2 Timothy 3:6-9 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. NKJV
The Double, Double Cure For Gullibleitis
I declare once more, that I believe in the five-fold ministries and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today. I declare again, that I choose life and in doing so, I choose Jesus, yes, I always want to choose Jesus. Yet, I have to also declare once more, that most Christians are riddled through and through, with a most strange malady, indeed, a disease. This same disease, which by the way, is completely incongruent to their true character, is called Gullibleitis! God help us, for it is running rife among us and in pandemic proportion.Gullibleitis begins to manifests itself, firstly in the talk of wonders in far-away places and then secondly in the purchase of aeroplane tickets to get there! Thirdly, it is manifest in the bringing back of bags of goodies, usually to the open mouthed waiting and expectant. These goodies vary in degree, but they are mostly bags of magic pixie dust and I have found that the wind of every day demands, eventually blows it all away. Just give it time. It’s not real, you see, it’s only pixie dust which shall always cease to sparkle in the true light of the realities of the day.
The first question I have to ask is, “Why are people running to what God is reportedly doing ELSEWHERE?” Well mostly I believe it is because of dissatisfaction. Yes, we Christians are mostly dissatisfied with where we are now, with maybe continual unanswered prayer for deliverance, for healing, for provision, for direction, for worth, even for intimacy with the Father. It’s sad isn’t it? Really, you see, the testimony of most people in our Christian walk is that ‘They still have not found what they are looking for’ and because of this, we are often sorely disappointed in our churches, our leaders and ultimately in our God, for we have never really experienced what we have been told to be true. Yes, we do feel that we have been ‘sold a pup,’ but rather than deny this 'not so good news', we seek to find fulfilment of that good news, elsewhere. This of course begs another question and that is. “Have we been exposed to the God of the Bible in grace, truth and reality in the first place?”I have been unfortunate enough to have studied the practices of churches now for many years. I think I can say that I have been to the Emerald city itself and have dined with the great and powerful Oz and found him, indeed, to be that very little man, speaking big words and still panicking in the telling of questioning folks to “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.” Yet it is to that man behind the curtain which we must pay attention to the most! For if we shall be healed of our Gullibleitis, we must examine the wheels and the steam valves, yes, all the varied bells and whistles that fills those hungry bags with pixie dust, puts the show on the road and then keeps it there, for dear friends, that is mostly what's on offer in many of these far flung destinations. Pixie dust and a show.
It has been said that full-bodied MRI scans are the worst things that can be offered to the paying patient, for you can be sure, that some abnormality will be found and indeed, possibly many. In the same way, I have no desire to search for cracks in the character of other people, or to hunt down heresy. None of us would have to look farther than or own door to find enough to repent of and correct. Especially me. Nevertheless, this blind pox of Gullibleitis really needs to be attended to for it’s spreading fast and making us both sick and thick. So, what's the cure?Well, I have found that both the infection and the spread of Gullibleitis can only be remedied by a persistent application of two double doses of medication. The first double dose, to be taken immediately mind you, is the twin medication of the Scriptures and common sense. Without these two applied remedies, you can never have faith and any faith without it, is really no faith at all. Use the Scriptures and use your common sense and don’t let anyone bamboozle you with talk of the things of the Spirit being extraneous to this twin and daily taken medication. If you hear that it is, then be sure that it’s just the words of that little man behind the curtain having a bit of a panic, for you have found him out at last.
Secondly take the long term and twin doses of ‘Time and Taste,’ for these are usually the most embarrassing cures for those of us showered with pixie dust and overtaken with Gullibleitis. Fruit remember, is only revealed after growth and is really best tasted after seasonal ripening. Once the fruit is fully formed, only then can the quality of that which is grown be then truly judged for what it is. As a side comment, may I say that a thorough investigation of both seed and soil are also good indicators of just what might be produced!
Lastly, may I say that if we are fortunate to have His Word of promise and His ever presence, then I judge we have all that we could ever need and want, even at our very elbow, right where we are. We do not live in the 'There and Then', but rather we live in the 'HERE' and we live in the 'NOW'. Tell me then, “Is God the God of the here and now?” If He isn’t, then may I say that he is a lesser god and frankly, not worth the following. Why go traipsing across the planet bringing back bags of pixie dust, when God is here right now. Stop it!
Listen: - For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:44-45 NKJV
Pray:- Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all their troubles! Psalms 25:20-22 NKJV
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