Category: Teaching

Approval and God’s Recommendation

The one thing that is settled in my life is that I belong to Christ and regardless of what may come, my past, present and future are up to God.

The one thing that is settled in my life is that I belong to Christ and regardless of what may come, my past, present and future are up to God.

He is the Author and Finisher of my Faith, and He will keep me in perfect and constant peace because my mind is stayed on him.

As an author, God is writing your story of how you will and have glorified Him amid untold obstacles and despairing even for life itself.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”   Isaiah 26:3

So don’t respond to those who don’t see your worth.  Don’t face a person seeking their approval or even their love.

Not all have Faith, and many are jealous.  Pray for them.

The one who sees within is the one who approves of you, so you have an inside job to learn to be still and quiet going only on His lead.

“Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”   Psalm 37:7

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.”   Psalm 62:5-6

Let the people talk, let them whisper and say whatever, because it only makes our heels dig deeper, which pushes Jesus higher!  We decrease — and He increases!

Press in and continue to press forward regardless of those who don’t approve of you.

You are approved by God and He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

There are those who are in the midst of the assembly who judge and say you don’t qualify. 

There are many who would discredit you, and judge, but didn’t they do that to Jesus when He lived on the earth?  You are in good company!

What reputation are you looking for?

Be honest, who are you trying to please or make an impression on?

Because if our motives are not pure it is a dead work.  We are supposed to be dead to the flesh and arise in the newness of life.

“Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.”   Romans 6:4

When we are dead to this world’s system and religion’s view, it produces growth in spiritual fortitude.

Fortitude enables people to endure adversity through prayer, keeping the Faith, working hands on in helping others to steady their feet and to help bring balance even if no one approves of them.

When we have God’s Approval, who cares what others say when we have a close walk with our Lord Jesus Christ?

He should be our total focus and we need to ask Him what He thinks, because what He thinks has eternal value and he has our best interests at heart.

We have got to count it all loss, for the exceeding greatness of His Power in us!

Let people think and say what they may!  YOU be free to be who you are!

Maybe people will think we are too much, too radical and they want to tone us down.  I can only do what I see The Father do.  So, who cares what people think or say, I talk to him anyway.

Currently, with all sorts of devices, when you learn to talk to God everywhere you go, people may think you have Bluetooth on and are having a conversation with another person.

I am talking about having a greater awareness of God everywhere we go, so we should be aware of everything we do in secret and in public, because God sees it all and The LORD loves when we learn to walk in The Spirit and pray without ceasing.

It is glorious to learn how to walk in the Spirit, and with that great awareness of his presence without pretense.

The more I seek HIM the more I find HIM, and I wouldn’t trade anything in this world for what I have with The LORD!

I walk down the aisles with Him in continual fellowship and there are people everywhere.  It is when you are out and about in your sphere of influence is where your divine appointments are made by God.

You will feel that inner prompting to connect to someone in your heart.  The Holy Spirit leads with the flow and being prompted by loving them, so that we can share that Love that covers a multitude of sin and iniquity.

If you are going to be effective in Christ, part of the deal will be suffering rejection.

God gives everyone a free will and choice.  Even God won’t go against someone’s choice.  So, we scatter seeds, but we know God will give the increase in His season.

Scattering seeds is powerful so don’t decline due to rejection, because someone may receive them.

Beloved, I have long passed a point of NO return. He is my source, my strength, my quest; I am enamored with him, and I cannot get enough.

He is my everything and I have dedicated my life to ministry to Him first!  He takes pleasure from us and enjoys our time in intimacy.

I have learned over the years to be mindful of God’s Guidance and Direction, because there is always work to do, but if God has not led you to it you will burn out.

That is why you must pray for God’s Will and Direction in all things.  Just because there is a need doesn’t mean we meet that need.  We must be led by The Spirit in all ways.

It is a great honor in humility that He longs to dwell with us and communicate.  We should live for every inspired word both in the Word of God and in prayer and to hear His voice so clear!

I pray that maybe someone who reads this, will be inspired and sparked into a flame that never grows dim again.

LORD, store your lovingkindness within, so that repentance and assurance abounds through us.  We will be sure to give God all the Glory, Honor, and Praise — in Jesus’ Name!
 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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The Slippery Slope of Ease

As things continue to intensify in our nation and around the globe, the true Church “The Remnant” of the living God must learn to deny self and press onward!

“He that is called ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.”   Job 12:5 KJV

The LORD has been showing me an “upward spiraling out of control.”

As things continue to intensify in our nation and around the globe, the true Church “The Remnant” of the living God must learn to deny self and press onward and upward into God more than ever before!

We must become militant without fear in sharing the gospel as we cannot convince others unless we are convinced ourselves!

