The Dangers of Punishing "Self"

If you’re like me, you may have succumb to the concept of “punishing yourself” when you intentionally or unintentionally did something wrong. Or perhaps you may have punished yourself when someone else did some form of harm to you – and now you’re taking the blame of the hurt upon you. Now here’s one that bothers me because it happens at times – people will put guilt trips on you to puff themselves up and then you could fall to the trap of punishing yourself.

Regardless of how you got to the place where you are punishing yourself, there are no positives to it. In fact, the greatest danger to it is death (whether physical, mental or emotional). I would like to use Judas Iscariot as the best example. He was one of the twelve disciples but as we draw closer to the last supper before Christ was to be crucified, he decided to sell Christ out to the chief priests. Let’s go to Matthew 26:14-16.

Then one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.

Judas was intentional in what he was doing. Drop down to verse 21 (and we will go to verse 25): And as they were eating, He said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved and extremely distressed, each one of them began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” Jesus answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the bowl with Me [as a pretense of friendship] will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go [to the cross], just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” And Judas, the betrayer, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”

What I like about this is that Jesus actually called him out on it.

In verses 47-50, Judas came with a large crowd representing the chief priests, kissing Jesus in a deliberate act of betrayal. Once that happened, Jesus was arrested.

Now let’s go to the next chapter and go from verse 3 to 5:

When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was gripped with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and hanged himself.

Notice that the chief priests didn’t care about the money or the fact that Judas betrayed Christ. All they cared about was Christ being crucified. Judas was remorseful knowing that he sinned, but instead of seeking forgiveness from Christ, he hung himself. Some people would say that he truly wasn’t remorseful, and that may very well be true. The end result is still the same, because he didn’t let go of the guilt, he took his own life.

Now what if you are one who had a wrong done to you and you’re punishing yourself? First of all, don’t blame yourself because you’re not at fault. I ask that you allow Christ to heal your heart and the pain that you suffered.

There are so many people who are punishing themselves for mistakes they made, for the relationships that they got in that they knew they shouldn’t have (or perhaps they were blindsided after they were in the relationship), for the abuse they suffered in childhood or the abuse they endured in a relationship. Of course, this list can go on. However, the tragedy for many people who are steadily punishing themselves may not be dead physically, but they may dead internally (i.e., mentally and/or emotionally). If this is you, know that my heart cries for you.

I’m not going to just tell you to let it go (because it may have to be in stages), but I ask that you allow Christ to heal you in areas you know you’re hurt, and even in areas that you don’t know you’re hurting. If you continue to punish yourself, the enemy will do anything he can to make you stay in that state of mind so you can die in every area.

I can’t close this blogpost without saying this: if you’re one who intentionally did something you shouldn’t have done, don’t punish yourself (and the devil will do anything he can to make you believe that you can’t recover), just look at 1 John 1:9 (that’s your homework assignment – smile).  

Know that we don’t have to punish ourselves and put our lives in danger. Much love to you all.

Blessings,

The Mayne Man

Why Faith Communities Bash Autism

This topic has been heavy on my heart for a few weeks, even though I address some of this in my novel Deaf, Dumb, Blind & Stupid. If I have to answer the question (especially since I’m so involved in the faith communities), it’s pure ignorance. Many people are so narrow-minded to the point that they think that autism is a disease. The truth is that autism is not a disease; it’s a different way of learning. Sure, for many people who are autistic or are on the spectrum, anxiety and a mental illness will come with it (and there’s a cure for that). I find that the older I get, the more ignorance I see when it comes to people who have challenges. In fact, many will bash others who are autistic, but heaven forbid they have a child living with autism. They would want others to be sympathetic to them and their children. According to Autism Speaks, autism is a complex disorder of the brain. And when I minister to faith communities about autism (as I educate people about it), I say that just like body parts get sick, brains get sick. Autism is a little different because although it’s associated with intellectual disability, and there are difficulties in motor coordination and attention to include physical health issues, many are gifted in visual skills, music, math and art.

I encourage you to visit www.autismspeaks.org to find out more information about it.

Continuing on with the topic at hand. Faith communities bash people with autism because of pride within themselves (believing they’re better than others because they don’t have it).  As I said in my blog last month entitled “My Healing Journey (Part 1),” the better neurotypicals (non-autistics) understand our journey, the more acceptance and support we will receive from them. And it’s recorded in Scripture that people perish for a lack of knowledge. Because of that lack of knowledge, it’s very easy to judge and discriminate against those living with autism. There is no cure of autism, but some of the symptoms do have a cure.

I find it very interesting that faith communities frown on people who are struggling with something (a life crisis, a health crisis, etc.), pointing fingers at them saying it’s because of a lack of faith. But when the table is turned, they want all the sympathy they can get, and will stand in any prayer line for prayer. In my book, I call it hypocritical. Everybody needs mercy and not everybody is perfect like YOU! I also find it interesting that we tend to bash the spouse when they have challenges, as if they had nothing tragic happen to them. Faith communities need to be able to support each other, just like married couples challenge each other (and not ridicule each other).

