Why We Blame God For Our Screw-Ups

This blogpost was just dropped in my spirit. You know, as humans, we have the propensity to blame people for things that we did wrong and never accept responsibility. Now let me qualify a screw-up for this blogpost. A screw-up is where you actually do something knowing full well that you should not be involved. I’m not talking about blindsides (or things you eventually find out later on due to deception in the other person).

I’m going to use relationships as an example for this blogpost. About two weeks ago, someone was sharing with me about their frustration with relationships and as a result their faith in men and with God is hanging in the balance. In fact, their quote to me was this, “I tried to a relationship my way, and it didn’t work; I tried to do a relationship God’s way, and it didn’t work.” May I stop the car Fred Flintstone style? You tried it God’s way and it didn’t work? First and foremost, God never makes mistakes and to add to that, He can’t lie. The beauty of God is free will. Now, it’s sad that legalism is so bad that people either feel condemned or those who are grieving over their screw-ups to the point that listening to God in certain areas is hindered.

I said that God doesn’t make mistakes and He can’t lie. Ok, I was looking up some scriptures to a book that I finished reading a few days ago, and one scripture spoke to me clearly.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 from the Message Bible says “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?”

There are so many Christians who know full well that the person that they are going to marry rejects God or isn’t even thinking about God. Again, I’m not referring to those who find out that the person they married was a counterfeit after the vows were taken. It breaks my heart to hear people blame God when people knew they were unequally yoked from the start and the marriage goes south. Do I believe God would have you marry an unbeliever? No! You’re part of a family (the family of Christ). 

Let’s talk more about unequally yoked (that’s how it’s stated in the King James version and New King James Version). It’s not just believers yoking with unbelievers. It can be extended further to areas of healing (one agrees with divine healing and the other doesn’t), giving, and many other things that I didn’t mention.

So what am I saying here? God watches over His Word to perform it. He wants us to walk in the fullness of Him to have the abundant life that He’s promised us. Why do we blame God for our screw-ups? Because we think that God is going to protect us in every area of our lives. He will protect us and is constantly protecting us; however, because He loves us so much, He has given us free will. Think about it, He told Adam that he can eat from every tree except one. Adam made the choice and ate and then said, God, the woman You gave me (was the problem). That’s where the blaming God started. Another reason we blame God is because we don’t really want to reap the consequences of our mistakes. I don’t know about you, I used to be disciplined a lot, and I hated when my punishments were delayed. If you add the anxiety I had during childhood due to Aspergers, it was torture. I was like, let’s this discipline over with. The beauty of God is that 1 John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us! Don’t give a care about what others say and do – many will want you to feel worse than you what you currently feel, that’s their pride and a screw-up they need to confess. Take ownership of your faults, learn from them ad then launch onto what God has planned for you. You may think you’re out for the count because of your screw-up, and the devil is going to do all he can to make you think you’re out for the count because of your screw-up, but God hasn’t counted you out! He never counts anyone out.  

Before I close, I do want to address this point. If you were blindsided, deceived in the realm of relationships, you are innocent and God is going to deal with that deceiver. Now, my prayer is that you gained a valuable lesson on discernment, and now your prayer life has taken on a new meaning, and that you are allowing God to heal every wound that you have (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and financial). Don’t be afraid to put your life on the altar. You matter to Him, but it’s my prayer that we take responsibility for the things that we know we did that are contrary to God’s standard and confess it to Him. You can’t hide it from Him; He already knows you’re struggling with it on your own and He knows it’s wearing you down. He wants it so you can be free to live!

Blessings,

The Mayne Man 

Why Can't We Be One?

My spirit was so heavy this morning when I went into my office. And as the Lord does, He drops so many thoughts when I’m trapped in a meeting that I really don’t want to be in. Surprisingly, He did that very thing while sitting in a meeting this morning and was able to remember each thought as it relates to this topic. With that, let me begin.

