Gender: Male
Status: Married
Age: 36
Sign: Pisces
State: Pennsylvania
Country: US
Signup Date: 3/30/2007
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Saturday, August 09, 2008
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Category: Writing and Poetry
2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The lesson of value can be learned as a child, but some do not learn and must learn later in life. As a child you soon grow accustomed to whatever lifestyle you grow up in. If you do not have much or your family cannot afford to give all of the things they would want to give due to lack of finances or hardships you learn to grow accustomed to that lifestyle, and you may think about how nice it would be to have the finer things work hard and you eventually obtain them…or you could think about having the finer things and make excuses as to why you can never have those things and never get them. Another thing you might do is learn how to deal with the situation or make due with what you've been given and improvise.
In most cases of improvising you get the same results, as the people who have more resources and income to have a better lifestyle your results are just a little different. For example, have you ever had to put foil on the television antennas to make the picture come in on your 4-inch television screen? Well you have a picture just like the person who has cable, and a big screen television. It just looks different. What about you are really in the mood for something to eat and there is not much in the house…have you ever made a meal out of sugar, bologna, cheese, crackers, or toasted bread? When you get finished you have eaten just as the person who had steak…it just looks different. What about using an extension cord as a belt (to hold up your pants, and to beat the kids!) I'm sure at some point we have all had to improvise.
On the adverse side, if you have grown up with a higher income and you have never had to worry about having the finer things you grow accustomed to that lifestyle as well. You either think life is supposed to be like this and you will expect things to just come to you or to be given to you all of the time, or you will understand that you must work to either develop or keep this type of lifestyle; it is a privilege and if you do not value it you can loose it all. When I say loose it all, I mean whenever you do not value what have or have been given you will eventually loose it because you will not treat or handle it right.
God loves us enough to take things away from us because he is not interested in just handing us things, but he wants us to appreciate and to value what he has given. Think about when you give a gift to someone, you worked to get the money to purchase it, or maybe you put your time and effort into making the gift. Whatever you did, it took thought, time, and energy to come up with it and you want the person to appreciate and value what you have given to them. The person's reaction when they get it is not how we measure how a person values the gift we have given to them. No, it is how the person handle's the gift. Have you found yourself watching to see how the person not only reacts (that can tell you something too), but how they treat the gift? Do they use it, are they proud of it, do they hide it, do they wear it, do they just throw it around, how do they handle it? You pay attention because you gave them the gift and you would hope that they appreciate it enough because of whom it came from and what you had to go through so that they could have it. If the person does not treat it right you (in most cases) become bothered. You may not say anything but you feel it. And the more it has happened to you, the less you give either to that particular person, or to anyone. How many Christmas' can you remember when you worked so hard to give your children a nice Christmas filled with presents, toys, candy and clothes? They were so excited to get the gifts but later they lost the pleasure of the gift, lost pieces, broke it, or just threw it off in a corner. Or maybe they didn't like what you gave them, or maybe they did not get their favorite toy or what they really wanted so they turned up their nose at your gift(s). Or how about the kids who would even trade with one of their friends for something of a lesser value which made no sense to trade but because kids do those kinds of things? Can you imagine how you would feel or have felt? Hurt, angry, taken advantage of, not appreciated, mistreated, possibly all of the above I'm sure.
The same is with God, he has given all of us many precious gifts, for example: Life, Salvation, Spiritual Gifts, Natural Gifts, and People (to name a few).
Life – you may not have what you may have hoped for, or maybe you do not have what you once had but you are still here.
In keeping with the theme, have you ever thought maybe because we haven't valued what he has already given, he is not going to give us what we want, or he has taken some things away from us because we have not valued his precious gifts?
How do we value our lives? Are we abusing our bodies, which is the temple? (What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19) Do we take foolish risks, which put our lives in jeopardy time after time? Are we eating right, keeping up with our health? How we handle our lives shows God how thankful we are for the gift of life.
Salvation – God gave us a gift we could not give ourselves, we could not purchase it if we wanted to. And we cannot pay it back. The death on the cross was a sacrifice, from God for everyone one of us. Some choose to accept the gift, others choose not to. Some abuse the gift and others are faithful. God knows that we could not possibly do anything that could equal what he did for us so it is not about repaying the loan or giving God a gift in return, it is about valuing the opportunity we have at an abundant life in him. It is about living a life that is pleasing and acceptable to God our father; not pleasing to our family, our friends, or us; but pleasing to God. Delighting in the Lord (Delight thyself also in the LORD…Psalm 37:4) in the steps that have been assigned to our lives. (The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23)
Spiritual Gifts and Abilities – We have all been given some sort of gift(s) from God that is spiritual, for the advancement of God's Kingdom, or for edifying the body, reaching the lost, and for strengthening ourselves in the Lord. How we use these gifts is important. First we must recognize the giver of the gift(s) and realize we do not deserve the gift and you owe it to the giver to value what has been given. Using the gift for any other reason than it was intended is abuse (abnormal use) and saying to the giver, "I don't value your gift to me."
