Heaven's Legal Tender

Legal tender:  coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in payment of a debt.
So, we commonly think of dollars when the words legal tender are heard.  It’s what we exchange for goods and services.  Without seeing a reserve of gold backing it, the dollars that we present to vendors and merchants are accepted with faith that the money that we present for payment represents or contains sufficient value to settle a debt.  Otherwise, we’d be walking around with bags of gold and silver, risking loss, theft, and inconvenience.

Let’s consider Heaven’s legal tender.  We, as believers, are Heaven’s legal tender.  As we offer up prayer and intercession, manifest God’s love, and demonstrate His power, we present ourselves to the world as spiritual value.  Because of Christ’s shed blood, there is forgiveness of sin—payment of the sin debt and repossession of dominion over our earth.  His blood backs our claim against Heaven’s reserves spiritually and physically; and we draw down upon those reserves to live victoriously, effect change within our world, and be the living epistles read by men daily.

Many within the church experience circumstances wherein their voices are quieted, their gifts are stifled, and purpose is paused.  These God-fearing people are lost coins within the house of God.  [If you’re a lost coin in the house of God, there’s more to your situation than merely being forbidden to sing a song or preach a sermon—you’re being restricted from exercising or putting into action that which gives you value—your purpose!  Anything that distracts or restricts you from fulfilling your individual purpose is ungodly.  If the enemy has manipulated your spiritual leadership in such a way that your purpose is being hindered then you, the lost coin, are settling in dusty areas awaiting an amazing grace to find you.

[What is the significance of dust?   “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life…” (Genesis 3:14).   Snakes use their tongues to “smell” their surroundings. “They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth” (Micah 7:17a).   By licking the dust, they are able to track their prey.  Spiritually, the lost coin, by virtue of its neglect, is placed in a position to be tracked and consumed by the enemy.  While others may overlook your value, be certain that your enemy never will.  Although he can’t see your future, he is allowed to discern your potential; and he always imagines you at your greatest potential and launches every arsenal available to ensure that you do not become who he has imagined.]

There are those who will read this blog and know exactly what I’m describing, due to their own experiences.  Others may reflect upon others that they’ve known within ministry. It is important to note that lost coins do not lose their value.  They are still legal tender with an inherent value established by the blood of Jesus Christ.

[Excerpt from Sometimes, Man’s Rejection Is God’s Protection]      https://goo.gl/5zcP1t

(Dr. M. Stanley Butler is an author, teacher, and conference speaker.  His contact information and publications are available at mstanleybutler.com). 

Flawed Vessels

How many of God's people are distracted from their destiny by their own flaws?  Weary of attempting to shed those imperfections that seemingly rob God of the glory due Him as He proves Himself mighty within the life of His servant, destiny is shelved in favor of allowing time to work out personal issues.  Truth is, in light of the fall of man and the consequent forfeiture of his dominion over creation, creation is flawed by a God-given curse that is original to all who are born of a woman.  Everyone has issues, and while our issues may vary greatly according to our personality, character, background, and experience, each and everyone graced to draw breath on this side of Heaven has an issue of some sort.   For this cause, we do not seek perfection from the aspect of flawlessness, but we seek perfection from the aspect of Christian maturity, possessing an awareness of our need for God's grace and continually placing our shortcomings under the redeeming blood of Christ. 

A lack of transparency within the Church limits many of God's people to secret-closet confessions of weakness, frailty, and evident flaws.  Cracks and chips within the vessel are hidden to the best of the vessel's ability, for fear of being shelved by men from ministerial works and public visibility.  The enemy gains a toe hold that becomes a foothold when ministerial works take precedence over ministry to the Lord and His purpose, and ministerial titles are thrust upon those who are hurting, those who are broken, and those who are shackled, rather than a pure Word from God that effects change.  God's people are in need of more personal victories that become bold public declarations of the grace and power of God to continually save, heal, and deliver.  It is then the Holy Spirit will have liberty to displace and dispel spirits of fear and shame that have taken residence within the house of God and maintained their presence with awareness and acceptance by church leadership.

(Dr. M. Stanley Butler is an author, teacher, and conference speaker.  His contact information and publications are available at mstanleybutler.com).

Google App