A call to action for Christ's Body

[JosephsDreams]

Basically, God has gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of His way to equip and teach me His ways, but every time I try to put that to use walls spring up so fast they'll make your head spin. Well, not all the time, one out of every 1,000 or so attempts actually gets accomplished. But that's the thing, God has shown me enough to know it's for real, but He's also shown me enough to know that those percentages are NOT acceptable. I receive a financial windfall and try to share it with the less fortunate and they won't take it - of 9 donations totaling $8500, after 2 months only 4 have acknowledged receipt and only 3 have cashed the checks. God leads us to this fortress of a home in a rural town, and yet when people there are being driven from their homes God has me tied to a chair in California. I get talking to a stranger who's having problems and God gives me wisdom about what's going on and I try to reach out and give them comforting words, and another human being will literally appear out of thin air to stand between us. 57 years of this. Stymied, stonewalled, irrelevant. That's what I want on my headstone, it's the only accurate way to describe my life. Despite all that God has done to prepare me to be sooooooooo much more.

And most people think it's because it's not my time. But again, scripture please. Yes I know Moses waited. And certain followers were told not to go to specific places. But honestly, show me one post-commission scripture that says some will be held in reserve. Not buying it.

Last year, I spent in hell. You know what happens to idle hands - and lips. I don't want to do that again. But that requires my hands and lips be freed to do what Jesus commissioned us to do.

Sorry. Don't mean to hijack the thread. But honestly, the only thing keeping me from eating the shotgun at this point is the certainty that that too will fail.

Yes, I am that big a loser.

Thank You Lord.

Reading this, I am inclined to believe that either you are a dramatic threat to satans kingdom, or you have a continual transgression going on. Or of course, it is not your time.
Is it possible you are not learning lessons that God keeps trying to teach you?
Are you behind in developing your gift(s)?
Are you out of geographical location? Not where God wants you?
Do you have unforgiveness in your life?
Or, I am going to ask you straight out? You never addressed it. Do you have a sin issue that is blocking your ministry?
Is there a generational issue?
Please don't be mad at me for asking these personal questions, but on the surface, unless you answered (to yourself, you don't have to answer them publicly) yes to one of more of my questions, it just doesn't add up.
As a disclaimer, I prayed for you the other day, but not in length. I had my tooth pulled and had a implant inserted on Sunday, and I feel like crap. So I have no spiritual insight into this. I am speaking here from my experiences and me observing and speaking to other Christians regarding this type of thing.
When I feel better I will pray in more depth about this.
Do you go to church? Have you discussed this with any other Christians in real life?
Have you been prayed over and prayed for by real deal Christians?
If so, do you trust what they said?
Even without praying in detail about this, one thing I can confidently say is that the issue is not with God, but with you. Whatever it may be. And it could be a simple as a lackluster prayer life, not reading the word, people you hang out with, maybe even your diet, to some extent.
While I can understand you have been stymied, we all have at times, 57 years is way to long.
Are you at least making spiritual progress, getting closer to God and the fruits of the spirit becoming more and more evident?

 

[Jeauris]

What about Christians who are ready and willing, but unable to act because God is "holding them in reserve for a greater future use"?

I would say as the Word says, that at least in prayer or whatever way we can: "... Do good always, whether convenient, inconvenient... Redeem the time (if you are laid up in a hospital, depressed and physically disabled and all you can do is smile at someone or pray)"

 

[Jeauris]

Have I experienced this ... only for the last 57 years. Nearly every. single. effort. I make to fulfill the great commission gets stonewalled, stymied, and made irrelevant. Ran a thread dedicated to this very issue recently. Consensus is, it's not my time. But I'm still lacking scriptures to back that theory up. So I don't buy it. Yet here we are.

It's really becoming a HUGE problem

I have been where you are actually - Sometimes if you are very broken, He needs to heal you for a time and THAT is your walk of faith and testimony: YOU ARE STILL HERE!!! And serving Christ. Whatever manor that is- whether preaching the Gospel or being in a place that feels helpless, it is your walk none others

 

[Jeauris]

This is part of the issue, for sure. But surprisingly you are only the second person to think it may be from satan.

Here's the thread I mentioned, if you are interested https://christianchat.com/miscellaneous/insulated-from-the-great-commission.182741/

OK. Now that I have read your original post and prayed I think that some of this at least is from the enemy. Right off the top - I thing the Lord would have you give 10% of your inheritance to Him, and it just does not sound like God to me to say do nothing. The Word says "Pray at all times about all things."

