The most grievous error a Christian can make is to believe that operating in spiritual gifts is God's approval on their lives. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) Operating in spiritual gifts says nothing of your character, integrity or your personal walk with God. One day we will be standing before God, and some of us will hear these very fearful words. "Depart from me, I don't know who you are because you look nothing like me. You may operate in my power but you don't have any characteristics of being my son or daughter. You were made in my image but you don't walk in love. You followed the voice of stranger, and followed your own selfish desires. You built your churches, ministries, and organizations under the pretense of doing it for me. You really did it for you. You wanted to be seen of all men but you didn't care what I saw in you. I didn't see me in you. I didn't see love."
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-10)
This scripture has been used to say that the gifts of the spirit have passed away. This doctrine is called cessationism. In Christianity, cessationism is the doctrine that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased with the apostolic age. I don't believe this. I believe what Paul was saying is that the gifts are temporary but there is only thing that is perfect, and it is love. Love never fails. Love, and God are interchangeable terms because God is love. The sad truth is that people who have a religious spirit will always have an answer as for why we shouldn't or why God can't do something rather than just operate out of a place of love. Faith is motivated by love. Everything we do should be motivated by love!
I once was at a prayer meeting, and I noticed a woman crying at the back of the room. I thought to ask her after the meeting was over if she needed prayer. She agreed to receive prayer. I felt so much compassion for her, and I was sad that no one even seem to notice her pain. When I tried to lay hands on her stomach, her whole body moved away from my hand involuntarily. Always a sign of demonic activity. When I touched her, she dropped to the ground, and started to manifest. I went down on my knees to pray for her until she was delivered. Afterwards as I looked up, I saw a bunch of people standing around staring at me. The person running the prayer room later asked me if she had asked for prayer in which I confirmed that she did. She was upset that I had prayed for a woman at a prayer meeting, and that she was delivered! Does that make any sense? It happened to Jesus too! The people at church were Jesus' worse critics. They were absolutely upset that he healed a man during a church service. A religious spirit will always place protocol, schedules, tradition, and doctrines of men over walking in love. Jesus was moved by compassion. If in doubt ask yourself what am I being motivated by? Trying to be seen of men or the compassion of Christ? This is by no means a permission slip to go rogue, and do your own thing. God has placed shepherds in different houses to protect the sheep. Please use wisdom. Learn to discern between religious protocol or being motivated by love. Obey God's voice. Remember the world eagerly awaits for the glory of God to be displayed in God's sons, and daughters!
We don't need an approval committee to do what God has commissioned us to do already. When I first got saved I expressed my desire to be an evangelist. A man told me at church that women can't be evangelists. I was crushed. For years I allowed this word to keep me on the pew because I felt that I wasn't qualified. This was solely based on my gender. One day I read the following passage: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18) I realized that this passage was not gender specific. It didn't say to Pastors only or men only. These signs will follow all who believe. I believe so that qualifies me. God has ordained all of us from the foundation of the world. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Ordained also mean commissioned! God has already set us apart, commissioned us, and empowered for His work. No matter what kind of work we do for Christ if it is not done in love it means nothing. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3)
I believe love will start defining our God moments, and we will know what voice we should obey. We will either give into fear of man or the love of God. I believe we are going to see through religious rhetoric, and not confuse that for authentic Christianity. Selfish motivations are going to become more obvious in the coming days. This love movement is going to revolutionize Christianity as a whole. Our focus will change as our hearts will be more interested in becoming like our Father rather than what we do for Him. We won't be trying to impress one another by all the cool spiritual gifts we move in. Believe me, God is not impressed. He is simply looking to see if we look like Him. I don't know about you but I want to hear this when I stand before His throne: Well done son/daughter you look, and act just like me. You wear Jesus well.
We don't need an approval committee to do what God has commissioned us to do already. When I first got saved I expressed my desire to be an evangelist. A man told me at church that women can't be evangelists. I was crushed. For years I allowed this word to keep me on the pew because I felt that I wasn't qualified. This was solely based on my gender. One day I read the following passage: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18) I realized that this passage was not gender specific. It didn't say to Pastors only or men only. These signs will follow all who believe. I believe so that qualifies me. God has ordained all of us from the foundation of the world. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Ordained also mean commissioned! God has already set us apart, commissioned us, and empowered for His work. No matter what kind of work we do for Christ if it is not done in love it means nothing. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3)
I believe love will start defining our God moments, and we will know what voice we should obey. We will either give into fear of man or the love of God. I believe we are going to see through religious rhetoric, and not confuse that for authentic Christianity. Selfish motivations are going to become more obvious in the coming days. This love movement is going to revolutionize Christianity as a whole. Our focus will change as our hearts will be more interested in becoming like our Father rather than what we do for Him. We won't be trying to impress one another by all the cool spiritual gifts we move in. Believe me, God is not impressed. He is simply looking to see if we look like Him. I don't know about you but I want to hear this when I stand before His throne: Well done son/daughter you look, and act just like me. You wear Jesus well.
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Jaziz Gutierrez
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