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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Law of Honor

I haven't really had a lot of time to be blogging with all of what's going on around here. This should give you an idea.

Anyway, I started this post over 10 days ago and I have been thinking that maybe someone needs to hear it. Maybe I'll get into detail in the future on this, but for now, here's the basics.

There is a law in effect in the spirit realm; the law of honor. Much like the law of gravity, it can not be avoided.

Your future is determined by who you have chosen to honor (or dishonor). Honor is the seed for honor. As all seeds, it produces after its own kind. I can tell what your destiny will be like; whether grace-filled or tribulation-tossed, by looking at whether or not you honor others and who you choose to honor. I can tell by your ability and willingness to adapt, whether or not you honor others. Adaptation is the proof of honor. You fore go your own desires and needs in order to fulfill the destiny of another, placing them above yourself. Let us prefer one another.

When Joseph was called before Pharaoh, he honored him by shaving his beard. Usually we look at that as he was just cleaning up before going before the ruler. The facts are that beards were normal in his own culture, but considered dirty in Egyptian culture. Joseph adapted. Joseph honored Pharaoh. Pharoah, in turn, honored Joseph. Joseph chose to fulfill Pharaoh's desires in ruling his kingdom - and Joseph, in turn, fulfilled his own destiny.

Many believers are struggling in their walk because they have chosen NOT to honor their leaders. They are not fulfilling their destiny because they complain against leadership; their pastor, their boss, their husband, their teachers, their parents. Complaining does not show honor. Silent submission does.

The Law of Honor is inescapable. We must honor. The fruit will be honor.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Haiti

Our new blog is up.

It will follow our journey into the mission field.

Staying in the Overflow will remain as a teaching blog.

Weekend Worship

Thanks to Phil.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

What Kind of Sheep are You?

There are several different kinds of sheep. In which category will you find yourself?

Solitary Sheep
These sheep stay away from the flock. They isolate themselves when in trouble. They think the rest of the flock is too mature for them and that they are not worthy. Lambs, or new believers, fall into this category frequently. They have so much baggage and not enough knowledge of how to be a proper sheep. they are frequently sick or troubled. They require extra attention. The rest of the flock requires extra grace to deal with them. The shepherd knows exactly what they need and is willing to work with them. The rest of the flock should just be examples of proper sheep.

Hermit Sheep
These sheep stay away to avoid the shearing. These believers don't show up for special services or ONLY for special services. They hold back the offering and usually the tithe also. They won't allow the shepherd or the Holy Spirit to prune them. Their wool grows over their eyes and they are blinded by their own lusts and desires. Wolves devour them easily.

Wandering Sheep
They are never happy with the way things are. Nothing is ever big enough, fast enough or good enough. Praise and Worship is either too long, too short, too loud or too soft; not my style or not diverse enough. The messages are too strong or too soft; too much Word or not enough Word. The seats are too soft or too hard. This is not the way it used to be. They bring discontentment into the flock. They visit other flocks frequently looking for something that is probaly found at home, not realizing that the change that is needed is themselves.

Judas Sheep
They lead others to the slaughter. They are blinded by their own ideas of how things should be. this is mostly due to bad teaching they received elsewhere while 'flock-hopping'. They are not willing to submit to the truth, allowing it to become life in them. They are ALWAYS seeking an opportunity to betray their leaders. They are always looking for a way to prosper at someone else's expense. they lie, cheat and deceive. They are among you and you won't even know it until they commit their deception. They have no love for God's people.

Happy Sheep
Happy Sheep are innocent, but not naive. They trust the shepherd implicitly. They are tender and gracious toward leadership and the flock. They are patient with EVERYONE. They stick with their own shepherd and the flock.
They obey.
They submit.
They don't question authority.
They love.
They follow.
They are Happy Sheep.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Weekend Worship

This one's for Phil and Emilly. Be Blessed!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sheep

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Matthew 8:9

Each fellowship has a leader. They have different names; Pastor, Elder, Bishop, etc. Each leader is under some sort of authority themselves. That authority gives them their authority. When you are submitted to authority, you then carry authority. A good example of this is when believers use the term "In Jesus' Name". They are speaking with authority and can do so because they are submitted to that same authority.

So, whose authority, besides that of Jesus Christ, is my leader under? Well, it's not your concern or your business really. Most leaders in higher positions are held accountable to their own peers. But again, their submission to authority is not your concern. You should be concerned with your own submission. If you can past that, you'll go far. Many times believers look at their leaders in a way that becomes too familiar and that is not healthy.

If you are submitted, UNDER authority, you will be proper sheep.

Sheep have responsibilities.

Sheep know the voice of the shepherd. When a sheep is just a lamb, the shepherd carries the lamb frequently on his shoulder. By doing this, the sheep constantly hears the shepherd's voice. It is like when a woman is pregnant and the husband talks to her belly. When that baby is born, not only does the baby recognize the mother's voice, but the father's also. This is important for the lamb, because when trouble may come, he will need to recognize the shepherd's voice.

Sheep follow the shepherd. The shepherd carries a rod/staff. The staff guides the sheep in the way to go. The rod corrects their wrong way and puts them back in the flow of the flock. Sheep should not try going their own way, they may get the rod. Ouch!

Sheep eat what the shepherd feeds them. If you are church-hopping or always tuning in to the latest TV preacher instead of studying the teaching and preaching of your shepherd, you are not a proper sheep. Sheep do not eat TV dinners.

Sheep heed the warnings of the shepherd. If the shepherd says 'don't', then sheep shouldn't. If the shepherd says 'do', then the sheep should. Is your shepherd always having to preach about the same subject? Then someone is not heeding! Just be sure it's not you holding the flock back from moving forward!

Sheep must bear good fruit. Are you bearing fruit after your own kind? It is sheep who beget sheep, not the shepherd. Get out there and start sharing the gospel. Get someone saved. Get them into the fellowship of believers. Disciple them. Bear fruit that remains. Or are you just barren?

Sheep allow the shepherd to shear them. This is two-fold. First, the shepherd ALWAYS profits from his sheep. I am not talking about the tithe - that is for the church. I am talking about giving to your shepherd. It should, at some point, be money. But it can also be in other ways. Cut his grass, wash his car, pay for his dry-cleaning. the list goes on and on. If you can't think of something that's appropriate, just give your shepherd some money. The second way is that when sheep are sheared, they are saved from sickness and death. Sometimes shearing hurts. The shepherd will shear from the pulpit on Sunday, cutting away that wool that has you bound up and unable to move freely. If you pay attention on Sunday, you shouldn't always need a counseling session.

Get sheared! Give it up!

Next Post: What Kind of Sheep are You?