Did You Grow Up in the Church? Part 3
April 8, 2016 by Elder/Minister DeBorrah K. Ogans
Filed under Christian Living, Church
Did You Grow Up in the Church? Part 3
“There really is a difference between being in the Church and the Church being in you? When the Church is in you the Holy Spirit becomes the governor of your soul. You live in the world, you are to be a law abiding citizen but you realize it is in GOD you LIVE and MOVE and have your being. You are convicted whenever wrong. You readily REPENT! You do not desire to be right just for the sake of being right.
The Church is not just a place to go. It is who are! For you it is or should become your daily lifestyle to live to please God!
This is not some unrealistic, legalistic, rigid, mythical, unattainable, cultic way of being. You don’t or shouldn’t just follow someone because they are your friend… You should follow Jesus! Church was never meant to become a mere social club where everyone feels comfortable. You should realize how vitally important it is to live your life before the Lord. As a believer, You should know without a doubt that God is your Heavenly Father. That the devil his imps and no one or nobody can do anything to pluck you out God’s hands. That you truly belong to God and Jesus is your Lord and Savior! You have been adopted into His family and you know that you know that you know without doubting you are His child! Do you know what His Word says about being double minded?
Wait I must caution you!”
(The above was worth repeating just in case you are only reading Part 3)
If you have not been raised in the church DO NOT be discouraged! Read on because the Lord has a place for you as well! You are like a fresh breath of air because of your desire to embark upon a new beginning… ALL the same privileges of becoming a Child of GOD awaits you. ” Our Father, who art in Heaven. Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…”
You see, there really is a difference when you are in the Church and the Church is in you. You know that you have been bought with a price. You know that before you were formed in your Mother’s womb God knew and knows who you are. You also know it is not because of anything you have or have not. It is because of who He is! You can praise Him not only in the building; but you praise Him in your home, on your job or at your business in your car, in the midst of trials and persecution. Not just in mere lip service. You Praise the Lord when you are alone!
There is no need to act when you know that the Lord is totally aware of what we all do. Yes express yourself. Don’t be a chameleon and blend right in… Please, don’t be pressured because of a need to be accepted. We ALL will have to answer to Him for our actions. It is important to know that you have a right to not conform for the sake of being momentarily accepted. There are many things that have been integrated into worship and ministry to get others to conform. There is often a desire to generate a high energetic emotional worship & praise time. Many become emotionally charged. Praise & Worship is Great! Many do not realize the power of or behind music… In these latter days there is much more focus placed upon how your are feeling and what you can receive from the Lord. Worship & Praise should be a time devoted to God and who He is and what he has done and will do.
GOD IS A HOLY GOD!
God does not need any of us. Always remember; “…It is in HIM we LIVE and MOVE and have our being…” GOD is infinite and we are finite. This is not about undermining the validity of GOD’S CHURCH! This is about learning to exercise your RIGHTS and the FREEDOM you have wherever you decide to worship in a place that claims; ” HE IS LORD!” There are a plethora of places of worship all over the world. But, GOD has but ONE CHURCH! HE is the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we serve as Believers.
Pray, Pray & Pray some more. Allow the Spirit of the Lord lead you. Let the Lord lead you what to do or not to do… God really does want to make a difference in your live everyday!
When you do not always respond in the way expected it is highly likely you will be misunderstood. You will also begin to actually better understand why others do not understand you. I always say; “Some things will not be understood on this side of Heaven!” What is always most important is to seek the will of the Lord above everything and everyone. Know that Jesus was grossly misunderstood. It is true God’s people are peculiar! God wants to strengthen your faith and trust in Him. You can stand even when you know others have done everything possible to try to discourage you. Keep Your focus on the Lord. God wants each of us to become the “Best You” in HIM! After all He is our Creator.
God is awesome! Standing for God does not mean resorting to carnality. Your confidence cannot be in you, are anything else. Yes, you can have confidence because you know God as your Father. You know that He knows you as His child. You know and He knows that you have spent some deep intimate time together in His presence. You are growing and so is your understanding of who He is. You know that He has set you free! You know that you have been raised in the church and the church is in you. Or You have come to know that now you are His Church.
