10 Oct “Matthew 6:24 “You Cannot Serve Two Masters. For You’ll Love One And Hate The Other”

Have you ever worked two jobs? Where at one job you made a little bit more than you did at the other job, but both jobs were important because you needed them to make ends meet or reach a goal?

Our lives are constantly filled with activity that we must decide if how much time we should give it or dedicate to it. Oftentimes necessity is put at the top of the list, with entertainment and hobby put at the bottom.

Some of us it’s the opposite which is really a life that is out of order and mis-prioritized. Where do we put God in the midst of our priorities? He’s invisible and not staring us in the face everyday like our daily obligations. Everyday we wake up to a house or an apartment that we must pay for.

We open the refrigerator and see food we have to pay for. We took a shower and were reminded that we need to pay for the water that we used. We get dressed in clothes we had to pay for. We put on shoes we had to pay for. We get in a car we had to pay for or are still paying for. And the car can’t move without gas. So there’s another expense. We are surrounded and reminded everyday of the many expenses we have before we even leave the house.

It’s very easy for God to put down the list of our priorities. The World constantly reminds us that we owe a debt even while we sleep. Which is why it is crucial to not attach ourselves to material things. They just add pressure to things we are already indebted to just to survive.

We prioritize the things we “need” and the things we “love”. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that statement. What is most important to us we do, what is least important to us we ignore or do once the things we desire to do most have already been done.

When I was in the world, I enjoyed an occasional party. Actually, I enjoyed an occasional party several times a week. I always made time for it, even if I worked all day long. No matter how laborious the job was, I made sure I was showered and dressed when I got off to go to the party.

The same with dating. If I was dating a girl that I was really interested in, I absolutely made the time to see and spend time with that person. Didn’t matter how long my day was or how long my week was. I would suddenly get this burst of energy to see this person.

We tend to get sudden “bursts” of energy when it comes to doing the things that we want. Even in politics. People who have no “energy” to talk about Christ, have infinite energy to talk about politics all-over Social Media and at their jobs.

But that same kind of enthusiasm when it comes to the things of God can only be found on Sunday Mornings. Imagine if these people who are so passionate and enthusiastic about politics, were as passionate and enthusiastic about the Gospel?

Maybe our neighborhoods, our Schools and our Families would be a lot better off then they are now. I believe we would all be a lot better off. Talking to you somebody is a lot better than talking about somebody, and the truth is if we had all the passion and enthusiasm for God as we did for ourselves, then we wouldn’t have enough energy to spend time on the things that don’t really matter.

I’m not here to give excuses to you or to myself. God did not call me to give excuses. God only gave us 24-hours in a day, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but we somehow seem to do and accomplish the things that are most important to us sometimes if not daily. So either God hasn’t given us enough time in a day, or we have decided because our time in a day is short, there’s not enough of it to fit him in.

So which is it? God made a mistake with the time, or we’re making a mistake on how we’re spending our time? I don’t believe you have to spend every waking minute of every second of the day with your face in the Bible. I don’t even think that’s healthy. We’re part Spirit and part flesh, there’s some natural things we need to do.

The details of our day will change, but the overall objective is the same. Jesus died for our Sins, he was raised from the dead and through him I received forgiveness, reconciliation to God and everlasting life, I was called according to his Will, so I have a calling that I need to fulfil.

We all have “specific” callings in the body of Christ, but we all have the same calling of proclaiming Christ to those who don’t know him. Some people do it with their mouths, but not with their lives. Others with their lives, but not with their mouths. But if you are living righteously with your life, those who are in darkness will seek you out, this is the person that is able to be used by God.

And God puts his anointing on this person. You cannot live unrighteously and expect to be used by God. God does not call the unrighteous to go to the unrighteous. The unrighteous that go to the unrighteous to speak for God, go on their own accord. God did not send them.

