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CONFESSIONS OF A PASTOR PT 2

April 11, 2019 by Anna Mangeni

“we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

‭‭2 CORINTHIANS‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I must admit I love pastoring. I do not do it begrudgingly. There is an absolute joy in helping people and leading people to Christ. I know God has called me and it has only been His grace that sustains me. Yet there is this other part that is painful, it is the dying of self, the brokenness one must endure to be all that God wants a pastor to be. You are a shepherd and you must fellowship with Jesus in His suffering. It is this suffering that can make you a better pastor or cause you to abandon your calling.

This is the continuation of my list of my own personal struggles:

THE PULPIT

I never understood people’s fascination with the pulpit and their desire to be in it. It is probably my least favorite thing about pastoring. Why? Because you really have to perform. You cannot truly be yourself and transparent, you have to act out your faith. The pulpit is an act of faith for the pastor. We have to be the person God is conforming us to be even if we have not arrived there yet. It amazes me that God will use the most damaged people in the pulpit to deliver His message. Ones that are still bound in their sins, yet delivering messages of forgiveness and freedom. Ones that battle depression, talking about joy and peace. Preaching messages of faith but full of doubt and unbelief. I read a testimony of a pastor who preached great messages on Easter Sunday then was curled up in a ball at the end of the day in tears. The pulpit is our stage for God to demonstrate His power but it is also the place we are dying inside. We have to speak messages of love, hope and faith. The pulpit is not our confessional. It is the place God’s glory is displayed. It is the place where God will take the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. I am amazed at God’s love, mercy and grace. I have experienced it for myself in the pulpit and I have marveled at God because of others I see in the pulpit knowing just how broken and messed up they are in the body of Christ. Yet I fear those that will allow their pride and arrogance to be on full display in the pulpit because God opposes the proud. The pulpit is for God’s glory. It is not the place for me to shine or make it about me. I am God’s messenger and that is the purpose of the pulpit to lead people to Jesus. Just know it is behind the pulpit I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling. It is also the place I am the weakest, and Christ’s strength is on full display.

THE DEVIL

Many in the church really do not understand and under estimate the devil. He is out to kill, steal and destroy. This is a battle that wearies the soul, mind and body. I remember the year I got ordained. I got sick and almost died. It was the battle for my life. When I look back it does not compare what I have endured these past few years. The devil is seeking whom he can devour. He looks for our weakness and attacks. My weakness has always been my mind. For so many years I carried a spirit of condemnation, that spirit can cripple a pastor because no matter what you do, it is not good enough. The devil wants me to quit, to walk away. This past year every tactic to get me to quit has been thrown my way. I praise God I am an intercessor and have learned to battle in prayer. The devil knows if he can strike down the head, the sheep will scatter. Just look at what happens when a pastor is struck down. So I encourage you to pray for your pastor. They are on the devil’s hit list.

GOD

God will not share His glory. The more He has given you to do the more is required of you. It will cost you your life. You cannot remain the person you were before your calling. A crushing must take place. I imagine a wild horse that has to be broken. You don’t tame a wild animal by talking to it. You must break its will. In order for God’s glory to shine through us, He breaks our will. This is the part of God we don’t discuss. We love to talk about our free will but it really has no place in the pulpit. God prunes, He disciplines, He refines. This process is painful because so much is taken from us. Remember Paul asked the thorn in his flesh to be removed but God said no. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. At times it can be too much to bear and you want to quit. God’s word to me is to endure.

SIN

If I say I do not sin, I am a liar and the truth is not in me. I think the difference between us and Jesus is Jesus hated sin. I don’t hate sin like a Jesus. I hate the consequence of sin but I don’t hate sin. When we think of sin we think of the seven deadly sins we have listed. For God sin is more than that. Sin separates us from God. It is not that God expects us to be free of sin but that we are to confess our sins so that He will forgive us. I have seen people walk away from God’s calling because of their sin. The guilt and shame becomes too much. The longer we fail to confess it the more the rift there is between us and God. I cannot pastor apart from God. Sin will hinder the work God has called me to. So I must be open for God’s examination of my heart and spend time confessing and repenting. God is so faithful to forgive us of our sins.