Ex - Imagine giving someone a pair of shoes, and one day they are working around the house building a wall and cannot find their hammer. They grab one of the shoes you gave them to beat a nail into a piece of wood. Or again, you buy someone a pair of shoes and now they feel that they are the best dresser in the city. No one can match them because no one has the shoes they were given as a gift so they become proud and arrogant.
We must allow the gift to be more important, or think that because we have the gift we are so better than those who may not have that gift or that we have the gift because we are so good, or because we even deserved it. Another abnormal use is not recognizing the gift that has been given. Not using a gift is just as bad as using a gift the wrong way. Using a gift shows again you have value the giver and the gift. God is watching us to see that we are using what he has given to us. And those who may choose to not use the gifts; he will take them away and give them to someone who is using their gifts. (Talents, Matthew 25:25-30)
Natural Gifts – These gifts have been given to us to provide increase and income so we may provide for ourselves, our family, the less fortunate, and to sow into the kingdom. How we handle these gifts is again, a sign of how we value God, and what he has given to us. The scripture says, "Your gift will make room for you and bring you before great men." I believe that is our gift being used in the proper place determined by God, and maximizing the gift to bring about an increase. God wants us to advance and we must seek him to find the assignment or the place we can utilize and maximize our gifts.
People – We have been given various types of people in our lives: fathers, mothers, siblings, children, other family, friends, mates, spiritual family, etc. How we handle these gifts is another message to God. I believe this is the area where abuse the most. Either we do not see the person as a gift, or we are so focused on ourselves we cannot see past us. So we only see how we feel, we only see what we need, what we want. We expect to be given to, but we do not expect to give. We expect a breakthrough, but we do not want to breakthrough for someone else. God has given people to help us get to our next level(s), and to help them get to where they must go. If we do not value the people God has given to us he will take them away from us, or they will not be the blessing they could be to us. Another reason I believe we do not value people is because of our past. Most people are wounded for countless reasons, so we either do not trust anyone else, or we are trying to find something in someone they cannot provide, or we simply cannot connect because we are so in touch with what we are missing or the hurt of our past. Even though it may be due to hurt, and pain we are still abusing the gifts God has given to us.
Jesus says this in Matthew 6:19-21
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
You will know what we value by how we treat what we have. Our heart will be seen clearly in it. In this passage Jesus is not speaking about natural things, but we can use the same principal to know the value we place on things based on how we act accordingly. We can find ourselves focused on those things we deem important. Would to God we would handle the things of God with care, and find our hearts desire is to please He whom has sent us.
I was inspired by the Lord to write this, I had no unction other than through Him to write on such a subject. The more I began to write, I began reflect on my life and how I have shown God how little I appreciate the gifts he has given to me. It sounds bad to say that and most of us would not want to admit it, but as I looked over my life I have not always valued these 5 areas where God has given gifts to me; Life, Salvation, Spiritual & Natural gifts, and people. Not just that the gifts of people; people have given gifts of time, energy, money, sacrifices, friendship, commitment, faithfulness, loyalty, and love. I am sorry to say I have not valued all that has been given to me. As I continued to write, I began to repent and ask God to forgive me for not valuing him, and for not valuing his gifts. And I now repent and ask anyone who may read this who has been a gift to me, please accept my sincere apology for not valuing you or your gift(s) to me.
I encourage everyone reading this to do as I have done…look deep within and judge yourself. If you feel that you have not valued God or his gifts to you ask God to forgive you, and then make the decision to value and not abuse God or gifts. At that point you can then, "Let the Healing Begin." (Bishop Paul Morton – Season's Change 11)
God Bless You...Brother Marlon
www.brothermarlon.net
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Brother Marlon is the host of Sunday Gospel heard on WAMO 106.7FM and 1510AM WPGR, in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a husband, father, and ordained Minister. He is serious about the things of God and uses his gifts and abilities for the extension of the kingdom of God. His energetic style and sincere heart for God and his people cause many to see the light of Christ in the Earth. He believes people should strive for the blessing of God which comes through a true relationship with our source and our provider, Jesus Christ. God has called him for such a time as this to be an effective answer in the Earth.
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Saturday, March 22, 2008
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Current mood:  blessed
Category: Religion and Philosophy
Life Lessons – Experience
ex·pe·ri·ence
1a: direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge b: the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
2a: practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity b: the length of such participation
3a: the conscious events that make up an individual life b: the events that make up the conscious past of a community or nation or humankind generally
4: something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through
5: the act or process of directly perceiving events or reality
I was talking with a good friend of mine the other day and we were talking about the age we are in, and how everyone especially young people, learn through experience. Now in the mind of God we were never supposed to learn from experience. If we go back to the garden man Adam was to fellowship with God daily and there God would share with him and mature him. A verse of scripture that I want to share with you is Galatians 4:1-2, and it says that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
The word child used in that passage if we use it in context of our current time: we can say that anyone that has not be yet released or promoted to their next level. And what that means is go back to the garden. Adam was to have dominion over the fish of the sea over the foul of the air, upon every living thing that moved upon the earth, he was to subdue it…so what that means is he was higher in authority than all those things…however God did not totally release him on his own he still had to connect to God daily to get the vital information he would need for the assignment he was given. So it can be said the same way with us. People do not want to posture themselves as a child and learn through the tutors and governors those who have been placed in your life to teach and train you, and then release you into your next level which has already been set aside for you.