Jeremiah 23 16-17, the Lord says “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you worthless: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD has said, You shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you“

And 21-22 he says “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings“

If you desire to be used by God effectively, you must first examine your own heart through a very critical lens. Review the passions in your life. If there are only so many hours in a day and in a week, how many passions can we honestly entertain and give our time and attention to?

God is not looking for us just to cut down or cut back only, he’s looking for us to remove some things completely, because some things in our lives are toxic even at the tiniest level. Because they’re not just hobby’s, they’ve become idols in our lives. They’ve taken the place of God. Fishing is a hobby. Going hiking is a hobby. Going running is a hobby.

Playing on your phone 4-hours a day looking at social media, or watching 5 hours of TV everyday; or playing 6 hours of video games every day; or whatever else you may be doing, is not a hobby.

Something you do every day in repetition is not a hobby, it’s a habit. And these “habits” overtime can become idols in our lives. God cannot use a person who has a life filled with idols. God doesn’t even compete with them. We were created with a dependency for him. When we don’t depend on him, we find other things to form a dependency on.

But these things can never fill our spirit. That only comes from the source, and when we’re disconnected from the source, we fill ourselves with things that feed our flesh only. The Lord said in Jeremiah “I have not sent these prophets, but they still ran“. Why would a person whom God has not sent, go out as if he was sent by God to the people?

He says in Jeremiah 23:16 that “they speak a vision out of their own heart“. Like God telling someone to vote for a particular presidential candidate, or to back a particular political party or organization. Our hearts can deceive us into believing that God is for an ideal that he never gave us in the first place. Our hearts deceive us.

Many want to be used by God, but most do not want to put away their own desires to serve him. I never realized how important daily prayer was. I mean quiet prayer. Not just the praying over your meal and the holding of hands. I was great with that. I had formed a habit with that.

But quiet prayer time alone with God daily was not a strength of mine. I would talk to him when I was engaged in other things, which is ok. If you can multitask so can God. But it should not be a substitute for the quiet daily prayer time God requires and you need! When we pray to God in the quiet secret place, he has our full attention.

This is where the intimacy between you and him is built. What goes into a man is not what defiles him, but it’s what comes out of a man that defiles him. If the Man is taking in what is good, then what comes out will be good.

Some of us take in Social Media, News outlets, Television, Talk Shows, and gossip all-day long every day. I know someone whenever I call over to their house, they have CNN and Fox News on all the time. Everyday. No wonder we’re so passionate and angry towards other people and argumentative. Look at what you’re taking in everyday.

Maybe you need to get rid of these things. Notice I didn’t say cut-back, because if you could have cut-back you would have done it already. You can’t cut-back because you have no desire to. Because these things you think are just an “interest”, just an “hobby”, hasn’t been just an interest or a hobby for a long time.

They’ve become habits that have become idols, and they’re controlling how you think and how you interact with other people. Nothing should have that much control over how you think and how you act except for Jesus.

I don’t know if Dr. Faucci is lying about the vaccine. I don’t know if Donald Trump is purposely withholding information from the American Public. What I do know is when the Lord said “My yolk is easy and my work light”, that I no longer had to worry about who was in the oval office.

I didn’t have to search Social Media all-day long to try and find out what Mitch McConnell or Nancy Pelosi was up to. Because when I gave my life to Jesus, who was in the White House was no longer a concern to me. The people in Washington are going to do what they’re gonna do.

And Jesus is going to do what he wants to do. I’m more focused on what Jesus is going to do then what the Republicans or the Democrats are going to do. When Jesus said sit the people down and feed them, because they had not eaten in 3 days.  

The Apostles said “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd? Jesus said bring me what you have. They only had 2 fish and 7 loaves of bread which was nowhere near enough to feed 5k people.  Yet Jesus took hold of the food and multiplied it’s sustenance for the people.

The point is with Jesus there’s always enough. With Jesus it’s more than enough. He has many names: Prince of Peace, Messiah, Lord Of Host, The Christ, and he’s got a new one right now: Lord Of More Than Enough!

