Some thoughts form John Bevere's book "Breaking intimidation"
Chapter 2 "Two extremes"
- Two extremes that will throw a believers life out of balance
- The first extreme is pursuing power: the second extreme is false humility .The proper balance is found in the life of timothy,who cultivated godly character rather than pursue power and stirred up his gift rather than than have false humility
- As Christians character should be our first priorityand pursuit. What our Heavenly father looks for is not power ,its character.its a sad fact that many in the church pursue the power and anointing of the spirit while sidestepping the pursit of godly character.
- 1st Corinthians 1 instructs us to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts" .However we have perverted that command . We pursue the gifts and the anointing and just wish for the fruit of love in our lives.God is love and until we walk in love we will not attain his nature .
- Some Christians will travel great distances -hundreds of miles to go to miracle,prophetic or anointing service but they are unwilling to deal with the anger ,unforgivesness or bitterness in their own hearts,This is evidence that the emphasis is on power rather than character.
- The spiritual manifestations at these services may be of God but we have to deal with the inner man too.the unwillingness to deal with the inward has opened up many people to deception.its wonderful that people are so hungry for the power of God ,but lets not neglect purity of heart
- We have seen many ministers fall.But the didn't fall when they committed their first act of immorality.no they began to fall earlier-the day success in ministry became more important than their intimate relationship with God. Jesus said blessed are those who are pure in heart,for they shall see God(matt 5.8) .He did not say 'blessed are those who have a successful ministry.he said without a pure heart you will not see God!
- The apostle Paul highest goal was to know him (Phil 3vs 8-10) before the power of the resurrection .Judas cast out devils,healed the sick,and preached the gospel .he even left his business to become disciple but where did he end up?
- The goal of a Christian is not the power of God or ministry its to know Christ. When we are intimate with god we will reproduce what he intends .The people who know their god shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Dan 11:32)
- Pauls sole ambition was to know him (Phil 3:8-10) Moses said Show me your way that I may know you (Exodus 33:13).David cried out ,One thing I have desired that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple(ps27 vs. 4) And again "my souls thirsts for you;my flesh longs for you
- Some people quage their spiritual maturity by their ability to prophesy or flow with the spirit , as if they think that's a stamp on their character. yet we need to remember gifts are given and not earn .A donkey spoke and saw into the realm of the spirit. A rooster crowed three times and convicted Peter. Does that make these beasts spiritual?
- Jesus said that many will call upon the Lord and expect entrance into his kingdom,only to be denied.They will have done miracles,cast our demons and prophesised in his name .But he will answer Depart from me ,you who practice lawlessness!(Matt 7:23). The anointing of God is not his approval .Saul prophesised after God had rejected him (1 Samuel 19:23-24) .Caiaphas prophesised while his one goal was to kill the son of God(John 11 49-51)
- We must have gods heart to obey his will without it we will walk in a merely a shadow of his anointing. Paul measured Timothy's virtues by the purity of his heart and the faithfulness of his service .We must also set this standard before us and allow the holy spirit to accurately weigh us .
- Its more important to pursue a right relationship with god than a formula to move in his power
