We had a lovely prayer time last Thursday night. And we all had to state which was our biggest hurdle in our personal lives; pride or greed or lust. People quickly shared what was their main hurdle, or the thorn in their side in their Christian walk. We all have one. We must. For without a hurdle, we neither need God nor need to repent; thereby we don’t need God. That’s was why God said to Paul- keep your thorn, that is the major problem with your character. You get to keep it 2 Cor 12:7. And you get to repent daily from it. And I will forgive it 77 x 7 (Mth 18: 22), meaning all your life I will forgive it. Now, carry your cross Lk 9: 23. So, the reality is this; do you admit your weakness, do you pray for it daily, or do you just “pray” without ceasing, for absolutely nothing, as you failed the very first lesson of Christianity- confess and repent. Yes to God, but actually, to each other. What a few people noticed last Thursday night, most of the people there are leaders in MCC- and the two most common thorns were pride and lust. But what made me blessed if you will; greed was not an issue to any person on Thursday night. Now greed is actually at the core of human nature. Paul says it is the root of all kinds of evil 1 Tim 6: 10- and of the big 3 sins, no one mentioned it. This was personally very encouraging to me. It meant that all the pounding away at giving, giving, giving- reached it desired goal; Thursday people are generous people. And that testifies in many areas of their lives. Strong not only in giving, but strong in leadership, strong in character, and one is not blind, they are affluent. Many lessons to learn here. But we must always remember, affluence, true affluence, is not measured by material wealth, but by spiritual wealth Rev 2: 9. Material generosity produces spiritual wealth. Lust and pride, major issues, we must fight always. Just as we are told do not tire of doing good Gal 6: 9 at the same time, we do get tired of fighting sin and yield to its desires. Eph 4: 19- and in Is 57: 10- tired of it all. Recognize it all. Still do it. This is Paul’s very statement. He was hiding nothing. No good leader will hide behind hypocrisy, but say it as it is- Rom 7: 19 the evil I do not want to do is right there with me….I do it. I don’t want to lust, I do. I don’t want to be proud, I do. Its right there. I see it. I recognize it. I do. Verse 24 what a wretched man I am. So, we know who we are, what we do, what we think. We have forgiveness in Christ. But we must fight. That’s why Paul asks, who can rescue me, from me? Only Christ Rom 7: 25. The issue is never about do we sin. We do. 1 John 1: 8. The issue is not does sin disqualify us from heaven? It doesn’t. That’s why we have Jesus. The real question is; do you say it before the LORD? Daily? Jesus, I am so sorry I lust after xxxxxxxxx. They issue is, do you say it, verbalize it daily? Lord, please help me, I am so proud of who I am…do you state how, when, where, why? These are the real questions. Unless of course you are perfect and pride, greed and lust are not your sins. Please tell me who you are, so I can bow down and worship you.
MCC Admin
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