Out of Order

Tags

church, Families, Individuals, Injustice, People, Protests, Riots, Schools

 

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On the bathroom door at our church, there is a sign on one of the stalls that says, OUT OF ORDER, in big bold letters. This sign is meant to let people know that this stall is inoperable at this time. It is not that it will never work again, or that it is damaged beyond repair, but to inform those who come in the bathroom, that this one stall is out of order. No one is mad at the stall, saying, I will never use that stall again, or that somehow this church has issues because there is one stall that is out of order. Common sense tells the reader, this stall is unable to function according to design at this time, but will be back in operation as soon as it is fixed.

 

This sign caught my attention on Sunday after church, because, the Lord has been speaking to me about order and how many people are living lives that are out of order. What He has been showing me is that when we are out of order, we are ineffective, we are not producing based on design and even though we hope no one notices, others often see that we are out of order even before we do. So, what I am sensing is we need to admit to ourselves, the Lord and others that we are out of order.

 

1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…” Then James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.” Finally, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 says, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

Because people are living lives that are out of order, our nation is out of order and the nations are out of order for people make up nations. So, if we want to see a change in our nations, we need to start with something changing in us. I am hearing a lot of people talk about the problems in our nations, there is a lot of blaming going on as to why things are the way they are right now, but I believe we need to take a look at our life and realize we are out of order, that is our family is out of order, our city is out of order, our money is out of order, our health is out of order, our nation is out of order. The issue is not global, national or even local before it is individual. We have a corporate problem, yes, but it is because we have individual problems that come together and reveal a national problem.

 

So, what do we do, I believe as believers in Jesus Christ we need a chiropractic adjustment from the Chief Cornerstone. We are out of plumb line (Amos 7) individually, so the first order of business is for me, is for you to return to the Lord. We must repent of our lifestyle that has compromised the word of God; we must repent of living self-centered lives; we must repent of our disobedience; because disobedience to the word of God what got us out of order and obedience to the word of God is what will bring us back into order.

Many men and women who are in pulpits and have platforms today are crying out for fresh voices to arise, not because we need more preachers, but because we need new preachers, ones who can bring the old truths of the gospel in a fresh way. We must go back to the foundation of faith in order to get back into order. This may mean, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to do a spiritual detox of choices of movies, music, and spending habits; we may need the Lord to convict us of the way we treat other people with our words and attitudes, especially those that live with us; we may need Jesus Himself, the lover of our souls to create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in us (Psalm 51).

 

Ladies and gentlemen, you can try to act like it’s not true, but the reality is, we are out of order and God is bringing a reformation of truth to put us back in order. He wants us to produce fruit of righteousness, live in safety and peace again, and experience the presence and power of God in our lives, our families, our churches and our nation again. We may be out of order right now, but it is temporary, for the Great Physician is on the way to heal our lives, if we will surrender, not resist His way of putting us back in order.

How To Harness the Power of People 1.3.16

Tags

Christianity, church, kingdom of God, People, Powerful people, relationships, Teenage Rebellion

People are the most powerful people on the face of the earth. When we recognize we all carry power, we will realize that there are people, systems, institutions and organizations that will seek to stop you from being powerful. The only people that don’t want you powerful are people who want all the power for themselves. Most places are one big game of king of the hill. As kids we used to play king of the hill and the goal was to get to the top of the hill and reign as king. From that position on top of the hill you could throw people down the hill, so you could remain as the king. But it usually wasn’t a very long reign because all of our friends were coming for the one at the top of the hill, seeking to be the next king. As a kid, this was a fun game, as an adult this is problematic, because some people will do anything to maintain their status as king of the hill in business, politics, education, religion or even the home.

 

Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 10:42-43, “…You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.” The disciples were concerned that James and John, who just prior to this statement by Jesus asked if they could sit at His right and left hand in glory, those two boys wanted to be the kings of the hill, but Jesus responded by saying, we don’t play king of the hill in My kingdom. As the world is jockeying for position, seeking to maintain hierarchy, control and dominance, the kingdom of God is operating with an underground movement of servants who are laying down their lives for one another, not trying to be the king of the hill, for we know there is only one King and His name is Jesus.

 

So, how do we harness the power of people? No matter your age or your gender, everyone is powerful. Few know how to harness their power, so they cause more problems than solutions, but people are powerful nonetheless. We come out of the womb with the power of our voice, we progress in our power by crawling, walking and talking. As people we are constantly testing the boundaries of our power, unless someone or some system has taught us we are powerless and we believed it. Words are powerful and they can empower you or silence you and cause you to believe you are powerless. So, be careful who you listen to, because they are either empowering you or seeking to silence you.

 

From babies to teenagers, from men to women, from college age to middle age, from youth to the wise, we are all powerful and I want to show you how to harness your power and how to help others harness their power.

 

1. Powerful people live within boundaries.

a. Rivers without banks become floods that destroy things, but rivers with banks give power to cities. Every major city in the world is built on a river. You are that river, you are powerful, but you must live within boundaries.

 

2. Powerful people can control their tongue.

a. Our words are powerful and we can use them to bless or curse others. Being able to control what you say and use your tongue to bless is a sign of being powerful.

 

3. Powerful people correct others up, they don’t put them down.

a. Everyone needs correction, this is how we grow, but being able to correct someone up and not shame them, condemn them or put them down is an indicator of someone that is powerful.

 

4. Powerful people are gold diggers.

a. Anyone can be critical, but powerful people find the gold in others and bring it to the surface so the person can see themselves as the treasure they are.

5. Powerful people are teachable.

a. Living with a constant understanding that what you know is limited at best is the sign of being powerful. Always being willing to listen and learn is how you remain powerful.

 

6. Powerful people are lovers.

a. The greatest invisible power is love, I Corinthians 13 tells us what love is, and if you want to be powerful, you must be a lover. Love will take you places money never could.

 

7. Powerful people are givers.

a. When you know who you are, you do not fear lack, for you know that you are an unending source of tangible and intangible gifts. Generosity is a telltale sign that you are powerful.

 

If we can begin to treat each other as powerful and help each other harness our power for the benefit of others, we will see ourselves gain favor with God and man. Our kids are powerful and if parents can learn how to harness their power, I believe we will see a decrease in teenage rebellion, for all they are trying to do is express their power. When husbands and wives see each other as powerful, we can begin to see that we are stronger together than we are apart, but we both must be allowed to be powerful. Finally, if the church can catch the vision of this, we will train, equip and deploy people to do the work of ministry, rather than just want them to come to church, so we feel powerful. This is how we harness the power of people!