What I see today are a lot of people who recognize they have gifting, ability, and anointing but have not served under anyone or walked in posture of a child because they feel that it is beneath them or they feel they don’t need anyone to tell them anything. We have even children today who don’t want to posture themselves as children…they want to be grown. I tell my children all of the time; if you want to make grown up decisions than you deal with the grown up realities and consequences. The reason for those being over us in authority is not to rule over you, as it is to bring you to a higher level in wisdom and knowledge. Why re invent the wheel? If you have someone who has been right where you are and can see farther than you can see why not allow that person to show you which way to go? What makes a person believe that they’re situation will be different…if you do the same things you will get the SAME results! This is the same trick the enemy used in the garden, Gen. 3 and he is still using it now…God and your parents are keeping something from you!
Experience has to be a good teacher…this is a better way of saying experience is a good teacher. Reason why it has to be is because nobody will allow those who have been placed by God in their lives to give them God’s wisdom. Romans 13:1 says all authority comes from God…so where ever you go you are to see God’s authority modeled. When you are in school, you have the security guards, the teachers, the principal, the bus driver, the crossing guards that will give you instruction. At work you have your boss, and so on and so forth. At home it should be your parents – problem in this generation is you have a parent trying to do so much alone and the children are emotionally damaged…they are not seeing the model at home of God’s authority so they don’t know how to honor it outside of the home. In Psalm there is a word called intermeddelth it means to separate oneself from wisdom. So when you reject the authority God has placed in your life you separate yourself from wisdom…wisdom is the application of knowledge, and knowledge is what you get either from experience or from learning the lesson taught to you through being trained or discipled…we see this in Romans 5:3 Tribulation works patience and patience experience. So you have to go through some tribulation to learn from experience. But God would have you sit in a class and that classroom does not have to be the normal classroom you may think. Jesus’ had class all of the time look through the gospels and he taught his disciples everywhere he went. And look at the model he shows us. Whenever the disciples would step out of line he would check them quick. Peter was normally the one who would get checked, but that was because he had so much in him…look at Matthew 16 later when you have a moment…Jesus is telling his disciples about him having to go before the leaders and the chief priest and be treated cruel, put to death, and then he’ll resurrect on the third day…Peter says no Lord this will not happen to you…Jesus corrected him. But Peter received the correction. And we see how Peter ended up. Correction is necessary in order to grow.
That is one of the reasons to have those in authority over you. The purpose of authority is for covering/protection, instruction, order and covering/protection.
Protection/Covering
Hebrews 13:17
17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Amplified
17Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either].
Instruction
1 Peter 5:2, 3
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Amplified
2Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God…
Order
Psalm 37:23
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
1 Corinthians 14:40
40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Psalm 119:133
133Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me
Correction
Proverbs 22:15
15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Proverbs 3:11-12
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
The Proper Usage of Authority is to Serve Others!
Luke 22:26-27
23And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
John 13:13-16
13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
The Christian who seeks to follow Christ’s example will learn to use his authority with others more than over others.
We have to receive the instruction, we have to receive the correction, the order and the covering...we have to receive it in order to go to that next level…it does something inside you and equips you for those things you will see once you now step into what God has given you. The passage in Galatians says the child differs nothing from a servant. You have to serve up to where God has called you to.
Examples to study in this area would be David and Paul. Men who had to serve and sit under before they we’re placed into the position they were anointed for by God.
What negative experiences will do for you...
David went through an experience with Bathsheeba...but allowing the lust of the eye to get the best of him, he stole another man’s wife and had him killed...the price was losing the child he had fathered in sin.
Abraham went through an experience when God told him he would have a son, but he did not wait for God. He allowed his wife to bring her hand maid to him to help God’s word come to pass...
If you are a parent and you have tried to pour into your child and have given them sound wisdom and they are choosing to learn by experience rather than your teachings, or if you’re trying to get through to a friend or a loved one and you feel you have done all that you can do and say all that you can say...Put it in God’s hands know that God already worked it out. By faith call those things that be not as though they were, at times as the scripture shows us in the story of the lost son...we have to allow them the space they need and be there waiting to receive them when they have come to their senses. I know that is a hard place to be in, but you really don’t help people by trying to be their answer, and get them out of trouble when they have chosen that path. If you have pointed out the way to go and they are just set on going the opposite way...Let Go and Let God.
For that person that has people in their lives trying to show you the right way to go, but you choose not too...
