CAPS IN MINISTRY

Sons Training September 25, 2017

Caps in Ministry Lesson 29

Caps in Ministry – Dishonesty

The purpose of 'Sons Training' is to firstly train ministers in the message of the truth. However, it is also to train ministers in ministry. There is a lesson in the Mary Banks Faith Library called 'Discerning Spiritual Operations'. In this lesson we learned that in order to discern anyone else, one must first be able to discern themselves.

When you are able to discern your current disposition or spiritual location, then you will be able and to accurately discern others. For any son of God, self-discernment is easy as long as they are honest with themselves. Honesty in discernment for the sons of God is when we allow the Holy Ghost free course to pinpoint our current disposition. While we are allowing the Holy Spirit access to our hearts, we must refuse the temptation to interfere with His voice. Many times, people fail to discern themselves because they refuse to see themselves in a negative light. However, the first step to true repentance is identification. The Holy Ghost is skillful in discernment. His discernment goes past simply our actions but it focuses on our motives, intentions, agendas and motivation. The mind and heart are constantly searched and discerned by the Lord. Therefore, it is with the heart and mind that we must serve the Lord in purity. Though the Holy Ghost will always minister truth to our spirits, many fail to see themselves because they revert to being religious with themselves, or simply apply carnal reasoning to spiritual discernment. Religion is an avenue of escape. It is to appear spiritual, or to have a form of godliness.

This means the religious ones say the right things, and their focus is always to appear spiritual. However, it is a common thing also for people to be religious even with themselves. When the Holy Spirit reveals a truth, He ministers it to our spirit so that there are no conflicts in our thinking. As soon as He speaks, our spirit hears and bears witness to that truth. However, whether we planned to or not, there is always a response given to the Holy Spirit at that point. That response will either be one of agreement or rejection. The evidence of our response is by the immediate emotions that follow. When we are walking after Christ, if there is anything in our heart that displeases the Lord, the moment it is revealed, the emotions we experience are: quick repentance, discernment (being able to see the depths of the evil of that thing), an appreciation for mercy, and agreement with God. These emotions allow the washing of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins. On the contrary when we are not walking after Christ, our emotions will reject the word of the Lord. Rejection in this sense is speaking to a heart that disagrees with repentance. One may be able to agree that the Lord is indeed speaking the truth, however, the emotion that will be manifested is one of hardness. This is what the Lord spoke of in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 3:15

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

The emotion that will manifest is an emotion that seeks to quickly silence the voice of God, or to counsel one’s own mind against it. This is where the religion is most manifested. When we use spiritual jargon and concepts to counsel ourselves against the Holy Ghost. This is hardening the heart, and it is the first stage of blindness. I want to insert here, that this dealing is in no way limited to self-examination; it is also evident in confrontation between saints. When a heart is not at the place where he/she is ready to perform righteousness, there will always be an excuse that seemingly explains why they are justified in being unrighteous. They will also look for examples and illustrations that fortify their position in darkness. This disposition darkens the heart. It blinds the soul from the light of God’s word and it is the primary stage of searing the conscience. One can do this for such a long time that the conviction of the Holy Spirit dwindles.

It is at this point that devilish counsel will seem even more meaningful and viable. This is a disposition many live in today. It is a disposition that refuses to accept righteousness as righteous. This explains what a negative mindset is. It is a way of thinking, contrary to Christ. Have you ever wondered how is it possible for a negative mindset to be formed in a son of God? A mindset is as said above, a way of thinking. How then can there be a negative/sinful way of thinking in a son of God in whom the Spirit of God lives? Moreover, they have been given the mind of Christ and His sentiments? And to top it all off, the scripture states...Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:15)

Though all of the above is true, a mindset stems from unbelief. It is formed when a saint constantly rejects godly way of thinking and believes in carnality. They will trust in carnality, and be faithful to it. The mindset will then be manifest in their actions, speech, and thoughts. They will always think and deal from the perspective of that negative mindset. When one refuses to discern themselves honestly they will often miss the happenings of God in their lives. God will orchestrate situations, circumstances and relationships to destroy that particular disposition. However, they will fail to connect the dots and fail to see the Word working against them. They will also see the spirituality of others as naivety and immaturity. It will be seen as a lack of wisdom or common sense. This disposition will hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit through you in ministry. It will surely cap the ministry of Christ in you.

As a result of this negative disposition, the anointing that would have flown through you will not. It is crucial that we identify negative mindsets and areas in which we deceive ourselves. If we do not, we will not be used by God and we will be a frustration to the Holy Spirit. True deliverance from such a state can only come from obedience. We must obey the word of God and it must become our belief system. When we do this we will allow the Holy Spirit to challenge those things that are negative about us. When we do this the liberty of mercy will flow. It is key to know that whatever God reveals, He is faithful to heal. All that is necessary is honesty with our own hearts. When we are honest, God can heal us. Deliverance is 99% identification and 1% obedience, which comes by agreeing/delighting in God’s word and performing it.

I love you all,

Kareem Flowers.