They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!  ––2 Timothy 3:5 NLT

The last thing God’s man wants is to wake up one day and realize that he’s the one demanding “less straw, more bricks” from other people. We all want to be more like Moses and less like Pharoah.

The reality is that the one scenario in which we have the most control is our own. The hard truth: if the motions are right but the motivation is out of alignment, you might as well drop the charade. Playing church is playing with fire. It really gets down to the word “authority.” Are we attempting to do this “Christian thing” in our own authority or are we filled with the Spirit and doing this out of a gratitude response? Is this a God thing or is it a me thing? Is this still a religion thing, me trying to impress God and others or is it surrendering full authority to God?

Here’s what speaking spiritual words but doing religious actions looks like:

There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

––2 Timothy 3:1-5

Of course, none of us want to become what Paul warns his protégé, Timothy, to avoid. It starts with each of us acknowledging the cold, hard reality of the situation: it goes way back to the beginning DNA of the human being. The only way that DNA thing can be changed is by a supernatural action stripping us of all authority by the surrender of our will to His. That is the only way that we can step into a “more straw (provision), more bricks (fruit of the Spirit)” lifestyle. It’s also how we avoid being a person who has a form of godliness but who denies its power.

You may have discovered this is not only a one-time decision; it is a daily thing. How much straw are you giving to those around you—at work, at home, or in your friendships? In other words, do your actions match your words? Are you putting your money where your mouth is—financially yes, but also emotionally, spiritually, and relationally?

The word practice comes back up at this time. What are you practicing or putting into action on a daily basis that is going to pound God’s perception into your existence? I have found, and God has pointed it out over and over, that you have to practice an intimate relationship with Him.

There is no other way! Spend time with God; make him your FIRST appointment of the day, every day.  Get out of bed, plant your feet on the ground and walk over to your appointment room, pour yourself a cup of coffee and open His message to you and stick your head in it. Then journal your prayer of gratitude for the relationship He has ordained for the two of you to “PRACTICE.” That’s how we get more straw, and that’s how we give it.

Thank You, Father, for desiring an intimate relationship with me and for giving me the tools I need to do Your will.

 

 

Every Man Ministries