If you’re looking for truth to come out of our government, then you’re looking in the wrong place. You cannot get righteousness out of corruption. Do not put your hope in any political figure, President or subordinate. It will always lead you to ruins. Put your hope in the one who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds!

Stop looking towards the White House from which your help will never come. And start looking up, from which the Lord sits from where your help will always come.

Now. I will not deceive you. This is a troubling life for us. It was troubling for Jesus it will be troubling for us. Do not think when the Lord does not save you from an uncomfortable circumstance, that it is an indictment to how he feels towards you.

A child can get themselves into all kinds of mischievous things. Sometimes the Father can prevent the child from experiencing further consequence. Some things a child will only learn through trial and error.

If I saw my child about to do something that would be harmful to them I would race to stop them. If my child was about to do something that would be harmful to themselves and they are an Adult, I can no longer physically stop them. At this point all I can do is counsel them and pray for them.

Many of us want God to stop us before we do something foolish. But I don’t think that would effectively mature us. If my child is reckless with money, and every time they get in trouble I bail them out of it, it doesn’t teach them to be responsible with their money.

Sometimes God allows us to get into things to grow us. His aim is not to destroy us. We have an election coming up. And many so-called Pastors have used their platform and their pulpit, to advertise for their political associates and friends, to get you to vote this way or that way.

They’ve even used the word of the Lord to sway their congregation, as if Spirit had any relationship with flesh and corruption. Brothers and Sisters, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” Matthew 16:6.

Anyone coming to preach in the name of Jesus will have God’s agenda. They will not have the agenda of the left or of the right. Their agenda should be the same agenda, because God’s agenda does not change.

Beware of anyone who claims they speak for God, but yet make their political affiliations known to their congregation. God is not into politics. God is into truth. Jesus was the last Godly King chosen by God. He is it. There will be no more. Do not cast your hopes on the things of this World.

Seek God’s wisdom in all things. Because even our very hearts can deceive us when in our mind we’ve convinced ourselves that we are doing God’s work. Which was Paul’s former position when he was Saul.

Do not concern yourself nor give great attention to the things Jesus himself was not concerned about. Who ruled at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry was of no concern to him. The mission was the same. It did not change nor was it dependent upon who was in power at that time.

God is looking for his people to come out of the subtleties of idolatry. Satan cannot appear as who he is, for this approach would be fool hearted. Who would cross a lion’s path if they can see him? He muzzles his mouth and hides in the bush, where he can be heard but not easily seen.

He’s the butterfly in the garden, while we are on the lookout for the wasp and the locust. What is taking over your heart? Is it God? Are you fighting and disputing for things of the Kingdom, or are you bickering over the things of the World that will be passed away?

If you believe you can be as effective at serving God as well as at bickering and being strife driven, you have deceived yourself. You have convinced yourself that you can serve two masters.

I hope this message finds the intended recipients. All who read it will not receive it, though God is amazing and I do pray for that. Many people have found this year and this time as a time to reflect and re-prioritze the things that are important in our lives.

Sadly for many people it will be just a bump in the road. They are the same person now as they were before. God has used this time to change the hearts and minds of many. For some people it hardened them in their stances. I pray that you are all the latter Brothers and Sisters.

If your holding on to unforgiveness. Let it go. It’s about time now. You were wronged. God saw it. But it’s time to forgive now and move on. Stop reliving it. When you don’t let it go, it becomes an anchor that you carry around with you. Even though it happened 5 years ago, the weight is still hanging around your neck.

It’s time to put it down, move on and leave it in the past. As I’ve said many times before, I love the Body Of Christ. There are many who don’t, and they mislead thousands. Our body will be as strong as those who are responsible for feeding it.

Do not make excuses for the willfully unlawful. They read the scripture but refuse to speak or live by it. Hold everyone accountable starting with yourself. And pray for those who struggle with sin and adversity.

We are to build each other up, not tear each other down. Struggling with sin is not the same as giving into a sinful lifestyle. Learn to discern the difference, unless you cast out a believer by accident.

God Bless brothers and Sisters.