Subject –Wrong Headed Thinking
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While listening to some people, responding to crisis's that come in to their lives, and how many of them, plan to deal with it, they usually take a positive approach, which essentially is what should be done, in any endeavor we engage in.
If a person goes in to a, 'defeatist', or 'woe is me' attitude, when dealing with any thing they are trying to do, it is almost certain, that that person, or even a group, for that matter, will surely fail. A positive attitude, will almost always lead to victory.
Before any sports game is played, coaches spend a lot of time in the locker room, inspiring their team, to 'go out there and kick butt!!' They tell their team that the opponent is not as big, is not as good, is afraid, or essentially, are ripe for the picking. All of this, is an attempt to inspire them to go out and give it everything they've got. This is called, pumping up the team.
Contrast that, with a team that, goes in to a game, knowing that they aren't good enough, big enough, smart enough, have always lost, and what you will have, is a guaranteed loss.
In recalling a situation similar to this, in the bible, talking about the classic 'David versus Goliath', and the things that went on before the two were to engage in battle, you can see the point.
Here was the army of Israel [God's Army], on one side of the battlefield, and the army of the Philistines [the devil], on the other. Both were preparing for battle, until a giant, on the Philistine side, challenged them, the army of Israel, to send out their best man to battle him. The idea was, rather than hundreds of soldiers on both sides getting killed, or injured, just let the battle be between one man from each side. Whoever lost, their army would have to surrender to the side of the victor.
Well, when the men of the army of God, saw the size of this man, they, who had been in many battles before, in which they had been victorious, were stricken with fear. All because of the size of this one
man.
[1Sm 17:4-11]
This reminds me of another story, about the 12 spies that were sent in to the 'Promised Land', and how 10 of them came back with an attitude of 'defeat.'
“The land is good, but the people there are mightier than we are, and we
can't defeat them, because we are like grasshoppers, in our own eyes, to them.”
[Num 13:31-14:1]
Now, in both of these instances, fear, had control. It paralyzed the people, and therefore, the enemy had already won, before a battle even got started. It was by appearance, in one situation, and by hearing, in the other.
Now, one thing was, intentionally left out, in both cases, and that is, in both situations, God, was backing His army, and His people. It was God that told them that He had given them the land. It was God's army, that was being faced down by the enemy [Devil.]
My point is, as the subject scripture says, '
If God be for you, then, who can be against you??? If God is backing you in something, then, quite literally, you can't be defeated, no matter what the odds. PERIOD!!!
1Sm 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
In the instance of David, He knew, and had faith in God, and he acted on that faith, when mocked by Goliath.
1Sm 17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. David knew God's will and purpose for Israel, and his own life, and he went in to battle, knowing, that he was going to be victorious, and he was, because, that is the way God honors our faith in Him.
In the case of Israel, going in to the 'Promised Land', because they listened to the 10 spies, rather that the 2 that brought back the good report, none of those that doubted, entered in to it.
Only those that believed the report, made it in.
Num 14:21-24 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
Faith in God, is the single biggest thing that you need, to guarantee your overcoming any thing that comes against you, in life.
However, that faith, is only backed by God, when you are endeavoring to achieve things that God, deems righteous, and glorifies Him.
And, herein lies the problem with what the black community in this nation, deems as being 'the right thing to do', and what is 'the wrong thing to do.' We tend to think God is backing us up, in the things we deem important to us. And as such, when somebody, or some thing stands in our way, we perceive it as being, 'just another obstacle that the enemy [white, black, republican, racist, or devil] is doing to try and stop us, but, Praise God, they are not going to succeed, because the bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us!!!'
There is a song I hear some times on the radio by some black group, proclaiming, 'Ain't No Stopping Us, Now!!!'
Problem is, we think God is on our side, even though, most of what we are doing, flies in the face of what He, tells us to do. And, as a result, He is the One that is allowing all of these so-called roadblocks, to impede our advancement, and in many instances, cause our decline. And, instead of realizing that fact, we continue to march forward, spending more money and putting more energy in to a futile battle, when what we are really doing, is totally ignoring any sign that God gives us, to tell us, He is not 'for us', but rather, 'against us.'
If ever there was a case of wrong-headed thinking, then, this is it.
We want to attribute everything we do, to the status of being backed by God, and therefore, we can't fail. We set a goal, and strive to achieve it, no matter what it takes. Then, when things start failing, we don't even consider the fact that maybe we, ourselves, are doing something wrong.
What we fail to consider, is that little, two lettered word,
'if.'
If, carries with it the implication of, condition. In order for God to be for us, we have to meet certain conditions. Those conditions have to be in line with Him, and His Word.
To put it quite simply, before God will be 'for us', we have to be on His side.
When I discuss politics for instance with people, as it pertains to God's view of our choices of candidates, the question always comes up, 'are you saying God favors Republicans, over Democrats?' My answer is always this, 'it is not whose side God is on, but rather, who is on His side.'
God moves in support of those that abide by His laws, and against those that don't. And given the condition of the black community in this nation, we should be taking stock of our position on God's word.
Some people would say that I never seem to have anything good to say about the black community, and seem to always dwell on the negative. Well, if more of the preachers that most of the black community listens to, would do their job, then I wouldn't be seen as some extremist preacher that appears to be operating outside of the 'Love of Christ.' Also, if I were white, I would,
no doubt be considered a racist.
The Love of Christ, compels me to deliver the Truth, to those Christ loves.
When, in the natural, we see someone we love, suffering, we do whatever we can, to ease their suffering, the same way Christ did. And, how did He do it?? By telling people what they needed to do, to be overcomers, in any area of their lives. But, He also warned them, of what will happen, if they continue in their wicked ways.
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
John 5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
John 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Here is a warning that Christ Himself, is giving someone He has just healed[delivered]. That warning was, straighten up, or else, what you were suffering, will seem like a picnic, compared to what will happen to you.
Unfortunately, most of the favorite preachers, in our community, seem to only deliver messages that reflect the distorted positive [overcoming, irrespective of our wrongdoing.] So, the question has to be, 'Just who is a friend of the black community, and who isn't? Who is working for the betterment of our people, and who is working for the betterment of themselves?? Remember this,
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy, are deceitful [Prv 27:6].
My real beef, if you want to call it that, is not so much with the black community, as much as it is with the preachers that are capitalizing on the message that refuses to address things like righteousness, repentance, and the consequences of sin. According to them, God has special rules for us, given our past suffering in this nation.
Compare that with the children of Israel, God's chosen people, who suffered 400 years in bondage, which God allowed, then set them free, only to have them rebel against Him, in the wilderness, which resulted in most of them not making it in to the 'promised land.'
Despite what you may want to think, we, as a community, are not His chosen people, and therefore, if He punished His chosen people because of their rebellion, what do you think is going to happen to us??
[1Pet 4:17-18]
Just look around!
Look at the condition of our community, our economic condition, the poverty, the crime, our educational system, our overall health. If it is negative, we rank at the top of the list. If, it is positive, we are at the bottom.
Do you see the problem??
If I were serving God, and He was allowing all of this stuff to continually happen to me, I would start checking myself out, to see what I am doing wrong. Wouldn't you?? Hello somebody!!
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