Think about it. Faith communities have become so callous to the point, when someone says they’re going through something, one of two things will happen: either they’re say you’re healed (and you don’t need to see a doctor), or it’s because of a sin that you caused or your parents. That’s not very loving if you really think about it. What I love about God is that He created everyone unique. I believe everyone has a thorn of some sort (according to 2 Corinthians 12:9), but watch this: His grace is sufficient. We don’t glorify God FOR it, but IN it.

Near the end of my novel DDBS, I make this statement: There are so many people who are plagued with ADD, AD/HD, PTSD, BPD, or Bipolar, and we steadily punish them for their mental differences and chemical imbalances. Galatians 6:7 says ‘don’t be deceived because God is not mocked. Whatever we sow, we will reap.’ I ask you a question: Why are we only sympathetic if OUR child has a mental disorder? On the contrary, if you know someone whose child has a mental disorder, they need a beating. This is unfair, and reflects the worse part of human nature.

Faith communities have challenges, and we need to stop acting like we’re immune to them. Faith is acting on what we believe, but denying it is faith. In fact, denial is foolish. And denial has been the trend for generations. We need to grow up, deal with what we’re struggling with, so that we can overcome. Everybody deserves love and compassion, not judgments because they are different!

This blogpost post is not intended to bash the faith communities, as I am a part of the Christian faith communities. And because I deal heavily with it, I see a lot of attitudes that are not godly causing church dropouts or causing other brothers and sisters to be infected with that attitude and they become extremely callous. That’s not healthy, and we must be healed from our pride. The easy way to heal from pride is to deny yourself and humble yourself.

Blessings,

The Mayne Man

The Anatomy of Prayer (Part 2) (by Min. Adria Carpenter)

One of my friends wanted to be featured on my blogpost, so this is a brief expository on my friend's study on prayer/intercession – this is part 2. Without further ado, here's Minister Adria Carpenter.

On a previously blog I wrote, I discussed what is an intercessor. An intercessor is someone that intervenes for another person especially in prayer. Now, I would like to enlighten your interest on a productive prayer life. Prayer is communication that you have with your Heavenly Father. In prayer there is a giver and a receiver. We make our requests known, but we must also expect an answer to be given. We must believe and have faith that God hears us and be mature enough to accept whatever direction you receive. I want to focus my attention on this Prayer Warrior, Gate Keeper and Intercessor by the name of Daniel. Daniel was one of the four Major Prophets that God used to be a beacon for the people in Babylon. Daniel, whose name means God is my judge, understood at an early age that he had an assignment to complete. Daniel, like many of us, didn’t ask for this assignment but he carries it out as God instructed him to do. Daniel lived a life that consisted of prayer and fasting and this got him through many challenges that he had to face doing his time in captivity. Luke 18 vs 1 say that men always ought to pray. Prayer was second nature for Daniel and you see how favor was release for him. Daniel 6:10-11 says, Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his window being open in the chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and gave thanks before his God. Then men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before the Lord. In other words Daniel was attentive to the voice of Lord for an answer before any decision was made. He didn’t give fear any room to creep up. He understood that he needed specific instructions for his next move. In prayer there is authority that takes place that releases your mind so you can represent God’s Glory. What is Glory? The Hebrew meaning for Glory is (Kabowd) which carries the idea of heaviness and weight.  People of God when we say “Thank you for the Glory of the Lord,” we are saying “Thank you God for carry my heaven burden and weight that tries to suffocate our movement in the Spirit realm.”

Intercessors, your ear must be trained and attentive to the voice of God so the prayer that you release will be from the mind of God.  The word “ear” in Hebrew (qashad) means to give heed, hear and incline. Remember you are standing in the gap for someone that is depending on you. Prayer is a weapon used to dethrone every enemy that’s trying to hinder your walk and keep you for being what you were created to be. I pray that this revelation will bless the mind of your people. I pray that we will know the power that we carry within us if we used it effectively. Lord, teach us how to yield and hear your voice. Lord, let prayer be second nature just as it was for Daniel so we will be in your will.

There will upcoming blogs on the different types of prayer.  If you have any question on prayer.  You may email me at ACarpenter51@aol.com or inbox me on Facebook.

How We Tend To Miss Our Blessings

During my drive home from work this afternoon, I thought about how I am seeking to bless other drivers by letting them in my lane when a lane is ending and they have to merge onto my lane. Some will not consider my desire to be a blessing to them, and then they'll speed by and drive on the side of the road and then squeeze between other drivers. Of course, this creates accidents in some cases or it causes traffic jams. This made me think about this principle. There are some people in life that won't accept a blessing. When you seek to bless others, people will reject it. Now watch this, the same one who will reject you will seek to demand a blessing from others on their own terms. Esau wanted to demand a blessing from Isaac on his own terms, and he cried, "bless me, even me" (I hope that song didn't come from what Esau said). The message: people who are wrapped up in "self" will always want things their way, and then when true blessings come their way, they won't be able to because they either become callous to it, or they are not prepared to receive it.

