Out of Order

Late last year, my sister Kelly Turner & I were listening to a lesson by Tera Carissa Hodges and one question that a woman asked Tera drew our attention. The gist of the question was this, “I’m a pastor and should I overstep my husband to do what I want do if God is telling me to something?” Tera responded with 1 Peter 3:1-6 and this will be the focus of this blogpost. She broke this verse down and after the lesson was over, Kelly & I had a discussion about it because it’s so prevalent today especially in ministry.

What Kelly & I have found (which Tera also explained to the woman who asked that question) is that many women have that tendency to overstep their boundaries just because they feel they can. 1 Peter 3 talks about how women can lead their husband via her conduct. Tera stated that women need to stay in prayer (if they got a word from the Lord about something they’re supposed to do) even though the husband can’t see what she sees at that moment in time; also, if the husband and wife are on one accord, it will be revealed to the husband in due time. This actually applies to men & women, we all seem at times to go ahead of God and the next thing you know, we’re out of order. When a man is more committed to his ministry over his wife, he’s out of order; when a woman tries to overstep her role in ministry to put down a man or be puffed up, she’s out of order. Humility is required and submission to God’s Word is required. Satan thrives on when we step outside of God’s will because then, we’re out of order!

Now I’m going to turn it over to Sister Kelly Turner.

REALLY! THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF CONTROL IN OPERATION which is A FORM OF WITCHCRAFT; one need not usurp authority unless protocol is given for one to proceed. But do with caution.

I know many won't like me after this; but I wasn't put on this earth to be liked; but to speak the TRUTH as GOD gives it to me. When it's all said and done, man DOES NOT have a Heaven or Hell to put you in....The ONE who has the keys to both....BUT GOD. You better STOP letting folks intimidate you; saying you can't do this and that. GOD has the final say. Learn to submit to the authority GOD has placed over you, whether spouse or not.

When reading the Word of God ask yourself which time and arena was it being said?  Dissect the Word and Read. Not just one verse but the one before and after. Stop skipping verses so one can't get what GOD is saying.

The Word is something you can't afford to play with when dealing with sheep. I've heard so many people tell me they're scared to wear this and cut this or that....Here's the answer...2 Timothy 1:7 which says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Philippians 2:5 says: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Many believers have been taught this from childhood without reading and dissecting the TRUTH of the WORD for themselves. They believed Momma & Poppa, but as my son said: “Who's your Daddy?” When individuals take the blinders off and start seeking GOD wholeheartedly asking HIM to remove barriers and man-made doctrine watch what happens. GOD is about to blow the top off that Religious Legalism spirit.

Don't Go Back To Egypt

This is a brand new week, and if God told you that you can do something, then we have to stand up and do it! It's simple, right? Think again. Fear is something that prevents people from doing what they're supposed to do. It robs you of your true purpose. Real quick, I didn't plan to write this post today (I wanted to write on healthy relationships, but it should be released next week).

With that said, I was reading the last part of Numbers 13 and a good portion of Numbers 14. One thing that stuck out to me was this: only 2 of the 12 spies said that they can take Canaan, and the other 10 lied and caused the children of Israel to believe "the lie." Joshua & Caleb (the two spies who believed they could take the land), were looking at the spiritual and had faith that God can strengthen them to overcome what may seem overpowering whereas the children of Israel were looking at the natural. They cried to Moses saying, let's return to Egypt. I'm thinking they were probably singing "Let's Go Back To Egypt and live on top of the world." OK, that's a whole different topic, and I refuse to write about it here. Back to the children of Israel. 

Last year (April 25, 2011), I wrote a blog entitled Complacency & Hebrew Slaves. The summary of that blog was simply this: the children of Israel wanted to return to Egypt (a place of complacency, bondage, and slavery), even though God called to freedom. 

Even though what they saw in front of them didn't look easy, God was trying to get them to operate in faith. The tragedy of this is Joshua & Caleb had to lose 40 years (to suffer with the children of Israel in the wilderness) because they were a part of a team. And don't think for one second that the children of Israel were going to stay in the wilderness. They tried to take the land without God's assistance, and the result was self-explanatory.

My message to you all this week (and to myself), who's on your team? Are they heading to the place where God wants them to be? Are they operating in faith that God can sustain them through the ups AND downs in life? Are they trying to get you to return to Egypt? Don't let those you love (who are called to freedom in Christ) return to Egypt. Don't fret if you're part of the minority (like Joshua & Caleb) for God can use you and doesn't always use the majority. And most importantly, don't YOU go back to Egypt (your past, the place of complacency and bondage) thinking you can live on top of the world!