Why can’t we be one? Why can’t the body of Christ be on one accord? The truth is: we can be on one accord, if we WILL to do it. It’s as simple as agreeing with you and you agreeing with me, regardless of what our personal opinions are. The tragedy is that we don’t want to agree because we’re inadvertently selfish. So what are problems that need to be addressed so that we can be one?

1. Church cliques – where I only deal with people from my church
2. Being a part of the AMCC – earlier this year, I did a blog series about the American Middle Class church, where it’s all about me, my family and my clique
3. Our personal agendas take priority over God’s agenda
4. Esteeming a leader that itches our ears over what the word of God says
5. Pride in our titles (and I believe that some are self-appointed especially with some of the attitudes I’ve seen)
6. Divisions due to racial/ethnic prejudices
7. Labeling true believers as enemies (especially when they’re going through something) and labeling enemies of the cross as true believers
8. Lack of balance (focusing too much on Ephesians 4:11-13 and not on the other key elements that assist in us being on one accord)
9. Allowing demonic spirits in churches and granting them access to pulpits and/or platforms (yep, you know it, I know it, God knows it and the devil knows it)!
10. Judging a brother/sister when they stumble, but tell others to pray when their church leader sins (this is just downright partiality – a hindrance to one accord)
11. We want feel good experiences over genuine worship – ears to be itched over hearing the Truth!

Now these are just some (and I’ll expound on just a few of them). Yes, this post is to rub our personal agendas the wrong way. And many will bypass this post because of bullet point #1 (I’m not part of their church clique). Think about this: if your leader were to point this out, you’d rejoice. But because I don’t have a title or am not popular, you’d throw stones at me.

With #3, if we leaders are to have a high standard, why are we so focused on personal agendas? If we can’t even forgive our brother/sister (over something minor), we should forget about being one! What example are we showing to the world?

With #7, here’s a perfect example as to someone who had a problem with a fellow believer, but didn’t cut him off. Paul rebuked Peter, but Paul didn’t cut him off. We (cause of our selfishness) will cut other fellow believers off and count them as enemies. In fact, we’re living in a time where true Christians are considered enemies to fellow believers as we accept imposters into the fold (without presenting them to gospel and compromise with them).

Still on #7, let me push the envelope a little bit further. There are two quotes that I could say that would cause you to believe I’m creating division in the body of Christ:

1. Why should God cancel your debt if you haven’t been delivered from poor financial habits? (bible reference: Luke 16:11)
2. Why should God heal you from AIDS if you haven’t been delivered from homosexuality? (bible reference: Romans 1:18-32)

With #8, I have no problems about preaching on Ephesians 4:11-13. I believe that we put too much emphasis and we fail to address those with titles who have an aught against a brother/sister (over a personal agenda). The five-fold ministry is a component to one accord, but there’s more to it (such as the application of prayer, fasting, intercession, speaking the same thing, laying our personal agendas down for the sake of the Kingdom, and the list goes on).

With #9, let me just say this: just because someone is gifted does NOT mean they are anointed by God. These days we’re living in is not the time to turn your discernment spirit off just because your ear is being itched!

I can’t help but to think about this: one person said to me years ago that I can’t be a Christian if I’m not a democrat. I scratch my head and think, really?! If I were to say that the President sneezed a certain way, you would label me your enemy and say I’m not of Christ. This is a perfect example of us clinging more to personal agendas over the Bible.

Matthew 24 tells us to not be deceived and false prophets shall arise. It’s hypocritical to talk about oneness and harbor unforgiveness. Question: how would you feel if God cut you off because cut off a true believer?

Let me end this post by saying this: this post is not designed to attack anybody. But we as the Body of Christ need to get it together and come together. We need each other to survive! We have been playing church games too long (putting leaders, churches, denominations and church cliques over the Bible). Together we stand, divided we fall. So we can be one, we just have to do it. If I’m holding unforgiveness among anyone reading this, let me know so I can repent and ask for your forgiveness. We have a job to do (and yes, there may be a time where we may have to separate like Paul and Barnabas, but we shouldn’t consider each other as enemies). The enemy is the author of division, and I don’t like division especially within the Body. Much love to you all.