The children of Israel got mad when they had to wander in the wilderness. As they believed the 10 spies who said they can't inherit the land, they would die. They had their blessing right in front of them, but they forfeited it. Now watch this, they tried to achieve it on their own terms, and they died as a result.

Another way we miss our blessing is because the devil does not want us to have it. So, he will come through obstacles or people. And as I think about it, the devil wants us in a position where we are not paying attention. 

So how can we not miss our blessing? Let me just give one way to you to consider. Get away from people who constantly tear down the very thing you're believing God for in your life. Another way of saying that is this: get away from those who want to glorify your problem causing you to nullify the very thing you're believing God for. Because if you don't they will talk you out of receiving your blessing and you will miss it. Now this isn't a bad thing and it doesn't mean you're cutting them off. The message is that not everyone is going to support your assignment or rejoice when you receive your blessing especially if your heart is close to God's heart. Again, it's not a bad thing, it's just where people are in their life. But seek to get with people who have your solution and will support your assignment and rejoice when you are blessed.

Blessings,

The Mayne Man

Who Are You Listening To?

If you’re on social media and have read my morning posts from yesterday and today, you’ll see that I’m talking about people who may have your best interest at heart, but the truth is, many don’t fully understand (and granted, they can’t understand) the promise that God has for you. In fact, many will not be able to understand what you truly believe. It always bothered me for years about how some people (believers & unbelievers) will go out of their way to make you seem crazy just because they don’t believe the Bible or because their faith isn’t where yours is. The primary objective of people doing such a thing as this, is to make you question what you truly believe. Many legalistic Christians will do this, but the root is strictly from the devil. Think about it, the devil took the Word of God and twisted it to tempt Christ. I said all of that to say this, no one who reads the Bible or knows the Bible but twists it to make you crazy or play Pharisee with you should tell you what it says.

They always say, “if that were me!” The problem is, it’s not them! 1 Corinthians 2:14 says (from the Message Bible):  The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion.

This issue is damaging so many believers within the Body of Christ. We’re so legalistic and want to play God to the point that we’re hurting others. It’s one thing that the devil and his demons are after us, but it’s more of a tragedy when it’s coming from people who say they are Christians.

Let me use the realm of relationships as a perfect example.

Psalm 1 says blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly. There are many believers who are giving advice that’s ungodly (granted, that lacks any form of common sense). Why is this? Many are trying to play God and not allowing God to be God. The Bible says “do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14). But we’re turn around and tell Christians, they can go ahead and marry an unbeliever because God gave Hosea the right to do that in the Old Testament. Newsflash: even though this happen, this was under the old covenant, and God is actually showing a picture between the relationship between God and the children of Israel.

And then we’ll turn around and say God can save your husband and/or wife. This is true, He can, but at the same time, but under the new covenant, we’re not to be unequally yoked. And then we have the audacity to tell believers, don’t divorce your unbelieving spouse (even though they went into the marriage with an unbeliever – which you approved) while he’s beating the living daylights out of you, he’s financially bankrupted you, separated you from your church brothers and sisters, and the minute you think about leaving, he’s beating you with a baseball bat. And we legalistic Christians are saying, God approves of your marriage.  How in the world can we allow a Christian to become part of a far country – to the point where we’re like the prodigal son? Praise God the prodigal son made it back, some people don’t make it back, so why would you want to take that chance? And oh yes, telling an unbeliever they are to submit to the Bible is a waste of time, considering they have not made Christ Savior and Lord. Yes, God can save them, but we as believers should be lovingly tell each other that they can find someone that’s saved and loves God with His heart. But you must discern, because many have played the front, walked down the aisle with the woman, and then BAM, the angel of light became a devil that is about to shred your life in every area of your life. And we brothers and sisters need to be standing in prayer for each other, and for the life of me, stop putting the institution of marriage on a pedestal as an idol (caring more for that than over the woman who is actually living in fear for her life).

Ok, I think I beat a dead horse on that, let’s move to the next thing. The counsel of the ungodly can actually come from people who hold a position within the five-fold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher). So many especially on social media have puffed themselves up to the point where they will twist the Bible around to gain followers, or they are so much in a BAM state (bitter, angry and mean) to the point that they’re preying on believers who are in a BAM state. What does that do? Create chaos when we are to show love, compassion and healing. Being in a BAM state especially in a five-fold is ungodly. I understand the zealousness, I understand the passion, but where’s the love? And granted, you don’t have to prove you are a five-fold by wearing your title like people need to bow down to it. If anything, that’s playing Pharisee.

Listen, the premise of this post is to say that it’s time for us to see things with our spiritual eyes. People are hurting, and where we seek advice from can make or break a believer. We’re not praying for them, interceding for them, but we are sure shouting that it’s a new season and a new day (and praise God for that). Please watch who you’re taking advice from and who you’re following.

Blessings,

The Mayne Man