A Warning Message

Warning Message for Susan Cottrell
CONFESSION
I will confess. When God revealed to me two weeks ago the content of this month's Assumption, I wasn't shocked, but I was very nervous about giving it. In the past, God has revealed to me certain things about people and certain Christian leaders and their mindset and circumstances. He has even used me to give a word of encouragement or rebuke to individuals in private. But this is the first time, God has instructed me to openly give a direct warning message to a specific person before many. 
 
As I'm typing, my heart is racing. And I will admit I was looking for an escape clause to not give this word. However, my Father in heaven reminded me of the scriptures I have been reading over and over for the past several weeks. Over a month ago, the Holy Spirit led me to Ezekiel 2 and 3. I have been reading these chapters repetitively for over a month. So much so that I have begun to feel I am joined at the hip with the Prophet Ezekiel. 
 
But it is today, as I write out this month's Assumption, that I better understand why I was connecting with Ezekiel's words in chapter 2.




Mike Bennett

3 I am sending you to the nation... a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me.
4 They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says!"
6 Do not fear them or their words. Don't be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls....
7 You must give them my messages whether they listen or not.

Those words, as well as others in chapters 2 and 3 of Ezekiel, have infused my spirit. That despite the words I am about to speak is a hard message to a specific leader within the LGBT community, I am at peace with them because I know they are not my own, but they originate from the Father - a warning. 

I hope and pray that Susan Cottrell of Freed Hearts Ministries does not take this as a personal attack against her, her character and the wonderful woman that I have learned her to be through conversations. However, the Father holds several things against her. Since she has chosen a way that has taken her away from the purpose and call He has on her life. He has waited patiently for her to correct her steps. But out of a guilty heart, in her dealings with her own children, she has refused and ignored the questions she has even brought up in her own heart and those He have




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sent her. So now, the hour has come where she has given Him no choice.

She has denounced Him by her course of action. She is making claims to be His servant, but in her actions, are causing confusion among those He has sent her to reach. Because she continually takes a public stance that is not of God. He must address this issue publicly.


I pray that she receives this warning with grace and set aside her pride. And that she repents and corrects her steps so that her place in heaven may be restored. 
 
COTTRELL'S CRIME IN HEAVEN


Cottrell's case is before a just God. Who because of His grace, mercy and love is beseeching the court on her behalf. Appealing to the court of heaven before the Almighty Judge renders His final verdict. For she has stepped to the left, instead of stepping to the right. In order to cover her shame from decisions her own progenies have made. As a result, her failures to provide protection and a safe place for them have led to their demise. Instead of correcting her ways, as well as, theirs, she has chosen to justify their sins by taking a stand on the side of sin. And her sin has reached the nostril of the Judge of Judges with great displeasure. For not only has her path taken her and her children down a road of death, but she has converted the truth for a lie. She has allowed a demonic spirit to enter into her heart and planted and sown this spirit's seed of doubt with great intensity into others. 
 
But it is the God of the heavens, who have the authority to grant her mercy and deliver her from the hands of the devil. But, she must choose this day whom she will serve.

John Piper



REPENT! REPENT from your sins - teaching teachings that are not of God by encouraging some members of the LGBT community to continue in their sins by doubting and denying the power of God. Your claims are untrue. 

Cottrell stated to me, "God pulled you out of being a homosexual (correct me if I'm wrong about that). While I do cartwheels for you! I cannot give that message to my readers, because many, many have been promised that if they stick with it and believe God for it, God will deliver them. And they are bitterly disappointed and felt like failures when that didn't happen. 

It's something like someone delivered from cancer, or receiving some other miraculous healing, and then holding that out as the best plan for everyone. But as you know (at least with healing), it DOESN'T happen for everyone. (I'm not comparing homosexuality to caner, just that the hope for "deliverance" is similar.)  -- Susan Cottrell

Where does God make such claims in His word? Where does He deny anyone healing and deliverance who sincerely seeks Him? For the Father is a Redeemer and is seeking the souls of all to repent and draw near to Him (Ephesians 1:7, 2 Peter 3:9, James 4:8). 
 