The Mayne Man

This Word "Betrayal"

About 30 minutes ago, this word bothered me (though it shouldn't) to the point where I literally stopped what I was doing to type this. You see, betrayal is nothing new to God. In fact, many people know about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus before Jesus was crucified. But I want to talk about the betrayals we face today (and I believe they will increase as the days progress).

We shouldn't be afraid of the word betrayal, but at the same time, we should not be alarmed when we are betrayed. Now we are not to live our lives in fear of being betrayed, but when we are betrayed, turn them over to God and forgive them.

I want to touch on some of the betrayals I see today (and again, I expect them to increase with greater intensity as we continue living day on this earth):

1. This first betrayal bothers my spirit to the core: parents are giving children (12 years and younger) to sexual predators to be molested, robbed of their virginity for money.

2. The second betrayal is the "what's in it for me" betrayal. I will be your friend, sup with you, join your cliques all for my benefit and then drop you when I got what I needed without even pouring into your life. Judas would fit this one with the exception that Jesus chose Judas and not the other way around.

3. The third betrayal is the "fair-weather friend" betrayal. This is where you want to be around people when they have good days and the moment they go through or offend you (whether major but more importantly minor), you turn your back on them, won't even help them at their point of need. This can also be an "I'm better than you" betrayal and this betrayal can actually lead to their spiritual death (and yes, you could have their blood on your hands).

4. The fourth betrayal involves trust. Example: I tell someone what I'm going through, they sit with me and listen; once I get it all out and they get all of my trust, they turn against me and speak ill of me because I'm not perfect like them. Some would get cocky with their attitude and say, "you need to get over it!" 

The last thing I want you to do is play naive in believing that you'll never be betrayed. Offenses come in different shapes & forms, and betrayal is no exception. Just because somebody is your friend doesn't mean they don't have the capability to betray you. Watch therefore, for wolves will perpetrate to be sheep. But sadly, many will pray and trust their flesh and not God thinking so & so won't betray them. But even if it does, God has you and them. Just be watchful is what I'm trying to say with that point. 

I need to say this too: just because someone attends your church or becomes a part of your elite clique due to church association, pastor association, etc. doesn't mean they still won't sell you out. I'll be honest, I'm expecting it to happen more in my life, people who say they believe will turn against me. Yes, it hurts and will hurt, but I will keep pressing on for His high calling. I don't expect everyone who says they are for me to really be for me. We're human, sinful, prideful, and always in need of being forgiven by God and forgiving others. 

This betrayal is getting so bad that if you don't agree with a political leader, a pastor, a music artist, people will betray you over that. If you have character flaws, they will betray you and flaunt their arrogance over you. Sadly, this betrayal is happening more in the spiritual world (in my opinion) than in the secular world and that shouldn't be. Part of the betrayal is due to our selfish agendas and still clinging on to the "what's in it for me" mentality. We have lost the one-sided love that Jesus had and we need to get our hearts back to this kind of love.

Blessings.

The Mayne Man

How Deceived People Act

This post was not planned. God dropped this on my spirit this morning, so here's a lesson on how deceived people act.

I have thought about this for about a year but in these past few months, it's heavy on my mind. One thing I've noticed about deceived people act is that they will support what you say and do even if you are exposing them. Now, there is a point when they will come out of their shell and speak out (more in a sarcastic manner). We'll use Judas Iscariot is the base for this post. 

If you were to look through the 4 gospels, Judas Iscariot is fairly silent around Jesus. But around the chief priest, he's talking & talking. Sounds like people in church who just like to talk and talk (they have a form of worship, but no effectiveness). Anyway, in Luke 22, right before Judas went to the chief priest, Satan entered Judas. So now Judas was in the right company to be who he really was, a deceiver. He was able to talk and not feel tormented. When Jesus declared (in Matthew 26) woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. Judas responds like this: Master, is it I? Kinda like, I know you're talking about me, but I wonder if you're going to let my real character out. Yep, Judas was very defensive & tormented. When you call that spirit out, people will become very defensive because their dirty laundry will be exposed. In John 13, when Jesus got in Judas' personal space, He told him to do what he intends to do quickly. 