I honestly do not know exactly what God has for you but seek Him, submit to Him, read His Word, Resist the Devil, ask and ackngolege Him as King in all your life and He will make your path strait! Prayers for you

 

[Jeauris]

Basically, God has gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of His way to equip and teach me His ways, but every time I try to put that to use walls spring up so fast they'll make your head spin. Well, not all the time, one out of every 1,000 or so attempts actually gets accomplished. But that's the thing, God has shown me enough to know it's for real, but He's also shown me enough to know that those percentages are NOT acceptable. I receive a financial windfall and try to share it with the less fortunate and they won't take it - of 9 donations totaling $8500, after 2 months only 4 have acknowledged receipt and only 3 have cashed the checks. God leads us to this fortress of a home in a rural town, and yet when people there are being driven from their homes God has me tied to a chair in California. I get talking to a stranger who's having problems and God gives me wisdom about what's going on and I try to reach out and give them comforting words, and another human being will literally appear out of thin air to stand between us. 57 years of this. Stymied, stonewalled, irrelevant. That's what I want on my headstone, it's the only accurate way to describe my life. Despite all that God has done to prepare me to be sooooooooo much more.

And most people think it's because it's not my time. But again, scripture please. Yes I know Moses waited. And certain followers were told not to go to specific places. But honestly, show me one post-commission scripture that says some will be held in reserve. Not buying it.

Last year, I spent in hell. You know what happens to idle hands - and lips. I don't want to do that again. But that requires my hands and lips be freed to do what Jesus commissioned us to do.

Sorry. Don't mean to hijack the thread. But honestly, the only thing keeping me from eating the shotgun at this point is the certainty that that too will fail.

Yes, I am that big a loser.

Thank You Lord.

Its not about how well you do. Ask Him for boldness in the face of obstacles. Ask Him to tear down the walls, open doors only He can open and do not settle for being defeated. Go to the main street of your town and preach the Gospel - hand out John 3:16 flyers, and if the enemy come against you say "Devil get out of my way in Jesus name; Lord, take care of this for me." LEt me know and all of us as you contuniue the good walk of faith, not sight.

 

[AuntieAnt]

Oswald Chambers “Utmost For His Highest” Devotional for today seems very applicable.

"Do you now believe?"

“Now we believe….” But Jesus asks, “Do you…? Indeed the hour is coming…that you…will leave Me alone.” (John 16:31-32).

Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with God by leaning on our own religious understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is not deliberate sin and there is no punishment attached to it. But once a person realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and caused uncertainties, sorrows, and difficulties for himself, it is with shame and remorse that he has to return.

We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own commonsense decisions and then asking Him to bless them. He cannot bless them; it is not in His realm to do so, and those decisions are severed from reality. If we do something simply out of a sense of duty, we are trying to live up to a standard that competes with Jesus Christ. We become a prideful, arrogant person, thinking we know what to do in every situation. We have put our sense of duty on the throne of our life, instead of enthroning the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to “walk in the light” of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to “walk in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7).

When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation— just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood.

 

[Jeauris]

Oswald Chambers “Utmost For His Highest” Devotional for today seems very applicable.

"Do you now believe?"

“Now we believe….” But Jesus asks, “Do you…? Indeed the hour is coming…that you…will leave Me alone.” (John 16:31-32).

Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with God by leaning on our own religious understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is not deliberate sin and there is no punishment attached to it. But once a person realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and caused uncertainties, sorrows, and difficulties for himself, it is with shame and remorse that he has to return.

We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own commonsense decisions and then asking Him to bless them. He cannot bless them; it is not in His realm to do so, and those decisions are severed from reality. If we do something simply out of a sense of duty, we are trying to live up to a standard that competes with Jesus Christ. We become a prideful, arrogant person, thinking we know what to do in every situation. We have put our sense of duty on the throne of our life, instead of enthroning the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to “walk in the light” of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to “walk in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7).

When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation— just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood.

Indeed obedience to The Spirit is essential and Christ did nothing but what He saw the Father doing.

But Paul, simply, instructs Saints to "follow me as I follow Christ" (Who only does what He sees the Father doing. But if you say there is no duty, then you are deceived i believe. There are many duties that a Saint has which are prescribed under and all-in-all in "Love The Lord your God wiht all your heart, soul, strenhth.. love neighbor as yourslef." Some duties commanded of us include:

(All paraphrases - you can look up Bible verses if you like for exact wording)

"If a brother comes to you with need of food, rent money, and you have it to give, but you say 'God bless you,' you know not Christ."

