Tag Archives: Weary

Afraid To Die Trying?

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Christianity, Commitment, Covenant, Disciple, Discipleship, Excellence, Faithful, LifeGiving, Mandate, Mature, Maturing, Message, Mission, Movement, Revolution, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Training, Transformation

Afraid to die trying?

Whatever happened to, “I will give my best even if I die trying!”

Where is the, “I’m going for ‘IT’! I may die, but I am dying right now sitting in sequestration while the Spirit of God is wondering why I am where I am.”

Four lepers found themselves in a similar predicament. Famine was ravaging the land and God’s people were between a rock and a hard place. You can find their story in 2 Samuel 7. I am not going to put all the text here for time and space. But here are the important verses I want to share with you.

““Why do we sit here until we die?”

“Let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.”

That is so awesome! “We will but die!”

“When they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there.”

“When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them.”

“We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent.”

Many of God’s people are like those lepers. They sit outside the gate [the place of kingdom decision making] dying. They think they are living but they are actually the living dead.

They may be spiritually alive but they are not functioning fully in their priesthood responsibilities. A part of their call and commission is dead.

They live in fear that if they engage the enemy they might die but they know enough to know where they are right now is not living either. What will they decide to do? Will they sit in sequestration and die or will they risk it all to live differently?

Many have huge callings to walk in signs and wonders and they wonder why God is not using them. Huge calls require huge risks!

The futures of people are hanging in the balance, and many of God’s have been weighed on the balance and do not measure up.

The four lepers decided to risk it and God had moved miraculously on their behalf. They moved not realizing God was waiting for them to move so He could.

They were shocked they found no resistance and started enjoying the benefits of risk.

They realized they had good news and must share it with the rest of God’s people.

You say you have good news but who are you sharing it with?

You say you believe in Psalms 91 protection but you refuse to step into danger so God can protect you.

You say you believe in healing and miracles but you are afraid to be around those who are sick.

I did not include the text in the story about the royal officer of the king, who did not believe God would intervene, who died in the excitement of the miracles as per the word of the prophet of God.

Dear leader, God showed me in a vision last year some of His leaders were going to die, in their pulpit. He did not say when, or how. He just said it would happen. You may represent Jesus the King today but a day is coming where you may die in all the excitement of what God is doing.

Where are the believers who live by this creed: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto death.”?

What I see today are “believers” who love their life MORE THAN DEATH!

Look at what Jeremiah wrote, “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” [Jeremiah 12:5]

In other words, if you get weary when it is easy how will you make it when the going gets tough?

It appears that when “the going gets tough” the ’tough’ actually don’t get going. They wait until the storm passes.

COVID-19 is the veil of inconvenience that is separating the faith walkers from the faith talkers.

What is happening right now reminds me of the guys I played Minor League Baseball with who bragged like crazy in the locker room about their nightly conquests, only to find out later they spent the night in their Hotel room, alone!

Today, courage is being called “crazy!”

In Hebrews, Paul writes three times, “Today, if you hear His voice do not harden your heart.”

Jesus sent His disciples into storms to test their faith. “How come you have no faith?”

Today, we are being asked to suspend our belief that He still does that, or that He still stops storms.

Why?

Jesus fully expected His disciples to stop the storm that was sent to stop them from completing His mission, which was, “Get in the boat and let’s go to the other side!” The boat was the vehicle that took them into the storm. They could have walked around the lake. That would have taken longer but it would have been the “safer” route.

No ma’am or sir, you are only safe in Him and where He is! Where is He? He is not in man’s palatial houses of worship. He is in the marketplace where He is calling the sick, in soul and body, to Himself.

Jesus does not send His disciples on safe missions on safe routes!

We are now told to believe that He sends disciples into safe space sequestration waiting out the storm.

What if their real storm is their sequestration? “How come you have no faith?”

Why is it not just okay, but expected, that doctors, nurses, EMT’s, police, firemen, and military personnel, many who do not know or serve God, stand between plagues and people, but not God’s people?

Are they the new priests on the planet?

What about the priesthood of all believers [in Christ as Lord]?

Where are God’s generals?

Where are God’s troops?

Where is God’s David’s who wrote and sang, “I can run through a troop, and I can leap over a wall!”?

Today it is more like, “I will run through my door and hide behind my walls!”

We are in a time of war and it appears God’s generals have told God’s warriors to stand down. “At this point what difference does it make?” Well, for those standing down they sure won’t make a difference.

Our President is the Commander in Chief of all our armed forces. He and every commanding officer in every branch of our military make tough choices every day that require them to send troops into harm’s way. Some call it, “serving downrange.”

They send troops downrange because there are people down there who are in grave danger.

Jesus, as Head of the church, is Commander in Chief of His kingdom’s “armed” forces. “Arm” in scripture can denote strength, power, and might. God is Almighty! God is all-powerful! We are to walk [live] in the power of His might! We are to do all things through His ability [power, strength, and might].

But God’s generals are not obeying His orders to send warriors to Go! Preach! Heal! Raise the dead! Cleanse lepers [those with communicable diseases]!