John 12 shows one more side of deception. When Judas questioned Jesus about the ointment not being sold, Judas had an ulterior motive, to take the money for himself. Deceived people are easy to spot because they have an ulterior motive for evil purposes and/or selfish purposes. If their talk is about them, only them and what people need to do for them, what God needs to do for them, there's a strong chance they are deceived. Some will go as far as to throw in some religious lingo to try to look innocent.

But keep in mind, people being deceived will keep the mask over their face, look innocent, smile in your face until you get close to them and confront. Then deception and his cousins will come out from within. Once you start exposing things in a person's life, they'll initially remain quiet like Judas and stand with you until you increase the intensity of the exposing.

So this is how deceived people act.

The Mayne Man

Eviction Notice (Part 2)

This series was not planned, but I also believe this is very timely. One of my friends wanted me to write about how to get rid of those who need to be evicted (after reading the first part). Well, let's explore how evictions can come and how we can learn from this as we start evicting people and things from our lives.

One tactic is by serving them a notice (giving them a set number of days to get out). One of two groups will emerge from this type of eviction. The first group will be nonchalant and overlook the notice. They will think you're so soft and won't put your foot down. Now, once you do that, every demonic spirit will come out from within them to undermine you, your character and everything else about you. The second group will immediately flip out the moment they are served. You'll find this group will be so spiritual for their own good. In fact, if you were to record their behavior (audio or video) the minute you serve them with a notice, you will think they are either oppressed or possessed. In short: their demonic spirits will come out one way or another. What both groups fail to realize is that they did not obey the rules: pay on time and conduct yourself decently & orderly. Sometimes they get so high in their liberty, that they abuse the rules and those around you. Either way, they need to straighten up according to Biblical truth and not based on the notion "cause it's the right thing to do," or they must be evicted. One more thing must be said about these two groups. They will be the first to murmur, complain & easily get in the flesh. They really don't want to make amends; their world is all about them.

Another tactic is getting the authorities involved (banging on their door) to evict people. I'm willing to believe that whoever is evicted via to this tactic will not leave without a fight. You will hear how righteous they are, how they're doing the things of God (truthfully just wasting your time and buying themselves time). Just have the armor of God on and they (along with their demonic spirits) will leave.

A thought comes to mind, see when people waste your time, they know they have way too much time on their hands to care about your obligations, time and priorities. Again, it's all about them and this time, it's how can I manipulate these people trying to evict me. They care less about your time and want everything around them to be on their timetable (sadly, and it's not even important).

The final tactic is brutal and can get violent. Just throw them and their belongings out! If this approach is needed to evict people, please do it in the spirit of love and that it's business, never personal. Either way, the one being evicted in this manner will more & likely resort to stalking, threats & violence (sadly, it will also come from those claiming to be so holy)! 

Nobody likes getting served an eviction notice, but sometimes it's necessary to protect your identity and good name. So, one of those methods mentioned above can be used to evict people depending on the magnitude of the spirit they're carrying. You don't throw them out when they're really trying to what's right. But you do throw them out when they are truly defiant and intentionally using/abusing you! Most people being evicted love to turn a deaf ear saying, they're not talking to me until the moment of truth comes.

Again, you have been served!

The "Mayne Man"

We've Fallen & Can't Get Up

During my shower this morning, I was praying (and repenting) of some things from my past. God showed me some dark areas that needed to be exposed to be set free from (mostly abandonment – when the truth of the matter is, I didn’t look to Him during my dark period in life that started in May 2011 till now), but surprisingly, He also revealed to me the hearts of some people.

