I heard the lord say
in my ear one early morning, "MY
CHILDREN HAS BECOME STUMBLING BLOCKS."(speaking of us Christian
believers). I then remember the word of God in Malachi 2:8 "But you have
turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble, you have
violated the covenant with Levi, says the Lord Almighty." God was dealing with the Priest using the
Levi as an example how a Priest suppose to live. (Life in the Spirit Study Bible) notes reads:
"The Priest were showing partiality to the rich and influential, allowing
them to continue in their unjust and sinful ways and failing to confront them
with God's word of warning. Pastoral
leaders and teachers must preach the whole counsel of God, proclaiming his
righteous demands to all the people. To
preach the blessings of the Lord Almighty and omit (leave out) his righteous
requirements for us is detestable to him and causes Gods people and new
believers to stumble." We who have
salvation is responsible for our actions and ways. Especially when it comes to new believers,
who look up to those who are already in Christ and suppose to be mature in His
word. Below is something that God said
to me concerning new believers and those that have falling away because of us,
and as you probably know when God speaks, we must apply it to ourselves
first "least that by any means,
when we have preached to others, we ourselves should be a cast away."
1Corinthians 9:27. Here's is a great example.
Some years back I went to the movies with my daughter and my next door
neighbor Ashley, who I have been trying to convert to the lord since I moved
next to her. Before we went to the movie
we went to get something to eat at a fast food place (which is something
my daughter and I always do). Well, here
I am trying to fit mine and my daughters food in my big purse when Ashley said
it wasn't going to fit and I said with my saved, sanctified and full of the
holyspirit self, and I quote, "The devil is a liar. I can do all things
through Christ Jesus". Shame on me, because I quoted a scripture to cover
my wrongness, and on top of that she said laughing, and I quote. "Girl how
you going to ask God to help you do something that you know is wrong?" As
she and my daughter laughed and I'm SMH,
SMH, SMH in shame within myself, but
laughing with them on the outside, and yet feeling so convicted and
rebuked on the inside. Wow! "Out of
the mouth of babes" I tell you. I
never felt so much shame and picked by God with a fine tooth comb knowing that
He loves me so much that He wants to make sure He gets every nap on my head. To have another believer rebuke or correct me
I can handle, but to have a unbeliever rebuke or correct me feel, so not cool.
I had to tell her she was right as I fake laughed it off. Now that's one of the stumbling blocks God
was talking about, and the funny or not so funny thing is, God said this to me
before I went to the movies. So that
means I was tested and I flunked all the way SMH. Oh did I cry before the lord in repentance.
Thank you Lord God for your grace and mercy.
Now that was my
confession and I pray it helped someone not to make the same error. We must follow all laws of the land even the
signs. We must encourage and be an example to the new believers and the ones
that have fallen away, especially if its because of us. God will show us
our faults and we must be willing to
accept and change our ways. Theirs a
scripture that every time I hear someone preach it they never quote the rest of
the that scripture, which is very important and must be applied to our
life. 2Cor.10:5-6, but v-06 is what I
want to bring to the light "AND having in a readiness to revenge
disobedience WHEN your obedience is fulfilled." Hear that? WHEN. Now, we
must show love towards one another and not only when convenient. We must
continue following Christ Jesus and be an example to those that we bring to him
and the church. For we are held accountable to uphold the word of God before
others and in secret. It's what we do in secret for God that counts, because
what we do behind closed door shows our true nature and spirit towards people,
God and His word.
Psalm 51:10-3
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within
me. Cast me not away from they presence;
and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free
spirit. THEN will I teach transgressor thy ways; and sinners shall be converted
unto thee."
Thank you for
reading and listening to one of my testimonies.
Lord Help Us All,