I had a dream last night that spoke volumes (no pun intended).  As I was walking down the street, there was an old blue car with a young man driving up and down the road, back and forth with the radio blaring (insert pun).  As I turned to go down another street, he turned as well, as if to “help” me.  Once he began to approach me, I did not acknowledge him and kept on walking.  This young man in the car with the loud, obnoxious music then turned around and drove away silently.  This man in my dream was quite a distraction to many up and down that street but when he realized I was ignoring his clamoring attempt to gain my attention he turned around and left – quietly.

How many people in the church today are distracted?  As far as that goes, how many churches are distracted?  It grieves me to see and know preachers and teachers who have heard the Message of the Cross of Jesus, who know the Gospel of Jesus and it resonates in their heart but then the man with the loud music drives up and they are distracted…they go back into the worldly ways of rehabilitation instead of the spiritual ways of God.   As a Christian, we are stewards of The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  We are disciples of Jesus and He has given us God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will always confirm His Word, glorify the Lord and guide us into the will of God.  The Holy Spirit will never lead us into a distraction and He will not confuse us.

In everything we do, discern the spirits.  As long as the devil keeps us busy saying no to him, we will forget to say yes to Jesus.  Every morning we get up and say “Lord, help me to say no, help me not to do this.”, we are asking God to increase our ability, our willpower, to say no to our sin nature.  God does not increase or decrease our will – it is where we place our will that determines our power.   Where our will goes, so goes our faith. We ask God to help us say no to the devil, while all God wants is for us to say yes to Him…and He will take care of the devil’s attempts to tempt.  When we willingly choose God’s plan, which is freedom and liberty for the saints, we place our faith in Jesus’ finished work and understand our victory because of His shed Blood – not because of our will.  We are saved via God’s plan for salvation which is the Gospel of Jesus.  Now we continue in God’s plan for our sanctification by way of continued faith in the Cross of Jesus.  We don’t become sinless but sin no longer has dominion over us.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:12-13.  “Yield yourselves unto God” – say yes to God.  Following 40 days of purpose, 12 steps or positive confession is not yielding to God but merely schemes of man.  Schemes of man does not give us victory over bondages but the Cross of Jesus did, does and forever will. 

Distractions – “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1.  What is resonating in your heart?  Did the Blood of Jesus not break those family curses and soul ties?  Is it possible to deliver a saint  from sin who is oppressed?  Did Jesus ever command us to keep any Jewish Sabbaths?  A prophecy is not a prophecy if it looks backward.  A sign is not a sign in hindsight.  A prophecy is always conditional, depending on response of people.  Think about these things, discern these things, test the scriptures.  How about the church we are attending?  How do they handle sin?  Do they 1) love the sinner enough to tell them what they are doing is wrong and 2) pointing them to the Cross of Jesus for deliverance or to a man made scheme?

“Well, God knows my heart.”  Yes, you are correct and that is why He sent Jesus to save us.  Shouldn’t we be seeking His heart?  We are His disciples and He is our Great High Priest.  He will teach us once the distractions are removed and we are willing to come to the Truth of His Word.  Religion will blind the saints, while at the same time offending the sinners.  Beware of the seducing religious spirits that attempt to keep us distracted.  If they are not bringing you closer to God , they are not of God.   Discern the distractions.  – Donna Warren