Love Society

By: Michael Tummillo

The Bible implies, over and over, that Jesus came as an example. Do you agree with that? Take a look:

(1 Peter 2:21 KJV)
(21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an EXAMPLE, that ye should follow his steps:

(1 John 2:6 KJV)
(6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even AS HE WALKED.

(Ephesians 5:1-2 KJV)
(1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, AS CHRIST also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

(Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)
(5) Let this mind be in you, which WAS ALSO IN Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Mark 10:43-45 KJV)
(43) But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: (44) And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. (45) For EVEN THE SON OF MAN came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(John 13:14-15 KJV)
(14) If I then, {your} Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you AN EXAMPLE, that ye should do as I have done to you.

(John 13:34 KJV)
(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; AS I HAVE loved you, that ye also love one another.

(1 John 3:16 KJV)
(16) Hereby perceive we the love {of God}, BECAUSE he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

(Romans 15:5-7 KJV)
(5) Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (6) That ye may with one mind {and} one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (7) Wherefore receive ye one another, AS CHRIST ALSO received us to the glory of God.

(Colossians 3:13 KJV)
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: EVEN AS Christ forgave you, so also {do} ye.

(Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV)
(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For CONSIDER HIM that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

As we study all these verses, we see something glaringly obvious: We are ALL to be examples of those who come after us in the faith. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples. In other words, set an example for those who choose to follow Him.

In order for any organization to grow effectively, all methods MUST remain duplicatable. If Jesus had done one single thing that the rest of us who choose to follow Him could not (include ascending to the Father), then He would hardly be considered the “first fruits” that He is. In other words, what apple seed that would bring forth a peach could still be considered the seed of an apple? Jesus was the first of many to follow.

Where spiritual warfare is concerned, we can learn much from Christ’s example that can ultimately spare us a great deal of agony. First, regardless of what we’ve read or been taught (if we’ve been taught anything at all on the subject), we must ask ourselves “What DID Jesus Do?”in regard to Spiritual warfare. This is important because, after all, we are spirit-beings involved in n earthly experience. we know that God is Spirit and that there are evil spirits as well.

Notice that’s What DID Jesus Do…WDJD, not WWJD. He never took authority over a territorial spirit that had been given the RIGHT to be there. No, instead, He ministered lovingly on an INDIVIDUAL basis, one person at a time. He spoke the truth in love. He gave them His time (3 years in the case of His disciples). He showed them a way where there had previously been none.

We can do that, too! In recent years, as Pentecostalism has grown and become a part of virtually every other denomination, the Church has suffered many needless casualties of Spiritual Warfare as we stepped out to do battle with principalities and powers over entire regions - just as our leaders taught us - never once asking the question, “Did Jesus teach this?”

The answer is “NO! He did NOT teach this. The resulting agony and suffering of God’s well-meaning children across the planet has been widespread. From church-splits (about 3800 annually n the USA alone) to divorce (about half our Christian marriages) to sickness (the number one request for prayer from God’s people in any altar call anywhere), in many cases our intercessors have been trained to kick a hornet’s nest that they could not handle.

In my own experience as an intercessor, disease, divorce, miscarriages and many other maladies were commonplace – even in my very own life. We attacked Hell with a squirt gun… and we were burned beyond recognition.

Surely THIS can not be the army of the Lord! The church I attended in the 90s was intimately involved in what I call “The Battle of Caelum Moor” (ask for the article by that name).Though the Stonehenge-style sculpture park of 22-pieces, weighing a total of 540 tons, WAS dismantled as a result of our protests, the devastation among those who fought that battle was, in my view, completely unnecessary.

God’s gifts are without repentance. Our adversary STILL has all the power and prestige he was ever given only he has it down here as a terrestrial rather than as a celestial. Jesus referred to him as “Prince of this world three times, having made 25 references to Satan in all. He roams about the Earth looking for those He can easily devour. For example, any Christian hidden with Christ who sticks his head out of his foxhole to stick his tongue out, or who chooses to walk outside the safety of God’s covering. The archangel Michael, one of Lucifer’s only two scriptural peers (the other being Gabriel), once said to him, “The LORD rebuke you!” We see in the book of Daniel an occasion where Michael FINALLY responded to Daniel’s prayer after 20-some days , having been detained in battle with the Prince of Persia. This was, no doubt, a demonic spirit set in place by Lucifer himself to govern that region. He’s STILL there, incidentally, as the region once referred to as Persia is now Iraq and Iran.

2 Chronicles 7:14 declares - “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

“THEN?” You mean, Lord, if we pray and seek your face - a relationship with you - and turn from our wicked ways (repent)…if we do all that stuff, THEN you will hear from Heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land? In other words, where spiritual warfare is concerned, we must get right with God as individuals through Jesus Christ, share that Truth with others every chance we get, and repent of our sins (Greek metanoia means to change our minds). THEN God HIMSELF will do battle with these demonic principalities that are ruling all over planet Earth.

Here’s a great example: Let’s say there’s a crack house somewhere in your neighborhood. Every sin imaginable has taken place within its dilapidated walls. Even local law enforcement can attest to the criminal history of the place. It’s been there 100 years and the demons that have taken up residence believe they have every right to be there.

Fact is, they DO! Do Christians gather together and wage warfare through prayer AGAINST those spirits, calling upon the names of the unclean Spirits of Debauchery, Addiction, Lust, Perversion, Pornography, Whoredom - even Religion, or do we take the time to devise a strategy to minister to its residents by feeding them, clothing them, praying with them, listening to them, giving them rides to the doctor, visiting them in jail if they get arrested, etc.? One method is easier but may result in a demonic backlash that will leave your head spinning; the other, though it may be a thankless and even difficult job, may lead a person to salvation and even deliverance through Christ and give them an example to live by and share with others that they may never forget. One such dwelling exists in my own neighborhood and, though one of its residents eventually turned on me, several others still talk with me whenever I see them around town as if we were old friends.

A lady in Dallas once told me that she wasn’t sure she had ever met a Christian. I’ve heard it said that modern Christianity is the #1 cause of atheism. A Jewish rabbi once said that many Jews WANT to believe Jesus was the Messiah, but His own followers do not act as if He really is the Lord. So, they wait for another. They’ll know we’re Christians by our love for one another. They’ll want what we say we’ve found when they experience God’s grace and unconditional love through us.

We may not want to be a spiritual warrior. Sorry. If you’re a Christian, you’re in the battle from the first day you enlist. If you’ve never received training or you’ve been improperly trained, improving your training is your only option.

Remember to FORWARD this message and rate it by scrolling downward now. If you need help, write me at team1min@aol.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Michael is founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). His eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” (SEARCH it!) are reaching tens of thousands WEEKLY. Log on at http://www.PlanetaryMinistry.org

Michael’s mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Michael is the author of numerous booklets on a subjects that will interest the thinking Christian. Since 1999, he has written and broadcast hundreds of inspirational articles and a dozen booklets, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

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