White Elephants

I'm writing this on my way to DC (in fact, I'm on the plane). Before boarding my plane, there was a documentary on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel that was shown at the airport. This episode focused on the government in other countries (primarily Greece & Brazil) and their endorsing white elephants (such as stadiums, and buildings for sporting events). Many civilians are complaining that the government is spending massive amounts of money for Olympic Games and for World Cup Games. After those games are over, the buildings are just there and nothing else is done in those buildings.

These same civilians are complaining (and rightfully so) because that amount of money that the government is spending could go to their healthcare. Now let's hear the other side. Those who receive the funding for the buildings say that the games are to boost the economy via ticket sales and sponsors and these revenues are to rebuild communities. The truth is that it actually goes back into the pockets of those investors and the government while those still living in the slums (in poverty-stricken areas) are left in the same condition if not worse after the games are over (in fact one single parent in Rio, I believe, said that she was being forced out of her home, not because she couldn't pay the bill, but because the building she's living in was to be destroyed so construction can begin to build a stadium for the Olympic Games). I pose this question: are we any different? Are there any white elephants in our own country? These white elephants in other countries have proven to be a waste of tax-payers money (and breaking the backs of the poor & middle-class). Again I ask, are we any different?

To me, all I hear is talk and no action. Does that sound like how many officials in politics and banking officials operate in our own country? It also shows that this group of rich are focused on themselves (while they say they're about helping, they're heaping for their own lusts). Notice I said that "group of rich," because not every rich person thinks that way. In fact, a true rich person does help people who want a hand up. Now here's where I say something that's not going to fly too well: the problem with us (especially in the church) is that many are complacent and want to rich to just fork over all of their wealth to them as a form of entitlement. Another problem I see is that we want our entitlements packaged a certain way. Example: if I am wealthy and decide to bless people not monetary, but via education and what I know about the tax structure and how to benefit (which I do by the way), some will get mad because the blessing they hoped for was cold hard cash on the spot. Now that is just selfish, saint or not! So I just showed there are two types of poor (those who are grateful for the help and those who just want to murmur & complain because they didn't get what they wanted, when they wanted it). 

Yes, I did go off tangent a little, but just because the governments are throwing good money after bad doesn't mean that we have to just sit and complain they're doing that. We can quote Deuteronomy 8:18 that says God has given you the power to get wealth. Sadly, we want wealth handed down without using the power given to us (and then complain when others are prospering). 

It is true that we are living in a time where the governments of the world (and the selfish rich) are looking out for themselves and will waste our money on white elephants, that doesn't mean we have to take on that attitude! To truly prosper, find out your assignment, have a plan, stop competing against your brother or sister, stop relying on handouts and have faith that God will see you through (and please take that first step of faith)! Don't be fearful, just do it!

Blessings:

The Mayne Man

A Call To The Five-Fold

This was not a planned blog, but my spirit is full this morning, and I want to empty it right now. I have a love for those called to the five-fold (regardless of your position), but there's something on my spirit that needs to be addressed to us specifically. I believe this blogpost is a call to the five-fold (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors & Teachers).

In 1 Samuel 3, we find The Lord calling Samuel. Many times we focus our sermons on the phrase, "Here am I Lord," and that's fine. What I want to focus on is this: Samuel was young and he was tuned to what God was trying to say through the prophet Samuel. Dropping down to verse 15, we find that Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had to say to Eli. Now I pose this question, have we in the five-fold become afraid to expose the spirits that creep up in our homes, our churches, etc.? I'm not talking about the obvious spirits (that we typically see in the news media, entertainment industry, and obvious sins in the church); but the ones lurking around in the church as impostors that are not so obvious: one being the lustful spirit (where sheep are lusting after the pastor knowing he or she is married); the second being the shearing spirit (it's mission is to take down members of the flock to satisfy their own lusts). Yes, we know are assignments, the devil knows it also. He also knows that if we don't call out those spirits mentioned above (and many others not mentioned), the entire body will be divided. We have allowed too many demonic spirits to get in the body (under our watch) mostly due to us being prideful in our office, but here's the real tragedy. When one who is really walking in their five-fold calls out the impostors, some will label him or her as the outcast. If nothing is done with the impostor, destruction is inevitable.

A question one might ask, how can you tell what spirit an impostor is carrying (especially if they are claiming to be part of the body)? Listen to the conversation - that's typically a tell all (and if their tone or facial expression shows traces of denial). Two examples:

1. If they sound desperate from a fleshly standpoint, you can tell there's a worldly desire unmet and they're trying to infect it on you (as a form of control).