Everything that is working in me and my struggles are part of God’s plan to perfect me in His image. The journey is not easy. I am confident it will work out for my good. I know God is building my character and preparing me for all He has for me to do. I also know my struggle is for you, so that I may lead you on your own spiritual journey with God. It is not easy but we press on.

Please pray for your pastor. Do not make their job any harder than it is. There are those that struggle with various issues. God has provided a way for them to endure. Pray that we find our way and our victory.

Next time I will share how I am overcoming these struggles.

Posted in Uncategorized |

CONFESSIONS OF A PASTOR

April 9, 2019 by Anna Mangeni

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

‭‭1 CORINTHIANS‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NASB‬‬

When people think of a pastor failing they think in the context of the seven deadly sins organized by early Christian teachers. These teachers had listed the seven deadly sins as pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. So many think if a pastor can avoid these temptations they will be successful. They also believe these are the battles a pasture must overcome. The above referenced verse says that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Often times we mistakenly think this verse is about God not allowing a trial or tribulation to be beyond what we can bear. This is not true because what we fail to discuss as pastors is the breaking we must endure. The greatest temptation I would argue is not walking away from our calling.

A pastor is called to shepherd Jesus’ sheep. It is an awesome and great responsibility. As a pastor we must give an account of those who God has entrusted us with as well as ourselves. This in itself can be an overwhelming responsibility but with the Holy Spirit’s help we are able to accomplish what God has entrusted us with. So why do so many pastors fail?

I have reflected on this for the past year. I have been a pastor for 10 years and the pressure and desire to quit is at an all time high. It is not a feeling of burn out but instead a temptation to walk away from all God has called me to be because the price I am paying is too much.

In the past year I have learned of more pastors committing suicide than my previous nine years. The reason may be I have for the first time have had true empathy and not a judgmental spirit. I can empathize with what they are going through. I know mental illness can play a part but I think we often use mental illness as a way of saying that was their problem and not mine. I can relate to the despair, hopelessness, pressure, and burden it is to shepherd a church. This is not a problem for just pastors who have mega churches but I know we all have experienced the temptation to quit. Do keep in mind that often sin is just a coping mechanism to deal with the pressure we feel. So let me confess my own pressure and temptation to walk away from everything God has called me to do.

PEOPLE

The worse thing a pastor can be is a people pleaser. If this is your weakness pastoring will be impossible. You cannot please people. They will applaud you one day and curse you the next. This was Saul’s demise – he chose the people over God. We must learn to be obedient to God and shepherd people according to His direction. The best advice I received as a new associate pastor was to wear people like a loose garment. In other words know when it is time to just let go and stop trying to please everyone. It may sound cruel but I have learned people are going to behave the way they want to behave. Do not let them take you down the way they have deemed to be right in their own eyes. Follow Jesus, He is the one we are to emulate not man.

Also people are not your barometer on how gifted, anointed or valued you are in the Kingdom. A pastor of thousands is not valued more than a pastor of ten by God. People may scoff at pastors who shepherd a few and be mesmerized by those who can charm thousands. So don’t compare yourself to others or judge your worth by “your followers”. People ultimately belong to Jesus not us. They are not our people nor are they our sheep. Demonstrate the love of Christ and ensure you are pointing people in Hid direction and not yours. God will not share His glory with man.

From my own personal experience I have allowed people to gauge my value by God. Now that I am experiencing a season of great turmoil they are not around. I am truly in a desert place.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Photo Credit Kristina Tripkovic

Posted in Uncategorized |

Heal Our Land

November 9, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 NASB

jon-tyson-403392-unsplash

In my last blog, I discussed that when we see pestilence in the land, we are told what we are to do by God.  In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God asks us to do the following:

HUMBLE OURSELVES

As Christians we should not think so highly of ourselves.  We should not look down on others and think we are better than they are. We must remember the only thing that saved us is Jesus Christ.  Our salvation has nothing to do with any work we did.  We have been adopted as God’s children because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We are able to walk in holiness because of the Holy Spirit.  Salvation is a gift.