1. Many are aware that some of the people we’re following are false, but we still continue to do so (or we’ll close our ears and eyes so we don’t admit that we’re wrong). Translation: we worship the creature over the Creator.
2. Many are allowing the economy, reputation and fame to cloud our judgment to where we follow after those who are false for that small piece of fame. Question: what profits a man to gain the world at the cost of your soul?
3. Many are not even honest with God but more importantly, themselves as to why they deal with people. In other words, their world revolves around them and are just determined to get what they want or they will assist in crucifying you (Judas Iscariot was a prime example of this).
4. Many just don’t believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Plain & Simple! If we still continue to follow after those who are offended of preaching salvation, then we don’t really believe the true message of Jesus. At the same token, there will be many who will turn away when they hear that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
5. Many of us are just downright selfish. We want things on our terms when we want it (even if it’s not the will of God for our lives). Adding on: we’ll do whatever we can to protect our position or status in the world (and even in the church world).

In the natural, it appears that we’ve fallen and can’t get up. But the truth is, we can get up, we just have to be willing to swallow and repent of our pride!

I’ll share a little of my struggle these past two years. I saw a lot of things happen to me in my personal life, and it just got to the point where I went into total depression. I knew God was there, but it felt like He was silent to me. I can count on one hand the people, who prayed for me but the majority were telling me to “get over it,” or “I don’t want to hear your prayer request, but you need to hear mine.” And asking for people to pray for others who are lost was like twisting their arm, but they would come to me asking to “pray for my sick family member.” The two positive things that came out of this depression for two years are the following:

1. I’m still alive
2. My novels DDBS & Pieces of Me emerged

We can get up, we just need to surrender our pride and ask God to expose those dark areas of our lives. As you can see, this was dropped on my spirit within the past 45 minutes and felt pressed to type this up. Blessings!

Vain Talkers & Deceivers (In Church)

Titus 1:10-11 says this, For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

As I think about this passage in today’s church world, these verses may need to be eliminated in many churches. To say that certain ministers, motivational speakers (who are proclaiming to be preachers of the gospel) mouths must be stop would be considered blasphemy, and you’d probably run the risk of being an outcast of your respective church. In fact, many would defend these ministers by saying “thou shalt not judge” and get scholarly in their voice as they say “touch not my anointed.”

Sadly, we’ll rebuke those who are actually preaching the truth, but will cheer on those who are itching our ears. Now let’s go back to verse 11, Paul was adamant when he said that these false teachers are teaching things they ought not for filthy lucre’s sake. Lucre is another term for money, and to think they’re not receiving it honestly considering these ministers are teaching things that are not of God. People today will listen to leaders (claiming they are of Christ) who are intermingling other religions with Christian views, will pass it off as Christian, and people will blindly accept it.

Let’s slide over to 1 Timothy 6:5. Paul was saying that false teachers were teaching that “gain is godliness” and that we are to withdraw ourselves. Sadly, the minute we hear from the pulpit, “money come unto me now” or “increase” we jump from our pews and cheer. Still trying to understand how wealth is a sign of God’s favor (if that’s the case, then I guess Hugh Hefner would be favored by God due to his wealth). Of course that’s ludicrous, Hugh Hefner is rich by the world’s standard, but truly poor in spirit (keep him in prayer and for many in this world who are poor in spirit). What profits a man to gain the world but lose his soul?

Can we get our priorities back in order?

Are You Being Exploited?

Unexpected Intro: I didn’t plan this introduction, but God just showed me something that is very crucial (so if you’re reading this post around 6:30pm tonight, what I was shown occurred within the past hour. I had written the actual lesson earlier today, of course minus this paragraph). I have found that most people who are being exploited live under the banner of “You Can’t Judge Me!” In fact, they will take that a step further and say, “not only you can judge the person (which we actually can’t do), but you can’t judge the actions (which we can do).” Exploited people will never want to own up to the fact they’re being exploited, so they live in a constant defensive state. They will defend those in the pulpit (who are actually living foul), they will defend those who are not even Christians and say they are Christians, and lastly, they will defend whatever belief system they believe knowing there’s a strong chance their beliefs are wrong.