"If a brother asks you to walk a mile with him, walk ten; if he asks for you shirt, give him your coat also"

"Wives love and obey your husbands.. husbands love your wives.. bring up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord."

"Redeem the time... for the days are evil"

"give yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable - your reasonable duty"

etc

 

[RickyZ]

OK. Now that I have read your original post and prayed I think that some of this at least is from the enemy. Right off the top - I thing the Lord would have you give 10% of your inheritance to Him, and it just does not sound like God to me to say do nothing. The Word says "Pray at all times about all things."

I honestly do not know exactly what God has for you but seek Him, submit to Him, read His Word, Resist the Devil, ask and ackngolege Him as King in all your life and He will make your path strait! Prayers for you

I received right about 100k from the inheritance. Planned to give 10k, but after spreading 8500 amongst 9 different charities, and only 4 having actually accept it, I'm taking the remaining 1500 to vegas.

 

[RickyZ]

Reading this, I am inclined to believe that either you are a dramatic threat to satans kingdom, or you have a continual transgression going on. Or of course, it is not your time.
Is it possible you are not learning lessons that God keeps trying to teach you?

No. I say no because I have been allowed to put those lessons to use with success - in one out of 1,000+ opportunities. The other 999+ times? The wall appears.


Are you behind in developing your gift(s)?

No, again, I've been part of some incredible miracles using the gifts. Again, in only one out of 1000+ opportunities. Again, it's not that they don't work, but that I refuse to accept these percentages as acceptable.

Are you out of geographical location? Not where God wants you?

No, just the opposite. I am most definitely where HE placed me. Without a doubt.

Do you have unforgiveness in your life?

Who doesn't? Actually, given the path of the last year, the only one I currently do not forgive is God.

Or, I am going to ask you straight out? You never addressed it. Do you have a sin issue that is blocking your ministry?

I do have sin issues, but they arise out of being idled. If I had a ministry I wouldn't have these issues because I wouldn't have to look for things to do in the confines of my room.

Is there a generational issue?

Hoboy, that is a big one. I have seen the same demon wrapped around my father and my little brother like a winter coat. I know this is a familial demon, but having seen it, I have rejected it in Jesus' Name. The issues that afflict them do not afflict me (basically laziness and a lack of respect or appreciation for what others do for them). Believe me, I do respect and appreciate what people do for me, SINCE IT HAPPENS SO INFREQUENTLY.

Please don't be mad at me for asking these personal questions,

Never, I appreciate any thoughts you may have on this.

but on the surface, unless you answered (to yourself, you don't have to answer them publicly) yes to one of more of my questions, it just doesn't add up.
As a disclaimer, I prayed for you the other day, but not in length. I had my tooth pulled and had a implant inserted on Sunday, and I feel like crap. So I have no spiritual insight into this. I am speaking here from my experiences and me observing and speaking to other Christians regarding this type of thing.
When I feel better I will pray in more depth about this.

Do you go to church? Have you discussed this with any other Christians in real life?

Kinda. I consider this a form of church (at least as far as putting my mind on God and studying His word). I'm kinda surrounded by Lutherans, who you know do not accept or work in the gifts. I lean more towards the Charismatic thing, with the caveat that I believe a whole lot of them violate 1 Cor 14 in how they operate. And yes I have talked to other Christians, who overwhelmingly believe in the "it's not my time' scenario, despite being unable to produce scripture to back that up.

Have you been prayed over and prayed for by real deal Christians?

Yep. Was told by one of them I would leave the church I was then in after 6 months because no one would form a relationship with me. When I left for just that reason, the pastor said God told him to "let me go".

If so, do you trust what they said?

Seeing as what was said came true, yes. Except for the 'not my time' fallacy.

Even without praying in detail about this, one thing I can confidently say is that the issue is not with God, but with you. Whatever it may be. And it could be a simple as a lackluster prayer life, not reading the word, people you hang out with, maybe even your diet, to some extent.

It could be but - I've spent time on my knees in fasting and prayer. I've spent time studying the Word (even put in 3 years in Bible college just for my own understanding). I have done every. single. thing. God has requested of me and more. And yet the wall still magically appears every time I get close to doing something God has commissioned us to do. I honestly believe the blockage is coming from God. But I also know that satan is taking advantage of that situation.

While I can understand you have been stymied, we all have at times, 57 years is way to long.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.

Are you at least making spiritual progress, getting closer to God and the fruits of the spirit becoming more and more evident?