We should not put all the blame on the wicked.  We must be willing to have our own hearts examined by God to see if there is any wicked way in us, confess our sins, and received God’s forgiveness.  We must be willing to own up to our own sin and stop pointing the finger at others.

PRAY

We don’t pray the way we should.  We don’t pray corporately and we don’t pray for our nation.  We may throw a prayer up every now and then but we are not strategic in our prayers.  I remember years ago there was an event where men went to Washington DC, repented of their sins, prayed and asked God to help them be better fathers, husbands, sons and men of God.  Today when we see tragedy in our land we look to blame someone or something else.  Now we are beginning to accept these events as a way of life.  We are supposed to pray effective prayers and effective prayers involve us opening our hearts and minds to God’s will and purpose and being ready to obey His word. Often time we use “thoughts and prayers” as an excuse not to really seek the face of God in prayer.

SEEK GOD’S FACE

It takes time to seek God’s face.  In order to come before God we have to deal with our own hearts.  This is not an easy thing to do.  It takes humility and prayer.  We can’t seek God’s face with a spirit of pride or entitlement.  If our land is suffering we are seeking Him to help us and we have to be in a posture of humility and trust.  We don’t seek God’s face to just see if we like His plan, but we seek Him so that we will obey Him.  God knows our heart so if we are to truly seek Him then our heart must be right with God.

REPENT (Turn from Our Wicked Ways)

We are told to turn from our wicked ways.  This is the most profound request in 2 Chronicles 7:14.  We are God’s people and He is asking us to turn from our wicked ways.  Notice God did not say to confess our sins.  He is telling us to turn away from wickedness.  This is what repentance entails.  Repentance is not a feeling of that we are sorry for what we did.  Repentance is a willingness to turn away from the thing that separates us from God.  In this case God is asking us to turn away from wickedness and to turn to Him.  We surrender our will and agree to follow His will for our lives.  All Christians have given their life to Christ and called upon His name for salvation.  Not all Christians have surrendered their will for God’s will.  Many of us still want to live in both the world and be accepted into God’s kingdom.  We cannot serve two masters and to serve God may cause us to lose favor with men.  God promised in Isaiah 1:19 that if we are willing and obedient we will have the best of the land.  So we must turn our will toward Holiness and obey God’s word pertaining to our nation.  The ultimate commission we have been given is to love and to share the good news of the gospel.  If we do this we will see things change in our nation.  First we must repent of our own hatred, fear, the lies we tell and believe.

By meeting these conditions God has promised to heal our land.  We do not fight against people but we fight against the principalities of this world.  People are not our enemy, Satan is the enemy.  We must surrender ourselves to God’s hands to see our land healed.  We have to be the ones to cry out to God and repent of our wicked ways.  Then God will be attentive to our prayers made to Him.

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NASB

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Posted in Healing, Jesus, Knowing God, Peace, Prayer, Salvation, Sin, The Father, The Righteous, The Word, Unity |

When Pestilence Strikes!

November 8, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 2 Chronicles 7:13 NASB

Pestilence 1 Man

What a grievous site as we look upon our nation.  The mass shootings, the weather related storms, wild fires burning out of control, murders, death and bloodshed have visited our land.  As we look at the heart of our nation we feel the hatred and division.  We are surrounded by fear and destruction.  Pestilence has struck.  What do we do?

This morning I woke up to the news of another mass shooting in California.  Just a couple of weeks ago 11 people were killed when a gunman entered and started shooting in a synagogue in Pittsburgh.  People were living their lives, enjoying their day when tragedy struck.  People are in despair.  They don’t know what to do or what has become of our land.  They look to the government for some response and protection.  Many have different ideas of how to stymie this destruction of our nation.  What do we do?

