Stop Hiding Behind The Mask!

Stop Hiding Behind The Mask!

With Halloween right around the corner this thought kept stirring in my soul. The thought of how we tend to put on a mask each and every time we walk out our front door. Many times we walk into church on Sunday morning lying about how we feel. We may never speak a word but we lie with our masks that we wear! Do we not realize that this is bearing false witness? We want help, we want to overcome the troubles of

this life but we don't want to communicate or open up about our troubles. It's as if we're ashamed that we're struggling when each and every person around us is struggling with something just the same. The reality is, this is pride in its most pure form! It's time to take off our masks, confess our faults, failures, and sins, and live in the freedom that Christ has given us. I remember as a kid I would typically wear a costume for Halloween but after a few years of wearing costumes that had masks I would always ask my mom to get me a costume that didn't have a mask. You see, I'm claustrophobic, and have you noticed that when you put on a mask and it has that one tiny slit to breathe through you tend to get sweaty, its hard to breathe, and you tend to lose your breathe and desire to be set free from the mask! This is what your soul feels every time you grab that spiritual mask and put on a show. The group "Casting Crowns" calls it the "Stained Glass Masquerade!"  You were just in a

heated argument with your wife on your way to church yet you put on a smile and act as if nothing is wrong! Your personal life is falling apart yet when asked how you're doing you reply with a bold "just fine!" You can't get the support and help without sharing the symptoms. Do you go to the doctor and when he asks how you're doing do you say "just fine?" Absolutely not! You reveal your symptoms, hoping he has a remedy! Yet we bottle everything up spiritually, put on our masks, and act like life is just dandy and blame God and everyone else when our lives are in shambles! TAKE OFF THE MASK! Be transparent, wear your emotions and troubles on your sleeve, confess your faults, open up about your struggles with sin,  a real man, a real woman will always realize they can't make it alone and that they need help along the journey! We all are so easily offended and worried about what everyone's going to think of us when if they're true Disciples of

Christ they will help you bear your burden. There's strength in numbers. I'm tired of churches being full of fake, mask wearing, middle class clone mannequins! The next time you walk out the door, leave the mask behind! Be you, be real, be honest, be transparent. And for all those that don't like you for it, leave them in the rearview and reach forth for the kingdom of God!

Luke 12:2King James Version (KJV)

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

James 5:16King James Version (KJV)

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

No Cowards In The Cause For The Cross!

"No Cowards In The Cause For The Cross!"

I've been a "so called" coward many times in my life! See, my daddy always taught me to ALWAYS walk away. I've been pushed and I walked away, ridiculed and I walked away, punched in the face and I walked away, talked about and I walked away! To most, this is a sure sign of a coward, to Christ, it's a sure sign of a Disciple! It takes a strong man to forgive, forget, and walk away! On the spiritual side though it's completely opposite, we must FACE the enemy and fight the good fight of faith. So often we reverse the roles, we want to fight those physically against us and run from the spiritual opposition! May I say that's why our world is in the state that it's in! A fifty year span of
cowardly "christians" standing on the sideline or running away from the spiritual conflict of the day! When's the last time you spoke out against the sinful culture of the day in a public forum? When's the last time you stood up for what was right, even if it cost your job,
friends, family, and your pride? The enemy is on the main stage, criticizing our Lord, mocking the Savior and we run in fear! If I speak up, they'll fire me, if I speak out, they'll kill me! Are you putting a price on your allegiance to the cause? We wouldn't let anyone speak about our mother's the way they speak about our Lord yet we let them push aside and put down the one who, not only gave you life, but eternal life, peace, joy, hope, and strength! How dare us be spiritual cowards! In Ephesians we're told to put on the whole armor of God. Our loins girt with truth(the loin is life giving so truth will protect our life!), put on the breastplate of righteousness(righteousness will protect the heart), have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace(the gospel is what will lead us and take us where we need to go), taking up the shield of faith(our defense),  putting on the helmet of salvation(nothing can crush us), and holding the sword of the spirit, which is the word of the God(our ONLY offensive weapon)! There is something to be understood here, there is no armor that protects the back! WHY? Because we aren't to run from the enemy but, like David, we are to run to the enemy with the power and the might of God! Today is the day that you need to face whatever demon has been plaguing you and fight! God is with you and you will come out victorious! Quit being a spiritual coward, get on the battlefield and watch as the Lord fights for you and you receive victory! We have this mentality, that if it isn't directly affecting us, then it's not deserving of our fight. All sin affects our brothers and sisters, it's worth the fight! Stop waiting on the enemy to come to you, like a fireman running into the danger of the fire, we should be running to the fight, pulling some from the fire! You weren't given the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind! You're not the child of defeat but an heir to the throne of GOD!