For Mrs. Cottrell knows, there is nothing impossible with God. And she also knows

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that God is a God of mercy and grace that He grants mere man the free will to choose if one wants to be freed and delivered from their sins. He grants one to choose for himself or herself if one is willing to take the needed steps to endure whatever things they must in order to ascertain their freedom from sin and death. But Mrs. Cottrell teaches and promotes that God sometimes fail us (See Romans 3). Not true! For His word testifies that He is always faithful and true (Romans 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:13). Meaning, God will never fail anyone one who choose Him over their sin. He will always provide us what we need, at the time when we need it to overcome any challenges or temptations.

But Mrs. Cottrell has failed to teach such Bible truths to those who lives she has touched. Nor does she rightfully help them to identify the true villains - Satan the devil and in some cases, themselves. Instead, her teachings indirectly, and maybe in some cases directly, apply and points accountability for such failures upon God, and not Satan. She does not teach and prepare the hearts of those she encourages about the traps that Satan sets for them so that they might continuously fall prey to their sexual impulses such as homosexuality. She does not redirect them to look into their own lives for contributing factors that have led them to their life choice. Or, their own unwillingness to beat their flesh into submission (to restrain and disciple themselves). The real enemy is Satan the devil or one's own self-centeredness, but not God. It is the devil or one's own selfishness (pride) that causes those who are unable to obtain their victory over the demise of homosexuality. Just as he attempted to tempt Jesus. Satan sets similar traps and plots for victims of homosexuality. 
 
DON'T LIMIT GOD

The methodology in the perspective Mrs. Cottrell teaches has led some to believe that God is




Padre Ismael Ojeda

limited. God is incapable of meeting their needs. God is powerless.  God is to blame for their shortcomings. Which in turn glorifies Satan and his power. His abilities. Elevating Satan over God. When anyone limits God, directly or indirectly, they apply that He is incapable of doing a thing, without honestly factoring in the root cause of sin - Satan and his forces of demons and man's unwillingness to hold themselves accountable for the own failures. As a result, we marginalize God's power, glory, and greatness. 

God is God! He is the King of Kings. He is POWERFUL. He is GLORY. He is UNLIMITED. He is CAPABLE of doing anything (Mark 10:27). And despite His greatness, He wants to give us everything our hearts' desire (Psalm 37:4). But we must

• Flee from the devil (James 4:7; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Peter 5:8-11)
• Take ownership for our sins and beat our flesh into submission (James 1:14; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10)
• Submit to God (James 4:7; 1 Corinthians 10:13)
• Repent whenever we fall short (2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 John 1:9)
• Hold yourself accountable (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• Recognize where the root of sin lies (Romans 1:18-32)  
• And STOP BLAMING God for OUR sins and face your own truth

GOD DOES NOT refuse, nor denies anyone who sincerely REPENTS and DESIRES to turn away from sin. STOP repudiating where the blame lies. It is our own fleshly desires that have led us astray. Our refusal to beat our flesh into submission as the Apostle Paul teaches.     

Owoce Kali

We must learn to deny our bodies what it wants and craves. For it is not God who can be blamed for our failures and plummet into sin.

LET'S DO CARTWHEELS TOGETHER

But God is a God who can read one's heart and knows and understands the true motivates when one has chosen to step in the wrong direction. God is a forgiving God. That despite our errors, He invites us back into His bosom, dusts us off and helps to redirect our steps. The Father sees Mrs. Cottrell's heart and has sympathy and love for her. I would love to one day for her and I to be able to do cartwheels together in celebrating the victories of those we have helped to overcome the spirit of homosexuality. 
 
Until then, the Father is standing at her door knocking. Searching her heart once again as He speaks to her in a gentle tone. Repent! Repent! Before your time runs out.  

Alison - Greater Good Photography



 

Looking for More Out of Life - For Members of the LGBTQI community that are still searching for answers

In the cultural and political sensitive time we are living, God has been molding me for this moment. I do realize the overwhelming challenges that come with the call God has on my life. With increase trust and responsibility comes a more intensify spiritual warfare.

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Well, God placed it in our hearts and we've finally got it done. As He spoke into my heart - "the harvest is ready."

