"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back." Matthew 18:15

So often I have been a casualty of jumping to conclusions; of assumptions I have made about a person, their motives or a situation I have encountered. It never works out to the glory of God. Often times, when eventually the Spirit has "bugged" me until I will follow Matthew 18:15, I have found out that I was so wrong, misunderstood, and in fact caused the fracture in the relationship myself by NOT going to the person, in person, and having a conversation about things, or plain asking before adding two and two and getting five :O).

I remember the first time Matthew 18 and I met, face-to-face. It was during my tenure as the Chairman of the school board at my daughters' christian school in the 90's and an allegation was made against an employee. Many assumptions were made between parents and faculty. Because we were a religious organization, our credo was to follow Matthew 18 for all disputes. Because I was the Chair, it fell upon me to make sure we kept to our bylaws and credo. I was a relatively new christian, too, and had no understanding of Matthew 18 or is true meaning. At the end of study, and speaking to elders, and prayer, and just trying to walk out God's Word, I learned such a valuable life lesson and a spiritual truth was relayed to me, so crystal clear, on how the Lord feels about strife, anger, and fractured relationships in His body and how it affects believers!

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" Ephesians 4:26

Seems simple, doesn't it? We get offended and say nothing. But this verse is clear, letting the sun go down while you are angry is SIN! Sin separates us from God; it clouds our mind, our reactions, and gives the enemy an open doorway or a foothold, in our lives. God would have you work it out, before the end of the day, one-on-one. NOT by email, not by Facebook, not by third-party gossip, and not by spreading your case around to bolster your version or what happened. None of that matters - reconcilation is what matters!

"Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:24

Looks like here God is truly asking us, as we bring our gifts and offerings to Him, if we have strife situations of discord with our brothers that we are to LEAVE, and go get it fixed and THEN come back to the Altar of the Lord. Again, we are to work it out, reconcile and not carry it with us. But what happens when we dont? When we choose to carry it forward in our lives? Reconciliation has nothing to do with being right. In fact, it has everything to do with making peace, regardless of who is right, for the sake of peace. Some times when we have been wronged this is extremely hard to do yet we have examples in our society of parents of murder victims forgiving the murderers and helping them, etc., so we know it is possible; it is a choice, and it is a sin not to do so. If we don't go and be reconciled, we can become bitter and fall short of God's grace! I don't know about you, but I don't want to fall short of that grace! I count on that grace daily!

"Looking diligently lest any man fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled" Hebrews 12:15.

As bitterness of unresolved hurts and past offenses go unchecked, they grow. This "root" grows into a spiritual stronghold on our lives and it then affects our lives and, in turn, every one around us or "defiles many" according to Hebrews 12:15. It will cloud our judgment of situations, cause us to be distrusting, harden our hearts, and really wreak havoc on our lives, our relationships, and the ability of God's will to come to fruition in our lives and, if we are not careful, turns to hate.

"If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" 1 John 4:20

If we want to say we are Christians, then we must love our brother. We must rely on the Truth of the Word that says that His "perfect love" casts out all fear! Repeating themes in Scripture tell us that strife, anger, assumptions, jumping to conclusions, etc., are not right with our Lord and it can affect our relationship with God; our communion with Him, and our witness and, ultimately, our spiritual health! So how do we know? Well, we have the verse that says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45; Proverbs 4:23).

So what is coming out of our mouth?  Is it good treasure or trash?  Does it build up or abuse and cut down?  It reveals the state of your heart.

Do you detect anger or bitterness coming out of your mouth?  Are you still talking about what happened to you 20 years ago by someone or your church or pastor? Are you comparing your current relationship to the last one? Making statements that all men (or women) are the same because you were married or dated someone who really hurt you?  Do you distrust people because you have been let down and abused? When you give your testimony, what does it reveal about the state of your heart? Chances are, if you are still recalling events of the past, you never got reconcilation and there is a stronghold in your life, now, a spiritual stronghold that has opened you up to darkness and oppression and it will affect your ability to move forward and it will  God's ability to heal you!  HE IS ABLE but you MUST be willing!  Ultimately, after a time, the enemy can really tell you a story in your mind, creating more and more fear, until all that is left is bitterness, anger, distrust and fear. The evidence will be coming out of your mouth!