Ephesians 6:10-17King James Version (KJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

2 Timothy 1:7King James Version (KJV)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Joshua 10:19King James Version (KJV)

19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.

Jude 1:22-23King James Version (KJV)

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

                                                       Arrington Heights FWB Church

From The Pew To The Pits Of Hell- "Church Folk!"

From The Pew To The Pits Of Hell- "Church Folk!"

How often do you look into a physical mirror? Hopefully at least once a day but probably several times more. When was the last time you looked into the spiritual mirror of the Word? When's the last time you actually considered the possibility that you could be wrong? When's the last time the Preacher preached a rebuking message and you actually examined yourself to see if it was for you? So often we deem ourselves right, I mean, who ever thinks that they're wrong? That's the problem! If you're not willing to do an examination you'll never find the cancer! You'll realize the depth of your sin, the penalty for ignorance as you stand before the gates of Heaven and Jesus Christ says "Depart

from me ye worker of iniquity!" That's not me Preacher! Really, tell me why. Is it because you prayed a prayer fourteen years ago, you don't drink beer, you go to church "when you can," you donate a little money now and then, you helped an old lady cross the street, you don't cuss, you have a bible app on your phone? So what you're telling me is that you're going to base your eternity, Heaven and Hell, on a few ASSUMPTIONS you have on what a "Christian" ought to do? The only scripture you receive each week is what the Preacher preaches on, the only precepts you learn are what he preaches about, the only time you pray is when the church does. Well Preacher, I know in my heart Jesus understands. Does He really? Have you ever read the Word in its entirety? The Scripture teaches us that the heart is deceitful ABOVE ALL THINGS! You're going to trust that? When's the last time you searched out the answers for yourself? When's the last time you studied the life of Christ and based your entirety of living on what he taught and did? When's the last time you attempted to work out your salvation in fear and trembling instead of arrogance and entitlement? When's the last time you FEARED the Lord? When's the last time you studied behind what you thought, or what the preacher preached, or what mama and daddy said to see if it was biblical truth? The fact of the matter is that Hell will have as many "church folk" in it's midst as it does murderers, adulterers,
drunks, molesters, and thieves. We tend to focus and give stage to fleshly sins so much so that being a spiritual weakling goes unnoticed! If you don't dance on the pole, don't drink and party, don't steal, and if you do dress the part, say the right things, show up on Sunday, and throw a little money in the plate you pass for holy. Jesus said it was like the whited sepulchers, clean on the outside but inside it's full of dead men's bones! There are people who sit on the church pew every Sunday, pay their tithes, and look the part, they would NEVER use an idle word, never take a drink, never listen to secular music but are so blind to their spiritual sins that they believe everything's ok while in reality Hell is on their doorstep! You don't realize the truth until you've worked with them, used them in a ministry, or been beside them in spiritual warfare, you realize they never keep their word, they run from the pain and the struggle, they don't finish their assignments, they are double minded, they have pride in their heart, they are self righteous, they are a PHARISEE! I therefore challenge you, before God, to examine yourself in relation to the Word and be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Stop being a "Christian," stop being "church folk," and START being a DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST!

Romans 12:2King James Version (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Peter 4:18King James Version (KJV)

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Proverbs 14:12King James Version (KJV)

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Jeremiah 17:9King James Version (KJV)

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

2 Corinthians 5:17King James Version (KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.