Watch Out For The Father Of Lies

Who is the real enemy?

When we use the word enemy we sometimes use it to describe nations that hate the United States and our system of democracy. Sometimes we use the term to define terrorists; or those with different political viewpoints; or the opposing team in some kind of sport; or even someone who we may have conflict with. When we use the word enemy in biblical terms we sometimes use it to describe our spiritual enemy. The spiritual enemy that we are talking about is Satan, the Devil, the adversary, the accuser, the father of lies, the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the tempter, the god of this world.

The Bible confirms that the devil is the father of lies:

John 8:43-45 New International Version 1984  

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

The Bible confirms that the devil is out to deceive us:

2 Corinthians 11:14 New International Version 1984 
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light

2 Thessalonians 2:9 New International Version 1984 
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of
Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,

The Bible confirms that the devil is our enemy and so are those who align themselves with him:

1 Peter 5:8 New Living Translation 

 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Acts 13:10 New International Version 1984 
“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

The original Hebrew term, Satan, is a noun from a verb meaning primarily to, “obstruct, oppose,”

Those who have become followers of Christ will be opposed.

Ephesians 6:12 New International Version 1984

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Those who have become followers of Christ will be persecuted.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 New Living Translation 

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

(From The Message translation 2 Timothy 3:12-13):

Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble;

there's no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They're as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse.

We can assume correctly that those who persecute us are aligned with the devil.

God has allowed Satan to operate in this world, yet God has set the boundaries, so Satan

can only do the things that God allows Him to do. God is still sovereign and in control even when it seems otherwise due to our limited human perspective.  Check out the Book of Job to get a better understanding of why God would allow Satan to test Job’s faith and perseverance.

Job 1:12 New Living Translation 

 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

When the Bible says that Satan has power over the world, this means that his domain is over unbelievers, not those who have given their lives over to Christ. Followers can still be deceived but their salvation cannot be stolen away. True Believers are no longer in bondage to the sin yet the enemy will tempt us to be led by our sin nature.

2 Corinthians 4:4 New Living Translation 

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Romans 8:7-9 New Living Translation 

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the

Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 

Even Jesus was tempted by the enemy.

Matthew 4:1 New Living Translation 

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Luke 4:1-3 New Living Translation

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

Here is the good news for believers about temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 New Living Translation
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

By looking at our world today we can see that Satan, and the evil that he casts upon

this world, has influence over how people think about life, God, education, philosophy, thoughts, ideas marriage, commerce, etc. False religions of the world are under his control and have sprung out of his lies and deceptions.

So in a fallen world we must be careful how we live because we live in a

world inundated with evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 1984

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

Note: we need to be careful because there are false teachers who claim Christ but are actually trying to deceive us and distract us from having a real relationship with Jesus. Sadly the enemy has placed his agents in Christ's Body - meaning the Church. That is why the bible warns us about false teachers.  The False teachers hinder their Christian brothers and sisters from being obedient to the truth of the Gospel, thereby calling them to work for their salvation over receiving the gift of grace through Christ's work on the cross. False teachers confuse those who are trying to live for Christ to live a delegated existence under church authority, thereby causing them to lose perspective on God's real calling for their life. Freedom under Christ is not supposed to be bondage under the authority of the Church. False teachers also gain complete control over the church and church life thereby causing their congregations to follow their direction no matter what the cost to themselves or their families. They dominate church life and delegate the people to serve their desires rather than empower them to serve where God has called them. False teachers commonly lead by confusion, thereby misleading the people so they believe the church is being good stewards of their money and resources. They often misuse Church resources to benefit a worldly agenda over the mission God has called the church to follow. False teachers often are the source of false rumors and judge the those who serve so they can Lord over them with Church discipline in order to control them. False Teachers resort to worldly hype to fill the church in order to gain worldly success thereby being able to boast about their works rather than trusting God to provide and boasting in His work. False Teachers water down scripture and twist the truth of God's Word in order to manipulate and guilt people into doing things that serve their selfish desires. False Teachers do not provide their people with a solid foundation in Christ thereby causing them to be vulnerable to sin and the distractions from the enemy. 

Here are some verses below that describe false teachers:

2 Corinthians 11:12-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

 But what I do, I will continue to do, [for I am determined to maintain this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who would like [to find an occasion and incentive] to claim that in their boasted [mission] they work on the same terms that we do. For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light;

 Titus 1:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

2 Peter 2:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

 Matthew 7:15 New International Version (NIV)

True and False Prophets
watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

So what can we do to prevent the forces of evil from getting some kind of foothold in our lives?