Instead of sending them downrange, they have sent them to their personal home on the range. Speaking of the home on the range. The USA is the land of the free and home of the brave, but right now we are more like the land of the fearful and home of the sequestered.

People “downrange” are under attack and dying but no supernatural help is coming. They are on their own!

Right now God is looking at His generals to see if He can find any. If He can’t then He will find some among those who are willing to risk everything to go downrange.

Hypocrisy is pretense. It is claiming to believe something, but when what you say you believe is needed the most you are not in the place it is needed but in your safe place.

COVID-19 is revealing some very unsettling things. Groupthink has turned into group meetings on video conferencing platforms from the platform of a comfortable seat in a personal safe space.

The internet and its various technologies are a great blessing, especially in times of trouble. But they are not a “cure” all for what the world needs now. The world does not need or want to hear over the internet what we say we believe. They need and want to see what we say we believe in action.

Has the church become backseat drivers afraid of taking the wheel and driving into danger zones where life is precarious? Where are God’s “special” forces?

James wrote this about those who said they had faith.

“14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. [I love this verse because it reveals devils have more faith than deceived disciples]

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” [James 2]

A body without its spirit is dead. So many members of Jesus’ Body operate out of their soul or flesh, and for all intents and God’s purposes are dead.

There has been a lot of blustering in the calm before the storm about faith, but the world is still sitting in sin and disease and disciples of Christ are sitting in the safety of their ease.

John Wimber said, “Faith is spelled RISK!” I don’t see risk right now, therefore I don’t see faith!

Jesus said He would send “another Comforter.” He did not say “another Comfortable.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus on the inside, and Jesus on the outside was not concerned with His disciple’s comfort. Read the New Testament – Jesus made people very uncomfortable.

One of the many things COVID-19 is exposing in the church is how Romans 13 has ascended above so many other verses, even commands, in the Bible. Believers are using Romans 13 to justify their fear, their lack of faith [trust in and fidelity to God and His commands].

For instance, our governments have said, “Stay at least 6 feet from each other.” Social distance practices have replaced Jesus’ command to lay hands on the sick,

Jesus did not say, “Lay hands of the safe sick.” He said, “Lay hands on the sick.”

Jesus did not say, “Lay hands on the sick when the government clears you to get close enough to the sick to be able to touch them with your hands.” He said, “Lay [your] hands on the sick.”

Have you considered that we are choosing to disconnect God from the people who need Him the most right now?

“What on earth do you mean, Kevin?”

Malachi 4:2 KJV says, “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings;”

  • This is a promise to those who fear God more than man
  • Sun [Son] of righteousness [what God says is right]
  • Arise [not stay hidden in the darkness] and shine [not sequester]
  • Healing [health, the cure, soundness of mind, deliverance, wholeness, restoration of personal and national distress]
  • Wings [extremities, farthest reach [hands]]

Habakkuk 3:4 says this, “His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays [flashes of light, strength] flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power.” It appears there is a dichotomy of truth in this verse. How can rays flash out of His hand and be hiding at the same time? The hiding speaks of being covered until it is needed. In other words, Jesus did not walk around with lightning bolts constantly firing from His hands. But when His hands were laid on people, fire flowed like a river into those He touched.

What has an abundance of caution and for the greater good accomplished? It eliminated Jesus getting His hands [us] on sick people. The secret of His power has been sequestered away in the safe spaces of those who have surrendered to Romans 13.

It is sad, so very sad! I believe heaven just weeps.

“Kevin, we have live stream where we can reach people.” Great! What will you do when the government cuts that off? You don’t think that will happen? You were not prepared for the order to shut down your ministry and go home! But that is exactly what you did. You heeled and now God cannot use you to heal!

The church is becoming more and more dependant on technology companies and secular government and health agencies. Most of whom are planning on eliminating all the freedoms we enjoy now.

So, do you confess your allegiance to Jesus but have suspended it until COVID-19 passes?

You do realize there were doctors practicing medicine in Jesus’ day? I hear you saying, “Not like they do today!” Correct but it was considered modern medicine in that day. And there is not one verse in the Gospels where Jesus instructed people to go to the doctor. NOT ONE!

Luke was a doctor who followed Paul around.

A woman with an issue of blood making her unclean to her community had spent all she had without seeing success.

And in stepped Jesus! You may refuse to believe it but He wants to step in today too!

There will be another virus and probably another Pandemic in our future. What have you forfeited this time that may have you running out of time – to represent King Jesus?

Receive and steward God’s passion, power, presence, priority, process, promises, protection, provision, pruning, purging, purity, and purpose!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin
A radical spiritual revolutionary
Revolution Movement Co-Founder
http://www.revolutionmovement.org
kdrury@revolutionmovement.org

You say you want a revolution! Join our movement and turn your world upside down so God can turn His world right side up!

 

 

 

 

Devilish Distractions

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Excellence, LifeGiving, School Of The Spirit, Sports, Teammates, Teamwork, Training

The devil is not someone that should be feared or taken lightly. He roams around seeking those he “may” devour.

This means that he cannot devour anyone who does not give him access, permission, or substance to devour.