God really has a better way for His children. God is not a respecter of persons. It does not matter to Him if you are rich or poor, black, white, red, yellow, tan or brown. He already knows where you live, work, play or “hang out.” He even knows if you have been raised in the church and the church is not in you. He knows if you walk in the flesh or abide in His Spirit. If you truly invite Him into your heart today He will come in your life and make a real difference. If you have not been raised in the church God can place His laws within your heart. It even may give you a different advantage. You see and observe and you wonder why? Know that the Spirit of the Lord is Omniscient and The Lord can teach you whatever you need to know. GOD will never lead you to do anything that goes against HIS WORD! It is important to make spending time in God’s Word a priority. There is and endless wealth of Spiritual Food for our souls in His Word. As you begin to grasp His Word it will wash you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. As a new believer you are not as weighed down with many of the traditions of man. You are should feel free to ask what this or that is so wherever you worship. Ask unto you have an inner peace. Make studying God’s Word your new priority. In His time He will mold and shape you from the inside out. This is a continuous process. He will also teach you how to guard your heart.
There are many wolves among the sheep. Don’t fret God always takes care of His children even in the midst of tests and trials. There are also those who call evil good and good evil. God will and can protect you and keep you from the grasp of wickedness. You must learn to humbly submit to His direction. He will open your spiritual eyes so you can begin to have a deeper understanding about life. No drugs, nicotine or alcohol needed to enlighten you. You don’t want to live always under the influence of some substance. (This is not anti valid prescribed medications) Begin to be more prayerful about how you take care of your body. You want to seek to have better self control in all area of your life. You will not want to see things as they appear. You will desire to see clearly. Your conscious will become sensitive and you will have a deepened desire to do what is right in His sight rather than in the sight of man. Realize that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly in every way. HIS WORD is necessary SPIRITUAL FOOD for our souls!
God also said in the Book of John to “let not your heart be troubled.” It is very important to trust God and His WORD! The earth truly is the Lord’s. Truly He will take care of you. God already knows what is going on in your life and the life of those around you. Just begin to exercise patience. He will bring what happens in the dark to the light. Did you know you have as much time as you need to do the things that God would have you to do. Time belongs to God.
Study the story of Gideon. (See Judges 6) Gideon was nota likely leader. He prevailed not because of how many he had to help him. As a matter of fact the Lord told him he needed fewer people to help him. Gideon faithfully sought the Lord for direction. The Lord told Gideon; “Peace! Do not be afraid> You will not die!” There are many examples in the Word of God to help us in all areas of life. God will supply the necessary talents and resources for you to do whatever He wants you to do. He will supply the few or many you need to help you. This way He gets the GLORY and the VICTORY always belongs to GOD ALMIGHTY. It is not in the amount, how many are for you or against you. Nor in whoever rises up against you. It is in learning how to obey God.
God will make it evident to you and those about you that it is only by His grace and mercy that you can truly be successful. Spiritual success is not in the numbers. Fewer travel the Narrow Path. God knows when you have been raised in His Church and His Church is in you. He knows when you have not been raised in the church and it is your sincere desire to want to know Him. What matters to HIM is your willingness to allow HIM to mold and be shaped through His Living Word and His Holy Spirit. He wants us all to readily “REPENT!” whenever necessary. He is not a respecter of persons and His Love is extended to everyone all over the world. Through FAITH we learn to believe! This is why we are called “Believers!” Christ Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world and He extends HIS LOVE to ALL! He wants to come live within your hearts through eternity and become your personal Lord & Savior! This world was spoken into existence through Him! As believers we are the sheep of His Pasture. The LORD wants to be your SHEPHERD! Remember this; “He leads me in the Path of Righteousness for His Namesake. Yea though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I WILL fear NO evil. For THOU art with me. THY ROD & STAFF THEY COMFORT me…” Psalms 23 Grace, Joy, Love & Peace to you in Jesus Name! If you really want to be happier, Live Everyday: “To God be the Glory!”
Trapped In Addiction
December 28, 2009 by Elder/Minister DeBorrah K. Ogans
Filed under Behavioral & Emotional Health, Society & Culture
When a person has an addiction it can be totally devastating. It not only affects the addict but anyone and everyone they come in contact with. They actually are an accident or a serious mishap waiting to happen. They irresponsibly put many others in danger at the risk of satisfying their own selfish desires. Their addiction often causes fear and insecurity to dominate the lives of their family and often friends as well. It often paralyzes them in a cesspool of co-dependency, inhibiting them from taking a lawful stand.
Intervention when properly initiated can be a catalyst for repentance in the addict. You see we don’t really like to confront problems. Many will talk around and about rather than confront the issue. This does not lead to resolving the problem. Look around addictions are at an all time high! There ia a tendency to take the ostrich approach, burying your heads in the sand. Guess what? The problem won’t just go away. We often think of love as not making someone feel bad. (Except when it comes to punishing children) But we must be careful not to unconsciously support any wrong behavior.
An addict is a devotee to whatever substance they are controlled by. They surrender their will and allow themselves to be habitually, obsessively controlled by the proclivity of their desire. Their addictive need is compulsive and they will do whatever is necessary to fulfill that need. Even if it means placing others in harms way.