As Christians we know that our Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ.  We are the children of God.  So of course we are to turn to God and cry out to Him.  God’s word tells us what to do.  He gives instructions to Solomon, who finished building the temple for God.  Prior to this God’s presence was in the Ark of the Covenant.  It traveled with the children of Israel, and King David desired to build a house for God.  God refused and allowed Solomon to build the House instead.  Here in 2 Chronicles God is accepting the   House and says He will stay there.  God gives a condition to the prayers offered in the House of God.  He tells Solomon that if there is pestilence in the land, this is what you do:

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

This is a very familiar passage to most Christians.  We quote this a lot but we don’t really look at it in its context.  We know that all the destruction is the work of the devil.  God does not destroy, He redeems.         In this passage, God is making a promise to heal the land but it is conditioned on the actions of His people.  Notice that God is not speaking to Kings or nations; He is speaking to His people.  These are the things God is asking of us: Humility, Prayer, Seek God, and Repentance.  It is under these conditions that God promises to heal our land, and that His eyes are open and His ears are attentive to our prayers.

In the next article we will explore these conditions in more detail.

Photo by Candice Picard on Unsplash

 

Posted in Healing, Prayer, Satan, The Word |

#MeToo: There is Nothing New Under the Sun

October 1, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 NASB

There was a young lady who was a Christian, she came from a loving Christian family and she loved the Lord.  She was so full of joy and destined to do great things for God.  A time came when she left her family and went to a church conference.  There she met so many people just like her.  She made so many new friends and was so grateful for this opportunity.  Then one day the unthinkable happened.  A leader from the church raped her.  She was horrified and ashamed.  How could this happen to her?  She told her family and people from the church were notified.  She was told that they will take care of the situation but to keep it silent.  She was asked not to go to the police but to let the church handle it.  Her rapist denied the allegation and the church sided with him so that nothing would come to light.  He was asked to step down, take a leave of absence and get counseling.  The young lady’s family tried to protect her and promised that one day she would heal.  She was told to forgive and move on. She was mortified and left the area.  She ended up leaving the church all together and questions her faith and even the things she was taught about God. She had been betrayed by the institution she grew up in all her life.  She had nowhere to turn.

In October 2017 the hashtag #MeToo went viral.  It gained popularity amongst celebrities and many women who began to share their stories of sexual assault.  It became popular after the stories broke about Harvey Weinstein, a powerful Hollywood producer.  Stories came out from multiple women about the culture he created and was able to continue for so many years.  As more women came out other stories surfaced about men in Hollywood and the media.  Many of these stories happened many years prior and more women had the courage to tell their story.  Even though the spotlight was on celebrities and powerful media personalities, many women who are not in the spotlight began to share their stories.

Of course there has been a backlash because many men’s careers have been ended.  Some feel it is very unfair because they are found guilty before the evidence has been shown.  Also, people have asked why these women have come forward now.  Why not when it happened?

The church is not immune to the #MeToo movement.  There are so many stories like the young lady in this article.  Our culture in the church is to cover up, and tell these women to forgive and move on.  We often protect the abusers to keep up some kind of appearance.  Instead we are losing a generation of young people who want nothing to do with church or our God.  As a church we must do better.  We can’t ignore their cries for justice.  It is not just a Hollywood thing or a problem with those organizations outside the church.  This movement should give us pause and examine ourselves and allow the truth to come out.

I am quite disturbed that even in the national arena we are still publicly supporting the accused and doubting the victims.  We question the victims’ motives, and assume they are liars out to get even or wanted to get paid.  We fail to see that the norm is women being abused and the abusers never having to give an account for what they have done.

For many of these women their lives are destroyed.  They must live with the shame, guilt and doubt of what has happened.  Their view of the world is tainted and they are never the same.  So much of their livelihood is lost and they watch their abusers continue to live a carefree life.

What is interesting is this is not new.  We can find stories in the bible about the same issue.  We see that even culturally men have been believed over women.  Women have been dragged out to be stoned and accused of adultery and the men are hidden.  Think of the woman that the Pharisees dragged to Jesus and said she was caught in adultery.  They wanted to trap Jesus’ so they used this woman and humiliated her but nowhere are we told about the man that was with her.