The promotional brochure is done. We have the first of three (3) curriculums done. Now, we have one more staffing review of the material. Follow by praising and worshiping God and seeking further direction. Spiritual warfare has just heightened.

May I live and breathe Proverbs 3:5, 6, no matter what!!!

 

Surrendering: A Blueprint of My Life | Deaidre Newby Ministry

For this is God’s final call in warning leadership in the Body of Christ!

The Final Call!

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Too many believe that God has in place a survival of the fittest program that disqualifies people like members of the LGBT community from receiving God’s love, grace, and healing power. The theory behind Charles Darwin’s survival of the fittest is that species who are able to adapt to its environment are more likely to survive and therefore successfully reproduce. Any species that carried any flaws were disqualified. They were not counted worthy. Only the species that were best equipped to survive and reproduce are selected.


Similarly, this has become the attitude of some Christians toward the human population as we draw near the end of this society as we know it today (2 Corinthians 4:4). We, as Christians have debarred anyone from entrance into God’s kingdom if they do not look like, act like, agree with or think the way we do. As a result, many of us have willfully forsaken our call to ministry as commanded at Matthew 28:19, 20. Opting to implement our own survival of the fittest selection process by choosing who we feel are worthy for us as individuals to give a witness to concerning the promises of God’s word.


I can spend this month’s Assumptions on the many failures of the Church. Our lack of Christ like love toward the LGBT community. Or, how some Christians are allowing man-made doctrines, practices and traditions to infiltrate their congregations and usurps God’s principles. Like, some denominations have opted to change their bylaws in order to accept gay marriage based on a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that stuck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act.




Adrienne Burke

Yet, there are some churches who are standing firm to their scripture conscious despite the political consequences. And that’s great! We should not compromise. However, there are still too many leaders, who are rightfully standing firm to their bible convictions, but are violating essential bible principles (1 Corinthians 13:1-7).

I have heard far too many times by senior pastors concerning the LGBT community, "I will welcome them (LGBT members) into my church." "I will love them." "I will give them a hug if they let me." This is repeated from the pulpits of many congregations. And yet, I have seen first-hand, these same individuals ignore the presence of someone in their congregation who have successfully overcome this lifestyle. I have observed some senior pastors who failed to set the example for their congregation and not even greet members who have been delivered from the snare of homosexuality. I have seen no smiles, no hugs, no welcome, not even a simple hello nor love shown by most leadership who have made claims that they will welcome them. 



It’s A Process

So today, I don’t want to spend my energy reminding the Church what we are called to do. There is an idiom that warns one about beating a dead horse. God has helped me to appreciate that there are some people, no matter who He uses that will simply refuse to change. So for this month’s Assumptions, as I am being led by the Holy Spirit, I am going to focus my attention directly toward a certain segment within the LGBT community.

These words are not for those who have committed themselves to this lifestyle choice. These words are for those who are living the homosexual lifestyle, but are receiving regular visits, dreams and visions from God. To those who are questioning their life choice. To those who are secretly looking for a way out, but do not know where to turn. To those who are crying themselves to sleep most nights because they are tired of the direction of their life. To those who want God to prove that He can remove this desire from their lives. To those who want freedom.



John Callahan

The mistake that too many make when seeking deliverance (freedom) from their homosexual lifestyle is thinking that for everyone that have successfully escape this life the process is the same and immediate. That is so far from the truth. Your walk with Christ to freedom will be uniquely different from others for two reasons. (1) You are made different from anyone else. (2) Your purpose, your God given purpose is uniquely different from anyone else. Therefore, as you walk and work out your faith, God will take you through a process that will ultimately lead you to a freedom that is tailor made for you.


I would love to personally walk you through my entire process, but I would only end up writing another book. To spare you that painful experience, let me briefly walk you through my process to freedom in a few steps and compare that to the experience to my closest friend who also walked away from this lifestyle around the same time I did.


Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton

For my best friend, Felicia and I, our process started off the same. In our personal private time with God, we both sincerely repented from the heart and sought God for forgiveness of our sins. However, from that point forward, our challenges, encounters with sinful temptations, persecution experienced by Christians and struggles were completely different. There is no exact science that will help anyone overcome this. However, here are eight simple steps that I experienced over a course of a year that led me not only to my freedom, but the calling, the purpose for which God had placed on my life.

