 Update: Today, the Holy Spirit led me into my archives to this article, which I wrote ten years ago. This is needed today more than ever! The stretched rubber band I spoke of has snapped. We've all seen the stories of ministry scandals, ministers who have "fallen" into sin that destroys their lives and their ministries. We have heard pastors and worship leaders renounce God, saying they don't believe in God or His Son, Jesus and aren't even certain that they ever did believe. It was a job for them, not a life-changing relationship. They could 'talk the talk' but had no concept of what living life in the Kingdom of God was like. The same is true of Christians who aren't in the public eye. They may fall away and their marriages end as much as the world's but they aren't in the spotlight. We need citizens of the Kingdom who live their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are in supernatural times that require supernatural power. We must evaluate and remove the mixture in our lives if we want to operate in that power. That is why I wrote this: Many times, I have heard sincere remarks by fellow believers regarding the lack of power in our lives. We talk about the great moves of God in the past. Revivals where the power of God was so great that people were healed, delivered, set free and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jails and bars in town were empty because all were saved. God has been leading me down a path lately, showing me the truth of our lack of power. You can own the finest sports car and fill it with the highest octane gasoline, but if you pour water in the tank along with that gasoline you will have no power and won't go anywhere! There is too much mixture in our lives. We hold the world's measuring stick up to ourselves and believe we're living right. Instead we should be holding God's Word up to our lives and realizing just how far we are from measuring up to God's standard. Those of us who grew up in a "holiness" and/or "legalistic" church background have run from their kind of outward holiness. We have shown the world that we can live, dress and act like them and still love God. But there is a rubber band called the Holy Spirit which we are stretching to the limit with our greasy grace philosophy that is about to snap. When that "snaps" we will sail on, untethered, out into the world. Lost as a "goose in a snowstorm", as they say. The holiness God wants isn't an outward holiness, but an inward holiness. As Joyce Meyer has shown us, it is a battle in our minds. Mixture gets into our soul by what we see, hear, put in our mouth and of course, sexually. My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 NLT There is power in purity. Power in living a holy sanctified life. Set apart for His Glory, for His purpose. Today, that is looked on as radical, extreme thinking because our churches and the people in them are so diluted with the world. I have been a carnal Christian and I know that the thought of living my life by God's Word seemed impossible. I also know that living life as a carnal Christian is absolutely powerless. When we are being controlled by the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh or the pride of life we are disconnected from our true power source. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV If Satan can occupy our minds with our sin of choice, he can separate us from God. The whole time I was "out there", living life by my flesh--even though I was saved, loved God and served Him in all the areas I CHOSE. . . I never heard His voice. He went silent. Well, we know He didn't go silent. I just turned off my receiver! When I repented and sincerely began seeking Him for my life, I started hearing Him again, at an increased pace and sense of urgency! It seems that He is trying to catch me up! I am reading "The Prophetic Promise of the Seventh Day" by Bruce D. Allen. Here is a quote from that book: "Remember the question we used to ask as new believers, 'can the devil read your mind?' In the realm of the spirit, when you walk in unbelief and disobedience; when you are outside of rest and habitually wallow in these things, a fragrance is released in the realm of the spirit. If you are in faith, it will be a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord. However, if we are open to sin, the fragrance is a repugnant stench that draws demons from miles around. It is like a magnet to them or like flies to a kill" That quote confirms a dream God gave me recently about sexual sin. Sin--especially sexual sin (because it is not only a sin against God, but also a sin against the temple of the Holy Spirit) is death. The image God showed me was dead flesh inside, crawling with maggots. When we truly repent, the blood of Jesus covers that sin and the maggots living on the flesh die and leave the body, along with the dead flesh, and we are restored. This was all made very clear in that dream. We can become whole and healthy again through Him. If you don't think you are filled with the mixture of the world, listen to what you say. Make note of your thoughts and where you go in your mind. That will tell the truth of what is in you. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 NKJV Do you really want God's power working in your life? Get real with yourself. What is your "pet" sin--the one sin you just can't bear to kill. Is it a lust of the eye, a lust of the flesh or pride of life? That "pet" sin is so hard to kill, but what you get in its place is worth the cost! I leave you with this scripture: Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 AMP Arlene Luchie www.kingdomcitizens.org |