I myself must admit. I learned by example...that is why the message is so powerful today. I see the effects of having gone my own way. Don’t think because it worked out for me that it will for you. You cannot see the baggage and the weight I carry around with me daily because of bad decisions and learning from experience. We have different purposes, and time frames. Don’t think you can come back whenever, again I know that in the Bible passage we just referenced the son came to himself and said I am going back to my father as a servant. And he did. It was a happy ending...but look all around us, watch the news, read the papers...they are full of stories of people who did not make it back. The enemy wants to get you away from the positive influences so that he can have you to himself. He wants you lost, he wants you only hearing his voice and moving to his sound. This is not an age thing, you don’t have until you get older, or when you are finished doing your thing. Jesus told his disciples to come now!!! I was talking with my little sister the other day and she was upset because she wanted to out with her friends rather than be in church, she felt she was there too much. All I could say was you’re not missing a thing. What you are getting now is preparing you for what God has called you too. I said I’m going to ask you in 10 years if you still feel the same way. She’ll either at that point say: I’m glad I listened to my loved ones, and I’m glad they kept me in church. Or she’ll say I wish I would have listened. What will you say?
As we know we are divided into three parts: spirit, body, and soul. Now that we have been saved the spirit should always be in control. (Romans 8:13-14, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.") The soul and the spirit, alike in their nature and in their activities. Generally speaking the spirit is the higher, the soul the lower element. The spirit may be recognized as the life principle bestowed on man by God, the soul as the will of man or mind, the body being the flesh; given life by spirit and soul. Well keeping all of this in mind, think of a newborn child. It is totally dependent. It must be taught how to do everything. The child learns in many ways, mainly from trying different things (trial and error; making mistakes) and it learns from those that influence it the most (parents, guardian, brothers, sisters, etc.) what I like to call their tourguide. Well the child must learn to crawl first before it can walk, it must babble before it can talk, it must make a mess before it knows how to feed itself, etc. We too as christians must learn to live in the spiritual. We start out as babes drinking milk, crawling around. As we grow, and learn more, we can do more. The only problem is we do not pay attention to our tourguide as in the natural. The person that already is walking in spirit, that has been doing it for a while and knows how to do it. Everybody has one, God would not leave you to figure things out on your own. Just as he gives parents to children in the natural, he gives us spiritual fathers and mothers in the spirit. Think about it, when your lost you stop to ask for directions. (Most men will not!) Or sometimes you actually arrange for someone to show you around if you’re somewhere you’ve nerver been. You want somebody that knows where they are going. Well the same in the spiritual sense, you don’t want somebody that is crawling to teach you how to walk, you want somebody that is running with their eyes closed. We must recognize who that person is in our lives, follow their teaching, their example, listen to them, and respect them. If you don’t know who that person is, seek God’s help! This is a very important key to spiritual growth, and one we need to embrace. For one day we will have to turn and show someone else the way.
The best teachers are the best students.
Here are some passages of scripture that support someone pouring into or discipling another, we would call it mentoring or training. See the blessings in these scriptures for having these relationships and not learning through experience.
Mentoring - The Blessing
Genesis 49:28
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
Passing On the Mantle
2 Kings 2:13
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
The Indispensable Value of a Spiritual Mentor
2 Chronicles 24:17-20
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
Passing On the Blessing
Psalm 67:1-2
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Wisdom from a Father to His Son
Proverbs 1:8
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
How We Need Teachers!
Proverbs 4:11-13
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Wisdom Through Relationships
Proverbs 13:20
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
The Wisdom of Taking Counsel
Proverbs 24:6
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
The Value of Companionship
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Prayer Partners
Daniel 2:17-18
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Accountability
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Mentoring, Kingdom-Style
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
God bless you, and please allow those God has placed in your life to teach you, and sometimes you have to look at our mistakes and learn of that...but don’t repeat the same mistakes...like I said before: if you do the same things, you’ll get the same results! 1+1 will always equal 2. A positive and a negative will always give you a negative. A positive and a postive will always give you a positive. And God will always bring the answer to you before you are tested!
MTM Enterprises 2008 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Brother Marlon is the host of Sunday Gospel heard on WAMO 106.7FM and 1510AM WPGR, in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a husband, father, and ordained Elder. He is serious about the things of God and uses his gifts and abilities for the extension of the kingdom of God of . He believes people should strive for the blessing of God which comes through a true relationship with our source and our provider, Jesus Christ. His energetic style and sincere heart for God and his people cause many to see the light of Christ in the Earth which enables Brother Marlon to be an effective answer to this generation.
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Friday, July 13, 2007
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Category: Religion and Philosophy
Why is the Church Competing with the World?
Marriage comes from God.
Written by: Brother Marlon
This is my response to an email I received about an online, Christian dating service…my intention was to give simple response and it turned into what you see…I pray it blesses you.
I feel the church is still insisting it has to compete with the world and do everything they are doing so that the saints will not go to the world...if you teach them principals and empower them, and teach them to trust Jesus things like these would not work because people will trust that God can and will bring their mate to them.
I'm a witness to that. My wife is from another country. I didn't have to go to that country to find her, but he looking out for me all those years ago put it together...and the crazy part about it is he will bring you right next to your destiny and you won't even know until it is time...my wife and I saw each other many times years before we spoke a word to each other, before we began to be friends and before we knew we were meant to be together! We met in church, we became friends in church, and we knew we were meant to be through church!