1. Sincere repentance.

2. Continuous effort and actions on my part to turn away from my sin. [One must fight to align your mind (your thought life) with your heart desire / goal].

3. Separating myself from people and places that could pull me back into this lifestyle as God directs me. The premise is that one should completely separate oneself from everyone and everything that is associated with your formal life. NOT TRUE! Let God show you how to properly do this. Remember, our personal testimonies are one of the primary ways we glorify God’s greatness (Luke 8:39; Matthew 10:32; Psalm 119:46; Matthew 5:16).

4. Continuously looking for and being aware of those God brings into your life that will be a source of strength and not a distraction. You also have to be aware when God has removed someone out of your life as well.

5. Assign at least one trustworthy person who will honestly hold you accountable. This is critical. You have more than a 90 percent chance of failing if this is not established.

6. Pray earnestly.

7. Do not run away from your temptation, but face them with God and when necessary, a trusting friend.

8. Immediately pray and forgive those who wrongfully persecute you, especially Christians.

Spirit of Suspicion

Remember this final thought as you face challenges and attempts to align your true heart desire with your thoughts and actions. Satan will NEVER make it easy for you to live total free from your sinful choice. He will make every effort to remind you of your past. And he will do so in a way that is most damaging to you. In a way that is most likely to cause you to give up and possibly return to the life you have left (2 Peter 2:19-22). This method will vary from person to person. For instance, for me, it is the spirit of suspicion that has a stronghold over the Body of Christ and its leadership that troubled, and at times, stumbled me the most. No matter how faithful I am to God. No matter what evidence God has provided to some suspicious Christian leadership that I have abandoned my previous lifestyle. I have been washed clean, selected and anointed for a specific purpose by God. There are a few powerful Christian leaders that are holding strong to their spirit of suspicion and being used like puppets for Satan's pleasure and entertainment. As a result, these leaders and their small caravan of followers are opting to exhibit the same spirit of doubting Thomas. Instead of believing and trusting the works of God, like the disciple Thomas, they questioned it.


Christus Secularis

It took me a minute to learn by means of Holy Spirit, not to let a few self-righteous and prideful religious leaders disqualify what God has quantified in me. That I have been made whole. That I have been washed cleaned. That I have been handpicked by the Father to personal glorify Him by giving a witness to all the nations for what He has done in me and through me. And you must be determined to do the same.

Don’t allowed a selective few throw you under the bus and determine your destiny. Don’t let people, especially self-righteous, prideful people prevent you from fully obtaining God’s grace, mercy and love. Simply recognize them for who they are, puppets of Satan for his entertainment, doing the works of the devil. And yes, Satan is well capable of mobilizing Christians if they allow it.

Do not let these few individuals, no matter if they are the senior pastor of your Church or someone you encounter on a regular basis, dilute the power of God to transform your life. Don’t validate their cause because they struggle with God’s ability to make a difference in your life. Let God be God and let Him provide the justification and answer they need. And if they still refuse to acknowledge God's work through you, then pray on their behalf that they will heed the warning of Gamaliel.

          "…Take care what you are planning to do to these men! …My advice is,
           leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing
           these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is
          from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find
          yourselves fighting against God!" (Acts 5:35-39)


For this is God’s final call in warning leadership in the Body of Christ!

Often, God had to remind me of this scripture when I get upset about the wrongful, unjust and unloving actions of some Christians – the leadership in the Body of Christ. Man can choose to doubt what God has done in and through you. They can even attempt to put up roadblocks along the way to try to destroy your character and the position in which God has elevated you. But when the dust has cleared, and if you remain faithful to God, very powerful men and women will be removed from their post because of their disobedience to God and their actions toward you. You have to remember, such prophetic words that God gave to the Prophet Zechariah. After Jerusalem had been exile for an extensive period of time, God called them home. The prophet Zechariah spoke these words



John Piper

          "…The LORD of Heaven’s Armies sent me against the nations who
          plundered you. For he said, ‘Anyone who harms you harms my
          most precious possession. I will raise my fist to crush them, and their
          own slaves will plunder them.’" Then you will know that the LORD of
          Heaven’s Armies has sent me (Zechariah 2:8, 9).


