“What You Forfeit, When Fighting Over…Stuff?”

Psalm 133:1-3, “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.” (MSG)

My friend Lynn and her comical puppy adventure, kept many of us at the office laughing for days on end! You see, that was the lunch time talk around our office when one of our team members became the proud owner of eight new puppies! Each day seemed to bring a new episode; especially as Lynn would compare the ways of the puppies with the ways of people. For example, she told us one day about trying to replenish their food. Her intention was to load up their container with a lot of good things. But they really made it very difficult for that to happen. How? Well, the puppies were too busy fighting over two little pieces that were left in the corner, to even notice the abundance their master had in her hands, ready to pour out for them!

Which brought to mind Psalm 133:1, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity...it is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore." (NIV)

Do you get what God's saying here? In essence, "I've got so many good things I want to give you." But, notice when He gives it…it’s when we "LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY." I wonder how often God feels a little like my friend Lynn did. She wanted to pour out good things for her puppies, in essence, "I want to, but they're all getting in the way. I want to, but they’re too busy and distracting fighting over a little piece for themselves in the corner."

Makes you wonder just how much of God’s blessings we’re missing out on, because we’re too busy fighting each other for a little piece in the Corner, when He’s trying to give us a blessing that we don’t even have Room enough to receive!

Truth be told, it happens in marriages too. God wants to do some wonderful things in a couple, for a couple, but they're just focused on each defending their territory, getting their own way in their marriage. Not realizing the big blessings that are being forfeited because God isn’t trying to bless us individually, He’s trying to bless us as a Unit, as a Couple, as a Team. Instead of trying to receive from God for US, many couples are too busy in a corner fighting each other over a little piece for themselves.

God wants to bless some parents and children as well, but they're too busy staking out their ground, trying to again get their own way. Parents, God isn’t trying to bless just the two of you, nor children, is God trying to bless only you. No, God is blessing us as a whole when we dwell together in UNITY!

The word “unity” is defined as “the state of being in full agreement; a condition of harmony.” One of its synonyms is “balance”. And by definition, “balance” means “the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling; a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance; equality; stability.” And one of its synonyms is “equilibrium.” And by definition “equilibrium” means “a state in which opposing forces or actions are balanced so that one is not stronger or greater than the other; a state of emotional balance or calmness.” This is what God blesses! The unit, the team, the people of God coming together in harmony and balance. The people of God bringing the Body of Christ into a level of Stability where our Equilibrium is no longer off, no longer one-sided. As different as we are, we can come together in unity and balance out the body so we can all be collectively blessed, not worrying about one being stronger, better, greater, more gifted or more qualified. But being concerned that we are fulfilling the Scriptures to be of one mind, heart and spirit!

Acts 4:32, “Now the company of believers was of ONE heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of ALL.” (AMP) Can you imagine how blessed we the people of God would be if we possessed this kind of mindset?! One that’s not concerned with just me, my marriage, my children, my health, my finances, my future, my stuff! But instead, a body of balanced believers that desire God’s blessings to be equally distributed to ALL His children.

Romans 15:6, “so that with ONE accord you may with ONE voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (AMP) Can you imagine the church being on one accord in such a way that in praise and worship it sounds like just one voice? When we glorify and honor God, it sounds like one voice! Not comparing and competing voices, but just one voice in complete unity!

Philippians 2:2, “make my joy complete by being of the SAME mind, having the SAME love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on ONE purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel-the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].” (AMP) Can you imagine this kind of mindset?! That even our love, purpose, faith, evangelism and salvation are all on one accord, in harmony with each other! What a great way to reflect the image of the Godhead to the world!

When people are just fighting for what they think are their rights, and their way, the Lord can't give them all He wants them to have! He responds to people working together, not working separately! He blesses peace and unity. He loves people looking out for each other, not looking out for themselves. He loves for His people to be on One Accord, not Discord!

Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things the Lord hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.” (MSG) Do you really want to be found among the things the Lord HATES?! All the things the Lord hates are cruel things people do against other people! That’s telling us a whole lot! Children of God, we have to work on ourselves, our attitudes and our mouths and actions! The Lord has a hate and love list, we want to be careful to be found on the right one! And DISCORD is a sure way to get you on the hate roll-call! 

This same preoccupation with "my stuff" limits God's blessing on ministries and on churches and in families and communities. When Christian leaders are only concerned with their turf, their work, their needs, their name, their agenda, then the atmosphere surrounding them becomes stressful, self-centered, and even down-right cold. If they only knew the power and the joy they could have with God's unhindered blessing on them when they walk in harmony.

