CWW Week 21 - Day 3 - Conquering The Dragon

Special mention to Marvin Moore who’s book Conquering The Dragon Within is the foundation of our ongoing work.

Scripture.

Mark 7:20-23 (NKJV) 

“And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’”

In this passage, Jesus explains that it’s not external things that make a person unclean, but rather the moral and ethical failures that arise from within the human heart.

So let’s continue to discuss how God treats Christians who make mistakes.

I remember back in 2007 when we were launching our recovery program in our local church. I was given the job of delivering the sermon to introduce the program one Sabbath. This was a new concept in the church and I wanted to prepare them for what may be an influx of different people into the congregation as the program went into full swing.

“There may come a time when you will be sitting in the pews with your family dressed in your finest clothes with a fine leather bound bible under your arm. Sitting in the usual place that you occupy every Sabbath, you find yourself sitting next to a man who is dishevelled and smelling of tobacco and alcohol. You may find this extremely uncomfortable.” I went on to say, “At the end of the service you may come to me and say, ‘Look Graham, I really appreciate what you are trying to do here but did you see that man sitting next to me?’ My replay will be yes I did mate, but maybe you need to look for the good in the man and ignore the garbage.”

“Then the disheveled man approaches me and says, ‘Look Graham, I really appreciate what you are trying to do here, but did you see the dude I was sitting next to in the suit looking down his nose at me?’ to which I replied, “Yes mate but maybe you need to look for the good in that man and ignore the garbage.”

Outward appearances can be deceiving but only God knows our hearts and in Jesus we are all treated equally.

Todays scripture makes it clear that we cannot judge a book by it’s cover. Outward appearances count for nothing to God because it’s our hearts that define our characters. We need tender hearts of flesh that can be refined with experience as opposed to rigid hearts of stone that remain entrenched in false notions and self righteousness.

I know of a new church pastor who was turning up to preach at his new church in a major rural centre in Queensland. The congregation were so looking forward to meeting their new shepherd for the first time and were eager to make a good impression. The time to commence the service had come and gone and there was no sign of the pastor. Not a good first start.

As everyone arrived, all noticed a man slumped against the front fence in a trench coat with a hat pulled down over his face as he sipped from a bottle in a brown paper bag. No one approached him as they were all hoping that the man would just move on before church started. The head elder was calling the pastor and getting no answer.

Some discussed calling the police to get the drunk at the front moved on. This was not a good look for the church.

With no sign of the new pastor who was by now half an hour late, the congregation were horrified to see the drunk stagger into the church. Disgusted and fearful, the congregation motioned for the man to leave the church. It was then that the drunk removed his trench coast and introduced him self to the congregation. It was their new pastor. 

As he moved to the pulpit in the suit he was wearing under the trench coat, his first words will long be remembered.

“Good morning everyone. I guess you know what the topic of the sermon is going to be about.”

When we consider how we treat others who make mistakes we must consider their hearts and leave it to God to work on them using us as an example.

The good news is this.

When we arrive before the throne of God in what ever state we are in, if we are in Christ, then Christ is all that God will see and He will be smiling. Jesus will be there shining in front of the throne because His character is illuminating from us and not our own sinful nature.

That’s how God deals with Christians who make mistakes.

We can only imagine.

Questions.

1. Have you ever made the wrong assessment of someone based on their outward appearance?
2. Have you ever been judged based on your outward appearance?
3. Are you prepared to have God chip away your character defects and refine you in the image of Christ Jesus in whose image you were originally created?

Prayer.

Dear Lord, Papa God.

I am aware of the concept of ‘garbage in garbage out’ Papa, and I want to be cleansed and prepared from within as only You can do through Your Holy Spirit. Examine me O Lord and know my ways and cleanse me from all lawlessness and unrighteousness. My greatest desire is to do what You require Lord. Thank you Papa that even though I am a sinful person that you still account for me as righteous. I pray for Your influence to shine in my life, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Have a great day with Jesus.

Graham Hood.