The only validation you need is God’s, not man’s. And it does not matter who they are - a relative, a stranger, a senior pastor, etc. Always remember, as you are taking the necessary steps toward God and away from the life you are living, God is in control of everything, even when you don’t understand it or can’t see it. He is in control of everything, the small and the powerful. Peoples’ incorrect perspective of you, their doubting spirit will measure to nothing. For if you allow God, He will personally guard and protect you from the enemy and the puppets he uses. Even in the darkest period of your life, whether you acknowledge it or not, God was there providing you a measure of protection. He was there providing you hope from your hopelessness. God has always been faithful to you and the promises He has made for your sake. He has been patient with you (2 Peter 3:9). Waiting for you to totally embrace what He has for you. But to obtain it, you have to forget about people, especially the warp minds of some Christians. And step into the glorious light of God. He won’t let you fail or fall, as long as you put your complete trust in Him and the unique process He will take you through.



Midian Creations

For those who are interested in reading about my life story and the processes God's personal walked me through to gain my freedom, click here.

Excerpt from Chapter 4, The Cover Up. GET YOUR COPY TODAY AT AMAZON.

To learn more about the author, click here. 

 

"...Overcoming any sin is a process.... The temptations I experienced after repenting and deliverance were the processes I had to endure to overcome my sexual tendencies. To crucify my flesh from its fallen state and to learn to love God more than my sin nature."

 

Process of Deliverance

 

A Heartfelt Prayer and Determination Is All Needed For Genuine Deliverance 

 

To many in the homosexual community, it appears that God does not answer prayers. For there are many who pray in secret to God to take their desire away. Susan Cottrell, a professed Christian and PFLAG leader in Texas, made the following comment concerning unanswered prayers from God concerning gays and lesbians.

“…Many, many have been promised that if they stick with it and believe God for it, God will deliver them. And they have been bitterly disappointed and felt like failures when that didn't happen.

It's something like someone delivered from cancer, or receiving some other miraculous healing, and then holding that out as the best plan for everyone. But as you know (at least with healing), it DOESN'T happen for everyone. (I'm not comparing homosexuality to cancer, just that the hope for "deliverance" is similar.)”

 

Love Family Christian Assembly

 

 

The point that Mrs. Cottrell and many in the LGBT community who are praying for deliverance miss is that overcoming any sin is a process. For very few, there is an instantaneous deliverance. For instance, take my deliverance. Prior to my deliverance, for months, I felt a tugging at my heart to get my life together and get right with God. For months, I fought that desire and tried to silent the voice in my head – “It was time to come back home.” Prior to this, during the 10 plus years of serving God faithfully, I never heard God’s voice before and I thought I was losing my mind. In my frustration, I went to a trusted friend, who happened to be living the lifestyle as well. To my surprise, God was calling her back home too. That evening, I left my homosexual relationship, repented, begged for forgiveness and surrendered to God. I went to bed confused and unsure about my future. But the next morning, I woke up feeling stronger than ever. Renewed. Determined and freed from my homosexual tendencies. My deliverance was not by aid of another Christian. But for me it was simple as a heartfelt prayer and a determination to do whatever it took to free myself. (Also see my book, Surrendering: A Blueprint of My Life, for the full story concerning holding myself accountable and receiving my deliverance).

 

Now, does that mean that there are no temptations once deliverance is received. NO! Satan will make every effort to get you to return to your sinful ways. I can remember, women coming from left to right approaching me after my deliverance. Something that did not happen often prior to my deliverance. Satan and his demons are constant in my ear trying to convince me that my action of repentance is wrong and that I am born this way. In the beginning, my fleshly sexual desires to engage in habits that I developed would reared up. And sometimes it was hard to resist. Really hard! The temptations I experienced after repenting and deliverance were the processes I had to endure to overcome my sexual tendencies. To crucify my flesh from its fallen state and to learn to love God more than my sin nature.

