Authoritarian, Cult, Organizations and Churches

I believe it is very important for the Leaders as well as the flock to comprehend. This article was contributed and edited by Steve Morris, myself, and others who care.

Written in 1998 but needed for today to equip you!  Updated and Revised!

Authoritarian, Cult, Organizations and Churches

As Pastor of New Beginning Christian Center, International, I came across an important Article that has pastoral implications.

I believe it is very important for the Leaders as well as the flock to comprehend.  This Article is used by permission.

This article was contributed and edited by Steve Morris, myself, and others who care.

If you don’t know who you are, then people will tell you who you are and you will be who they want you to be, instead of who God wants you to be.

We must remember those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.  So, in the light of God’s Word we will look deeper into a system that may be familiar to our journey.

Religion is a return to bondage, plain and simple.

Religions are all self-motivated and we are measured by our behaviors.

Religion focuses on the flesh of man.

Christianity focuses on the finished work of Christ.

Legalism causes what should be the joy of knowing Christ, into works and adhering to the rules of the organization can harden our heart to bondage.

There are some very good people that are bound and they don’t understand, they only think it is part of the drill.

A legalist wants everyone to do it their way, or you are not getting with the program.

A legalist labels you as not Christian when you are a free thinking, intelligent, rightly dividing the Word of Truth and basing your outcome on God’s Word.

It makes religious groups infuriated when you are not following and adhering to their rules, especially if God is still blessing you!

A legalist is very intolerant of anyone who doesn’t measure up to their standards.

This information below I believe is one of the most important pieces of information we can receive in this hour. In the last days even, the very elect would be deceived if it were possible. (Matthew 24:24)

The deception will become more acceptable with a lot of well-known ministries that appear to be good.
It is my hope as you read this that it will deliver, equip, and prepare you for the coming days.

I witnessed and understood this information personally and I believe it will give you a guideline to go by in the future.

Due to the times we live in, you will see these techniques used in religious Churches, in cults, in jobs, relationships and anything that deals with mankind.

I exhort you!  Get secure in Christ!  Get your confidence from Christ!

Be who you are and realize that no matter what you do, people won’t always be happy with you.  Quit trying to prove something and just be yourself.

Stop casting your pearls before swine.  Guard your heart diligently like a vault is safeguarded.  Stop defending yourself and attempting to prove your innocence.

Lean against The LORD and make Him your stronghold, and HIS Word the final authority.

I pray The LORD uses this article to equip you for your present and futures!  In Jesus’ Name.

Characteristics of Authoritarian, Abusive, Cult Organizations and Churches

1.  The people are there to meet the needs of the leaders, rather than the leaders for the people.

This can be in the form of ego, finances, power, and position.  True shepherds will help, guard, protect, and build the flock so the flock can walk in its own strength.

Shepherds don’t own the flock.  A true shepherd points people to dependence upon The LORD Jesus as your Source.

2.  The Leaders continually remind members of their own authority — because it isn’t based on genuine Godly character.

The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or Leader, is the over-emphasis on authority.

For example, a group claims to have been established by God Himself [with special endowments] and the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers.

3. If you mention a problem or ask questions then you become the problem.

You are accused of causing them, not simply exposing them.

The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the leader.  The Word is not the final authority, the Leader is!

4. Loyalty is demanded by the leader and/or his organization, instead of to Christ.

Often fear of bad repercussions will be threatened if you leave or do not follow the agenda.

5.  Secrecy, surprises and suspense are utilized to continue to cause chaos and confusion.

They are “the only ones who know, and if you question them” you have no access to the “truths” they receive.  People hide what is inappropriate, not what is appropriate.

6. Unbalanced doctrines are taught, i.e., prophecy, biblical law or esoteric methods of biblical interpretation and spiritual methods, to the exclusion of the whole counsel of God.

This validates the group’s claim of special status.

Techniques used for control

1. Excess flattery.

We all want to think we’re special and respond readily to a “special” group of people who are considered to be “insiders.”

We all want to be a part of the “elite” group, but Jesus died for everyone to have full, equal, and adequate access to the Father.  The veil was rent that all may see.

2.  A promise to bring you into an authoritarian cause, as a leader.

There is a follow up on the flattery by urging you to use your “unique personal talents” to guide and teach others.

Instead of being a servant to others, you are now a lord to others in your position.

3. A position of great authority over you is assumed.

They will contact you again and again to try to get you to attend some sort of meeting, party or other special event and use other socially manipulative tactics to recruit you into the group — all for your own good, of course.

4.  You will be led to respond to questions with the answers they most want you to give, therefore affirming their authority.

This can often be a group psychology.  They continue to flatter you, while leading you through a hidden agenda by making it appear as though the answers you gave meant that you support their point of view of your own free will.

5.  The former flattery will be used against you. Now disappointed, in contrast with wild praise, the perceived loss of esteem such a response can serve as a powerful force motivating dissenters to “get with the program.”

They will let you know in so many words that you “owe” them for your blessings.

God does not work that way.  We don’t like to disappoint those who initially claim to be impressed with us, especially when they assume a position of authority over us and claim to have “selected” us for membership in some supposed special group.

Cult leaders and other authoritarian figures typically use this psychological phenomenon to their advantage.  The underside of flattery is manipulation.

6. The rules of the game will be changed early on, with no warning, and proceed as though nothing unusual has happened.

Such “bait and switch” tactics are confusing.  However, they are typical of those who attempt to recruit others into authoritarian movements.

When we find ourselves giving in to such strategies and feel reluctant to “question” those who are setting themselves up as knowing what is best for us, we can slowly begin to internalize their point of view. (The frog in a pot of cool water)

Our questions and repressing doubts is a fundamental component of our own thought processes.  Your mind is not your own anymore!

7.  They will contradict themselves many times during your relationship with them.

They will cover their tracks by repeatedly verbalizing their stated objections toward the very tactics they used to manipulate you from the start.

In other words, they are accusing you of what they are guilty of! It is called mirroring….

They believe your view of yourself as an independent, free-thinking person would most likely make it difficult for you to fully recognize the many ways in which they were controlling the underlying agenda from the start.

8. The desire to avoid feelings of disillusionment and isolation, is a powerful elixir motivating those who choose to remain members of various cult groups and other authoritarian movements.

Especially after it appears obvious that the extraordinary hopes and desires they had when they first joined are never likely to be fulfilled.

This can occur because the hopes for relationships and significance were considered part of the prize.

If your foundation is really on Jesus, then everything built upon that will stand, despite the winds of adversity.

If you are not as free to leave as you were to come in, you are in a cult!

If condemnation (rather than a healthy disappointment to see you leave) and emotional manipulations are seeking to control you, be glad that you left! It will never get better.

We are called to be part of The Body of Christ — which is worldwide and based on scripture and the liberating Spirit of God — not the doctrines of man. 

In Christ, you are free!  Free to serve, free to live and free to do right.

The stronger the control, the more likely you are to face very unpleasant and unhealthy consequences.

There are many churches, many of which are very good.

Please keep looking until you find what gives you good mental health and treats other people with respect.

Recognizing Manipulation and Intimidation for the Purpose of Domination

Control

Manipulation: definition — Skillful and efficient deceit using artful, unfair, or unobtrusive devices and contrivances in a secret manner to control others.

Intimidation: definition — The use of fear or coercion to force submission to another’s will.

Domination:  definition — To influence the actions and conduct of another to be first in power, influence
or rank.

Practitioners attempt to project an attractive and irresistible image of superior natural and/or supernatural skills, abilities and accomplishments.

The attempted techniques, methods and procedures employed are easily recognized:

1.  Projection of guilt upon others by:

  1. Correction
  2. Criticism
  3. Fault finding
  4. Disapproval
  5. Condemnation
  6. Confrontation
  7. Ignoring an individual’s existence
  8. Circulating malicious opinions
  9. Non-acceptance into their cliqueBlame

2.  Statements in the form of questions or analogies designed to put others on the defensive.

3.  Not initiating closure when problems surface in a personal relationship, regardless of who is responsible for the problem.

They will always depend on the unresolved tension to cause the other party to contact them first to resolve the issue.

4. Establishing uncertainty of the past, present or future to build insecurity in a person and dependence upon the practitioner’s abilities and information by:

  1. Altering true information
  2. Withholding true information
  3. Issuing false information
  4. Using big names as information sources

5. Illegally assuming authority without responsibility, by:

  1. Outright claims that they have the official sanction of those in charge
  2. Implied claims they have the official sanction of those in charge
  3. Manipulating, maneuvering, and motivating others to think, feel and choose the way the practitioner wants them to
  4. “Spiritual” revelations
  5. Physical authority — violence, temper tantrums, force, sex, drugs, etc.
  6. Rebelling against established authority

6.  Illegally attempting to assume responsibility without authority.

7.  Declarations of dependency: “You don’t understand how much I need you (depend, trust, etc).”

This may be followed by “and how little you care what happens to me.”

8. Declarations of reverse dependency: “You don’t understand how much you need me (depend, trust, etc.).”

This may be followed by “and how much I care what happens to you.”

9.   The “Let me show you how to do it” ploy.

This makes others realize they do not have the time, talent or temperament to accomplish something, thereby shaming them into letting the practitioner volunteer to do the job.

10. The “Show me how to do it” ploy.

This makes others realize the practitioner does not have the time, talent or temperament to accomplish something, thereby shaming them into volunteering to do the job.

11.  The “I tried to cover for your mistake” routine, “and it:”

  1. Worked, so you’ve got to repay the favor by doing something for me.
  2. Didn’t work, so you’ve got to do something to fix the problem.

12. The “I tried to teach you, but you won’t listen to me, so don’t ask me any more questions” ploy.

This ploy is to punish others by instilling a deep sense of loss created by withdrawal of the practitioners (opinionated) “wise counsel.”

13.  Insults directed at others to further distance the practitioner, who by now knows they have failed in their efforts to dominate.

14. Polarizing groups of people into adverse parties.

This is further punishment for failure to recognize the superiority of the practitioner and an attempt to establish control by comparing persons to create competition.

15.  Withdrawal, when suggestions, comments or questions come up about their pronouncements, with simulated:

  1. Hurt
  2. Rejection
  3. Depression
  4. Physical sickness
  5. Protests of innocence
  6. Accusations of others

16. False remorse, with hypocritical statements of now perceiving how their past activities have hurt others and a seeking of forgiveness for past behavior.

17.  Self-proclaimed martyrdom usually follows withdrawal or false remorse when the practitioner realizes others are not fooled by their insincerity.

Withdrawal or self-proclaimed martyrdom is tacit admission of failure to successfully dominate others.

18. Instigation of difficult, uncomfortable, or costly activities for others, which may or may not benefit the practitioner.

This is their last desperate effort to control others after having been exposed as two-faced hypocrites, gossips, and liars.

They will eventually resort to their old, more satisfying, tactics to force others to depend upon them.

This dominating technique, however, may be used at any time by them to control situations, circumstances, and social environments.

19. You may also notice one or more of the following communication techniques.  They will:

  1. State the obvious
  2. Make a mountain out of a molehill
  3. Play “can you top this”
  4. Promise beyond their delivery capability
  5. Stampede into action before all the facts are in
  6. Edit the facts to dramatize their point
  7. Keep in constant motion, unconcerned about direction
  8. State the opposite of the facts, because all else failed.

Under no circumstances respond directly to their overtures. Do not address the issues they raise.

You must respond by stating that they have no responsibility or authority to make such a statement to you, and that they are out of order.

If your relationship with them has not been that close in the past, you may add that because of their present improper social behavior and breach of etiquette, your mutual relationship certainly won’t be close in the future.

The Danger of Self-Centeredness

Self-centeredness, as opposed to Christ-centeredness, opens a person to a spirit of pride, from which comes an unteachable spirit, a spirit of control and a rebellious spirit.

When you meet a person with either of these spirits, look for the others.  They will be there.  The most obvious one you have spiritually discerned may overshadow the others.  But upon close observation you will see them all in operation.

When a person becomes self-centered to the point of pride, and begins to manifest these spirits, it opens the door for the Jezebel and Ahab, who always bring their idols along with them.

And with idols always comes sexual immorality, which brings about an abandonment of oneself to fleshly pleasures, drawing the person even further away from God.

A Jezebel spirit will attempt to play prophet/prophetess by its familiar spirits and really loves a true prophetic gift if it edifies, exhorts, and comforts.

But when a true Prophet of God, who has been anointed by God to speak the judgment coming to the house of God and exposes this spirit, it attempts to destroy the true Prophet by:

  1. Destroying their character.
  2. Destroying their credibility as a prophetic minister.
  3. Destroying the conscience of the prophet.

When a Prophet’s Character and Credibility are destroyed , then the conscience is ripe for destruction.

Many in The Church will agree, because they believed the lies about the Prophet’s Character and Credibility as a Prophetic Minister.

The Prophet then will begin to doubt his own character and credibility and the inception of the destruction of his/ her conscience is established and, without proper prayer and counseling, will continue until the conscience is thoroughly destroyed.

The Jezebel spirit thus establishes itself as a true prophet of God who exposes a “false prophet” and draws the rapt adoration of its followers even further into the slime pit of hell.

That’s why Discerning of Spirits [1 Corinthians 12:10] is of such great importance in this day and hour.

And we will establish the usage of that Holy Spirit gift firmly in our lives by continually remaining and abiding in the presence of the Father. Selah……..

“to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”   1 Corinthians 12:10

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey


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Prophetic Exposure!

I think The Church forgets our humble beginnings and origins. We forget that we measure ourselves and judge ourselves against a Church or organization. 

I think The Church forgets our humble beginnings and origins.

We forget that we measure ourselves and judge ourselves against a Church or organization.  We can easily — as Believers — begin to become religious and self righteous.

Scripture tells us that to measure ourselves among ourselves is not wise.

“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.  But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV

We may think we have all knowledge in our Church, and that we expect everything to be perfect when we are not!  There is no perfect person or Church!

Many people leave because they see or hear the humanity of our flesh.  Of all people, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ himself had the most scathing remarks and actions towards the religious spirits of his day.

And may I say, those evil spirits are still active and well in this hour.

Beloved of God, your greatest adversary will work through people, especially religious people.

Jesus also said that greater works we shall do.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Jesus Promises Another Helper
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”   John 14:12-19 NKJV

I have found in my journey with Christ, that I must teach, preach, prophecy, and equip the flock of God.  Meeting and reaching them regardless of where we are in growth.

It is imperative to prepare The Body of Christ, for trials and tribulations will come to all of us in Him, in body, soul, and spirit.  Not just one way — but to all of us who claim Jesus as LORD!

I have seen such deception, and that everyone wants Christianity to be simple, easy and for everyone to get along — and as a Church — we should do better!  But that is not real.

Yes, we should try our best and meet people where they are in their journey, and accept those among us that are different.  However, there are among us — imps — who are unseen and who cause war-zones in the midst of the congregation.

There is a War happening in the spiritual realm and the physical realm.  Why?  Satan wants to discredit and cause offenses to come.

We deal with real people even more so, because we’re trying to live our life before God that pleases Him first.

There are spirits at work in our midst, so The Church can look very messy, but God takes the mess and makes it into a message and a learning tool for “His Kingdom come, His Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

However, I expose the enemy of our souls and it’s “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” says The LORD.

We don’t realize what is in our midst and what is at work behind the scenes.

I do want to apologize if in some way I have offended or confused anyone.  If I have done anything in the wrong way, please forgive me! It is not in my nature to want to hurt anyone, and I want to be open and honest with a transparent heart.

If I preach, teach or prophecy, it applies to me first!

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey


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Testing & Understanding the Secret Motives of the Heart

We all rejoice at the revelation of Christ’s plan for us and we walk in faith feeling untouchable, being built up in HIM laying hold to our faith trusting him for the outcome!

We all rejoice at the revelation of Christ’s plan for us and we walk in Faith, feeling untouchable, being built up in Him, laying hold to our Faith, trusting Him for the outcome!

This is a good day!

However, those of you that have been in The Kingdom of God for a while before bed, will ask and hope we wake up the same way.  And usually it is not the same way and we find ourselves being tempted or tested.

By the way, if you haven’t figured it out yet, not everyone, even Christians are very happy and overjoyed with your news!  No we begin to see that old green eyed monster we thought was under The Blood!

Always remember, God reveals His Will and portion to us individually and personally.  We are no longer led by a King, Priest or Prophet.

The LORD rent the curtain in two so that we can come boldly to The Throne Room of Grace to receive Mercy and find help in time of need.

It is easy to believe when everything seems positive and so many are speaking the same thing and we think we cannot possibly forget that.  Can I get a witness on this!

Beloved we are human and forget in a moment!

I learned this early on after the baptism of The Holy Ghost with Fire.

Purchase a notebook or journal and begin to use it during your prayer time and when The LORD shows you things during the day, date it and write what it was.

You will be amazed at how much The LORD spoke through that time that you forgot.

We must always stand, trust, and believe no matter who attempts to sway our thoughts to doubt our faith in what God said.

God is not double-minded nor does He build you up in Hope and Faith, to tear you down.  That is the adversaries.

Temptations to doubt will come.  But regardless of who or how many come as they may, we know temptations and testing can come in the form of other believers, even those closest to us that we love.

God always tests us in our areas of strengths and the enemy tempts us in areas or weaknesses.

Stand firm in The LORD, He has not brought you to this new place to suddenly change His Mind!  Stand not with those who are given to change.

“My son, fear The LORD and the king; do not associate with those given to change; for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin those two can bring?”   Proverbs 24:21-22

Now find your place and hold your ground and do not adhere to their sudden overtures.  Remember the plan and the vision you have been given and be not double-minded and unstable — but trust The LORD.

Will we stand and believe what God has shown us?

No matter how many ways the enemy tries to get us to doubt, stand firm and recall the Words He has spoken to you!

Testing will come to stretch us further, and He will test us by sending others we know along to provoke us to doubt what we know God said.

The process is like this; He provokes a reaction to action!

He knows what is in our hearts and He will often provoke us to get to our own heart!

How can we repent, if our heart is not laid bear?

God knows the motives of the heart, and he knows what you should allow or reject in your Spirit, mind, and body.

Most times the people you love don’t even realize what they did wrong.

Forgive them, release them, and let them go, and pray for them for greater understanding.
 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey


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New Year’s 2024

Many challenging times are ahead — and if you think things will be normal again, things will never be the same ever again!

Happy New Year 2024!

Many challenging times are ahead — and if you think things will be normal again, things will never be the same ever again!

Be not afraid of the coming missiles, and catapults of intimidation that seek to bombard your mind with fear.

Trade in your fear for faith and The Fear of The LORD, that is the beginning of Wisdom.   (Proverbs 9:10)

It isn’t the time for The Church to dwindle back in fear!  No!  It’s the time to be The Church triumphant that God said, and get planted and get rooted deeply Church!

May the ancient foundations that have been shaken and tested be planted again from decades past and be re-rooted.

For it’s the time to shake off what doesn’t work and seek The LORD for Wisdom, and work while it is yet day.

Know those who labor among you.  Fear them that there is something about longevity when it is godly and firmly planted.

It is the time to put on your spiritual seat belts in preparation of the sweet assurance of God’s prepared Destiny Plan.

You have been chosen to be alive, and you shall see the wonders of God in the deep, for it is God’s Will that your everyday lives are fruitful, and that your actions speak loudly, so that you have made The LORD your portion.

We must keep Him first every day and not trust newspapers, television or other media — or even your dearest friend or that one who shares your bed!

Put no confidence in the flesh!  All must seek the mind of Christ!  Never put your Faith in a person or organization!  You must know how to seek The LORD when no one is there.

For the Child of God, it is time to refocus on The LORD in prayer with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

We must come in serious seeking and unearth what is hidden and unearth the hardness of our own heart and soften it with our tears, so that once again we may plant The Word of God in our heart, so that it thrives and produces season after season.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

May The LORD Christ Jesus truly bless everything that we put our hand to, so that He brings together our destiny where he plants, roots, and knits our hearts together in cords of love.

A threefold cord is not easily broken.  We are only as strong as our weakest link.  The last will be first, the first will be last.

In a very confusing railroad hub, there are many things happening all at the same time.

Do you remember when The LORD frustrated the language at the tower of Babel when “they made” the tower unto God?

The LORD is frustrating what are man’s plans, so that His Plan will be fulfilled for all of us.  We each must find our way.

Many are being routed in various places, some not knowing what to do only that some sense the upheavals.

However, all of it happening at the same time can appear and make you feel confused, scared, and cause insecurity.

Each person must know where they fit.  God wants us planted deeply, not a potted plant.

God wants us rooted, and grounded deeply and found growing upward, outward, and onward towards the sun.  We each must seek The LORD — for He is not far from you…!

“That they should seek The LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.”   Act 17:27 KJV

The LORD isn’t separate from His Voice — His Words are forever settled in heaven.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will never pass away.  We must seek The LORD and find intimacy again.

I know there are raw emotions, sick, and wounded hearts but you must understand His perspective and timing.

He doesn’t miss a beat, step, he is never late, nor is He ever wrong.  So, if you are one that is being redirected in whatever way, you must understand that God has shown that purpose is finished, He gives insight on what to do.

It is imperative as we find our way on a different path.  We must forgive if there are any misunderstandings, painful wounds; we must forgive and release them and let them go for they have finished what they were to do.  It’s hard to communicate when nothing is settled….

As we are yielding and being led by our Chief Shepherd into His Vineyard.  With new paths, new people, new orders for service, new directions that seem to cross wires, but God is linking us together, line upon line, here a little there a little shall every word be established.

We will be known by our love, and as you stretch out to move and meet into new places, you will know those among you because it’s real!

There are not too many out there who have that real love in them anymore.

We are told to know those who labor among us.  The early Church knew those among them and knew those who labored.  What will it take for us to become desperate as the early Church was”

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”   Matthew 24:12 KJV

God will confirm His Word out of the mouth of two or three witnesses.  Just like God told Amos the prophet,

“surely The LORD will do nothing until he first reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets,”   Amos 3:7

Sometimes transitions are not easy, and often very messy.

Just realize, everyone is trying to find their own way.  Yes, sometimes God’s way is messy, like giving birth to a child.

Yeah, it is messy, painful, and extremely stressful.  I remember giving birth to my first child during my pregnancy.  The waiting time was wonderful — but during the birthing process, the messy part I never thought I would survive!

It took a long time and I got to the point that I didn’t want to do it any more and tried to leave!

Beloved of God, that is where we are!  We are on The Threshold of Transition!

Unless Zion travails, she will not bring forth her children!

Beloved, travail is like bringing your destiny to birth, or your path, your ministry, or whatever the change is happening in your life!

That’s what it’s like in The Kingdom.  We grow and go forth having mountains and valleys; we have deserts and storms; we go through things that are all designed to bring us into His Likeness.

Birthing his nature and character in us takes pain, suffering, and prayer.

I bind all confusion, for God is not the author of confusion — but peace and his order and his plan.

Our purpose is to desire His Purpose and to show others the way of God.

We love, no matter how many tears.  We don’t understand — but He wants you to cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.

Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning!    (Psalm 30:5)

I think The Church forgets that we want everything to be perfect, and many leave because they see or hear the humanity of flesh, and everyone wants it to be easy, and everybody gets along, and as a Church, we should do better — but it’s not real!

Why?  Because we deal with real people!  Even more so, because we’re trying to lead a life before God that pleases Him.

So, The Church can look very messy, but God takes the mess and makes it into a message and a learning tool for His Kingdom and His Work.

I want to apologize if I have offended or confused anyone.

If I have done anything in the wrong way, please forgive me!

It is not in my nature to want to hurt anyone, and I want to be open.  If I preach, I preach to myself first!

In closing, I hope with God’s help I have related the mind of Christ in this message.

To ALL of you, have a wonderful 2024 New Year and I hope that the new year ahead is filled with enlightened words and paths of meaningful relationships that bring good success in all realms, body, soul, and spirit.

In Jesus’ Name, much Love to you all, my precious family of God!

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey


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