Once, in a book by Rick Joyner, I was confronted with the image he had in a vision where all the demons were riding on the backs of Christians. Here is an exerpt:

"I saw a demonic army so large that it stretched as far as I could see. It was separated into divisions, with each carrying a different banner. The foremost and most powerful divisions were Pride, Self-righteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, and Unrighteous Judgment, but the largest of all was Jealousy. The leader of this vast army was the Accuser of the Brethren himself. I knew that there were many more evil divisions beyond my scope of vision, but these were the vanguard of this terrible horde from hell that was now being released against the church. The weapons carried by this horde had names on them: the swords were named Intimidation; the spears were named Treachery; and their arrows were named Accusations, Gossip, Slander and Faultfinding. Scouts and smaller companies of demons with such names as Rejection, Bitterness, Impatience, Unforgiveness and Lust were sent in advance of this army to prepare for the main attack. I knew in my heart that the church had never faced anything like this before. The main assignment of this army was to cause division. It was sent to attack every level of relationship--churches with each other, congregations with their pastors, husbands and wives, children and parents, and even children with each other. The scouts were sent to locate the openings in churches, families or individuals that rejection, bitterness, lust, etc., could exploit and make a larger breech for the divisions that were coming. The most shocking part of this vision was that this horde was not riding on horses, but on Christians! Most of them were well-dressed, respectable, and had the appearance of being refined and educated. These were Christians who had opened themselves to the powers of darkness to such a degree that the enemy could use them and they would think they were being used by God. The Accuser knows that a house divided cannot stand, and this army represented his ultimate attempt to bring such complete division to the church that she would completely fall from grace."

)If you want to read it in its entirety, here is a link to the Hordes of Hell are Marching: http://www.morningstarministries.org/resources/prophetic-bulletins/1995/hordes-hell-are-marching )

"...I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:22-24.

We can and must avoid strife at all costs (seek reconcilation)! We must not allow the root of bitterness to take hold in our lives to affect everyone around us! We must do these things if we say we belong to Christ or we will miss God; in our lives and as a church!

One of the most profound verses for me in the Bible is this:

"And why call me, Lord, oh my Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  Luke 6:46

So often we can be such a stubborn people when it is better to just repent, return to the grace of God and be a DOER of the Word of God and not a hearer only!

Have you made assumptions against someone that you need to go to and work it out in reconcilation according to Matthew 18:15.  Not in some passive-aggressive way, but God's way, one on one. It will bring healing, He promises it to you. If you cannot go to them, then are you WILLING to open yourself up and allow God to take that "barbed wire" from your heart or get that demonic spirit off your back? It is up to you to choose to do the work. You might have to admit some shortcomings (I did) and be somewhat vulnerable (I did). You might need pastoral help, or a clinician or therapist or healing prayer; so what? If that one thing is keeping you from God and His grace and calling on your life, it is worth it!  Sometimes we need to take that courage He offers.  Courage is not the absence of fear it is just feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

It is my own heart's cry: "Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep your precepts." Psalm 119:134.

God bless you!  Your fellow laborer in Christ,

Cori

Why is That?

As 2013 begins, I have been keeping my eye on international events, and how time is propelling us silently toward the end of this dispensation and Christ’s return and judgment. Personally, I am astounded at how most events are quietly passing with no notice or attention by the vast majority of congregations in my town here in Sacramento. And, the more I speak with ministers and leaders across the Country and world, it appears that in the United States it is widespread. Yet, if you step outside the USA it is a different story!

Why is that?

I am not sure that we, as a Christian community of believers (as a whole) understand the outcome of our continued denial and lack of understanding of what time it is. This is not an opinion but a fact widely accepted however, I base my hypothesis on first-hand observation. In the past 3 years, I have been in church a lot....in fact my own daughter, a pastor herself has expressed "Mom, you are in church "a lot". I have been on staff at a few, but mostly serve informally in whatever capacity the pastor needs. I am not much into titles or affirmations so it suits me fine; plus I have had a women’s ministry in my home for 3 years. So, for the last 8 month I have been to several congregations (more than 6) in some capacity to help, support, minister, hear a speaker or attend a special event involving my family or grandchildren. And, during all of those visits or assignments, I have had the pleasure of listening to the pastors (the shepherds in charge of the flocks) speak, in different denominations from Pentecostal to Conservative. I have listened to well-orchestrated sermons with beautiful slides in Power Point, and expository genius and I have listened as well-meaning men and women attempt to speak forth what God has put in their hearts with a great degree of conviction and passion. I heard some good messages that I am sure would make any seminary professor proud. But there was one thing lacking from all but one of the churches....and that was a compelling message to repent, return to your first Love, and get your life right for the time is short. In most I did not witness prayer, laying on of hands, or even an altar call for salvation, healing or anything. More importantly and quite alarming to me I saw no one, not one, filled with the Holy Ghost or even an invitation to receive Him with evidence of speaking in tongues. I did not see any bonafide miracles or signs and wonders following those messages.

