Watch Your Blind Spot
Not long ago, I got some bad news about some ministers I know. Just after that, I was in a situation of dealing directly with a major problem with someone we love dearly as well. Through this, God has been speaking about how easy it is for us to be Blind-Sided if we don't keep our GUARD up.
So often the traps the enemy sets are MINISTRY-RELATED. Oh how well satan knows we want to serve God. So he sets us up with LOTS to do! He convinces us we're the ONLY one who can do it, so we forge on ahead without seriously considering any possible consequences or how what we're doing may affect others. But one of the consequences often is: our Spouses suffer greatly without our even noticing until we're already in trouble. Another obvious consequence may be that ministers get entangled in an adulterous involvement as well, either sexually or emotionally or both. Countless ministers have experienced divorces over this very thing!
The problem usually isn't our heart, it's our discernment. It's an unwillingness to believe we could be wrong in our zeal to save the world. And too often it's an unwillingness to believe someone we're trying to help would be merely fooling us and taking our time, resources and emotions, with no intention of truly walking with God.
During our well over 20 years of ministry, we've seen many come and go who've been sent by the enemy, not God. Their mission, no matter how innocent and desperate and needy they appeared, was to destroy - although sometimes even they were unaware of it at the time! It is nearly impossible to refuse to help people like that, unless we're willing to discern and know what GOD wants us to do. So often ministers don't even think about that until they're hooked and well into the trap! By then due to their investment, they feel there’s no way out but to pursue the situation. Then, the enemy always gives just enough hope periodically so they’ll keep on. We are SURE just a little more time, money, compassion, on and on... will solve their problem. We may well refuse the advice of others who have discerned the situation, even feeling ANGER toward them, KNOWING we will solve it if just left alone to deal with it!
But sooner or later, one of two things will happen. Either they WILL come to the realization theyve been deceived and stop the relationship, or walk on and utterly destroy their lives and many around them. Most pastors who've fallen into adultery will admit it started innocently, by their ministering to such a situation. They didn't expect it to go that way, because the person was truly desperate and needed his help. Little-by-little the enemy set the trap until one day the hook was so deep there seemed no other way out. In fact, some have even been convinced that the other person was actually of God, since their situation at home wasn't going well anyway; so it was God's way of delivering them. Of course that's a MAJOR deception. And that's the heart of the problem - DECEPTION!
How can we avoid the danger? First, never believe the lie that we can't BE deceived. I Cor.10:12 is a key verse! Second, be willing to accept what others around us who love us say about what we're doing. I have come to trust my wife far more than myself. I may not see danger, but if she does, I try to respond quickly. I know she's not my enemy, she's my friend and co-laborer. So if she says to stay away from a person, I know that's a warning and there's danger ahead if I don't heed it. We also need to know that a godly wife will AGREE with a godly ministry. If what we're into is causing her pain and strife, we need to let it go! God will make a way without us! He's not limited to using us! His resources are limitless! To ignore her warnings can only lead to disaster!
Then, always consult GOD before taking on someone's problems. Not all problems are for US to handle. Just because there's a need, it doesn't mean you're to meet it. Jesus said the poor we'd always have and He was right. What He meant was that we’re not to be moved by need or emotion, but ONLY by His direction! It isn’t always of God to do good!
We must also keep our minds stayed on HIM (Phil.4:6,7). The Holy Spirit is well able to put a UH HUH (yes) in our knower or an UH UH (NO!)! We then have to choose whether or not to obey. It’s not easy to NOT meet a need, but Matt.7:6 tells us there are times when we HAVE to go on by. Whenever we’ve disobeyed that scripture, it’s been much to our detriment!
The biggest help is to stay before God and be at peace with your spouse. Be sure there's nothing between you that hasn't been dealt with. Sin in any form will block our relationship with God and hinder it with each other as well. Stay repented - LIVE a repentant life! Keep short accounts all the way around. And KNOW you are a target for the enemy and DON'T LET DOWN YOUR GUARD!!!!!! I Pet.5:8 applies to ministers also! Maybe, especially!!!!
Please don't be added to the list of those who've failed to take this kind of advice and thought they were well able to handle their lives and ministries alone. Bigger men than us HAVE failed! But Praise God it's not necessary!
2 Pet 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2 Pet 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2 Pet 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Pet 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2 Pet 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
May God bless this WORD and may we apply it to our lives, IN JESUS' NAME!
Arnie & Betty Smith - Living Word International – 1291 Foote McClellan Rd., Colbert, Ga. 30628 U.S.A.
Ph/ (706) 546-0505 Fax (706) 546-4989
E-Mail: livword@livword.org Internet: http://livword.org