Even though society and culture have blamed women in these situations, God has not.  So let us look at what the Bible says.

In 2 Samuel 13 we are told the story of King David’s daughter Tamar.  She was a virgin.  She wore a beautiful robe which was a sign of her virginity.  Amnon was King David’s first born.  Amnon was obsessed with Tamar his sister.  She was his half-sister since they had different mothers.  Amnon was so in love with Tamar that it made him sick.  One day he conspired to have King David send Tamar to his room to make him a cake because he was “ill” in bed.  Tamar came and baked him the cakes, then he asked her to feed him the cakes.  When she went to his side he ordered everyone out of the room and he grabbed her and Tamar protested and asked him not to do the thing he wanted to do to her.  She told him to ask the King to give her to him in marriage.  Amnon didn’t listen and he raped Tamar.  After raping her, he hated her more than he loved her.  He told her to go away and she once again protested and said if he sent her away that would be worse than the rape itself(Deut. 22:28-29 states that if a man raped a virgin he was supposed to marry her.)  Nevertheless Amnon sent Tamar away; she ripped her robe and put ashes on her forehead.  She ended staying at her Brother Absalom’s home as a desolate woman.  King David, her father, learned of the rape and did nothing.  Her brother Absalom full of hatred and revenge killed Amnon two years later.

History continues to repeat itself.  Victims or sexual assault are cast to the side.  They are left with the guilt, shame and rejection by society to carry with them for years to come.  In that moment of terror their lives are forever changed.  King David failed Tamar and as a result also lost his sons to their own sins.

However, God is different.  He knows the cries of his daughters and he holds the men accountable.  God held David accountable for his affair with Bathsheba.  Judah realized he was less honorable than his daughter-in-law Tamar by not keeping his promise to her and lying with her because he assumed she was a prostitute since her face was covered by a veil.  Men have constantly allowed their lusts to get them in sinful situations that God holds them accountable to.

As we wonder why the #MeToo movement continues to gain traction, we cannot ignore that God is revealing things that have been done in darkness for so long and is now coming to light.  The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, so when sin is exposed we are told to repent.  This is an area the church needs to repent and individuals.  We serve a redemptive and loving God.  So when things like this are exposed He gives an opportunity for us to tell our truth and be redeemed from the guilt and shame.  This also includes the accused.  Jesus died for our sins and His blood was shed to cover those sins.  However, we must acknowledge what we have done.  We have to stop deflecting or ignoring what is going on.  God is calling us to turn from our wicked ways.  There also may be a consequence for our sin but we cannot blame the victims or God.  There is the risk of losing a career, a promotion, and favor with others.  However, we must be willing to purge the evil that is amongst us and in our house.  As a church we have to begin with us.  We cannot be light for these victims if we do not deal with this issue in the church.  We have to do better in loving, protecting, and acknowledging what is going on.  The abusers must be held accountable.

I don’t know what would have happened David’s family, if he had acted on Tamar’s behalf.  At the very least he could have restored her status in his household and kingdom.  He knew that God is a redeemer and God could have redeemed his daughter.  David also knew the law and his son Amnon may still have had to die because of his sin, but since David chose not to deal with this issue his other son did and it resulted in such heartache for David.

One day as leaders we will stand before God and give an account for how we cared for His sheep.  We must give an account for any that stumbled in their faith because of issues we decided to ignore.  My hope is that more women will come forward and tell their stories, which we will believe them and God will restore all that they have lost.  We have to change the culture and not tolerate this behavior.  If we take care to do it in the church then we will have the authority to impact other areas of society.  Pay attention to what God is doing because He knows our hearts and he hears the cries for justice.  We reap what we sow.

Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. Ecclesiastes 4:1 NASB

Posted in Justice, Law, Sin |

Influencing God

August 2, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” Ephesians 3:20 NASB

 This is a familiar verse to many of us.  Normally we quote the first part of the verse that God will do more than we can think of or ask.  Usually we see this verse as a way of God blessing us in a way that we cannot begin to imagine.  Unfortunately, we have taken this verse out of context.  By only looking at the first part we can think that God will do what He likes, whenever He likes.  Some may even think that they do not have to do anything for God to do more for them.  Let us take a look at the whole verse.

