“Do you really understand the impact of whatever you do? I know that you have learned to function in your world with a relatively realistic approach to the impact of your actions. Do you have any comprehension, however, of what is happening in the spiritual realm with your every move, especially if you are My children? You need to know that your words really mean something. Your motivations, especially dark motivations, have consequences because of this higher law. When you curse, judge, and separate your hearts from one another, you allow fruitful playgrounds for the demonic forces. You nullify every good that you are attempting to do. You leave yourself and others wide open for the ploys of the enemy.
“Stop being so naive. Stop being so independent of My complete plan. You are no longer of your world even though you are in that world. You have become part of My world. Begin to function properly in it, not like the street corner hype salesmen; but like the holy children that you really are. Grow up and begin to work with Me for My reasons. Learn what I teach you, not what those who have little in common with My plan teach. Use My wisdom to release those in bondage and bring others to Me through Jesus.”
1 Cor. 4:2 AMP
Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].
Gal.3:3 NIV
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Eph. 4:29-32 AMP
29) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.
30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
31) Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
32) And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
I remember many nights being locked up in some church with an evangelist goading me to do some kind of spiritual warfare, so that we could take our city in one fell swoop. We screamed, hollered, and shook our fists in the air. We commanded this, demanded that, and said some really lofty things that we perceived had happened due to all of our “warfare.” Then we went home with little to show for our effort, except for our pride being reinforced for a supposed job well done.
I remember doing all this because it seemed the right thing to do and others were doing it. I’m sure the Lord had mercy on some of us because our hearts wanted to know truth.
What I do remember is that few of us in that assembly really knew each other. I know for sure that some there would have nothing to do with some of the others present. One couple actually hated another brother and sister in Christ. We were attempting to function in the theory of love toward others but didn’t even have that basic tenet of our belief in practice one with another.
I often see the body of Christ very much like a young child who has been given very powerful weapons to use. Even though we have the capability to actually fire those weapons, no good can come from our misuse of them.
Stop me from hindering Your work, Lord,
Jim Corbett
