JOSHUA TIME 364

Scandal in The House> =====================> > Ministry has its share of attacks.> > Often ministers are unfairly and unjustly slandered, maligned> and just downright lied upon. Often they are but far too often> the accusations are not only true, they don't even reveal the> full depth of the wrongdoings.> > We've had some major news coverage of ministers on the wrong> side of the cloth. The areas of downfall usually fall into> one or more of three areas; sex, money and pride.> > Sexual misconduct is usually revealed when someone goes on a> tell all spree. A simple audit often reveals what is called in> politically correct terms, "misappropriation of funds."> Stealing is the more truthful word.> > Pride is more hidden, can rarely be concretely proved, but is> just as insidious.> > In the wake of a recent media blast someone asked me about a> particular minister, "How can they know God and do such things?"> > It was a good question. They had built a major ministry.> The bigger you are the more accountable you should be because> greater is the impact of any negative behavior but wrongdoing is> wrongdoing whether you are the leader of one or thousands.> > "No one can know God and do such things," they insisted.> > It is hard to fathom how anyone can truly have a spiritual> relationship with the almighty creator and yet fall to such> depths that even the common man shakes his head in disgust when> even the partial truth is told.> > How indeed?> > I simply replied, "Did David know God?"> > They were stunted.> > For those who know the story, David, often hailed as the> greatest King of Israel, conqueror of Goliath, writer of the> book of Psalms, military leader extraordinaire, chosen of God> and called by God in the Bible "a man after my own heart,"> sinned big time.> > He slept with another man's wife.> He then murdered by his command the woman's honorable husband to> hide the resulting pregnancy.> > That pregnancy resulted in Solomon, the wisest king and> rebuilder of the temple, Solomon had a woman problem. He had> 700 wives and 300 concubines.> > Sound like a modern day soap opera or movie?> > Paul, the major writer of the New Testament said the evil things> that he should not do, are the very things that he finds himself> doing, and the good things that he should do are the things that> he doesn't do. (Romans 7:19)> > What was Paul doing or not doing? He wisely doesn't say,> else we would use Paul's specific weaknesses to justify ours.> > So did David, Solomon and Paul know God? Absolutely!> > The point is we cannot judge. We do not know the true heart.> Most of the atrocities of body, resources and spirit will never> splash across headlines. They will only color hearts.> > Much of the degradation in ministry will remain covered to human> eyes and only God will know and can judge the truth.> > So it is in ministry. So it is in our lives.> When judgment day comes, the heart and actions that God will ask> you about, are going to be your own, minister or not.> > Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not> prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and> perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly,> "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"> (Mat 7:22-23 NIV)> > > ~A MountainWings Original~> > To send issue 6069 to a friend click http://www.ztaf.com/mw.htm> > Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.> See you tomorrow.>