The focus passage will be 2 Peter 2:1-3. It says: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

I like the KJV’s term for sensuality, they use pernicious ways (translation: sexual immoral).

I remember when I was a baby Christian reading this, and I thought about this one man who came on the radio and he was constantly begging for people to send $500 or $1,000 and that would eventually drive me away from listening to his show. But as I’ve gotten older, I would see ministers and gospel music artists who have pernicious ways, exploiting Christians with their false words. I’ve said it on multiple occasions that we Christians can be so gullible at times. We’ll buy into anything or anyone that says God or Christian, not even thinking a second that a person is NOT a Christian, but actually a Yoruba priestess (translation: an astrologist). And yes, there are supposed Christian ministers following people who are not Christians for the sake of unity and/or coexisting. Now you can say, oh, this is outreach and don’t judge! Are you serious? It’s easier to pull someone off the table (especially if your faith was wavering since day one) than it is to bring someone up to the table (of course, all things are possible with God).

Let’s talk for a minute about what Yoruba is about (since many of us have our heads stuck in the sand). The Yoruba believes that all human beings possess what is known as destiny/fate and are expected to eventually become one in spirit with the divine creator and source of all energy). The thoughts and actions of each person in the physical realm interact with all other living things, including the Earth itself. Each person attempts to achieve transcendence and find their destiny in the spiritual realm of those who do good and beneficial things. One’s spiritual consciousness in the physical realm must grow in order to consummate union with one’s spiritual self. The Yoruba believe in reincarnation within the family. The names Babatunde (father returns), Yetunde (Mother returns), Babatunji (Father wakes once again) and Sotunde (The wise man returns) all offer vivid evidence of the Ifa concept of familial or lineal rebirth. There is no simple guarantee that your grandfather or great uncle will “come back” in the birth of your child, however.

How dare we Christians allowing someone who believe what I just typed to FIX OUR LIVES! If we feel they can actually fix our lives, than every other religion should be able to fix our lives. Jesus is the only one who can fix our lives, if we humble ourselves and give Him our hearts!

One of the reasons why we’re being exploited is because our flesh is being satisfied. The minute someone hear words such as declare, decree, increase or money, we near drop our sanctification cause we now have goose bumps. Never mind if the person speaking it has pernicious ways (or is “fruity”). A leader is to set the example for the church. But of course we don’t hold leaders accountable, we pacify them instead (hence we have the cycle of the blind following the blind).

Of course, this brings me into the next passage from 2 Timothy 4:3-4. The reason why many of us don’t hold people accountable is because we have heaped to ourselves teachers having itching ears and have turned unto fables. Why haven’t we rebuked leaders and/or ministers who go on National TV and say that Jesus is not the only way to heaven? And why haven’t we rebuked those who don’t preach salvation from the platform because I don’t want to offend people? I’ll tell you why we haven’t done it. We’ve been exploited by these false ministers and false gospel artists, our flesh is getting immediate gratification, and we have goose bumps. And as a result, we give to what we know or might not know is false! When we’re in that exploited state of mine, we say what the children of Israel say in Isaiah 30:10 to those who are exploiting us, “prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.”

Now you know when the world glorifies Christians that constitutes a major problem! James 3:1 says clearly that there should not be many teachers for they will receive the greater condemnation.

In closing, 2 Peter 2:3 (in the KJV) says “and through covetousness shall these false teachers with feigned words make merchandise of you.” This is saying that these people will do what they can to steal your money! Do you get this? Just because your flesh is being satisfied by certain words they say, doesn’t mean they’re legit. They could use the Christian lingo all day long, but you could be giving to someone who’s just a hireling or is part of a religion that’s not even Christian. Try every spirit, not every spirit who says God or Christian is part of the body of Christ, not every spirit in your church is a true to the bone Christian, not every spirit who sings gospel is a Christian. Seriously people, we need to heed 2 John 10-11 when it says “receive them not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”