38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:38-39
Gamaliel tried to warn them!
One of the most difficult lessons my Pastor had to teach me, was not to defend myself against false accusations, a mean spirit or baseless hatred.
It was a very difficult lesson to learn, and I really had to press in, with every fiber of my being, and make my own flesh bow down. Because I honestly, from birth, can not stand a bully.
I grew up with confrontational people. So, I recognize a confrontational spirit when I see one, hear one, read one, or sense one.
The older I get, the stronger my zero tolerance policy becomes for a mean spirit. So, my deliverance is still in progress, because my flesh must be kept constantly under surveillance by the spirit.
One of the things that I LOVE about GOD the most is that… He taught me,
The Spirit of GOD is a Gentleman. The Spirit of GOD will never, “put a person on blast”, try to shame or humiliate. The Spirit of GOD does not ridicule or engage in fault finding. Man does that, not GOD.
And anyone operating in the Spirit of GOD, does not do that. “You will know them by their fruit”.
GOD asks that we build up, edify and encourage each other in the body of Christ. If GOD needs to rebuke someone, He will send a Prophet to do it.
And you never know in what manner the prophets will come. I know that everybody does not believe that we continue to be in the age of the prophetic. But Christians do, and that is who I am talking to. Christians that believe, the unredacted counsel of GOD.
God says He rejects the proud. I believe Him. GOD loves the humble. I believe Him about that too. His like-minded servants, operate in the same way, with chessed – Kindness-Tender Mercies-Patience-Humility-Love-Forgiveness-Long Suffering, to name a few. These are the Secrets to our Strength. These, are why we are still here today, Undefeated and Indestructible.
It must be that way, in order to serve the LORD GOD of Heaven.
THOSE ARE NOT OUR WEAPONS!
The enemy tries their best to get us to operate with their weapons. But we know the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. The minute we pick up the worlds weapons, we are vulnerable, and we have opened the door to spiritual threats.
Christ taught Matthew to, “Bless those that curse you, and pray for those that despitefully use you.” Then Matthew transferred the teaching to us.
This one teaching, can elevate the anointing on our lives to an incredible level.
We don’t need to get angry, enter into verbal disputes or banned battles of any kind. We don’t need to enter into word cursing competitions or word smith-ing confrontations.
IF WE JUST REALLY TRSUTED THE POWER OF PRAYER!
All we have to do is humble ourselves and pray!
Our Prayer LIFE, is our enemies worse nightmare. So we pray unceasingly and give our enemies no rest. This is how we win many battles. We need a prayer life! Not a prayer minute, or a prayer day, or a prayer season….Prayer must become a LIFESTYLE!
The POWER of Humility is Formidable!
Our Humility, alerts Angelic forces, in every realm.
Our dominion over our own flesh, to resist the urge to fight back and defend ourselves, produces that miraculous substance called Faith.
Our willingness to pray for someone, like our own life depended upon it… that’s priceless.
Prayer Places the Power in Your Spirits Hands!
When we serve GOD with every loyal fiber of our being, when we meditate on His Word Day and Night, until only our spirit can speak and our flesh has to listen, will cause our speech to become saturated in the anointing….
Then Christ in us, the Hope of Glory will arise and settle the dispute!
This is when GOD, will come for His Word to perform it!
So please, by all means, continue teaching speaking, preaching, ministering the Word of GOD.
Enemies will come… they are drawn to the WORD… I believe they either miss the anointing or they long for it!
So, let your light so shine into the world!
If your speaking love, harmony, unity and the peace of GOD is disturbing them…. Oh well. The people you are sent to communicate with, will know that you were sent to them, and they need to hear the Word from you, exactly as it was given to you!
The people you were not sent to communicate with, will know that you were not sent to them, and they still need to hear the Word from you, exactly as it was given to you.
If it were not so, why are they listening?
Either way, you are on task!
Scripture speaks far better than me, and I am particularly fond of Gamaliel’s warning…
The Apostles Before the Council
24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Gamaliel’s Counsel
33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.“
To anyone found fighting against the Men and Women of GOD, I do not recommend it. Consider this a Restraining Order!
Today’s message is dedicated to someone I do not know. But, I saw your humility and kindness. I saw that you carried yourself in a way, that is in the image and likeness of GOD. I know that reflection when I see it. It is the cornerstone of the faith!
I saw your fruit! Your virtues will always draw the Anointing, and your humility will always draw the favor of GOD. I pray anyone who comes at you like an enemy, will recognize the anointing on your life, and repent, and be made whole.
Every time I even think of this, I will pray.
Be Encouraged Man of GOD…
May the anointing settle every dispute!
Rev. S. Madison
I was only able to share this with you because I was taught this by the MOST AMAZING PASTOR EVER, who made me learn it, even when I did not want to. I’m passing this on to you, because I know from experience, that if you follow it, NO ONE CAN EVER MOVE YOU OUT OF YOUR PLACE, no matter how hard they try or what lengths they go to. Stay in your position, stay humble, don’t defend yourself, stay prayerful and protect the people of GOD to the best of your ability.
GOD will handle the wicked!
I know this, like I know my own name.
God Bless You,
Cover Photo: Doug Tunison, Unsplash.com