But instead many are living far below what could be, because there isn't that unselfishness and unity where God says He'll pour out His blessing.

DISCORD AND DISUNITY ARE THE QUICKEST WAYS TO STAGNATING THE OUTPOUR OF GOD’S SHOWERED BLESSINGS!! 

We can’t be so consumed with “my stuff”, that in the end, everyone comes up empty and depleted. We can’t become so consumed fighting for personal programs, budgets, territory, that God just turns away and says, "If you only knew what could happen in your town, your community, your church, your family, if you could only get it together on one accord."

Lynn’s crazy puppies missed so much because they were so busy only caring about their own little piece in a corner. Just like us! So the question is, would you be willing to lay down your sense of entitlement, to release your rights, your interests, your little piece and let God pour out all those good things that He's been wanting to give us as a whole? Or would you rather stay stuck in that corner fighting your sister or brother over a piece of bread, when God is trying to give the whole church a prepared table?

Is it really enough for just you to be blessed, healed, delivered, protected and provided for…and no one else? Can you really consider that Christ-Like? Can you really say that that’s a good reflection of the Image of God? Does that give an accurate description of us as Christ Ambassadors or Children of God? I think not!

Therefore, today, Family, let us know better and do better. And it can start with our prayer lives. Let’s stop making our full prayer time about us. Instead, let’s enter into prayer for someone else’s miracle, blessing, healing, and way out. Let’s use “US/WE/OURS” more than we use “I/ME/MINE”. Let’s believe God to bless the WHOLE church, the WHOLE body of Christ. Not just us as individuals, not just our auxiliary, not just our local church, not just our business, not just our family. But let us be like the early church who had ALL things in common. They cared for the church, as a WHOLE, not as fragmented pieces that don’t fit together. 

No, instead let us fulfill the Word of God: Romans 12:16-18, “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.  Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone.  If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (MSG)

This is to be our disposition women and men of God. In harmony; avoiding haughtiness and working with the humble; not fighting others or ourselves, nor repaying evil for evil. No, we as Children of God are those who do what is right and gracious in the sight of everyone (saved and unsaved alike). We keep peace among all people, no matter where we are or who we’re around. Remember, the blessing is bestowed on those who are in UNITY!

Truth is, we may very well start seeing Multiplication in the church, if only we’d stop the Division!

1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, all of you be LIKE-MINDED [UNITED IN SPIRIT], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of ONE HOUSEHOLD], and humble in spirit.” (AMP)

Let us not end up like Lynn’s puppies, fighting in a corner over a piece, and forfeiting the outpour that could’ve been ours from our Master’s Hands!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6, "The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (MSG)

Lastly, let's view 1 Corinthians 1:10 in varying translations:

“But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ALL OF YOU be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be NO DIVISIONS OR FACTIONS AMONG YOU, but that you be PERFECTLY UNITED in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].” (AMP);

“Now I encourage you, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Agree with each other and DON’T BE DIVIDED INTO RIVAL GROUPS. Instead, be restored with the SAME MIND AND THE SAME PURPOSE.” (CEB);

“My dear friends, AS A FOLLOWER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, I beg you to GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER. DON’T TAKE SIDES. Always try to agree in what you think.” (CEV);

“BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I encourage ALL OF YOU in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other and NOT TO SPLIT INTO OPPOSING GROUPS. I want you to be UNITED IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND OPINIONS.” (GWT);

“But, dear BROTHERS, I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to STOP ARGUING AMONG YOURSELVES. LET THERE BE REAL HARMONY SO THAT THERE WON’T BE SPLITS IN THE CHURCH. I plead with you to be of ONE MIND, UNITED IN THOUGHT AND PURPOSE.” (TLB)

AS A CHURCH FAMILY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE ARE CALLED TO BE UNITED…NOT DIVIDED! SO, NO MORE FIGHTING OVER INDIVIDUAL STUFF WHILE FORFEITING OUR FATHER’S CORPORATE BLESSINGS!

“Harmony and oneness in the Spirit can be achieved only when Christians put aside their personal agendas and submit themselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit, which empowers the church, can never lead believers into disunity.” (Charles Colson);

“The Church is to be a loving Church in a Dying Culture.” (Francis A. Schaeffer);

“Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service.” (Pinterest);

“Be united with other Christians. A wall with loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together.” (Corrie Ten Boom);

“Disagreements don’t cause disunity, a lack of forgiveness does.” (Loren Cunningham);

“As far as we are concerned, there is no dislike, no personal tension, no disunity or strife that cannot be overcome by intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual and the community must enter every day.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)