Sufficient for resistance

Friends,

How many of our leaders have been exposed as corrupt? The past few years have seen elected officials of every political stripe toppled from power for bribery, lascivious behavior, theft, and the persistent abuse of their power. They vehemently proclaim their innocence (I don't know how that money got in my freezer!), but you and I know better.

Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,
That he may set his nest on high,
That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
You give shameful counsel to your house,
Cutting off many peoples,
And sin against your soul.
Habakkuk 2:9-10 [NKJV]

Of course, this behavior isn't new, nor is it unique to any nation or system of government. And, in any case, the point is not about politics or power.

You and I are leaders in our households and in our communities ... however those are defined. You and I are to exercise dominion and control over our personal house, as well ... our thoughts, words and actions. Do we seek to gain that which is evil? Do we look for ways to avoid disaster (financial or otherwise) through any means that fall short of God's holy standards?

These are dangerous temptations. And the truth is that no one is immune to them. The fear of losing a job or home could easily weaken our resolve against compromise.

But the grace of Jesus is sufficient to resist those temptations.

Be encouraged, Jose

Not always convenient

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
Acts 16:16-19 (NKJV)

The walk of ministry demands a touch of gentleness, caring and understanding. It also demands decisiveness and fierceness in the face of hypocrisy and deceitfulness operating under the guise of holiness. These demons of deceit and hypocrisy must be confronted and brought under subjection both in our lives and in our work of ministry. Paul never spared the profit making and fortune-telling spirit in the girl that followed them. She followed them for the wrong reason, not to be saved but to align deceitfully with the men of God with the aim to increase her clientele and access to the body of Christ for personal gain and not Kingdom gain. If that activity we partake in will not bring increase to God's Kingdom, sincerely we need to re-evaluate things.

Paul and Silas placed Kingdom interest above others. Certainly not always convenient, but an example and principle of Kingdom walk that we must follow.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi