Dear Gregory:
I am telling this out of my experiences having grown up in an Episcopal Church and ending up Church of God, of Cleveland Tenn.; the fastest growing denomination in the USA. In between, I tried Methodist, Presby.,Pentacostal Holiness.
Believe me when I say there is no one more suspect of many movements of the Holy Spirit than I. I can only say that I have seen many so called movements of the spirit that were obviously "put on " but at other times I have seen genuine movements.
I knew a fellow that I always thought was a big fake. He had a bad back, would not work, thought he was lazy as sin, would not support his family and personally I did not respect him. His episodes with his back caused him not to work. During a revival with Ronnie Brock brother of Steve Brock of the TBN ministries he proclaimed to the world he was healed. I thought "sure".
That was three years ago. He has not missed a day of work since. Is making good money these days , moved his family into a very nice house and to tell you the truth I believe is a changed man in every sense of the word.
So obviously there are put-ons also.
One of the reasons I love Jane ( she has a wonderful ministry here on SI ) is what you see is what you get. The Lord brought us together on SI a year ago and the gal is fantastic; she has a wonderful spirit about her. Go back and read some of those all cap posts on Ask God where she just about is in a "tizzie fit". I pity the poor devil that attempts to stand up to her when she is riled and it is usually the devil that pays the price.( she will probably kill me for bringing that up )
But isn't that what the Lord also likes the most; be genuine, don't be fake, be yourself, be honest with yourself and with God and the Lord will find a way to use you. I will tell your a great secret here in public. I am sure the Lord considers 90 % of what I do and say as pure foolishness; but much of what he tells me to do I do not understand the reason for it. I constantly question him; I know I am annoying to him, he tells me so ! He gives me an occasional spiritual " body slam". Sometimes I think He hates me ! So if He can find a way to use all this ( ME )for His honor and glory, IMHO he deserves to be LORD, I will praise and worship Him all my days, and there is not a question in my being that denies He is Lord of All. |