2. If they push you or encourage you to stay in sin, then no matter how many times they talk about God, that's an impostor transformed into an angel of light.

Now, there may be some in the body just wounded (they are to be treated with care). Sometimes we can easily make the mistake and cast out the wounded and embrace the unrepentant impostor with the sole intent to decimate the body of Christ). We in the five-fold must be aware. We can easily focus on those with titles and holding them accountable (which we should), but if we don't watch those under our care; they can take us out, which is the game plan of the devil.

That was on my spirit this morning. I pray that this encourages you, for we have work to do.

Blessings:

The Mayne Man

The Pushers

On March 1, 2014, I posted this on FB: #Relationship101 (Part 7): 

Now if a man really loves a woman who's been battered, beaten, and suffered much pain via marriages, relationships, rejection, he will pray for her that she be complete in Him so when she thinks of her "exes," it won't be painful (meaning, she can think about it or talk about it and it won't be painful). She can move on and recognize that these men were nothing more than a demonic spirit who was trying to seize the woman (like Shechem seizing Dinah, or the serpent pushing Eve). 

I indicated there that I would do a blog on The Pushers. So here we go with this lesson:

When most people hear the word "Pusher," they will usually think of a drug pusher or someone trying to sell illegal things to someone else. But The Lord showed me something in the middle of the Relationship 101 series (if you want to read that, here's the link: http://mayneman.blogspot.com/2014/03/relationship-101-unedited.html?m=1)

Satan is the ultimate pusher. He looks for willing participants who will push his agenda; he looks for those who are naive - those who can get blindsided and not know that his agenda is pushed if not forced on them; he looks for those who are a threat to the Kingdom of God - he pushes those willing participants on those who are his threat; he also looks for those homes where there is no spiritual covering - this is where the devil pushes through the house (granted, he can easily walk in the house) and wreak havoc on entire families (parents and children). 

This can be broken up into many sermons just from what I said above, but I only want to focus on two things in particular.

1. If you go back to the first paragraph, what we find is a man named Shechem (a willing participant) pushing (actually forcing) himself onto Dinah. Delilah was a willing vessel but the men surrounded her were pushing the devil's agenda to destroy a man of God so they could worship their god. Now let's take those scenarios and set the scene in the time we're now living in. There are men (and women) who will push themselves onto someone of the opposite sex for the sole purpose of destroying their target's self-worth but more importantly, their target's identity in Christ. Yes, those men and women can be impostors (saying they love God but serving their fleshly desires).   In lieu of the first paragraph, if you are doing their utmost to live holy, and you run upon someone who's trying to get with you, first determine if they are a pusher (or if they are truly sent from God). One question to consider is this: how do you feel about sex before marriage? If they say they're ok first, then he or she changes their demeanor and starts pushing you (or mocking the fact that you're waiting), that's not a red flag, it's a black flag! They are a pusher. If these willing participants don't repent, be assured they have an end. 

2. This one is sensitive to my heart because I've seen this a lot in my life. This is where the home has no covering and the devil pushes right through the door and everyone is hooked (to the point of destruction). Parents and children are caught in this web and for many of them, all that's left is anger, depression and suicide. My prayer is for all infected but especially the children, for many of them have so many questions and they're not given correct answers. Some of their questions are:

1. Why are my parents denying what I went through?

2. If what I went through puts me at a risk for heart disease, why did God choose me to get it?

3. What can I do now considering I didn't know this was wrong though I'm reaping the consequences? 

4. People tell me to forgive and let the abuser get off with clean hands!

They are legitimate questions. Now here are some legitimate answers. 

To #1: Remember the devil is behind this and he pushed his agenda on an uncovered house. You now have the power to get covered, clean and live a victorious life. 

To #2: Your sickness does not lead to death. Now you have the power to take cautions to turn your situation around. Don't give up.

To #3: Part of it is for your testimony. Turn all of it over to Him and He will reward you double for your trouble. 

To #4: The first part is true, and I'm going to end this blog by answering the second part of the statement.

The pusher has an end (especially if he does not repent). You have so much to live for, so live. These pushers (and those who know they are doing wrong), are living without a care (and are probably unaware they are going to the lake of fire - and could care less about that). If you have broken from the pusher's stronghold, live! Don't let their strongholds keep you from living the abundant life you're supposed to live (and get this, as you're living the redeemed life, there's an assurance you will receive crowns in glory)!

Blessings:

The Mayne Man