Now I've tried a lot in my life to make that decision for God, and try to find my wife apart from God, but destiny was set long before...and I'll also say this, it took 6 years from the time when I knew I'd loved her that we got married, and about 4 of those years it didn't look like it was ever going to happen...and so what happened? I didn't trust God enough! I can admit that...I wanted to again work apart from God, and began to make very bad decisions. People have to really learn to trust God in the area of a mate…and I can see early in my marriage that my wife was created for me, and I for her…because we have to grace to handle each other. What does that mean? When you look at grace, you have to see three things…Divine Favor, Divine Enablement, and Divine Intervention…1 getting something that we do not deserve; God's unmerited favor. 2, I have to see how God has empowered me and equipped me for the assignment, so God working in me to handle what tasks he's given me to do. I can handle my wife's strengths and weaknesses, I can handle her moods good or bad, whatever comes with being with her I've been equipped to handle that...and vice versa. Now does that mean we don't upset one another and need some time to get issues straight, no it means that we can make it through those things and more because we've been empowered to, we have the tools necessary to handle that others don't so that could not do it. And lastly 3, I have to see how God worked aside from me for me. He didn't need me to do anything. During those 4 years although I was doing what I was doing, in and out of relationships searching here and there are you the one? Are you the one? Are you the one? God was saying when you get finished, what's for you is over here…And let me just say this if it wasn't for God I could not have worked it out myself that my wife would even want to marry me! So he worked apart from me, and intervened on my behalf.
I said that to say that when we don't trust God, we get into situations that we may not have the grace to handle, and that is why those situations end up the way they do…I feel terrible about the lives affected by me not trusting God! I wish I would have just let him do what he was doing…immediate gratification is why things like the internet dating, blind dates, (just the title alone scares me…you're going in blind, without sight, vision, the people perish…and you're trusting someone other than God to connect you with someone in hopes that this will turn into a wonderful relationship…Selah) and the newest one…speed dating. People want to be with someone now, I need a relationship now, I can't go one without having that someone, I need someone to talk to, someone to hang with. And I can honestly say that because that was me…not realizing that there was always someone there, that I could have a legitimate relationship with, someone I could talk to, hang with, someone who could love me forever, love me unconditionally, and who would never leave me, or forsake me! I missed the most important relationship, looking for one that will eventually have to end. I say that because even the best relationships have to end when our time is up on this Earth, we transition to our real assignment.
The church must stop coming up with ways to keep people from trusting God just because the world is doing it…I guess the church feels we have to give them an alternative so that they won't go to the world…
Really that is sad, because instead of following Jesus we are watching what the world is doing and trying to create things based on them and put the Jesus brand on it, and we call it holy. How can we go outside of God to find God???? There are very basic, very foundational, very well know scriptures that blow all of this out of the water, but we overstep that to have this new church…
Matthew 6:33
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The kingdom of God is the spiritual realm where the mind, purpose, and intent of God is our primary, main, 1 focus. The kingdom is where the king dominates, has rule, and has ultimate authority. So we have to go to the king to find out what he wants, and carry out that assignment, and then all these things will be added. But the all these things may not be the things you asked for. In the earlier verse he was talking about food and clothing. He said I know what you need, so don't trouble yourself trying to take care of yourself. If you would just trust me enough I'll give you the instructions on how to take care of yourself…Jesus gave Peter an assignment to pay taxes, and he told him how to get the money to pay them…
Matthew 17:27
27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
That seems easy but Peter had to believe the money would be there, which means he had to go and get his fishing equipment, he had to go to the water, cast his line, and wait for the fish to bite. See we read it and it sounds like Peter just left from there, picked up the first fish he saw, got the money and paid the taxes. I'm sure it didn't happen that fast. But it's not about how long it takes; it's about carrying out the kings will.
Would to God we could have that type of relationship with God, where we hear his voice, and carry it out. Because provision is right there in the assignment, or task that you've been given to you. Everything you need! You may not get everything you want, but you'll never lack what you need!
Proverbs 3:5-6
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This passage is self explanatory…
If we really with our whole heart seek God, he may tell you something you don't want to know, he may not even answer you right away, he may say no…he may say wait…how many people really can hear that and honor that. But that is why we have the results we've had is because really seeking God means coming to the table without an agenda! I'm coming with no ideas, no thoughts, and no ulterior motives. Because when I do I can't hear the real agenda because if they don't match mine will eventually get in the way.
These are some passages on the heart and why if we have something in our heart it can prevent us from really doing God's will.
Psalm 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psalm 64:6
They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Psalm 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Proverbs 7:25
25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Proverbs 7:25, Amplified
25Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.
I really believe the position of the church today should be empowerment! We first must get out into the streets and encounter people. How else will they come less we go out and meet them? I am in marketing and advertising and one thing I've learned from watching the large companies like McDonald's is you always have to promote your product! And just because you already have a household name, does not mean you don't have to advertise. McDonald's is the 1, most known business, around the world yet you can see them on TV, hear them on the radio, see them in the newspapers, billboards, circulars, internet, etc…why because they believe in keeping their name in everyone's ear! With so many restaurants and places to eat, they want to make sure when you're hungry to want to go to their restaurant. There are studies that have been done about the food not being healthy but they continue to change their menu, and upgrade, and promote, to bring people in.
