Shield of Faith Pentecostal Church

A man went to the Pastor of his church and said, I won't be attending Church anymore. Pastor said, May I ask why? He said, I see people on their cell phones texting and typing during the service, some are gossiping, some just aren’t living right, some are sleeping, some are staring at me, they are all just hypocrites. The Pastor was silent. Then he said, Can I ask you to do something for me before you make your final decision? He said, Sure, what's that?... He said, Take a glass of water and walk around the church two times and don't let any water fall out of the glass. He said, Yes I can do that! He went and got the glass of water and walked around the church two times. He came back and said proudly, It's done. The pastor asked him these questions; Did you see anybody on their phone?; Did you see anybody gossiping?; Was anybody living wrong?; Did you see anyone sleeping? He said, I didn't see anything because I was so focused on this glass, so the water wouldn't spill out. He told him, When you come to church, you should be just that focused on God, so that you don't fall. That’s why Jesus said, Follow Me, He did not say Follow them. Don't let your relationship with God, be determined by how others relate with God. Let it be determined by how focused you are with God.

Your success is good for God! We oftentimes see God, in the bible, saying For my name’s sake (e.g. see Psalm 23:3; Ezekiel 20:44; Psalm 25:11). This is another way of God saying because of His reputation. Our God is known as being the greatest and matchless compared to all else. Ephesians 1:11 (NIV) says, In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will... We have been chosen (in advance) to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, and He is working out everything and causing it to conform to His plan because our wellbeing reflects on His Kingship reputation.

I can’t wait until I get grown! Most children at some point in their lives say this - implying that once I am old enough, I will be able to do what I want and not what you say. Similarly, many believers are saying the same thing when they say that we no longer have to keep the law because of grace. Paul warns of this mentality when he says don’t use grace as a license to continue sinning (see Galatians 3:13). Peter responds don’t use the freedom that grace gives as a cover up for evil (see I Peter 2:16 NIV). Jesus says, Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (see Matthew 5:17 NIV) Grace was given so that anyone (in the state of sin) could come back into fellowship with God and to resume keeping His laws.