Buried underneath the layers is really a diamond in the rough! How ironic? God can take their faithfulness to whatever their desire is (alcohol, drugs, food, sex, dirt(pica), etc.) and turn it to good. He can work it out! The process is really miraculous to watch. But it will never happen as long as you keep your head in the sand. God will not force His way. Remember their allegiance is just inappropriately designated.
Think about the impact on your physical health!
Do you know why it’s easy to abet them in their slow but sure death? They can appear so loving and talk about the life of the party! Who needs a party? They are a party all by themselves. They are under the influence and out of control. They can be so compliant and giving one moment. But right around the corner lives Mr. or Mrs. Tyrant… They become loud, verbally abusive and obnoxious and yes often physically abusive. They can abruptly without warning embrace the reigns of violent and destructive behavior like sugar to an ant. Talk about a roller coaster! Except this ride is not very amusing. Living on the edge is their theme. Danger lurks!
Think long and hard about what kind of message you are giving to this generation. What about the children? What image do you have of yourself? Take a good look in the mirror and see what you see looking back at You! Can you even remember what it is like to NOT be under the influence? You are missing the treasures of life. You may not realize it; but your heart is troubled, and your body is stressed. Your very health is at stake.
The addict has a distorted view of Love!
The deepest emptiness and a gulf of shame awaits the departure of each subsequent binge. You feel unloved and don’t really know how to love at this point. You really need a change not a distraction. But don’t be in total despair. PRAY! There is hope. You can change. You see God really does make the difference. Just know you can’t change them, they have to want change for themselves. But you can and should abandon providing them a security blanket in any form. PRAY! Begin to shift your focus to GOD. He’s the ultimate COMFORTER. HIS HOLY SPIRIT will direct your paths as you truly learn to TRUST HIM. Begin to develop your role as their faithful prayer intercessor.
The chronic addict/abuser allows distorted freedom to his love ones. Freedom to know you can’t depend on them for anything. Freedom to know that they care more about satisfying their addiction than they do for you! This erroneous freedom can cause you to take on their responsibilities. They need to feel and experience the consequences for their decisions. Oftentimes this can cause one to reach for situations and people they can dominate just as the addiction controls their life. This is where the children suffer most. They can see something is wrong! But instead of correcting yourself you try to correct them. GO figure! Since the addict has no backbone they have a false sense of their strength. Which is in fact zero. Face it this is an extreme weakness. You cannot control what you allow to go into your body or your mouth! To the other extreme, it causes them to look to someone who will stroke their insecurities. Make them feel good temporarily. They are unable to face themselves alone!
YOU REALLY NEED SOME HELP!
Tomorrow is NOT promised! You need to make whatever call is necessary to get you some HELP!
What a dysfunctional cycle! One can become enmeshed in a sea of burdens. But I’m glad there is a burden bearer. The scripture says: “take my yoke upon you and learn of me for my yoke is easy and my burdens are light”. Easier said than done huh! But it is really possible. Begin to transfer this burden to the Lord. Embrace the scriptures daily to spiritually equip you for spiritual warfare. Ephesians is a book that let’s the child of God know that you have been sealed and deliverance is at hand. The mighty weapons of God are not carnal. Yet; they are Mighty!
You cannot change anything that has happened. But you can change going forward. You can STOP being so selfish and think about those you are imposing your addiction upon. You are not the life of the party. You are actually draining the joy out of those around you and slowly killing yourself. You are actually dying little by little, moment by moment, day by day… You need to reach out for HELP NOW! Your life is not your own. You do not have a right to destroy your life or anyone else’s life! You have made some commitments that you need to keep. Don’t continue to overindulge yourself in a guilt trip. Don’t jump in the quicksand of denial as well. The noose of addiction can be broken.
You need to muster up some strength to fight for your life! If not for your sake for the one’s you say you love. You can be healed. You can be DELIVERED! You can become WHOLE! You can be set FREE! Jesus did not die in vain. He can resurrect any life. But it is your choice. He can peel away the layers of sin and wash you by the cleansing POWER of HIS BLOOD. It takes only a little light to dispel the darkness. We all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Therefor there is always room to grow and improve. GOD CAN GIVE YOU HIS HOLY SPIRIT! You must first yield to Christ Jesus. He CAN & WILL HELP you overcome your addiction or anything else. This is why we ALL need JESUS as OUR LORD & SAVIOR. TO SAVE US FROM THE POWER OF SIN. Don’t waste another minute hour or day! Reach out to the Lord today. He can and will be there for you TWENTY/ FOUR / SEVEN. There is VICTORY IN CHRIST JESUS!