 

Love Family Christian Assembly

 

Now here is the thing that those who want to be freed from their homosexual tendencies must be aware of.

1. In your own will power, to overcome your sin nature, it is impossible. But developing a wholesome and personal relationship with God is key. Mark 10:27 says “…Everything is possible with God” (NLT). Jeremiah 32:17 says nothing is too hard for God. And there isn’t. God will always do His part.

2. As long as you are in your flesh, Satan will always attack you with his tricks to get you to fall. Satan uses the same tricks that we have fallen prey to over and over again. We have the free will to choose for ourselves to give into them or to say NO! I won’t give in! The fact that Satan keeps putting this temptation before you do not mean you are born that way. You are born a sinner (Romans 3:23; Genesis 3). Yes, every man and woman and child are born a sinner. However, there are many factors that come into play that determine which sins that we may become subject to – i.e. our background, the way we were raised, environmental factors, events we become victim to, elements we expose ourselves to, etc.

Changing the Mindset of Christians 

The same is true concerning the process in changing the mindset of Christians toward the gay and lesbian community. There are too many Christians who limit the power in individual’s lives in this community because of their vicious and unrealistic view toward this group. They do this by focusing too much energy on legal debates about gay rights and not enough energy on simply loving these individuals as Christ does despite their sinful nature (Romans 5:8; Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:10; 2 Peter 3:9).

Christie

 

Take a moment and go back in time when the Jewish leadership convinced Pontius Pilate to crucify Christ. How did Jesus respond to their cruelty? How did he respond to their debates and even questioning over his life? In fact, how did Jesus respond to their persecution, name calling, and verbal and physical abuses? In response to all the charges the priests, elders and the teachers of religious law (the entire high council) brought against Jesus before Pilate (the government official), Jesus said NOTHING (Mark 15:5). It was not necessary for Jesus to respond, to debate, or even fight back against the charges that was brought against him. For one, Jesus realized his battle was not with mere men (flesh) who were leading the charges against him, but his fight was with the invisible enemy. Ephesians 6:12 says, “for we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

Our battle as Christians, concerning the sins of the LGBT community, concerning our spiritual battle for their souls (lives) is not with them (flesh and blood) as too many Christian fall prey to. But our battle is with the invisible forces that have infiltrated their souls. We need become more skillful in recognizing the tricks and schemes of the devil. His vicious plights to control the lives of people (2 Corinthians 4:4). When we as Christian recognize this, we will stop the fruitless debates with LGBT leaders and others and get down to the main business which we were called.

1. To love (Matthew 5:43-48).

2. Casting out demons (Mark 16:16-18; Luke 10:17; John 14:11-13; Ephesian 6:10-18).

3. Teaching this community how to genuinely love Christ by taking steps toward repentance (Mark 16:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Matthew 28:19, 20).

4. Patiently teaching them about Christ. His love, grace and mercy and showing them how to gain everlasting life (2 Peter 3:9; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

 

Quora

 

Instead, too many Christian leaders and Christian media outlets (with the exception of CBN and Daystar) are still rejecting God’s provision to help answer and resolve this deep rooted social problem. There are Christians sitting in the congregations of many churches worldwide, who have been freed from the homosexual lifestyle. Often time, leadership are aware of their presence as well as aware of the struggles of children in their congregation with same sex attraction, adults too that are not only struggling, but maybe even engaging in such a lifestyle. And yet, leadership in the church don’t use these valuable resources that God has purposely positioned in their congregations. And we wonder why this sin has become so widespread and even have found its way in the body of Christ.

IGNORING THE CALL AS WATCHMEN

How long will Christian leadership will stand by and not make this a priority on their church agenda? How long will Christian leadership will stand by idle and allow more and more souls to suffocate and die in their sin under their watch? We are watchmen, who are expected to sound the alarm of the havoc that Satan is causing in their lives of the LGBT community (Ezekiel 33:3). If members within the LGBT community refuses to respond, then their own blood is on their own hands (Ezekiel 33:4, 5). They have chosen for themselves death over life. But if we as Christians continue to fail to make this a priority. If we continue to fail extend love to this community. If we continue to choose to ignore the silent cries for help that are screaming up to the heavens before God’s throne from this community, then we, as the watchmen are responsible for their captivity (Ezekiel 33:6,8,9) and their blood is upon our own hands. God has spoken through his apostle and demanding that we as the body of Christ act now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



We have adopted an unscriptural custom— “Just let it go” or “Let it be.” We have purposely muffled people into silence by....

