Enthusiasm not necessarily the evidence of the Spirit.

Enthusiasm can create an atmosphere that one can mistaken for being a spiritual experience. If you would attend Heinz Field (Steelers home field) during post season play, you would feel an electric in the air. One person said "there is no place like Heinz Field during post season football." The excitement and anticipation coming from and being generated by 70,000 fans creates an atmosphere that literally feels charged. What is the difference between that than our worship services in church? Carnality cannot recognize the difference but true spiritual discernment can. We can become so enthused about the songs/music serving me and elevating my feelings that I can lose focus of Christ. Worship music and singing is not about me or even to be directed to me but rather its all about Jesus Christ and for him. People come to church many times with the thought "I hope they can sing me happy..." when in reality, I should come to worship already happy. In old times, citizens of a kingdom did not come to worship, they brought their worship. May we learn the same lesson.

Responding to correction

The way a person responds to correction will determine their growth. Look @ the following responses when one is corrected: one will say "Thank You" while another will say "you are judging me" and yet another will say nothing and leave offended. Which one demonstrated a humble spirit and will grow as a result? A "Teachable Spirit" is a must for spiritual growth. If you can't learn, you can't grow, if you can't grow, you can't lead and be an example for others.

 Proverbs 15:32 (KJV)
³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.  

Proverbs 9:8 (KJV)
⁸ Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Called to preach??

I think the word "ministry" is a bit overworked today. I also believe many are going into ministry who were never called to one of the five-fold ministry gifts. Some years back, the Lord laid upon my heart certain things to think about and evaluate before seriously going into the ministry.

1. Loving to study, pray, witness, etc, are not the signs of the five-fold ministry gifts. These are all to be a normal christian experience. We see so few people who are on "fire" that when is we automatically assume they have been called to preach. All Christians should be on fire and zealous of the Lord. 

2. Never mistake natural zeal in salvation for being called to preach.

3. What is God calling you to do?
       i. Is it to pioneer a church?
       ii. Is it to be a supporting role at your existing church?
       iii. Is it to evangelize?
When God calls he always has a plan and there will be a time of development. This requires the person to find the answer through prayer.

4.  Remember that a person in position is held to a higher place of accountability.
James 3:1 (KJV)
¹ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

5.  The word desire in the following verse is not a mere whim but rather an irrepressible desire. No one will be able to talk you out of this calling.
1 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
¹ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.



6. Forget thinking that somehow being a minister is glamorous. The following explains that we as minsters are walking in a world surrounded by ravenous people ready to destroy us.
Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.


7. The ministry is not a place for the lazy to hide out because of seeing some sort of occupation of cheap effort paying great dividends of a title that demands respect from all others. Paul referred many times to the ministry as a labor and work. On several occasions Greek word was used that was synonymous with agony.

8. Operating outside of one's calling will lead to ineffectiveness and even confusion. Nothing sadder than a person who was called to lead worship but instead is pastoring. When a person has been called to preach, there should be an evidence when they speak that it is a gift. Too many pulpits are filled with men and women who have no unction when it comes to speaking. 

If you have sensed God's call upon your life, then pray and confirm God's direction and timing for your life and ministry. If God appoints, he will anoint. If he has given a function he will give an unction.

Creflo Dollar ordering people back to Long's church - Really!!

Preachers are to be above reproach both within the church and outside the church. They are biblically held to a higher standard and James stated that they would receive greater judgment because of their position. To call what Long has done a mere wreck is offensive at best. What about the four boys who at the time were just boys? I wonder what the families of these young boys think about his supposed wreck? What if that was your teenage son and you heard a preacher dismissing the adults failure flippantly as a fender bender? Me, I would be outraged!!

Long's long list of fender benders doesn't even stop at homosexuality. He swindled his own congregation out of countless dollars on a ponzi scheme he endorsed and pushed! How is that for a loving shepherd? How about telling those people who trusted their pastor after they lost life's savings that he merely had a fender bender.

I make no apologies, these pulpit pimps need rode out town on the first train to nowhere!
Ordering people back to Long's church??? What for, to subject your children to a pedophile and a swindler? Not to mention other areas of his life that is questionable. 

Even the world has better sense than the church. A train that wrecks... the engineer is called in question immediately and if he is found to be at fault for negligence or indulging in illegal substance he is prosecuted and disciplined. Good and right! We in the church - call it a fender bender and if you were caught in the melee - well, sorry you need to ride his train without question!

Should we forgive? Absolutely, what that means is, set him down in the back of the church until he re-proves himself. Not back behind the pulpit the next week calling it a fender bender. Ministers must understand that there are consequences attached to sin.

James 3:1 (KJV)
¹ My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (judgment).



1 Timothy 3:7 (KJV)
⁷ Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.