As I am wrapping up the 31-day assignment to write a daily devotion during the month of August, I am asking the Lord for His final thoughts for us for the month of August. As I work with many people in the faith, I see a consistent issue within the body of Christ. That issue is balance. What do I mean by balance? Years ago, we actively had in place what is known as “Inner Healing Ministry”. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what I was feeling, but I sensed that something was just not right, even though we were seeing results. As I was in prayer one day, I heard clearly, “All you need is My Word and My Spirit. You don’t need gimmicks.” And I was directed to Luke 4:18. I began to examine all we were doing, and yes, I felt like the ministry we had prepared under was definitely using little “gimmicks” for lack of a better word. These gimmicks required the people to do something to entice God to respond.
Gimmicks are not necessarily deceptive, but rather it is man adding something that is not necessary, or even unbiblical if they are required. This stems from a spirit or attitude of religion that makes man require more than God requires. Or it is attractive because it will draw crowds which in turn produces notoriety without true substance. We see this in some of the denominational approaches to the faith with disciplines such as prayer. Some require that one be in a certain physical posture for God to hear. Others require certain strict methods of prayer for God to respond effectively. Some make unusual sounds such as grunting or shaking to indicate their prayer is now anointed. There was a young man who was a part of our church and when he would pray for someone at the altar, he would stand in front of them with his hands raised and shake his body violently. On one occasion, a young man was at the altar seeking salvation but became so afraid he left confused. When I questioned the man praying for this young man, he stated, “this is what happens when the Holy Ghost gets on me.” The sad thing is that an opportunity was lost with a young man seeking the Lord, a much greater priority. This is not balance.
I have seen some who saw God move seemingly as a result of a particular method, emotion, or technique and then elevate that method, emotion or technique as a requirement for God’s future responses. For example, because someone may have been genuinely touched by God after being legitimately “slain in the spirit”, the act of being slain in the spirit becomes a requirement to prove God is present and working in a life. This can present a problem, as many ministers get a little over eager and will “assist” someone in falling, to the point of pushing them down. Others will take a courtesy drop out of anticipation that the trip to the floor will somehow make a change in their lives. Or they feel obligated to protect the image of the minister praying, because after all, everyone falls when this person prays. These are all distractions that steal from true ministry. This is not balance.
Another imbalance in the body of Christ has been with how loosely we use the term “revival”. We call an event a revival because there were large crowds in attendance and a lot of emotion. However, revival has physical evidence remaining after the conference or concert is over and too often, those signs of true revival are not present. As we study the true revivals of the past, we see without exception that very extended times of prayer were required. Revivals are not emotional concerts or meetings, but a time when the hearts of people are touched and they return to God. True revivals result in changed lives and sometimes entire cities or regions experience this renewal. Verified signs, wonders, and miracles occur and God is glorified, not man.
Why do we have all of this imbalance? I believe it is because people do not know the Word of God. Barna research reported in 2022, that only 37% of pastors have a Biblical worldview, while 62% have a hybrid or syncretistic world view of blending the faiths. So, it is easy to come up with a personal doctrine of what is important and how we should live out our faith. We take on our own ideas of what is valuable and as the nation of Israel, we do what seems right in our own eyes. We follow after the most charismatic ministers because they will give us our “word for the day”, and we gladly swallow their lead while shucking out dollars to fill their coffers. Paul warned Timothy that in the last days there would be those who would slip in with false teaching and there would be those who would wander and seek one new doctrine after another and never be able to find the truth. (1Tim. 3) This happens because when we do not know truth, error will easily slip in.
How can we guarantee remaining balanced?
- We must make Jesus Lord of our lives, and not a historical figure that we talk about, but one that is a part of our life in every aspect.
- We must spend time in the Word of God and accept the Scriptures as God’s Word to us. When we know God’s Word, we will recognize those who teach and prophesy in error.
- We must be filled with His Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all the truth. When we are filled with Holy Spirit, we will discern the wrong spirits of those who are leading others astray.
- We must relinquish our right to fame and fortune. John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” This should always be our attitude. There is no room for pride, ego, greed, or infidelity in our lives.
- We must have times of intimacy with the Lord as we meet Him in the secret place. Here we hear His heart and receive His wisdom.
- We must be accountable to those who are mature in the faith and love us enough to tell us the truth. Too many ministers fall because they refuse to be accountable, and they hold themselves above correction.
- We must check the fruit of those we follow and allow to speak into our lives. Does their fruit glorify God or themselves? Does their fruit correspond with the fruit exemplified by Christ, which is love, joy, peace, long suffering, humility, kindness, goodness, generosity, purity, servanthood, and holiness? Is there always a price tag attached to their ministry, and do they intimidate or control with “words from the Lord” that never seem to come to pass or they get explained away?
How balanced are we? Do we get off on extremes and follow after the gold, glitter, and easy way only to find at the end of the day there is no substance? Do we chase after forms of godliness that have no real power. Do we run from one conference to another to get our fix, or can we get what we need from our times with the Lord. There are certainly good conferences and excellent ministers in the body of Christ. But do we understand they never replace our own personal pursuit of God.
We are living in a day when balance is required. The enemy wants us off balance because he can then slip his doctrine of demons into our lives and steal the authority given to us by the cross.
