Marching Orders #061... "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show!"

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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Whitehouse, TX 75791

"Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show!"

That was the title of an old song sung by Neil Diamond.

It went something like this..."Grab the old ladies, and the

babies, and ohhhhh... everyone goes...to the salvation show..." Ever been to one? Maybe you're too cautious to ever attend something like that...I'M NOT! But, unlike what you might be thinking...it wasn't a tent show I attended. It was in a sophisticated Baptist church... (not picking on the Baptists here...I still have a membership in one)... This could have happened in any denomination, but since the Pentecostals,

Catholics and Dallas Methodists have been pegged with some

unseemly behavior of late, thought I'd let you know that none of us are exempt from carnality.

Everyone was talking about the great move of God at this particular church. There were words of knowledge and big time preachers comind in; faith that moved mountains...healings... why, when the pastor waved his hand across the lines of sick people, they all fell down under the power...he could even blow on them and they fell over. People were giving to the poor...it just didn't seem like it could get any greater than this...so we not only attended, but got involved with teaching and ministering to several hundred kids that were bused in each week.

Do you ever get that rather "sick" feeling in the pit of your

stomach when things are just not quite right? I do...and every

week I attended I had to fight that Holy Spirit warning inside of me, yet, things looked fine on the outward appearance. However, I began to notice that no one was permitted to question the pastor about ANYTHING...more and more freedom was being taken away, to the place that you could not even leave the sanctuary to go to the rest room without permission from one of the deacons (guards) at the back doors... What was THIS? So I began praying for the Lord to show me what was going on.

Several weeks later I did something that met with the disapproval of the pastor...and he angrily called me down in public for it...right in the middle of the service. I was completely humiliated and crushed. I tried to talk to him after the service to apologize. He was too busy...such an important man couldn't be bothered. I left several phone messages...and they were ignored and not answered. After being on the staff for over a year, we sadly left that church bruised and forlorn, without ever being given the opportunity to talk to him before we departed. Before I continue with my story I want to say... that thriving, small town church has closed down, and at one time it had over 600 in attendance.

What WAS wrong? I Corintians 13 tells it all. You can speak

in tongues; have the gift of prophecy, fathom all mysteries, have all knowledge, and the faith to move mountains; can give all you have to the poor, and surrender your body to be burned... but if you have no love...none of this matters to God. It is a sounding gong and a clanging symbol. When we run into situations like this, the Word tells us to look for the fruit... If there is no fruit, there is no real ministry from God.

Matt. 7:15-23

"Beware of false teachers who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are wolves and will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its

fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes or

figs with thistles. Different kinds of fruit trees can quickly be identified by examining their fruit.....

Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as "Lord" but still won't get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. At

the judgment many will tell me, "Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and do many other great miracles. But I will reply, "you have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil."

Galatians 5:22 defines the fruit of the Spirit as...love, joy,

peace, long suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, faith and

self-control.

First Corinthians 13 says that love is.. patient, kind, not jealous or envious, never boastful or proud...haughty or selfish or rude. It does not demand its own way, is not irritable or touchy, and does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong; it is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. I especially like verse 7...

"If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what

the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him."

I'm convinced that God wanted to move mightily at that church and with that particular pastor...but all the signs showed that there was no genuine love, no fruit, but arrogance and pride. I'm not his judge, only God has the right to judge His servants, nor am I bitter...I've prayed for him often. But neither am I unfamiliar with what God's Word tells to be cautious of.

None of us want to be sent away unexpectely from God with the words, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity. I never knew you!" So, check your love level often! And where you are falling short... ask for forgiveness and His strength and ability to love as He has told us to love.

In Him, and He in me,

Marlene

MARCHING ORDERS #61

Marching orders are compiled from paraphrased verses out of the Living Bible. No commentary is added...they are the pure Word of God.

"As Christ's soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army." II Timothy 2:4 L/B

When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: patience, kindness.

“I am Jehovah, the merciful and gracious God,” he said, “Slow to anger and rich in steadfast love and truth.”

Live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. - Be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. - The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others. - Love is very patient and kind.

After a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. - Now as for you, dear brothers who are waiting for the Lord’s return, be patient, like a farmer who waits until the autumn for his precious harvest to ripen. Yes, be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

(Living Bible:)

Galatians 5:22.

Exodus 34:6.

Eph. 4:1-2. - Eph. 4:32. - James 3:17. - I Cor. 13:4.

Gal. 6:9. - James 5:7-8.

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