You Have It So Twisted…
John 8:42-47 Amplified Bible (AMP)
42Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me. 43Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My teaching.] 44You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [do not trust Me, do not rely on Me, or adhere to Me]. 46Who of you convicts Me of wrongdoing or finds Me guilty of sin? Then if I speak truth, why do you not believe Me [trust Me, rely on, and adhere to Me]? 47Whoever is of God listens to God. [Those who belong to God hear the words of God.] This is the reason that you do not listen [to those words, to Me]: because you do not belong to God and are not of God or in harmony with Him.
I was speaking with someone very close to me recently and they were relaying a series of things to me, as I listened I became concerned, because what I heard was detrimental, and it was spiritual cancer, it could if left untreated or unchecked kill people off or make them very ill. I listened as this individual told me about how people in their lives had used the Word of God to beat them down, and to manipulate situations and circumstances in their favor. I heard how they used the name of the Lord in one breathe and judged, belittled and tore down in the next. I heard of the Word being welded like the two edged sword that it is, but only to rest in the hands of one that was using it to corrupt and hurt, not to heal or to save. I listened as I heard of the Word of God was twisted to try to make individuals seem deeper, more sanctified and holy than another. I heard how the Word of my Father was being used as a tool of manipulation instead of a manual for life and a guide to our living. I was saddened and sickened all in the same moment. My response was to encourage and build up, to correct the false doctrine that had been brought forth and to apply the balm of Gilead that could heal and save out of the hands of spiritual illness and possible discouragement unto spiritual death.
The Bible tells us not to judge unless we are prepared to be judge in the same manner we are judging. The Bible also tells us not to add to or take away from the Word of God. That is manipulating the Word which is turning it into a tool of witchcraft in those moments. It sad to hear how we are saints, or people proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ are in refusal to check ourselves for our spiritual content and living, but we are quick to want to dispense our own brand of conviction, correction and rebuke on people and we justify it by using the name of the Lord. How can we think it is right to want to try to wipe the speck from another’s eye when we are spiritually blinded and walking around bumping into things because of the huge plank or log that is in our eye? We are running around with a weapon that we have not learned its power or its usefulness, nor have we allowed God to discipline us enough to teach us and bring that immaturity in us under subjection in order for us to properly utilize the weapons that we have. We are just firing off rounds out of anger, the need to control, insecurities and in retaliation, and people are getting hurt and dying at our hand, and we lack understanding that we are accountable for each one; especially when our life and walk with the Lord is out of order and much less than what God desires. We are taking the word of God and as I stated yesterday making a spiritual pretzel out it for our consumption. We want God to look the other way and understand that we did things because we were upset, but here we are killing people with His word, handcuffing them, trying them and convicting them by our standards, and not the will or directives of God.
We need to untwist God’s word, and let it stand on its own merit without, trying to beat people over the head with it. We need to let God do the judging and we need to stay out of His way before we end up in the cross fire. We also should remember that when we use God’s word for self-serving means and to manipulate we are acting as our real father, the devil, because that is not what God instructs us to do. The Word of God is a strong and powerful agent all by itself, we do not need to put our spin on things, or try to present it in such a way that we look better than someone else, or that we are using it as means to hurt, belittle or condemn someone, when we do this we open ourselves up to be in a state of being twisted and not living a life pleasing to God at all but instead living a life that more resembles Satan who we declare is our enemy. When we are in Christ we should resemble Him, our living and existence should be walking after the spirit and not walking to appease the flesh. Appeasing the flesh only gets us a moment of satisfaction, but pleasing God gets us an eternity of life. Don’t get it twisted, the Word is our guide, and our mirror to allow God to search us and know us; God forbid that we dare to try to convict, judge and chastise someone else, when we are living like hell, foul and unchecked. Until we are without spot or wrinkle, our attempts to use the Word of God, His name or anything else against someone to bring them down or discipline them should never be. Untwist your thinking and your living, get right with God, and let God handle others! Why not purpose to live a life before others in order that they may see God and want to turn to Him not run from Him!
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