We have the best product of all, we have Jesus! Why should we be any different? Now I began this writing about why the church should not copy the world, and that is still the basis for this writing…this is a business principle that I believe we can see from the example of Jesus…Jesus did not sit in a temple and wait for the people to come to him, he went to the people! So what am I saying…we need to let people know what we have and how to get it, we need to be visible by using the various vehicles such as TV, radio, internet, and print (media) to promote the message of Jesus Christ and we need to come out of the four walls in order to do that. However, the message must be the same! It cannot be compromised, or tainted to reach the lost. It must be the gospel message of Christ which causes the lost to repent and turn toward a new life in Jesus where he is Lord. Then we disciple them, and empower them to do the same, reach the lost for Christ! By doing this we successfully extend the kingdom of God.
This empowerment I speak of is merely letting them know they are blessed!
Blessed means – empowered to prosper.
God gives us the tools to be successful in everything he commissions us to do. Again we must know what our assignment is so that we can obtain success. We can only be successful when we have carried out what God gave us, not what we just did. Those are dead works, even though it was a good thing, if it was not an authored thing it is dead. But we should not focus on what people cannot do…church is full of don't do this, don't do that. People are always going to sway on the side of taboo, we just have to find out why can't I do that, nothing is going to happen, that's not a bad person, the club is okay as long as I'm careful, one drink won't hurt me, I have control over this, I'm not going to let music do that to me…it is the nature of fallen man due to the garden! But we who are in Christ are not fallen man! We are in Christ, we are new creatures, and we have been reconnected to our original purpose, to be God in the Earth. So it should now be about what can you do…you have the Spirit of God in you this is what you can do, this is who you are now go take the world for the kingdom of God! By allowing these things that so easily beset us to get in our way, seeking the temptations of this world, and lusting after the flesh, money, the pride of life will only cause you to fall short. It only hinders you from what you could do.
I'll give an example…if we take two children and raise them in two different houses, give them the same opportunities, and give them the same purpose in life. Both children are going to be football stars; but child A we tell him all the things he cannot do, what to stay away from, and tell him all of the evils of the NFL. Child B we tell him who he is, we give him direction, we put him on a path, and empower him with the knowledge of how to get to the desired end being a football star. Which child do you think is more likely to end up in the NFL? I say child B…why? Because child A is going to be told don't get hurt, don't get caught up in the wrong crowd, don't just go after money…child B is going to hear, train hard, listen to your coach, always do your best, you are going to be in the NFL, failure is not an option, you are not a quitter, etc…now what child A was taught is not wrong…but when you empower a child with what he can do, and who he is he'll know not to do the other things because it will get in the way of who he is!
And it is the same with us; I was always taught if you want to know what's real you don't have to study the fake. You know what's real by studying what is real. I don't need to study the devil to know the devil, I just have to know Jesus! Cause if I know him, I can spot the devil a mile away. I don't have to wonder if an opportunity is God or the devil, I just need to know Jesus and I'll know who is sending that opportunity my way!
When we stop telling people not to sin, and tell them how to be successful and give them some kingdom work to do they won't have time to sin, they'll be so focused on pleasing God they can govern their own self! Not saying that sin will go away for good, but I'm sure it would decrease a lot!!! We don't condone sin, nor do we promote it, but we have to empower…so as I end this writing I will go back to my main point for writing this…if you know God you don't need to find someone online, you don't need a blind date, you don't need these worldly ways of hooking up. God will hook you up with the one who has the grace and the assignment for you, and one that can walk with you where ever he has called you to go!
Before God gave Adam a wife he gave him a purpose, that purpose made the wife make sense. Without the purpose there was no need for a wife. She was to help him with that purpose. Now we know how it ended up, but the blueprint is there and we have to go back and study it…see what God did, and see what Adam did. Jesus came because Adam did not carry out his assignment, and he came to complete the assignment. Be God in the Earth, be fruitful, and multiply. Make me in the Earth God said. Adam was supposed to multiply himself. We know because that's what Jesus did. He took 12, made them disciples showed them his might and his power by his actions, so that they could see one day what they would do…He put his heart in them, his mind, his will…He then put his spirit in them, now what was once one became many in the Earth, and as they carried on and continue what he began, more of Him was in the Earth…here we are today we are continuing to extend the Kingdom of God, but it began with an assignment. Marriage is not in everyone's assignment. It is important that the church not make marriage so common. Marriage is an appointment, and should be considered as such.
We have to be careful with our influence; just because you have great influence over people does not mean you should use it for everything. Great influence can be a dangerous place, because people will follow you everywhere you go without question! That doesn't mean that everywhere you take them is an ordered step! We as leaders have to be careful in influencing God's people…we have to make sure that God is our influence first so that we are following him, and the people follow us…Paul said it, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) Also read 1 Peter 2:21. God bless you.