There is a caveat to this verse and that is God will do more than we can ask or think based on the power that work within us.  What is this power?  One of the definitions of power is having the ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.  Do we have the power to direct or influence God?  Yes we do.  It is called faith.

Power Image

God is moved by our faith.  He is not moved by our need or desperations.  It is by faith that we please God.  We see it in the miracles of Jesus, those that had faith that Jesus could heal them or deliver them was done according to their faith.

When we look at this verse in Ephesians it makes more sense to understand that God will do more that we can think or ask according to our faith.  It is our faith that moves God.  Also because our God is big, He will do more.  It is like God takes our natural mindset and applies His super to it and we get the supernatural.

We see this in the miracle of the two fish and five loaves of bread.  Jesus took something a young boy had, knowing the Father would bless it and make more than enough to feed 5,000.  Matter of fact, not only were the 5,000 fed but there were 12 baskets left over.  That is the application of Ephesians 3:20.  Jesus and his disciples did not just sit around wondering what they were going to do and how they were going to feed all these people.  Jesus understood the power that was within Him and the nature of God that when Jesus looked to heaven he blessed the food and gave thanks.  Then he kept breaking the bread and dividing the fish for his disciples to pass around and everyone was able to eat and more was leftover than what they started with.

Remember Jesus told us we only needed to have faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains.  Our faith influences God to move on our behalf much greater than we can ever imagine.  So don’t just sit back waiting on God to do great things on your behalf.  Decree, confess, pursue your faith that God will do all that you ask and believe He can do.  The power is within us.

Posted in Faith, Knowing God |

Don’t be Deceived!

May 12, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

‘Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ‘  Matthew 24:4 NIV

 ‘Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. ‘   Matthew 24:4, 24-25 NIV

Deceived

Jesus warned us.  Jesus told us not to let anyone deceive us.  Jesus told the disciples, before his death, what would happen to signal the end of this age.  Jesus said the deception would be so great that if it were possible even God’s elect could be deceived.  Jesus warned us ahead of time so we would know.

Deception is Satan’s greatest weapon.  Satan deceived Eve in the garden.  Satan is the father of lies.  Satan seeks to distort the truth of God.  Today there is a lot of deception and we have to be able to recognize it.

To identify deception we must study the truth (the authentic).  Truth only comes from God.  Unfortunately, in today’s society we have promoted the idea that truth depends on the individual.  You have your truth and I have my truth.  It is the core belief of humanism; and the denial that we serve and absolute true God and what He deems to be true is true.

Satan deceives the world in so many ways but his ultimate goal is to deceive the Children of God.  By deceiving us he can quench our power and authority given to us by Jesus.  Satan will distort the authenticity of Christians through apostasy.  He will get some who have known the truth to deliberately deny the truth and abandon the faith.  This is what Jesus warned us against.

None of us are immune from deception.  We must guard our hearts and minds against being deceived.  Paul tells us exactly what we must do to avoid such deception – become lovers of the truth and get saved.

‘And all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ‘    2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV

Let us explore God’s truth together through the reading of His word.

 

Posted in Uncategorized |

FALLACY OF CHRISTIAN POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

April 7, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

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“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4: 20 NASB

For over two years the Media has defined what it means to be Christian by people’s political and religious beliefs.  Rarely, are we depicted as Disciples of Christ.  Instead many articles and debates question who are the real Christians?  Some have defined Christianity based on political and religious; if you are a true Christian you must ascribe to certain political and religious traditions.

I was struck this week by a question posed on a radio station on whether or not Christians who support President Trump are really Christians.  Can Christians be characterized by their support or criticism of a leader or political party in lieu of their faith?  There are many that argue they can because certain political and religious ideals are rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I found this interesting because our salvation and adoption as God’s children cannot be secured through the law or our adaption to world systems.