James 4:7-8 New Living Translation 

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Romans 12:1-2 The Message (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Ephesians 4:26-27 New Living Translation  

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

for anger gives a foothold to the devil

For Spiritual protection the Bible exhorts us to put on the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version 1984 

The Armor of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Perspective on the Armor of God:

The Belt of Truth – We need to be reminded through that our salvation and place in God’s Kingdom is secure

The Breastplate of Righteousness – We need to be reminded that the imputation of righteousness is through Christ, not due to our own works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version 1984 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Gospel of Peace – We are to always be ready to share our faith and not let those obstacles, due to the enemy, prevent us from Bringing the message of hope to the world. We must also hold tightly on to what is truth and stand firm on the faith we share with others.

The Shield of Faith – Living by Faith in a fallen world is important as there are many pressures to conform to this world. The Bible tells us to live faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We need to rely on the truth of God’s promises.

The Helmet of Salvation – we must be able to discern biblical truth and not let the enemy tempt us or distract us away from God’s calling for our lives. We must protect our minds through the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. We must beware of false doctrine

and always try to discern the truth in every situation.

The Sword of the Spirit – This is the truth of God’s Word that speaks powerfully in our lives. God's Word counters spiritual deception and accusations

Pray in the Spirit – This is where we draw our spiritual strength from God and rely fully on Him. Our prayers should be aligned with the heart and mind of Christ and should be geared toward His will in all situations. Intercession should be a regular part of our daily spiritual discipline.

Even in a fallen world there is good news. God loves us and Jesus has defeated the enemy.

John 3:16 New Living Translation 

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who

believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version 1984

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 2:14 New Living Translation 

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

John 16:33 New International Version 1984

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

So the real enemy in this world is the father of lies, Satan, who will try to distract us, deceive us and tell us that God doesn’t love us or that He really died for our sins.  For this reason we need to be steeped in God’s Word so we can discern God’s truth in the midst of the enemy’s lies.

God has promised good things for those who love Him. We need to make sure we don’t allow the enemy to rob us of our joy or get a foothold in our lives. We need to make sure we don’t allow the enemy to distract us from the mission and purpose we are called to live out in this life.

                                                                                                                                           

Just Sayin........................Dave

Are we Mission Focused or Agenda Focused? Ways To Maintain the Health of the Church

Are we Mission Focused or Agenda Focused?

This is a great question to ask ourselves as the Church and as followers of Jesus. We should always   evaluate the heart of our service to God. We should determine if  "we"/  the Church are operating on human effort and gauging success by the worlds standards, or are we desiring to honor God by trusting Him and appropriating His supernatural wisdom, discernment and perspective, while taking faithful action to carry out His plan. We should remember we will honor God when we live and work by His standards. We will show we love God through our obedience to His Word.

If we determine that "we"/ the Church are operating outside out of God's will and principles we should return back to God by way of humility, confession, obedience, repentance and action that restores us back into a right relationship with Him. We should also understand that God can take someone that is operating contrary to His will and use it for His good purpose. But as God's people, we can avoid going down the road of disobedience, sin and through the heartache of division, by striving to be Spirit led, God-centered, and unified in mission and purpose in everything we do.

A "healthy" Church is a great place for sick people to get back on the road to recovery as well as for people to be connected to a loving unified community of believers. A healthy Church is a place where God's truth is not compromised and that Christ is the center of everything done for the sake of His kingdom. A healthy church understands that without Christ they will bear no fruit.

Jesus made this principle clear:

John 15:5 New International Version 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

It is important for the Church to always seek God's will and to  maintain its Spiritual health.

Here are some ways a Church can maintain its Spiritual health. 

Ways to maintain the health of the Church:

1. Making sure there is accountability for all those who teach. There must be clarity and truth in the teaching of God’s Word in every ministry in the Church.

 (We should never water down the gospel, never twist God's Word    to manipulate people into action)

Psalm 119:9-12 New International Version 1984

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

John 17:17 New International Version 
 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth

Hebrews 4:12 New International Version 
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

2. Worship God not the idols we create    

(We need to Worship in Spirit and in Truth - We desire that worship stem from a deep heartfelt love and gratitude for God. God should be lifted up for His amazing attributes, amazing love and amazing Grace no matter what we are doing. Every area of ministry should strive for Christ-likeness through their service to others)

1 Corinthians 10:31 New International Version 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God

John 4:23-24 New International Version 1984 

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Psalm 138 NIV

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. 