In the Garden God sent the serpent on his belly to feed his belly with dust. Dust can be a metaphor for our carnal, non Christlike behavior. If we do not provide him food he cannot feast on us. Remember, God formed man from the dust of the ground!

In the Garden man, who had been given responsibility by God to guard and tend it, lost focus on who and why they were. When they took their eyes off who God said they were and what God told them to do they sucked the serpent into their Paradise instead of confronting him outside the Garden.

What have you lost sight of that invited the serpent into your world?

There will always be “good reasons” to disengage, even for a moment, from what you are trying to accomplish in life. Look at what Paul says,

2 Corinthians 2:11

“. . . so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

  • The context of this verse is love, forgiveness and restoration!
  • But we should always be aware of the strategies our enemy will employ to distract and detour us with the ultimate goal of destroying us, or what God has called us to do for Him.
  • ‘Schemes’ speaks to a language that I understand well. That language is the language of sports. Schemes can speak of a certain strategy and or plans that are used by a competitor to exploit any weakness that has been discovered through the various scouting procedures used.
    • The Greek word used means: The processing power of the mind that develops perceptions that are foundational in decision making. It has to do with the way we think, not just what we are thinking about.

Ephesians 6:11

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

Notice that once we put this armor on we are never to take it off!

  • The armor of God is God Himself
    • Truth – “I am the truth”
      • “Your word is truth”
      • “The word became flesh”
    • Rightousness – “Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness”
    • Gospel of peace – “For He Himself is our peace”
    • Shield of faith – “Author and Perfector of faith”
    • Helmet of salvation – “He put on . . . a helmet of salvation on His head.”
    • Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – “and the word became flesh”
  • Stand firm – Established, remain in place, remain in the place God places you, unwavering and not hesitant
  • Schemes – Deceptive tricks [using what looks like truth but isn’t, using what looks good but is really not good or beneficial], using circumstances to manipulate [maneuver] us off of our path to our purpose
    • The Greek word used in this verse is different than the one used in 2 Corinthians 2:11. This word means: The methods used in manipulation, the path travelled to accomplish an agenda that is at variance with what is considered correct, or right[eous], that which includes that which is false, absurd, or a distorted representation of someone or something
  • Devil – To slander, falsely accuse, mislead with untruths

The devil himself, “appears as an angel of light” to create chaos and confusion within the community of Light. He is the master at manipulating people and events to impugn God so that people will disconnect from, or never connect to, God.

Two ways the devil maneuvers people is through weariness and busyness [business]. Once he knows your weakness [where you will cave] he begins maneuvering to make and keep you tired and busy with business that is not productive to who you are and what you are called to do.

This can be in relation to your ultimate purpose in life or just a part of your life you are pursuing because God is breathing on it in this season.

I am too tired! I am too busy! I can’t! It won’t!

Where do you think these come from?

This must be one of our core values: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me [who gives me His strength and ability].”

Paul, the apostle, is my hero on several levels. One very important level is the way he did not allow all of the adversity and opposition to his identity and mission mess with his staying on message in his ministry.

2 Corinthians 4

“17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Paul is saying he stays on course because he keeps his focus on what is eternal, not temporal. Once the devil knows he can trick us into taking our eyes off the eternal he continually offers that which is temporary.

I know way too many people who got sidetracked when they got stuck in something that was momentary believing it was an ongoing issue. Even a season of sin can be manipulated to convince you that is who you are. This lie can convince you there is no need for you to repent and return to the Lord.

Let’s take a look at some of the momentary and light afflictions that he pressed through.

2 Corinthians 4

“8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 6

“3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet  possessing all things.”

2 Corinthians 11

“23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far  more labors, in far  more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through  many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external  things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without  my intense concern?”

All of these Paul called, “light and momentary afflictions.”

What excuses are you allowing the devil to feed you so that he can feed on you and eventually feed off of you?

What distractions have commandeered your call and or your career?

What weakness is the devil exploiting because you tipped your hand when you compromised out of what you believed to be convenient?

What inconvenience did you not press through and now you are finding it more difficult to overcome circumstances that you used to not even realize were there?

I tell couples who come to me for pre-marriage counseling who have been engaging in pre-marital sinful sex, “If you cannot say no to sex with each other now, knowing it is sinful, what guarantee do you have that when the opportunity to have sex with someone other than you spouse comes, you will be able to say no?” You should see some of the expressions I see!

If you cannot say no today you have nothing stable to stand on to say no tomorrow!

If you compromise today you have given place for the one who compromised in heaven to control you and your decisions today and in the future.

My advice to them and to you is this – Make a decision right now to stop doing what you know is wrong, and a compromise to Godly core values, so that you will have confidence that when confronted with options to compromise in the future, you won’t give it one thought because you have already decided how you are going to live.

Jesus said this, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;”

The devil is always “coming” to see where he can exploit us. Jesus said, “he has NOTHING in Me.” He has nothing in Me or on Me that he can use to manipulate Me to compromise who and why I AM!

Can you say, “He [the devil] has nothing in me?”

If you can’t then maybe you should evaluate the level of commitment to Christ you claim to have.

Stop providing the devil food to feed on you or to you!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin

A Hisstorymaker