Our very actions and how we live our lives before others proves and gives authenticity to our lives.

  • How will they lay down their lives if we will not?
  • How will they hear unless there be a preacher?
  • What message are you preaching today?
  • Are our lives in sync with the message of The Cross?

The Church needs to be prepared for what is coming and messages that are lulling people to ease and sleep is a negligence on our part if we do not confront it.

All of society screams what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right! If we have not learned this by now, and we do not see the need of being separate from this world and drawn unto God we are deceived already.

It is a necessity that we must learn and teach that the only reprieve The Remnant church will have in the coming days ahead is in learning how to live a totally separate life from the ways the world.  It will cost to be separate from the cares and things of this world.

For in Him we live, move, and have our being. What we choose as a bond servant of Christ we must choose to live and walk in the Spirit and in dwelling in the presence of The LORD so that times of refreshing come from the presence of The LORD.

“And He made from one man every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, to seek God, if perhaps indeed they might palpate for Him, and might find Him. And indeed, He is not far from each one of us.  For in Him we live and move and are.’a As also some of the poets among you have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’   Therefore, being offspring of God, we ought not to consider the Divine Being to be like to gold or to silver or to stone, a graven thing of man’s craft and imagination.  So indeed God, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He appointed, having provided a guarantee to all, having raised Him out from the dead.” Acts 17:26-31 BSB

It has never been the responsibility of a Pastor to meet every need or answer every question or issue.

We each are our brother’s keeper, and we need to be aware of what they are going through.  Each part is just as important as the other and when one suffers, we all suffer regardless of where we meet.

The Body is not a building. The building is a structure and ministry is not limited by four (4) walls.

We the people of God, The Remnant in his hand, is always to outreach to our brothers and sisters and to the lost to compel them to come in regardless of where they are.

The Body is a growing lively organism growing to outreach and reach out instead of turning inward on themselves and limiting themselves to a four-wall structure.

We need a healthy environment for the people of God when they assemble all have a portion, all have needs, but God gives the increase.

“What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as The LORD has assigned to each his role. I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants, nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose,a and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”   1 Corinthians 3:5-9

The Body has many spiritual and physical needs that have needs that need to be met.

We need to look at The Body of Believers differently. Instead of leaving it all for the Pastor, begin to ask God how he would have you help to meet those needs.

When true believers come together, (when we reach inward) we must help strengthen one another in every detail of life.  (So that we can finally reach out) and teach the true Gospel Message as the days get darker.

We must be strong in The LORD and in the power of His might!  The Church must be strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience, longsuffering, with joyfulness!

We are to live this and teach The Body that living the life for Christ biblically is our only hope and our greatest joy!

To have hope in this world is to be most miserable.  We must present the truth of scripture about the dying to the flesh so the Spirit may rise.

Having a healthy spiritual body is so important so that there will be an ongoing ministry in every part.  Part of learning to be a healthy body is so that we will be able to minister outwardly.

If we are always concentrating on within everyone’s needs, we will never be healthy enough to reach out and help others to know Christ and understand His ways.

We will suffer for the name of Christ. The Bible speaks about believers who count it all loss for the case and cause for The Cross of Christ Jesus.

I have heard this recently; “Hasn’t God promised us a life of ease?”

My answer is No, He did not! I n fact, he said quite the opposite, for in this world you shall have tribulation. (John 16:33)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33

We are negligent if we do not prepare the saints that there will be tough times ahead.  The light is revealing the thoughts of those at ease, and it exposes a slippery path.

Do we ease or appease the nature of those who willfully conformed to sin?

Again, do we ease or appease the society of those who willfully conform our nation at odds with God?

Are we at ease in Zion?

Do we pacify and appease all sorts of ungodly pressure groups so that they demand acceptance when it goes against our conscience and against God’s Will which is His Word?

There will be times of heaviness through the battles we face that will thoroughly test our resolve.  Yet we have a good, good, Father who cares for our lives in every way.

Even as HE uses the swift sword of the Spirit down to the division of our very own soul, spirit, joints, and marrow. HE is so good!

STUDY:

Warnings to Zion and Samaria
“Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes!
Go over to Calneh and see; and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines.  Are you better than these kingdoms?  Or is their territory greater than your territory?
Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near; who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
The LORD God has sworn by Himself, The LORD God of hosts says: “I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.””   Amos 6:1-8 

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon The LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud”   Psalm 126:2-6 KJV

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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The Martyr Complex in The Church

A “Martyr Complex” is a destructive pattern of behavior within The Church, when a person habitually seeks ways gain attention or favor from the leader.

A “Martyr Complex” is a destructive pattern of behavior within The Church.

It happens when a person habitually seeks out ways to press themselves to the point of gaining attention or favor from the leader.

