CampfireTALK: April 28th, 2014

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WORD CHURCH is a church, a ministry, and a fellowship, even an outreach, where like in the days of the Apostles and Acts, the people joined together! 

Our vision and our goal, is to bring churches together in the unity of the faith, to help them to begin to bring together the gifts and talents of each separate church, and to share those gifts and talents with each other, that we may be better and more effective in teaching and training the Body of Christ, for the word of the ministry, to tell the World about Jesus!    .... Learn More

Have you have had someone in your life that you trusted, really trusted ... in blind faith?  I mean you put it all "out there", just knowing that they were your friend, and that they had your best interests in mind only to find out later that you were sadly mistaken?  You find that they took advantage of your goodness and your kindness, allowing you to go on serving with them, knowing all the while that they were not about to honor your gift?

And you wonder why? 
Well, we are going to discuss this today ... in "Who Do You Trust" 



You know I have had to learn long and hard that people "are" going to let me down.  I don't want them to, nor do I expect them to, but there is this inevitability inside them that just screams out for failure.  We call this the fruits of the flesh.  Everybody deals with it.  Some of us do it, more than others, and sadly some of those aren't even aware that they are guilty of this!  But it is true.  Folks, with the rebirth of your born-again spirit man, your "flesh" man still needs to change! 

Your flesh, unlike your spirit, was "not" re-created anew, when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Your flesh man only knows what he's been taught all of his life, and what he desires from the evil nature that his desires come from, in serving "self" and seeking his own desires. 

You can spot folks that you may work with, or attend church with, who have this weakness in their life, in some form or fashion.  Usually it is because of trust issues, or a fear that others are out to get them.  How do I know this?  Because I too have wrestled with this from time to time.  And I'm sure you do too! 

Often, I will become involved in a ministry, a venture, or even something at work, and there always seems to be someone there who is threatened by me.  I don't always know why ... sometimes it is my wide diversity of skills, maybe my personality, my charm and my big smile, (ok, we're getting weird here) ... I think you get the point.  It's not how "we" see ourselves, but how others see "us" that matters here. 

When someone comes into a department, at work, at church, or wherever your domain may be, and they possess a winning personality, great skills in what they do, a sharp mind, an quick adaptability to changes, you can naturally feel threatened.  And this is a normal reaction.  My advice in learning to overcome these feelings is to get close to that person.  Get to know them, become their friend.  I have found that a "lack of communication" is the open door to Satan's arsenal of tools!  You see, if you don't communicate, then Satan can tell you, or that person, just about anything he wants, and you or that other person are going to buy it!  Why?  Because they don't know you, and you don't know them. 

I had this happen recently.  A person I thought was my friend turned in another direction, quite unexpectedly.  I believe it was because they have fears, trust issues, and anticipations or thoughts that are not at all warranted.  All the while I was working with this individual, I tried and tried to get close to them, to get to know them, befriend them, etc.   They were always too busy!  In fact, they have a reputation for being too busy!  Proverbs tells us that "A man who separates himself seeks his own desire [and not God's], and he quarrels against all sound wisdom."  In other words, he is leaving himself wide open to the influence of Satan and his suggestions, thoughts and ideas. 

So, "How do I avoid this?", you ask me.  Here's what I suggest that you do.  When you have someone that believes they know you, but they really don't, spend time around them.  Let them see you in action.  Be "available" and seek opportunities to work on teams with them, etc. 

You will find, however, that there are some who really don't want to part with their fears, and with their mistrust issues.  It's like any sin that he have a hard time parting with, this person may just want to hold onto that stuff. 

In this case, your best bet is to just look to God.  Remember that "HE" is always there, He's always got your back, and He will never misjudge you as others might.  He "really does" know your heart.  Others may say they do, or that God has revealed your heart to them, but in reality God only tells someone else what little bits they need to know to minister to you.  If they're planning on using it against you, I assure you God will not be involved. 

GOD is "THE" God of restoration, of deliverance, of new opportunities and forgiveness!  He only wants the very best for you!  We have His Word to prove this! 

It is my recommendation to always keep your eyes on God, as your source, your supply, your friend, and your adviser.  God will always watch your back!  And if someone says you're not good enough for their team, chances are it's because they feel threatened by you, or they don't feel that they can control you! 

The flesh is a funny thing when it gets mixed with leading people.  It wants control!  And if you're going to serve God, that's the first thing you have to learn to let go of!  If God starts something, and He has allowed you to be a part of it, there is no reason why you should ever fear.  He has always got your back.  He will cover you.  He will even advise and warn you.  But when you let your fears get involved, then you are walking the same path as King Saul did, and that cost him his kingdom! 

If you always keep your eyes on God, and "HE" is really the only one you want to impress, the rest is ... well, it's just not worth worrying about.  You can have all of the religious practices and teachings in the world about you, but if you cannot hear from the Spirit of GOD, then you haven't even begun your journey as a member of HIS family yet!  Set aside the religion, the doctrine, the checklists, and such, and get alone with GOD.  Study HIS Word, and pray.  Spend time walking and talking with GOD.  I assure you, when you learn to truly hear from "HIS voice" ... nothing can steer you wrong! 

If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness."  In order to remain holy and clean, before GOD, we must avoid sin, and when we do sin, we must confess those sins before GOD, so that we can be made clean again.

2.  Study the Word - Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "If you continue in My word, then are you truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."  Folks, rare is the time you will ever see someone skip eating for the day, let alone days upon end.  But we do that all the time spiritually.  The Word of GOD is food for our spiritual bodies!  We need that spiritual food, for spiritual energy, and for the faith that we need ... to live the life that GOD has called us to live, here in the Earth.  When we study and meditate the Word of God, our spirit man grows strong, in much the same way as a battery is charged!  (Romans 10:17)  But when we do NOT study the Word, our spiritual battery begins to run down, and the natural man begins to surface.  We act more like our "old self" than like the renewed man that GOD created us to be.  In other words, the "flesh" wins out. 

3.  Pray in the Holy Spirit - Paul teaches us that we are to pray in the Holy Spirit.  "But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the spirit."  [Jude 1:20 - AMP]  Our supernatural energy, our faith, is charged and built up when we spend time in the presence of GOD, and when we "pray in the Holy Spirit".  We are told in Ephesians 6 to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might", putting on the whole armor of GOD.  We cannot be strong if we do not spend time in GOD's presence, and in supernatural prayer! 

ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS: 
"This is YOUR day ... YOU control it, how it goes, how you deal with the obstacles that come, and how you finish it!   Master it!  And don't let the day, or the little bumps that come with it determine how "YOUR DAY" is going to be.  This is "YOUR" day!" 
Master it!  Conquer it!  MAKE IT ... what your Father wants it to be!

-pastor rich-