 

Silent Killer

I was recently told by a family member, a popular saying that is traditionally echo to silence someone. “Just let it go.” Too often this is the turbulent approach families use to deal with family problems and drama. “Just let it go.” Or, “let it be.”  But what does this accomplish? What does it really achieve when we choose to let something go that needs to be talked about, aired out?

Let It Go

Let it go is an American idiom meaning forget it, to stop worrying about it. Its alternative phrase, let it be, which means leave the situation alone as it is. But how does one forget or let go of something that is creating a major storm within a family circle? How do you let be when a family member betrays you? Or when a sibling acts unjustifiably envious? Or when a parent or trusted family member abuses you or fails to protect you from abuse, etc.? How do you let something so tragic go?

Manifesting Itself Clinically

In the medical field, the popular term silent killer is described as any condition that may progress to very advanced stages before manifesting itself clinically.

Just let it go is a fitting idiom that can be medically labeled as a silent killer. When a family member is forced to let something go instead of properly dealing with the root cause of a problem as the Bible encourages (Matthew 5:23, 24; James 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7), that person is victimize or feels they are a victim and slowly dies emotionally. This can lead to psychological and other health problems, e.g. alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual addictions and even suicide.

 

Greenstone

 

What Is Its True Source

If God’s word does not support, nor encourages acceptable practice of just letting a matter go. What is its source?

 

John 10:10 states that the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. This silent killer, “Just let it go” or “Let it be”, has successfully fed into the fabric of our lives worldwide. Destroying individuals, breaking up families, even causing havoc in Christian's homes. The cultural acceptance and practice of letting things go is toxic. It leaves individuals feeling empty, isolated, emotional tormented, rejected, etc. At the same time, it fuels Satan’s ability to create dysfunctional family interactions.

 

Reconcile

At Matthew 5:23, 24, God’s word encourages a completely opposite interaction when addressing family dynamics. Matthew 5:23 encourages us, “Go and be reconciled to that person.” When one reconciles based on God’s word, His customs, and practices, one is brought back into fellowship or favor with another. David M. Allen, M.D., professor emeritus of psychiatry affirms, “If you change your approach to family members, it can force others to change their approach….”

 

Beg Borrow Steal Productions

 

Here’s the Assumption

Within our homes, churches, businesses and in our relationships, we have adopted an unscriptural custom— “Just let it go” or “Let it be.” We have purposely muffled people into silence by belittling or refusing to acknowledge the hurt we have caused someone else. Those who have created the problem have silence the victim by dismissing his or her claims. While those who have witnessed the problem, in a roundabout way, joined forces with the defendant, by echoing “Just let it go.” The assumption is, the problem will evidentially go away if you let it go.

 

Erroneous Understanding

In response to a blogger’s post to help those who have been ensnared by homosexuality, one anonymous commenter wrote, in his or her efforts to silence the blogger, the following.

 

"...When one claims has found peace from one homosexuality via 

religion, then why does on still cry out for help?" The commenter  

continues, "Nobody is perfect.... You will not heal by publicly  

slandering your mother."

 

Afshan Aziz

 

It was obvious from the blogger’s point of view, the anonymous commenter missed the point of the post as well as the entire scope of the blogger’s ministry.

 

God has not called us to a ministry where we keep silent, but a ministry where we proclaim the Good News by means of our personal testimonies. Luke 8:39 says in part, “declare how much God has done for you.” Also see Psalm 66:16 and Psalm 119:46.

 

King David spoke of his testimony, which included his failures. Paul referred to himself as the greatest sinner of them all because of his shortcomings (1 Timothy 1:15, 16). There are so many willing men and women in the Bible that God used, who forsake the demonic custom of being silent killers. Instead, they openly, publicly and willing shared aspects of their private lives with the world, in an open letter in God’s word in order to teach us. To provide us examples of how to live (Romans 15:4).