They see their labor as a way to feel “good” about themselves.  Often to the detriment of all their other relationships.

In many, they all bring up their childhood memories.  They have tried to measure up to be valuable to God, and Satan tries his best to keep them feeling rejected, and with self-pity, and their pride will not let them ask for help.

Often, these are like the woman who wanted the crumbs from the master’s table. (Matthew 15:27)

God has a special place for the widows and the orphans.  Yet they struggle in knowing how much they are loved by God.

Deep down they do not feel loved as the selfless kind of love.  They see themselves as unlovable.

Self-esteem has a lot of weight on those who suffer from a Martyr Complex.  The worse we feel about ourselves, the more we cover up.

Being a self-imposed martyr also removes the need to take responsibility for our lives, by blaming others for the failure and disappointments in their lives.

When we or others have signs of low self-esteem, it is hard receiving love or affection and often we have a poor body image, judgmentalism, moodiness, etc.

Maybe they were abused as a child emotionally, mentally, physically, and continue to react to authority figures in a negative way.

In some loveless relationships, it could be abusive, and they totally disregard their own health by staying in the relationship.

They refuse to accept responsibility for the decisions and choices that have caused them pain or suffering.

Often, they are out to make themselves righteous or make themselves out to be the one who is always the caregiver.

They blame the other person for the oppression and bondage.  They are always seeking to plead their innocence and to reassure themselves.

Often when a Martyr Complex is spotted, and their coping mechanisms are revealed, they always have to share the information that something is wrong, so that the blame is put on another.

They look for the person they want to inform; usually it’s leadership or someone that has authority so that they will not see their motive, but most times they want to impress so they will push their agenda of mistreatment or suffering.

What I have witnessed is that they are cynical, paranoid, and suspicious.  The obsession of their mind is what is right.

This person will emotionally manipulate situations to gain control.  These types of people will do anything to make themselves out to be the one that suffers.

A person who does things for the approval of man will become cynical in their hearts and attitudes.

Martyrs never take the initiative to solve problems, they love being known for all the efforts they do and seek recognition and attention for the drama they create.

A person could have a relationship that causes emotional damage, but they will not do what needs to be done for their own health.

They want control and will manipulate to get their own way. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry.

Jezebel in The Bible was a good example of behavior.  Jezebel, a follower of Baal, promises to kill the prophet Elijah, who flees when hearing her plan.

She also manipulated many powerful men around her in a story about land ownership, leading to the death of several men.

In the past, I have often asked if they have ever dabbled in the occult and played with tarot cards, Ouija board, or read or been involved in any type of negative or false spiritual event.

These things can open a person up to demonic influence. (Study 1 & 2 Kings)

“And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.””   Matthew 15:27

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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Provoking the Heart Issues

Joseph was blessed by God, and a seeker of God and experienced Prophetic Dreams.

Joseph was blessed by God, and a seeker of God and experienced Prophetic Dreams.

In innocence he thought everyone would be happy with his experiences, but instead of liking his dreams, his brothers were provoked to jealousy!

You would think his family would encourage him, but instead his brothers hated him with pure hatred.  His father gave him a coat of many colors, and further revealed his dreams and it provoked his brothers to jealousy and caused a ruckus in his family like a hornet’s nest!

His brother’s hatred of him stirred up such offense that manifested in Jealousy, Envy, Division, Hatred, Malice, and had it not been for the oldest brother, they would have murdered him.

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.”   Song of Salomon 8:6 KJV

The devil stirred up trouble in Josephs life to such a degree, the brothers wanted to kill him!  But the oldest brother instead of killing him he wanted to sell him to the Egyptians as a slave.

All throughout Josephs pathway, everything made him look like a troublemaker.  He was even accused of rape when he was innocent, and he stood with God and leaned hard on God to endure, and he stayed pure to God.

Joseph suffered a very long time being incarcerated for things he never did, and I know he must have had depression and was deeply wounded in his heart.

Yet he continued to remain true to God, and in every environment, he was in God excelled in him even in prison.

When the dreams came to pass, and he was advanced and promoted next to Pharaoh.  He could have held anger and rage against his brothers, but he loved God and knew this that was meant for evil would turn around for his good.

Yet when he revealed himself and told them not to be angry for selling him into slavery, because God sent him ahead of you to preserve a remnant on earth and save lives by a great deliverance.

Even though it was human sin, God determined to redeem all the suffering by turning it around for good.  (Study Genesis 45)

Do you realize you may be provoked to jealousy?

Do you know that God provoked Israel to get to the heart of the matter?

God allows things to provoke a response in us, so that the things in our heart will be made manifest that is not godly, so that we will repent and turn away from that sin.

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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