3. Living and working with a Passion and Love for God  

(Always remembering what God has done for us and to let that inspire us to love Him and serve Him from depths of our heart, mind, soul, with all our strength)

1 John 4:19 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

We love because he first loved us.

Colossians 3:23 New International Version 1984 
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

Mark 12:30 New International Version 1984 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind 

and with all your strength.’

Philippians 3:7-11 New Living Translation 

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

4. Heartfelt Continuous Prayer 

 (Praying continuously for God’s guidance)

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version 1984 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 4:2 New International Version 1984  

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version 1984

Ask, Seek, Knock

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to 

you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door 

will be opened.

Proverbs 15:29 New International Version 1984  

The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Ephesians 6:18 New International Version 1984  

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind,

be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Matthew 18:19-20 New International Version 1984  

 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

5.  Focus on Making Disciples 

(Fulfilling the great commission)

Matthew 28:18-20 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

6. Always Loving and caring for the needs of others 

 (Loving and encouraging others as God would have us do.   Looking out for the interests of others)

Mark 12:28-31 New International Version 1984  

The Greatest Commandment

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version 1984 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude,

it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Romans 12:10 New International Version 1984  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

John 13:34 New International Version 1984  

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 New International Version 1984 
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 New International Version 1984 
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage 

one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Peter 5:2 New International Version 1984 
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—

not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

Philippians 2:3-5 New International Version 1984 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

7. Developing and training Leaders on a regular basis
  
(We must continually develop the leaders in the Church through the teaching of God’s Word, the empowerment of their gifts and talents, and with the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit leading us)

(God gives leadership assignments for those in His Church)

Ephesians 4:11-13 New International Version 1984 

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

(God's Word equips us for service)

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 New International Version (NIV)

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 (Jesus is our model model for leadership)

Matthew 20:25-28 New International Version 1984   

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to

become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

 (We must abide by God’s standard for leadership)

2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be

ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

(The Holy Spirit plays a role in our development)

Romans 12:6-8 New International Version 1984   

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

 (The Holy Spirit will teach us how we are to lead)

John 14:26 New International Version 1984   

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

(As leaders the gifts we receive should be used to serve others)

1 Peter 4:10 New International Version 1984 

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

8. Always be Mission Focused 

(We are to be missionaries even in our own backyard and always be ready to share the Gospel)

1 Peter 3:15 New International Version 1984 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone

who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Acts 1:8 New International Version 1984 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9. Living by and acting on Faith and Trust in God

(We are to live by faith and embrace the purpose God has for His Church Body)

Hebrews 11:1-2 New International Version 1984  

By Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

This is what the ancients were commended for.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version 1984 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and

not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Philippians 2:13 New International Version 1984 
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 New International Version 1984 
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling,

and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

10. Godly Stewardship 

(We should be good and faithful managers of everything God has provided)

 (Tithe)

Proverbs 3:9-10 New International Version 1984 

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 

 (Give)

Luke 6:38 New Living Translation 

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back

 (Model what we have been taught)

Titus 2:7 New Living Translation

And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. 

(Be Faithful)

1 Corinthians 4:2 New Living Translation  

Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 

(Be Blameless)

Titus 1:7-9 New International Version 1984  

Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 

(Be a Good Steward)

Luke 12:42-46 New International Version 1984 

 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Unfortunately it is not an easy task for the Church to maintain its Spiritual health. When the   spiritually  "sick", including Christ's followers come to receive hope and hear the message of salvation they also bring their sickness into the Church. That is why we have to stand by Godly principles in the way in which we deal with the sickness and in the way in which we treat one another.  We are all sinners in need of a Savior. No matter how much we think we know and feel we can do for the church, we must allow the for Holy Spirit to work through each and every one of us in regards to how fulfill to fulfill the mission of the Church and how we minister and treat one another. We can become a God honoring body of believers if we regularly apply God’s principles. The best thing we can do as the Church is to model Christ in everything we do.

The Bible exhorts us to act in such a manner:

Philippians 2:1-5 New International Version 1984 

Imitating Christ’s Humility

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

So as we ask ourselves the question, Are we Mission Focused or Agenda Focused,

Let’s take a serious look at our own motives and see if they are aligned with the principles of God.

Let’s ask God if we are fulfilling the mission for the Church His way. Let’s surrender our agenda

for His. A wise man once said that if we trust God and lean on His understanding, He will make

our paths straight. So let’s always seek Godly perspective and honor Him with our obedience to His will.

                                                                                                                                           

Just Sayin........................Dave