Why is that?

It makes me shake my head and wonder a lot lately where did it go? The powerful preaching, the leading of the Holy Ghost, the miracles following the Word (signs and wonders) and the conversion of lives truly changed by an encounter with a living God? These men lived for God, 24/7, not just on Sundays. It was who they were/are, not their title.

I know many leaders in ministry. I know their hearts and that they are committed to their calling. It isn’t that they aren’t praying and seeking, but for some reason, their services are lacking those things that are the foundation and pillar of Christ and what He has called us, as believers to be and do.

Why is that?

Elsewhere, in visits and ministry I see sone leaders who really appear (my humble opinion) to be "winging it" and, what is worse, they are calling it being "lead" by the Holy Ghost. These leaders are showing up for service by the seat of their pants, late, unprepared (spiritually) and so busy that they forgot about the "holiness" of their calling. What makes it sad is they have forgotten the old cliche that "the higher up the ladder you go, the more your panties show". That means, they aren’t fooling anyone even though they think they are; they certainly aren’t fooling the Lord let alone their congregations.

Yet, in the "routine" of church, they throw out a few verses (same verses every Sunday) and call it a day. They give away their pulpits to guests more than not and then, and I have heard them, wonder aloud, with much frustration, why their congregation is so non-committal and dwindling. I hear a lot of analysis and conclusions being drawn, too, as to changing of seasons, certain people within the flock being the problem, and much justification. Unfortunately, again my opinion, what I never hear, is the revelation that THE SPEED OF THE LEADER IS THE SPEED OF THE GANG. I do hear this over and over again: "God is in charge of the increase" as if it is all up to God anyway....

Why is that?

Meanwhile, prophetic men and women are screaming "WAKE UP, LOOK OUT, WARNING!...". You see a lot of that on Facebook these days, or on the internet, in my opinion because we have removed the prophet from our churches and labeled them as radials or crazy’s in lieu of tolerance and putting more "cheeks in the seats" to cover our overhead. It seems that it is more about "Can’t we all just get along"? In the name of "tolerance" and "love" it really looks like we (as a church body) have given up. What we don’t realize is that we are now like the virgins without oil in their lamps and we are going to miss the bridegroom!

What does it say if we (the church leaders) are so careful to not want to upset anyone, or touch on issues of sin that are "danger zones" that we stick to the "feel good" sermons that emotionally charge up the people but mature them/us NOT. In the process of "doing church" we have failed to see our nakedness and, in the process of our efforts to achieve personal "success" (.e.g., pay the bills, pay the pastor, grow the congregation) somehow church has become a social club. You can get your latte, attend bingo and some neat event and have the shepherd fill you up emotionally and make you feel good for another week, all in the 1.25 hours allowed on a Sunday. Yet, while you are looking up your Bible verse on your smart phone, you are not being very edified or convicted (and of course that doesn’t feel good anyway) and you become completely reliant on a pastor, in a building, regurgitating the same ole same ole. I even attended a service where only 1 verse was present in a sea of jokes and wise cracks from the pulpit and analogy after analogy that was very painful to listen to!

And yet, all the while we (the human race) ARE facing the darkest days on Earth and we are eating and drinking and looking just like the "days of Noah" before the flood came and wiped out every single being on earth save a select few spared by God. Did we forget that God who is just and perfect when we painted our picture of Jesus our friend?

Why is that?

I just watched an election where Christians did not care about the ethical and moral standing of a candidate. They voted against biblical principles and didn’t care or justified it with malarkey. Most of the same folks would tell me (I assume) that it is prejudice of me to point a finger at Islam and say "great false religion" or that with each piece of ground the Christian church gives up, it takes one more step into allowing a time when persecution of believers will become as real and as ugly as it is in Africa or China.

Meanwhile, one by one, the mighty men of God who stood tall and braved and tilled the unbroken ground to preach the full gospel are going home to be with Jesus and receive their crowns. Men like Hagin and Harrison and Oral Roberts and, even in my own circle of influence, men like Glen Cole and Al Gluchoski are going "home" to be with the Lord. Where are their replacements? The torch bearers that have been called to this hour to lead and proclaim the full gospel?

Why is that?

We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Good News of Christ, says the Bible. So, if it were all up to God, why is man appointed to rule and have dominion on earth and why did Jesus take the cross to reconcile man with God? Could it be because it is man’s job to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

If one is called to preach and lead the people, then it isn’t about anything else. It isn’t that you need to have a balanced life, or whatever, it is about a calling and a burning and yearning so deeply and intensely that it is really who you are.

Selah..........