Some people describe their life as 2 steps forward, one back. Mine is one step forward, 1,000 steps marching in place getting nowhere. Except for this last year. Currently, my relationship with God is at it's lowest point ever in 57 years. Never, ever, have I been so angry with Him. But the anger is a result of the stonewalling, not a cause of it. It wasn't always that way.

Thank you. My responses are in red above.

I do appreciate your concern.

 

[RickyZ]

This is the closest scripture I can think of to what you're talking about
Ecclesiastes 3: 1. For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun. 7. A time for undoing and a time for stitching; a time for keeping quiet and a time for talk.

And with Christ's ascension, began the time to go forth and spread His word among the people.

 

[RickyZ]

"If a brother comes to you with need of food, rent money, and you have it to give, but you say 'God bless you,' you know not Christ."

"If a brother asks you to walk a mile with him, walk ten; if he asks for you shirt, give him your coat also"

"Wives love and obey your husbands.. husbands love your wives.. bring up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord."

"Redeem the time... for the days are evil"

"give yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable - your reasonable duty"

etc

My brothers and sisters in the midwest needed protection from floods and freezing. I have been given exactly what they needed then (sandbagging and flood diversion training and skills, and a warm fortress with room for many) but was prevented from using them. See, that's the issue. The Bible tells a story about servants who were given 'talents'. Those who invested them were rewarded, the one who hid them was scolded. But never in the passage does it describe the servant who tried to invest but was denied deposit. THAT is where I am at. I have been given many many useful gifts - and then systematically denied any and nearly all opportunities to use them.

 

[RickyZ]

Honestly, I watch 100 people get in a situation, take a particular course of action, and get a particular response. I get in that situation, take that course of action, and what comes out of it can only be described as pure insanity. It's like I'm a radio transmitter, and anyone who gets within transmission range, their brains just scramble.

 

[RickyZ]

Like I said, at this point I'd just as soon eat the shotgun, except I know with 99.999% certainty that it would fail too.

 

[JosephsDreams]

Thank you. My responses are in red above.

I do appreciate your concern.

God bless you R.

 

[Jeauris]

My brothers and sisters in the midwest needed protection from floods and freezing. I have been given exactly what they needed then (sandbagging and flood diversion training and skills, and a warm fortress with room for many) but was prevented from using them. See, that's the issue. The Bible tells a story about servants who were given 'talents'. Those who invested them were rewarded, the one who hid them was scolded. But never in the passage does it describe the servant who tried to invest but was denied deposit. THAT is where I am at. I have been given many many useful gifts - and then systematically denied any and nearly all opportunities to use them.

How were you prevented from using them?

 

[Jeauris]

I received right about 100k from the inheritance. Planned to give 10k, but after spreading 8500 amongst 9 different charities, and only 4 having actually accept it, I'm taking the remaining 1500 to vegas.

Don;t do that! Give to CBN or something else on your heart - are you sure that is what happened??

 

[Bingo]

"Let us be ever mindful...the 'adversary' has many 'faces'. For has it not been told of...
all shall be witness to a 'great falling away from God'...the end was known from the beginning,
carries a chilling...wake up!"
"Ponder this attachment carefully."
'Praise God'

 

[kaylagrl]

Have I experienced this ... only for the last 57 years. Nearly every. single. effort. I make to fulfill the great commission gets stonewalled, stymied, and made irrelevant. Ran a thread dedicated to this very issue recently. Consensus is, it's not my time. But I'm still lacking scriptures to back that theory up. So I don't buy it. Yet here we are.

It's really becoming a HUGE problem

I can't speak to you situation but I can tell you the years my family was in ministry it seemed we were blocked at every turn. During that time I lost both my grandmothers, along with my great aunt, to cancer. My mother's sister passed away at 43 to stomach cancer. My grandfather to heart disease. There were literally days we would visit our dying loved ones in the hospital and then go and minister that evening.

On top of all this we had a split in the church that was so horrific that people that split off refused to speak to anyone from our church in public. It got so bad that the whole town was talking about it !! We'd come home an our church was a mess with no pastor,people in town that we use to worship with would turn their head and not speak to us. So yes,I understand what you mean. But you must push through those barriers. We need all hands on deck. The devil will throw everything in your path,trust me. But stand firm and keep going forward. God was with us,He will do the same for anyone willing to do His work.

