The Traitor Within

There is something about this idea of there being a traitor hiding within the walls of a stronghold that makes for good story telling. I think of the movie Dune, and Dr. Yueh, the traitor within House Atreides. And what about Cypher in the movie The Matrix?

There are many traitors both real and make believe, but the one thing that you must know about traitors is that their actions are always self-serving. Dr. Yueh wants to get revenge for the death of his wife, so he allows millions of Atreides men to die, and ends up dying himself. Cypher, just wants to forget and re-enter the matrix. He doesn't even care who dies, and he also is destroyed in the attempt. (And truthfully, do any of you think that Agent Smith would have really re-inserted him back into the matrix?)

One thing that I realized today however, is that sometimes the traitor that is the most dangerous, that one that can do the absolute most damage....is me. Yes you heard me correctly. Me. Now I know that I am a spirit being, and that my spirit is alive unto God. I've been born again according to Scripture Romans 10:9-10, and this is how I know this. Yet I find there is lurking inside of me, this traitor. This one who wants to cause my life to be devoid of the promises of God. Who is this traitor you ask? It is my flesh and my mind.

The Apostle Paul talked about this in Romans 7. What I find interesting is that Paul, the guy who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament, had the same challenges that I have. The answer for him was Jesus, and that is the same answer for me today. Even when my flesh decides to flip the "stupid switch", and goes about doing whatever it wants, I know there is hope for me. Thank You Jesus!

There is a traitor within my friends, one that will never leave us until the return of the Lord. So we must be wary, always being on our guard against this one who would try and sabotage us from within. Strength and honor...Dave

Denominations...God's Dysfunctional Family

I just returned last week from Kenneth Copeland Ministries 30th Annual Southwest Believers Convention. Now, now before you dismiss me because you perhaps don't like Kenneth Copeland and his ministry, read on and hear what I have to say. It will do you good I promise.

Jesse Duplantis spoke on Wednesday August 4th in the evening service and boy was it a good word for sure. If you'd like to hear the message click here and then find the 8/4/10 message. I promise you it was a good one. He talked about the parable of the prodigal son, and truthfully I've never heard it the way he shared before, it was real good.

Anyway, after hearing his message a couple of times, (I've downloaded the mp3 and listened to it several times) it started me thinking about denominations and how they really aren't God's idea. In Scripture there is found in Ephesians 4:7-16 Paul describing to us how there are various gifts in the body of Christ, ie. the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. And that they are given to help us (the body of Christ - the ones who believe in Jesus) to help grow us up.

Paul uses a phrase here, "unity in the the faith". Interestingly enough, Paul does not say into the "unity of doctrine". Now if you've read anything at all in the Bible you know that God is a God of faith. Actually it says that it is impossible to please Him unless we have faith. Again, He didn't say it's impossible to please Him unless we have the same doctrine.

As Jesse said in his message, there are a lot of good sons and daughters of God in the body of Christ, but not a lot of good brothers and sisters. I mean, when was the last time you did something to bless another church in your city? I mean, if you are Baptist, when was the last time you went and blessed the Pentecostal church when they were doing something? Or for those Pentecostals, when was the last time you went and blessed a Methodist church by showing up for something they were doing?

If we all believe in Jesus, and that is the one thing that most all Christians agree on. Then why can't we fellowship with other believers, even if they don't belong to your denomination? Maybe because we're acting like bad brothers and sisters? And for those of you (like me) who are part of the "non-denominational church" and say we're not like denominations, well you can forget that, because non-denominational churches have become a denomination.

I think that we should all try and find some way to get along with those who may or may not believe doctrinally some of the same things. As long as we all believe in Jesus, we're brothers and sisters in Christ, and eventually if we all go by the way of the grave, we're going to see each other in Heaven. Don't you think we should get to know each other now instead of waiting for the marriage supper of the Lamb?

Thanks Jesse, for inspiring me to reach out to others who believe in Jesus, but may not believe doctrinally like me...fighting the fight until I see His face,

Dave, son of God...brother to ALL Christians