by Neil Anderson September 2 OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE Ecclesiastes 8:5, 6 NIV I had dear friends who were being used by the Lord in full-time ministry. Some difficulty developed in their marriage so they consulted a pastor/counselor. The wife’s response after the initial meeting was negative, but they continued with this particular counselor because other people they respected said he was a good man. Over the next year, the ministry my friends were in, as well as our relationship, deteriorated. A short time later their pastor/counselor was exposed for having sex with a number of counselees. The damage he did to several women was incredible. He justified his behavior by explaining, “What we do in the flesh doesn’t matter. Only what we do in the spirit counts!” My friends were confronted with an ultimatum by their ministry group: “Choose your ministry or choose him.” They chose to stay with him! Why won’t people judge righteously? “Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:7, 8). The authoritative, arrogant spirit of this man had some kind of hold on many since half his church stayed with him. The initial discernment of my friends was correct, but they ignored the warning of the Holy Spirit. I believe discernment is a critical part of our walk with God. This divine enablement is our first line of defense when our ability to reason is insufficient. Jesus demonstrated spiritual discernment throughout His earthly ministry. We need to learn how to develop our ability to discern good from evil, truth from lies. Prayer: Dear Father, I want to have a wise and discerning spirit. Teach me to be responsive to Your leading so I can have my senses trained to discern good and evil. |
Greg is a strong believer in Jesus Christ and in the need for revival in today’s Church. He likes reading, writing, music, and spending time with his family and his dog Roxie. By day he is a self-employed non-emergency medical transport driver, and is the Editor-in-Chief for the National War Council, as well as being a political analyst, author, blogger, and an accomplished DIYer. His articles are first published on Inspirational Christian Blogs, and I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!, and from there the articles are published on other well-known conservative websites.
The author feels convinced that the Church is in extreme danger of being forsaken by God for being unbiblical and seeks to warn all those with “ears to hear.” He believes we are in the last days of the end times, and that God is building His Remnant Church even now.
Greg is the author of: Spiritual Darkness is Destroying America and the Church
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Categories: INSPIRATIONAL DEVOTIONS
Prophecy’s Direct Dial to Jesus
I am constantly surprised at the devious ways people find to excuse their sins – and governments help them!
We are one day closer!
Yes this seems to be gaining in popularity but we know this is going to happen as the Word tells us so. Thanks for stopping by!
This is mind blowing — and heartbreaking.
I agree. This kind of thing is symptomatic of what is going on in the world today. So sad that people would follow someone like that. Follow the Lord, not someone.