had a cow! He knew that the disciples of James were unbalanced concerning the law and would criticize him and the other Jews severely for eating with non-Jews. And while Peter was stumbling all over himself, leading the stampede of the Jewish brothers to move away from the Greek brothers; Paul, in front of everyone, shot Peter out of the sky… with the Bazooka of righteous rebuke! Peter was very wrong!
Another sad thing, was Barnabas… who was in the scramble, right behind Peter. And concerning James: those “in-coming” brothers were his disciples. What was he teaching them? And yet, these apostles were all used of the Holy Ghost, even though they were not perfect. The first church had discrepancies and so do we! Nevertheless, they did eventually grow into larger shoes.
Paul was strong in the freedom which he had received. That strength placed him (spiritually) in a different place on the mountain than the other brothers. Actually, Peter, Barnabas and the rest of the Jews were on the side of Paul; they were just having a weak moment… OF TOTAL PANIC! But their unbalanced and immature actions could have destroyed those men newly won to the faith. Likewise many of us, are in different places on the mountain and see things from different perspectives; some are weak and some are strong. Nevertheless, we are all on the same mountain!
This story (on another level) actually is a classic attack of the Devil; the Devil, in a sneak attack and the Holy Ghost, one man counter attack through Paul. These apostles had been giving Satan a run for his money through the power of the Holy Ghost. They were in the beginning of the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles and many had responded.
None of the apostles feared the Devil. Nevertheless, when the spirit of the Devil came in under the guise of the law and said, “BOO,” they all jumped three feet into the air and scuffled around like cockroaches. Had it not been for Paul being rooted in what the Spirit had shown him, repercussions would have rippled far and wide into the Gentile world. This is a perfect example of Satan using an opportunity presented to him through religious fear. Even though Paul was one born out of due season (as compared to the others), the authority of eldership fell upon him that day because he was not blown down by the Devil’s wind, proving that his balance was perfect before the Lord.
Did that situation stink, or what? It was due season for rebuke! It is hard for one who is well balanced to be blown over. On the other hand, God hates a false balance; which is exactly what that kind of double-mindedness is. They must have been ashamed beyond measure when they realized what they had done. Entanglement in the bondage, out of which we have escaped is always a false balance.
This is why we must make sure that we are strongly resolved to forsake all of the remaining small particles of captivity, once we have discovered them. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to throw them away. This is a big part of walking in the Spirit. It is not a simple thing! Sometimes we are wrong in our understanding and have to back paddle. Humbling, isn’t it? Be humble and do it! It won’t kill you.
In religion, they will hold to their old, stinking doctrines and traditions until the filth of it rots into their very spirit. That’s why God has called us out here and they are still in there.
Religious orientation tends to cling to our minds; there it hides, awaiting an opportunity to be used of the Devil. In most cases, we have no clue that it is even there. It can manifest itself in many subtle ways. This is a common thing among us because we are on many different levels of groweth. Therefore, it is an understanding not to be taken lightly. If apostles ( used of the Holy Ghost) were sucked into a situation based in religious bondage, we are also vulnerable if we don’t take it to heart.
Jaytee Bee