Those of us who identify ourselves as Christian believe in Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and is alive today at the right hand of God our Father.   We know “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”  Romans 10: 9-10 (NASB)

Unfortunately, in the height of political debates and a politically charge environment we have succumb to defining Christianity through a political lens.  We have this delusion that the party we belong to or the leaders we show allegiance to has some impact on our entrance into the Kingdom of God; or defines us as a disciple of Christ.  This is just absurd, because you are trying to judge something that is spiritually rooted in God with something rooted in mankind.

Our salvation is not obtained by any work we do or what others have done.  We cannot stand before God and claim that because we ascribe to a set of political and religious ideologies we are proven to be the Children of God.  The only reason we can stand before God blameless, is because Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He took our sin and punishment.  We were graciously given Jesus’ righteousness in exchange and have been reconciled to the Father.  There is no work we have done to earn our salvation, so we have no right to boast in our political and religious beliefs.  The law cannot save us, so it is ridiculous to think adhering to certain religious and political beliefs and laws (defined by men) can save us.

The bible is clear that we can identify Christians (the Children of God) by the love that we have for one another.  Jesus even said we would know people by their fruit.  So if a person claims to love God but hates his brother he is a liar and Christ is not in him.  If one claims to follow Jesus but is full of hatred they are not Jesus’ disciple.  Whatever comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart.  Whether we are ruled by love or hate speaks more to our faith in Jesus Christ than anything else, including our political party affiliation or religious sect.

Politics and religion will always reveal hypocrisy in man.  Often time these belief systems run contrary to the person’s own behavior.  Also, it is mostly used to sit in judgment of others and think too highly of ourselves.  Boasting about our political and religious ideologies is rooted in pride and God hates pride.  We are taught in scripture to hold our brother in higher esteem than ourselves.

Christianity is defined by humility.  Jesus Christ, who is God, became man and walked amongst us.  He took our sin and became the perfect sacrifice and died so that we might live.  It is through Jesus’ resurrection that we have eternal life and power.  There is no other name in heaven or on the earth that is greater than Jesus.  Jesus is the only one who is deemed the Savior of mankind.

Our faith is not evident through our political and religious symbols and allegiance.  Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.  We may disagree on the political and religious battlefield but even in our disagreement we are called to love.

 

For those that want to know how to spot a Christian, check their fruit (character).  Jesus said you will know us by our fruit.  If these things (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, see Galatians 5:22-23) are not evident in a person’s character,  then the Spirit of God is not in them and they are not known by Jesus.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23 NASB

Posted in Faith, government, Jesus, Law, Love, Peace, Salvation, Sin, The Body, The Father, The Righteous |

Justice is Perverted!

March 27, 2018 by Anna Mangeni

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To turn aside the justice due a man

Before the face of the Most High,

 Or subvert a man in his cause—

The Lord does not approve.  Lamentations 3: 35-36 (NKJV)

4Therefore the law is ignored

And justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:4 (NASB)

 

Justice is perverted!  For that reason we are seeing a wave of protests in our country over the last couple of years.  There has been the rise of Black Lives Matter Movement, the Women’s March, #MeToo Movement and the March for Our Lives.  There is a cry for justice.  This cry is being heard by God.

As Christians we often focus on one leader or a nation to gauge the next move of God.  Yet what we are witnessing is God awakening the hearts of the people.  They are crying out for Him whether they realize it or not.  God is justice.   Justice describes the very nature of God.  God’s throne is established on righteousness and justice.

The push back these movements are experiencing are rooted in fear and hate.  Some would argue the protests are rooted in hatred but they are not.  Those who oppose the movements do not realize that what they are opposing are justice and God.  You oppose justice, you oppose God.

In the church we have heard about the next Great Awakening and it is prophesied that we will see the greatest soul harvest in the history of the church.  That is what is happening in these movements.  People are not only asking for justice but they seek compassion, love, understanding and they despise all the hate and unrighteousness that is taking place.  People are getting away with murder and they are literally pleading for their lives, asking to be saved.  It is time we listen.