Brother Marlon is the host of Sunday Gospel heard on WAMO 106.7FM and 1510AM WPGR, in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a husband, father, and ordained Elder. He is serious about the things of God and uses his gifts and abilities for the extension of the kingdom of God. His energetic style and sincere heart for God and his people cause many to see the light of Christ in the Earth. He believes people should strive for the blessing of God which comes through a true relationship with our source and our provider, Jesus Christ.
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Friday, June 29, 2007
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Category: Religion and Philosophy
This is something I wrote a few years ago, I read it recently and it is still relevant...Spiderman 1 had just come out and it really blessed me and caused me to write this...I haven't had a chance to see part 3 maybe I'll continue the writing after seeing it...
This was written for a Singles newsletter we did at my church...Hope this blesses you...please let me know if it does. 
Be blessed...Brother Marlon
Accepting the Challenge
Accepting the call of God single or not is a challenge. We are given the mandate by Christ that if we want to follow him, we must deny ourselves, and carry our cross. But he does tell us that everything that we give up for him, we will gain again.
Here is the challenge…can you wait until he gives it back. And in some situations you don't get back what you lost. Now in the long run that's a good thing. Why? Because God in his infinite wisdom knows what is best for us. So he takes away the things that we have acquired outside of him that are not good for us. And truthfully we only like those things because we didn't know any better. Had we known what was for us, or even obtainable, we would have waited for what he had for us. The problem is getting us past the (for lack of a better example) detox stage. What is this?
Think of a person addicted to alcohol…they have a problem that they acquired somewhere along the way. They may or may not want to really quit, and get some help. In most cases they know what the effects are. But they still choose to go down that path. Why? Because it ministers to them. It soothes them, calms them, for some it is there best friend, others it takes them away from reality, it is always right there, it is a way of life…there are infinite reasons why people choose to hold on. Some are scared of what life would be like without it. But if they ever get to a stage of quitting either by choice or forced, they go through detox, or withdrawal. Their system is so used to the "medicine" the thing that easies the pain. That period may last for days. But it is not pretty, nor is it that people like to go through. They'd rather go back to that which is more harmful to them than the process to quit. So we must go through this process as well. We must let go of the things that we used to get us through. Everyone has a different fix. For some it's people, some it is drugs or alcohol, others it might be sex that they use, or work, or shopping, bad decisions, bad management, poor planning, etc. God is requiring all of us to give up those things that are a part of each and every one of our lives. We are encouraged by Paul to forget those things which are behind and to press for the mark, the things of God which are ahead of us. The mark is our purpose, and destiny. We are to reach for that. As we drop the things of the past, and press forward we are then equipped with the things that help us go forward, and the things which are for us. The process that every believer must go through is one of being stripped upon coming into the kingdom of God.
This process varies among people. It is how you see it. If you cooperate, and allow God to do what he is trying to do…it won't take as long. But if you are content on doing things your own way, and trying to figure out what God is doing and why, it's going to take a little bit longer! Ultimately God is going to have his way, the sooner we see that the easier things will be. It can take weeks or it can take years, but God is going to strip us of those things that are not like him. Once we have been stripped, then he can begin equipping. So once we accept the challenge to be complete in him, we then accept all of the challenges to allow our desires to get in our way.
Everyone has desires. Being called of God again requires us to put another's desires ahead of our own. What does this look like? We understand that all authority comes from God. (Rom 13:1) So then God will put authority in our lives, and tell us to serve under that authority. Whatever the situation, home, work, church, etc…there is an authority that we serve under. Every authority should have a vision, something that they are trying to accomplish. So then you are to help see that vision come to pass by serving under that authority. We might have a different vision about the same thing, or we may have a totally different vision all together.
What do I mean? Okay take your job for example. You work for Microsoft. Bill Gates is the visionary for that company. You know your job very well, you've worked there for years. Well you see where the company could make some changes, and you know that you can do it. However it's not your place to make these kinds of changes. What do you do? Keep working to help Bill Gates' vision come forth. Or you quit, but you need your job. Or let's just say you have another business idea. You can't change what Bill Gates started. Unless you go off and start your own, you must continue to do your job. And that job is to help the authority's vision come to pass. Until you are released to do your own vision.
It is the same in the kingdom of God. Many of us have desires to do different things. Jobs, houses, family, marriage, vehicles, clothes, the list goes on and on. We desire many different things but we must sincerely allow God to direct our steps in deciding the things that we go after. (Matt 6:33) Jesus gives us clear instructions on what to seek. Seek him. Plain and simple. Seek me and the things that you need will be given to you. That's what he is saying. I know what you have need of. None of us put ourselves here, we didn't create this earth we are living on, yet in still we put so many things before God because we think those things are so important. When you think of it what is so important about going to work if your relationship with God is not where it should be. But we will make sure that we get enough sleep, we will bring work home, travel for our jobs, we will iron our clothes, pack lunches the night before, put the kids to bed early so that they can be up when you need them to be so that you can take them to school before you go to work. We put so much into our jobs. We pay for bus passes, gas, parking, or we carpool just so we can get to work. We give them their eight plus hours, come home and do whatever we do, and get ready for the next work day. On the weekend we say, "This is my time". Time when we do what we like to do, what we can't get accomplished throughout the week, etc. When the week has ended how much time did we devote to other things, and how much time did we devote to our relationship with the Lord. How much did we put towards advancing to our purpose, pressing toward this mark?