 

[kaylagrl]

Basically, God has gone waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of His way to equip and teach me His ways, but every time I try to put that to use walls spring up so fast they'll make your head spin. Well, not all the time, one out of every 1,000 or so attempts actually gets accomplished. But that's the thing, God has shown me enough to know it's for real, but He's also shown me enough to know that those percentages are NOT acceptable. I receive a financial windfall and try to share it with the less fortunate and they won't take it - of 9 donations totaling $8500, after 2 months only 4 have acknowledged receipt and only 3 have cashed the checks. God leads us to this fortress of a home in a rural town, and yet when people there are being driven from their homes God has me tied to a chair in California. I get talking to a stranger who's having problems and God gives me wisdom about what's going on and I try to reach out and give them comforting words, and another human being will literally appear out of thin air to stand between us. 57 years of this. Stymied, stonewalled, irrelevant. That's what I want on my headstone, it's the only accurate way to describe my life. Despite all that God has done to prepare me to be sooooooooo much more.

And most people think it's because it's not my time. But again, scripture please. Yes I know Moses waited. And certain followers were told not to go to specific places. But honestly, show me one post-commission scripture that says some will be held in reserve. Not buying it.

Last year, I spent in hell. You know what happens to idle hands - and lips. I don't want to do that again. But that requires my hands and lips be freed to do what Jesus commissioned us to do.

Sorry. Don't mean to hijack the thread. But honestly, the only thing keeping me from eating the shotgun at this point is the certainty that that too will fail.

Yes, I am that big a loser.

Thank You Lord.

I feel your pain,I really do. Our "home" church didn't support us. Oh the liked the idea that we were "famous" but they did not pray for us nor help us financially except for a few people giving small amounts that we appreciated greatly. Our pastor, who I grew up with and was close to said to us in a service one morning "we cannot take on your burdens". Despite being the one that was all behind us when we started in ministry. Personally I think he was jealous of the attention. People told us if God really wanted us in ministry we'd be more "successful." I guess seeing souls saved doesn't count as "successful". One weekend we sang at a church where the pastor, a close friend of ours, lay on his death bed while we took the service that evening. You can only imagine the grief. That same weekend my grandmother lay dying from a brain tumor. The pastor and my grandmother both died that weekend.


During this time we moved into a new home when we moved stateside from Canada. I was still living at home with my parents and sister,traveling full time. One day my sister and I were home alone and a phone call came from Canada. My cousins husband had gone out hunting with his son . As they were hunting he realized he had left something in his truck. He turned to go get it and stepped into the line of fire. His own son shot him full in the head, he died right there. The odd thing about it was when we would travel and sing in the area my cousin would come to hear us but he never would. I believe he was an atheist. The last time we were there before he died I asked if he was coming to the service that night and he said the roof would cave in if he ever went to church. So we went on to set up our equipment for the service that night and I turned around and there was my cousin and her husband!! I looked up and said "the roof is still there"!! He laughed. I don't know if he ever made a confession of faith but he heard the Gospel that night. He said the last time he'd been in a church was when he was married. I hope that before he died he came to the Lord.


Brother I share all this to tell you you are NOT a loser. I believe it was Ravenhill who said "When God opens the windows of heaven to bless us, the devils opens the gates of hell to blast us!! " Do not let him win and do not give in!! I want to encourage you to press on!!

 

[RickyZ]

How were you prevented from using them?

the wall. There is ALWAYS something placed in the way. ALWAYS.

My wife cognitally tests out only a point or two above the down syndrome scale. Because of this I cannot leave her alone, she is unable to care for herself. She is also fatally attached to her mother, who has been in a coma for over 3 years now. She sits pretty much every day next to her mom. And I can't separate them, she would never comprehend why I would do such a thing. So, even tho God led us to a fortress on high ground in an area needing help, He refuses to take my dear sweet suffering mother in law home. And because of that, while many were driven from their homes by freezes and floods, I was unable to help because God has us sitting on our @sses in California where we are unable to do anything.

That is the Readers digest version of that particular issue. But every issue has the same walls. God tells us to share a financial windfall with the less fortunate. Which we did. And 2 months down the road, 5 out of 9 of those recipients HAVE STILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT AND CASHED THE CHECKS. This included a Bible camp trying to raise 2.5 million to rebuild and expand their facilities.

Same with personal interactions. I cross paths with someone in trouble. God gives me insight and I try to say a few words, and literally, people appear out of thin air to interrupt the conversation.

God gives me an education in the proper time and place uses of the gifts - and then buries me in Lutherans who want nothing to do with them.

And on and on and on and on and on it goes. He hands us blessing and then refuses to allow us to use them. He places things within sight but out of reach.

I swear God must be a mason, because no human could ever erect walls that fast.