Based on True Events
A Lesson from Christ. This lesson is based on actual events. A Christian is struggling with the characteristics of murmuring, complaining and self-centeredness, to the point that Jesus has decided to use another servant to address and correct the matter. Below are the events being told by the sister whom God used to teach a moral lesson.
Sundays are my Sabbath day – my day of rest. I used my Sabbath day to watch either Christian or animated movies. Usually, ABC plays the best of animated movies all day, which I was in the mood to watch. But no luck this Sunday. I guess because of football season. Disappointed, I decided to flip through the channels to see what else I could find. As I’m flipping, my mind decides to playback a conversation I had with a close friend after church service. At some point, she interrupted our conversation about the wonderful message Pastor David Chadwick gave and asked me would I pray for her. She finally admitted she knows she has been murmuring and complaining about the people at her job. She just did not know how to stop this habit she has developed.
As I am flipping through the channels, I bypassed the movie, Finding Normal twice by Pure Flix. I have seen that movie at least three times already and I was not in the mood for real life comedy, I wanted separation from real life stuff and escape into the world of animation. But then I felt in my Spirit, this urge to watch it. So I went back a few channels and lay on my soft red leather couch to enjoy a movie I did not want to watch.
(A scene in the movie) - At some point, Doc Shelby approaches Dr. Lisa Leland and explains to her the difference between his avocation (what he is skilled to do) and vocation (his true calling). I listened to the profoundness in the lesson he is teaching her, I heard the Spirit said to me, you are missing the point, go back. So I pressed rewind on the remote control. But it won’t rewind. Then I realized I was watching cable TV. The Spirit spoke again and said, child, look it up on Netflix. I laughed at myself and grabbed my Mac. After listening to that section of the movie twice, the Spirit instructed me to grab my pen and notebook and write down this section in my notebook, but I would need to make three adjustments to it. So I did as I was told. Then the Spirit told me to read Mark 5:1-20. So I did as I was told. Then the Spirit said to me to write down exactly what I am about to say. So I did. Finally, the Spirit instructed me to go to this Christian sister and tell her everything the Spirit had shared with me. So I asked, but what do I say. The only thing the Spirit said to me was, “I will instruct you how and the order in which to say things upon your arrival.
As I got near to my Christian sister, I prayed, “Please arrive before I do and put her in the right Spirit. Make sure the right personality is present upon my arrival.”
I sat down to share with my Christian sister what had happened and why I was there to speak with her. She looked intently and intrigued. I first explained the difference between her avocation and vocation. I reminded her when she shows up to work every day, she never takes off her vocation (true calling – serving others through kingdom work). Then I explained to her that I was going to read something from the movie, Finding Normal, but with a twist, a slight change in three areas. Here is how it was read.
(Doc Shelby says the following to Dr. Lisa Leland; name has been changed) – Tiffany, I would like to challenge your experience if I could. With all due respect, I like to submit, if you accept a patient or the world [meaning people (added content for purpose of moral lesson)] into your care, manage their symptoms, alleviate their pain, extend their days to the full extent of your art. Yet, if you leave them sad, alone, in fear of death, due to your murmuring, complaining, self-centeredness temperament and lack of love (added content), then you have not reached your fullest potential.
The Spirit told me to have her to read Mark 5:1-20. Then have her to explain to me how she thought she fit into the lesson. As she was reading the verses to me, at the bottom of my notebook paper, the Spirit told me, “Write that down and now add this. Write that down too, but put this instead.” So I did as I was told. She proceeded to explain to me how she saw herself in the lesson. The Spirit yelled out “Wrong!” I could feel the Spirit lean in close and whisper softly in my left ear, now read back to her what you wrote at the bottom of your notebook. So I read…
"Those who have on chains are your co-workers. Satan has them chained and in his possession and control. But your job hired you because God sent you there on assignment. We are all on assignment in our workplace. Life pressures, their own poor choices, their sin nature, etc. has driven many of your co-workers to live a life of insanity. Your job or vocation is to act upon Jesus behalf and bring these people back to sanity. But, upon your arrival, the demons immediately recognized who you are. Although, you cannot see them, they know you have arrived there to interfere in their business. So to keep you from fulfilling your assignment, they have tricked you into focusing on your weakness – your complaining, murmuring and self-centered spirit, instead of your calling. As long as they can keep you focus on your co-workers’ insanity, you will be frustrated and full of yourself that you would spend more time complaining and murmuring than doing what you were called there to do.
Then I heard the Spirit said “Shhh.” So I did as I was told. For about 30 seconds, there was quietness and my Christian sister was taking in what all was said. Then the Spirit said, “Read that last paragraph on your paper.” So I said to my Christian sister, what I am about to read is a message from the Father to you. And these are His exact words.
Tiffany, you are not possessed by a demon, but you are enslaved, captive by your past – things you have observed from your childhood. You have developed a habit of dominating others through your complaining and murmuring spirit. You don’t need any casting out of demons to be freed from this spirit that have you captive. You simply need to choose to set yourself free. Until you do, you will never reach your fullest potential. The “I” that I keep reminding you that you lack – “I” means investing in others, is hindering you from reaching your fullest potential. You need to accept your true calling by serving others on the job, in the streets and in your home. You have not accepted this calling in your heart as of yet. Therefore, you have not reached your fullest potential in God’s Kingdom.
Now that I fully understand what God did through me, we both sat there speechless – in silence. I said a few more words that were encouraging. Then I got up, grabbed my bible and left while my Christian sister sat there in stillness.
Like others, I tried to find and fill it through family, friends, marriage, lovers, my children, academics, myself and career. But I have finally found wisdom in the wise words of King Soloman - "everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). For one can gain wealth, power and prestige, but "what do people get for all their hard work under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:3) It all mounts down to one thing, it is like chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:17).
I sat down to share with my Christian sister what had happened and why I was there to speak with her. She looked intently and intrigued. I first explained the difference between her avocation and vocation. I reminded her when she shows up to work every day, she never takes off her vocation (true calling – serving others through kingdom work). Then I explained to her that I was going to read something from the movie, Finding Normal, but with a twist, a slight change in three areas. Here is how it was read.
I am learning that leaders never fit in. Because their path requires them to be and function under a higher calling. Leaders don't think like the average person. Therefore, their path is different; their life is different; their walk is different; their calling is different; their cut is different; and their circle is extremely small. 