We need to focus on the things that God wants us to focus on. I'm not saying that work is not important, family is important, there are a lot of things in life that are important, however nothing is more important than your relationship with the Lord. What is the profit if you have everything in life worked out just right, but God is not pleased? There is none. So the challenge is to begin to work on the things that will advance us, the things that are aiding in the stripping/equipping process. God placed things inside of everyone of us, we must allow him to pull those things out of us. This is what Paul was saying to Timothy, when he said stir up the gift. Activate it. It is in you, but you have to allow it to work. I like to use the analogy of Kool-Aid. See ourselves as the pitcher. You put in the Kool-Aid, and you add in the sugar, next you add the water. Try to drink it. Not good huh? Why? Everything that is needed to make it taste good is in there. But it hasn't been activated yet. You must stir up the mixture in order for it to work. And then after that you still might have to add a little here and there, so you taste it. And then once you get it where it needs to be then you serve it. In Christianity today, people are trying to serve a non-stirred pitcher of Kool-Aid, or a watered down version, or just a bad mix of Christ to people. The focus is off of Christ and on what we want, and putting ourselves in the spotlight. Trying to do what got Lucifer kicked out of his spot, taking God's glory. People think that because God has gifted us, it is about us. When truly he lent gifts to us to help his vision come to pass. If we don't use the gifts properly there shall be a penalty to pay.
I was watching Spider Man for a second time recently and something stood out to me this time that I missed the first time. At the end of the movie Peter has saved the day, his friend is vowing to kill Spider Man which is really Peter, and the love of his life finally realizes and admits to him that she feels that same way about him that he does about her. Here we see his desires about to be fulfilled. Mary Jane is who he wanted to be with, he always like her, and I'm sure by this time he loves her. He watched her in relationships with other guys (even his best friend). But his love never changes. So when she tells him how she feels, you can imagine how great of a feeling that would be. But to hear his response to her when she says just friends? He says, "That's all I have to give." Now we know he has way more to give than that to her. He loves her! But let's rewind and see Peter when he realizes that he has some supernatural powers. Peter of course is bitten by the spider and it creates superhuman qualities in him. He begins to experiment with these powers. He even used them for gain with Mary Jane's boyfriend. He then begins to work at his power, how to use it, etc. Next he tries to use his power to get money. Isn't that like us. We have gifts and instead of getting understanding on what they are really for, we abuse them, and use them to advance us and our agenda. His uncle, who is like his father is killed by a man that he could have stopped. So he then vows to help fight crime. Isn't that something? Something so tragic catapulted him into what he was really to use his power for. Can you think of some things that happened to you, that were tough? Maybe it was death of a loved one, maybe a lost relationship, a lost job, maybe you were forced into detox, whatever the situation…do you think that it was trying to take you into what God really called you to do?
Think about it. Did you really allow God to direct your path? Or did you try to figure out why is this happening, or did you get mad, or just internalize everything? If you didn't allow this thing to work for you, it will happen again. Until we allow God to take us into what he has purposed for us, he will keep taking us through things so that we will move into the direction he is calling us to go in. So now, Peter isn't just Peter. He has responsibility now. People depend on him to be Spider Man so that he can save the day. People don't even know that Peter is Spider Man. And they probably don't care. Just as long as he is there to save me when I need help that's all. Does that sound familiar? People don't even know who you are. And unless you've allowed God to show you your destiny…you don't know who you are either. You know you are gifted but you don't even have a clue for what. So Peter as Spider Man has a responsibility not only to the city, but to his family, his friends, and to his one true love. It would be easy for Peter to just say forget it. She loves me and that's all that matters. But he would have to forget about being Spider Mann to do that.
How many times have we wanted to give up who we really are, the person that God called us to be for something or someone that is from our former life? Mary Jane represented the life that Peter once knew. She was who the old Peter could have been with no problem, but now if he is with her he now puts her at risk. Because of who he is. Peter didn't say just friends because he didn't love her, he said it because who he is called to be would get in the way of their happiness. So he tells her just friends. In the kingdom that would be considered denying himself, and carrying his cross. Why? That was the hardest thing to do, tell her that he only wanted to be friends. Would he continue to have feelings for her? Yes. He would have to carry that with him everyday.
Can you see how God is challenging you to deny yourself, and carry your cross? We can see the challenge but are we accepting? Peter says something that we can also see in the Bible. This was spoken to him and he later repeats it…With much power comes much responsibility. "To whom much is given, much is required." You've been given gifts and abilities, but with expectation. Expectation to use them for the reason they were given to you. We need to understand why we have some talents that we have. Are we using them the way God intended? Or are we just using them as we see fit? Are they blessing us, or blessing God? We are to be gifts to the kingdom of God, he is the giver so he should get the reward. Have you accepting the challenge? Or are you holding on to the things of your past? Holding on to yesterday, can only bring about yesterdays results.
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