Will our government listen?  Will they find justice in our society?  Many doubt they will, but I believe that God is setting the stage for Justice to be served.  “Many seek the ruler’s favor, but Justice for man comes from the Lord,” Proverbs 29:26.  People will get their justice and their souls will be saved as well.  It is God’s desire that everyone will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Jesus also said that no one can come to Him unless prompted by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is at work exposing sin, convicting the world of sin and drawing people to God.

There is also unity in these movements.  Even though each group is addressing a different issue in our society, their request is the same.   They are united by their search for justice, equality, peace, safety, love and hope.  God is listening.  Great things will be accomplished through unity.  Is the church paying attention?

We can no longer be silent from the immorality and the injustice we see.  We must turn to God and pray that Justice and righteousness will be established in the earth as in heaven.  We must also see the harvest is ready and the people are crying for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  John 4:35

Posted in government, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Prayer, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Unity |

Moses is Dead!

April 30, 2017 by Anna Mangeni

“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” Joshua 1:2

God had charged Joshua to take the children of Israel across the Jordan to the Promise Land.  Moses had disobeyed God and was told by God that he would not go into the Promise Land with Israel.  Also, the generation that Moses had led out of Egypt had died in the wilderness and this was a new generation that was going to go and take possession of the land.

God did not want Joshua to lament over Moses.  God told Joshua Moses was dead and now Joshua must take the lead.  For Forty years Israel wandered in the desert complaining and lamenting about their lives and what they had in Egypt.  They could not see what was before them and the plans God had for them.  They kept looking back.  God did not want Joshua to look back, Moses was gone and now it was time to move on.

Many of us are in the same situation.  There is something that has died in our lives but we have a tendency to look back.  We lament over a situation, relationship or season that God has brought to an end.  We stay stuck in the wilderness because we keep looking back and will not let go of the past.  Change is never easy and often we prefer to stay in a place that is familiar than a place of the unknown even though it is full of promise and God’s blessings.

The generation that Joshua was leading knew the wilderness.  They knew what it was like to eat Manna every day and be led by Moses.  They witness the previous generation die in the wilderness.  They had heard the stories of Egypt but their only point of reference was the wilderness.  So God had to tell Joshua to let go of the past and move the people forward into the land God promised.

Before we can move forward we must let go of the past and those things that have died.  Otherwise every time difficulty arises or things do not go our way we will just want to run back where we came from.  This was Israel’s problem.  Israel was going to enter the land of Promise and see the miracle at Jericho but after that victory that had to fight the people of the land in order to possess it.  Yes God had given it to them but they had to fight to take it.  They could not afford to look back and God knew that Joshua had to have the right mind set and let go of Moses.  A new season had come and now the Joshua generation was marching into the Promised Land.

What are you waiting on God to do?  What promises has He made?  Have you let go of those things from your past and those things that have died?  God is ready to move forward, are You?

I have read many prophetic words about 2017 and I keep hearing it is a new Season and God is doing a new thing.  In order to experience God’s best we have to let go of what happened in last season and even last year.  We have to find a way to lay these things at the alter and move forward in God.  We have to claim and take possession of the promise.  We are not supposed to just stand at the bank of the Jordan and marvel and the land.  It is time to go and possess all that God has given us.

God tells Joshua that He is going to give this land to Israel, then God says He has given them the land and every place they step will be theirs.  God never said it would be easy, He just said the land was theirs and to go and take possession.  As you read the book of Joshua you will learn the battles Israel had to fight and some battles they lost but the finally took possession of the land.  They never looked back and wondered about Moses and what might have been had he remained their leader.  They looked to Joshua and followed his lead and God continued to demonstrate that He was with Joshua.

You may be going into a new season alone having lost friends along the way but God is with you.  He will never leave you.  Here is the thing you can stay in the wilderness and keep eating Manna every day, but you will forfeit your inheritance.  The promise land was Israel’s promise, and though Moses had died it did not negate the promise of God.

No matter what people have done to you, broken relationships, the end of things that were familiar; when God says it is time to let go then let go.  It is a new day and there is so much God has in store.  Moses is dead!  God is alive and with you!

Posted in Uncategorized |

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