NAH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suiting Up For Battle

Ephesians 6:10 – "...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

 Bulent Kilic (top left), Hosam Katan (bottom left) and Kit O'Connell (right) We all are familiar with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. During modern times, the Middle East has experienced over 80 conflicts (e.g. uprising, massacres, coups, revolts, insurgencies, etc.), while taking the lives of millions of people. For some of us, similar to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, there is constant civil unrest in our lives. In response to this civil unrest, some of us have become masters at pretending, looking away from life’s problems, hoping that they will simple go away. Too many of us fail to acknowledge the real source or sources of the conflicts in our lives. Instead, we opt to take a mellow (laid-back) approach toward life problems, which leads to discontentment, unhappiness, depression - a defeated Christian life. Through our study series, Victories Don’t Come by Accident, part 2, Suiting Up For Battle, our heavenly Father wants to prove to this Life Group that this is not it. This is not the life He has for you. He is determined to prove to you that he has provided you everything you need to be victorious in this mangle world. Review the video link from last night’s lesson. Click here. Juan Pablo Di Pace, who played the role of Jesus in the TV series, AD The Bible Continues, made a simple, but very powerful statement in this clip.   “When the Holy Spirit comes to you. You will receive power.”   God gives us the power, His power, that we need to change our circumstances, to properly equip us to fight the battles that comes up in our lives. He provided us everything we need to FIGHT WELL AND WIN. Last night, we saw, when we CHOOSE to fight any of our battles without God or Holy Spirit, it is futile. Let that soak in for a minute by reading that again. When we CHOOSE to fight any of our battles without God or Holy Spirit, it is futile. It equates to going into a military conflict without the proper equipment. I cannot imagine any of you going off to fight in a military battle and leaving behind your gun, protective gear, radio for communication, etc. That’s exactly what we are electing to do each time we go into battle to deal with life problems without God. As we live out our lives from day to day, we often don’t recognize or realize there is a war going on in each of our individual world. In each of our lives, there is a strategic plan of action taken place to cause havoc in our lives. Everyday that you get up, the moment you step out of your bed, you step onto the battlefield. A battlefield that is invisible to the naked eye, but is real. A battlefield where there is   No cease fire No truce No cessation (break) of hostilities for the sole purpose of causing you to live a defeated and powerless Christian life, completely separated from God and His plan for you.   During last night Bible study, we only covered question #1 because it is vital that each of you understand the importance of preparation on your part before stepping onto your battlefield each day. Before you can properly get into your customized God’s suit of armor, you must get into His presence and prep for your day in His strength. That’s  what Ephesians 6:10 incites us to do, to “…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” As we saw last night, being strong in the Lord requires us to have a waiting attitude. To wait in faith To wait patiently for the Lord God wants to show each one us   How to reverse our poor and inadequate planning for our part, against the personalize schemes and attacks on our lives Teach and show us how to prepare and fight well How to be victorious in every aspect of our lives This requires us to be not strong in ourselves – our inadequate attempts to solve our problems independent from God. But to be completely dependent on His provisions and resources, knowing that only God can solve our problems for us – all our problems for us. King David provided a very simple formula, if applied, that guarantees you to see the scene of your battlefield start to change in your favor. Even through the duration, the intensity of your battles may increase, the victory of each battle will become yours each time. Although King David speaks of his frustration of seeing the unrighteousness prosper in these verses, Psalm 37:1-8 can be applied to any problem in life. Below are just a few key words from those verses. V1 Don’t worry…neither be envious V2 Trust in the LORD and do good V4 Delight (commit) in the LORD V5 Commit everything you do in the LORD. Trust Him. V7 Rest (be still) in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for him to act V8 Stop being angry. Turn from your rage. Don’t lose your temper. In closing, take a few minutes to journal in your notebook, areas in your life you need to learn to be more strong in the Lord. Areas where you need to learn to wait on Him in faith. Areas where you need to learn to rest in His might power. Next Monday, December 14, we will conclude, Suiting Up For Battle, by covering questions 2-5 from last Thursday’s Study Guide. I will resend the Study Guide on Thursday, December 10.